What has clearly been lacking in American Christianity is our collective ability to clearly understand and function from a kingdom perspective.  A kingdom perspective urges us to open our eyes, hearts, and minds in order to take what we learn about ourselves, and from each other, with regard to the strengths inherent within each of us, and merge these together to form a more productive union.  Far too often, we

Are you amazed at the collective silence of the church over the current issues? It continues to prove several things: The problem in our present moment is that the church will pull out of her go-to bag tons of religious rhetoric to publish to the world, while not understanding that there is no longer a framework for that type of language. It’s not as ingrained in society as it once

Two significant moments in a person’s life; the day they are born and the day they graduate. Those who were supposed to wear a cap and gown to graduate this year were born during 9/11.  They were born in the middle of a national tragedy, and now their graduation is disrupted because of a global crisis. I heard about a village that had a severe drought going on with months

I hope you are surviving and thriving during these days. Let me spend a few minutes talking to you about your purpose as one of the pandemic personnel. We are all “players” in life. Yet sometimes life summons “players” to be “leaders.” It may happen only once or twice in life. Up to that point, the jagged pieces of life don’t seem to fit any earth-shaking pattern… But then a

I’m often asked what is the most difficult aspect of my life and calling. One of the greatest challenges I’ve ever attempted is a current one…the reinventing of myself, my calling, and my life. This is particularly difficult because people tend to judge by how they first discover you. It’s as if you can’t become or do anything other than their perception of you. This isn’t a slam to them,

Our cultural instinct is to find a place to hold us, a spot where we feel safe from obligations and opportunities to choose. Because if we choose then we are responsible. I read a story about a cage in search of a bird, a trap that was incomplete until it had found something to trap. But we are often like birds that are unhappy until we find a cage that

Think about it. Try naming one historical figure that made a difference by playing it safe and being average. The vast majority of successful people are remembered for the difference that they made in their lifetime. And that difference required them to take risks and challenge the status quo. We are inspired by people who go beyond the norm and push the boundaries of possibility.  Mediocrity, on the other hand,

Would you be willing to give your life to make an impact in the world if no one ever knew your name?  If anonymity was the price you would have to pay for significance, would it be too great a price?  To live a life of courage is not a guarantee of prestige or adulation. It only matters if you live and die fulfilling the mission you were born for.

The best will fail the most. George Washington lost more battles than he won. Thomas Edison scrapped more great ideas than he ever saw come to fruition. Jesus Christ even gave his disciples a rite of failing: “Shake off the dust.” Whoever fails the most, will win.

In an effort to push fear away and remain spiritually steady, I tended to rely on my calling or my public platform as a way to release peace in chaotic times.  But it will never work.  It’s not what we are called to or gifted to do that brings peace or redirects a situation.  That will never work.  What we are called to do is not the same as who