Attitude is something that you don’t think about unless of course you run into someone that has a bad attitude, at the grocery store, at work or gasp, church. Our attitude is one of those intangible things that we ourselves don’t think about but those who live with us or work with us know an awful lot about it.
Read moreHow Attitude is Like A Cold
I hate being sick. The runny nose, the coughing, the sneezing, the fever, and the chills. You know what I am talking about. I have noticed since I have kids and since my wife works in an elementary school, there are all kinds of “bugs” that get brought home. And as careful I can be washing my hands and disinfecting everything when they are contagious there are still times when I “catch” what they have and get sick.
Read moreStaying Sane Through Summer
When I was growing up summer evoked a magical feeling. sleeping in was not only ok, but a regular practice. Playing outside until it was dark was the norm and enjoying time off from school became mandatory. The ebb and flow of life during the summer took on a decidedly slower pace. And just like me having a full head of hair, those days are long gone.
Read more3 Actions that Speak Louder than Words on Vacation
It is vacation time. A time when the kids are out of school and your family gets to take that all-important vacation. Whether it is a trip to the Florida beaches, a resort in Mexico, trip to the mountains or even a staycation, it is a great time to spend some quality time with your family. But did you realize that even on vacation you are able to let your faith influence others
Read moreFinding More This Summer
Once again summer is upon us. It seems like just yesterday we were saying good-bye to summer and hello to a new school year. Now, in what seems to be the blink of an eye, another Texas summer has come. If you are anything like our family, summer is chock full of things to do before August comes: vacations, school shopping, and of course, time by the pool.
Read moreThe Importance of Taking Off the Mask
We live in a world where vulnerability, especially among men, is thought to be a weakness. Social media has made it difficult to be vulnerable because as we look at the profiles of our “friends” we see they seem to have life by the tail. So why would I admit I experience issues when it seems like my other friends don’t?
Read moreThe Importance of Self-Awareness
The mirror is one of the most important items that a person can own. It is the mirror which shows us what we look like. There is no fooling a mirror because it only reflects what it sees.
Read moreThe Importance of Being Iron
The Godhead exist in constant community. And since God created us in His image and His likeness (Gen 1:25), we too are created to live in community.
Read moreDon't Be a Zorro
He was the original “Masked Man” and “Caped Crusader”. His given name was Don Diego de la Vega but he is much better known by his secret identity, Zorro.
Read moreLessons from the Grapevine-Pruning
Anyone who works with plants, knows that the pruning process is vital to maintaining the growth of the plant. The purpose of pruning a grapevine is to make a branch more even more fruitful by cutting away unnecessary wood so that which is left over can bear even greater fruit.
Read moreLessons from the Grapevine-Remaining
I have never seen a branch which was isolated from the vine, growing grapes. The only way that a branch grows and bears fruit is if they are constantly connected to the vine. Once a branch is severed from the vine, the branch dies as does any fruit that the branch was producing.
Read moreLessons from the Grapevine-Fruit
The first lesson is that the sole purpose of the branch is produce fruit, grapes. I don’t know of anyone who plants a grape vine because they like how they look and could care less if they bear fruit. I also have never heard on one of my trips to Lowe’s, someone asking the salesperson where the 2x4 made of grape wood were located. A grape branch cannot be used to make furniture, utensils or even a peg to hang your coat on. The only thing that a branch is good for is to bear fruit. The reason that the grape vine was created in the first place and the reason that a farmer plants a grape vine is to provide fruit.
Jesus as He was holding that small cluster of grapes in His hands, said to His disciples, “This is the reason that you were created. You were created because you are to bear fruit.” And by extension everyone who calls themselves a Christian and disciple of Jesus Christ was also created to bear fruit.
What fruit is Jesus talking about? Paul gives specifics in Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
The fruit that Jesus wants each of His disciples to bear is none other than the fruit of the Spirit which the Apostle Paul shares in Galatians. In other words, we as the disciples of Jesus are to be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, thinking of others, faithful, gentle and self-controlled. This is the fruit that Jesus wants each of His followers to bear in their lives.
I don’t know about you, but that seems like a big task don’t you think? Sure, I can show each of those characteristics at certain points, but all of them, all the time? No way. Interestingly enough, I have yet to meet a person who exhibits all of those qualities all of the time. So what are we to do? Are we to sit back and say, “Well, I can’t bear fruit. It’s too hard or my personality doesn’t allow me to be kind or peaceful or self-controlled. I just can’t do it.” On the contrary, we like the branches of the grapevine were created to bear fruit, but how that happens is our second lesson we can learn from the vine, which is, the branches do not bear fruit on their own.
Lessons from the Grapevine
It was the sure sign that fall had come. As the temperature dropped and that first touch of frost came to the mountains of Western Pennsylvania, I knew what and I the rest of my family would be doing on an upcoming Sunday. We would pile into the car and go over to a friend’s house whose property line was lined with grape vines. I can still remember the smell of the ripe Concord grapes that were about to be picked. Even to this day, anytime I smell a Concord grape, I am transported to those Sundays
Read moreThe Greatest Example of Trust
Jesus gives us an example of how to live a life Solomon is describing. As you observe the life of Jesus you see this text consistently exemplified. If there was anyone in the history of the planet that was qualified to be in control it was Jesus. After all He is God. But one of the most interesting parts of the Incarnation is that when Jesus became human He gave up control. He was still God but He entrusted control of His life to His Father.
Read moreThe Opposite of Trust
There are only two options when it comes to living life and being a spiritual leader. You are either “trusting God with all your heart” or you “lean on your own understanding”. There is no in-between. Sadly, I still have times when I don’t trust God with all my heart and have leaned on my own understanding.
Read moreWhy Trust God?
What is the basis of this trust of God? It is His character and the experiences you have had with Him.
Read moreTrust Isn't Easy
Trust is not something that is very easily given and once it is broken it is very difficult to get back. There are people in my life that I do trust to varying degrees. I trust them because I know they have my best interest at heart. Obviously I trust my wife the most, then my closest friends and family. These are the people that I would trust with my very life.
Read moreNeeding to Be In Control
I will admit it, I like to be in control of my life. I like knowing what is coming up next. I like being able to make decisions long before I have to so I can anticipate the future. I loathe uncertainty. I get anxious when there is uncertainty. The more I can plan, the more I know, the more I can predict, the more control I have and the better I function and feel. Maybe it is because I am a guy. Maybe it is because of my background. Maybe it is because of my personality but I really like to be in control. Whatever the reason, I am not alone as a guy who wants to be in control.
Read moreRationalizing Our Integrity Away
Sadly, it doesn’t take a huge breach of integrity to get the ball rolling. All it takes is one decision and the snowball takes off down the hill. And the more it gains momentum, the more times you breach your integrity, the harder it is to stop.
Read moreJoseph's Most Important Decision
Every day we are faced with hundreds of decisions. Some of these decisions are small - What will I have for breakfast? What will I wear today? Some are much weightier - How do I discipline my children or how do I interact with my wife? Decisions are important part of who we are as leaders. Living a life of integrity is one of those decisions. When we commit to a life of integrity it guides all the other decisions we make.
Read more