Many of us are very busy, overcommitted, and burdened. Some of us feel as if we are carrying the weight of it all on our shoulders. And yet, we want to stay fresh and alive for the long haul. Taking steps to stay fresh for the long haul is important because too many people crash… Continue reading How Someone Like You Can Stay Fresh and Alive for the Long Haul
Category: Renewal
Don’t Stop Living Before You Die!
I knew a man who was alive and vibrant in his church in his 30s. He seemed to grow and connect with others in a meaningful way. However, something happened in his 40s. He found his recliner. That became his location for much of his life. Sitting and mindlessly watching hour after hour of television.… Continue reading Don’t Stop Living Before You Die!
Ten Ways to Have More Energy for Your Work
When I was in graduate school, I thought that I was working as hard as I possibly could in my studies. After all, I stayed at my desk for hours and read an incredible number of pages each day. I thought that if I could do without sleep, then surely my grades would reflect the… Continue reading Ten Ways to Have More Energy for Your Work
I Am Not Worthy
She sat outside our auditorium. She sat in a folding chair, practically doubled over as if she was in pain. She rocked and rocked. Little did I know that she had a gun in her purse. She was deeply troubled. She had been an alcoholic for many years. That night her eyes were bloodshot. I… Continue reading I Am Not Worthy
My Most Important Hour
Of all the hours in the day, the hour after I get up in the morning is probably the most important. For many years, I have practiced an early morning discipline of preparing for my day. This takes place before anyone else in my family awakens. I am convinced that this hour helped me to… Continue reading My Most Important Hour
Moving Past Weariness
Gordon MacDonald tells of a time when as a child he was traveling with his family on a dusty, deserted road in Canada. It was late, and the family had been traveling the entire day. They were lost, tired, and were becoming irritable with one another. They could not find a motel, and the few… Continue reading Moving Past Weariness
Make Your Move Now (2)
Pay attention to the front porch The front porch is what people see. The front porch determines whether people have a desire to come any further. If the front porch looks cluttered, dark, and uninviting, people may see this as a sign that they are really not welcome in your life. Begin this year by… Continue reading Make Your Move Now (2)
Make Your Move Now (1)
New Year’s can be a wonderful time of change and opportunity. We enter this year loved by God, empowered by the Spirit and on a mission from Jesus. Early each December, I give much reflection and prayer to how I will start the new year. The following are four of eight principles that have been… Continue reading Make Your Move Now (1)
Refuse to Settle for Being Half-Alive
I came across this powerful line in Patrick Morley’s newest book Man Alive (p. 13) You don’t have to settle for being half-alive. I thought about this for several days. I think it stayed with me because I’ve seen so many men and women who shut down long before they actually died. The man who sits… Continue reading Refuse to Settle for Being Half-Alive
Burying Those Feelings Never Works
(I am away on a vacation/study break during the month of July. The posts that appear during the month are from the archives.) There is often a high price to pay when you bury your feelings. Feelings exist. I may not like these feelings. I may not feel comfortable with these feelings. I may be… Continue reading Burying Those Feelings Never Works