5 under 5: Christmas Song and Great Reads
Watch: Elizabeth Hunnicutt’s “God of Hope” video This woman has an amazing voice and a great heart for God. She has been at our church twice in the last 30 days and each time I am more impressed with her character and skill. I think her Christmas album “Arrival” is my favorite Christmas album this year. In this video, your...
4 Great Joys that Come From Being Honest with God
The last shepherd to return from gathering firewood dropped a meager load of sticks on the ground beside the sputtering fire. He looked at his partners huddled close to the feeble flame and knew they faced another long, cold night ahead. Drawing his cloak tighter around his shoulders, he gazed upward at the deep and mysterious sky. The moon...
Free Counseling Notes Template
As a counselor, taking notes is one of the most important parts of my job. The details shared with me in a counseling session are sensitive and critical, so I want to capture what I can. I also hear a lot of information over the course of many cases, so taking notes helps me keep the details straight. I...
The First Thanksgiving and a Grateful Heart
Do you remember as a kid making those turkeys out of a traced handprint or a pinecone? Do you remember the stories about the pilgrims and Indians in elementary school? In the midst of all the turkey decorations and historical stories, have you ever wondered what the first Thanksgiving was like? I started to dig for answers from historians and...
6 Questions Every Accountability Partner Should Ask
What would a forest be if it were not packed with trees? Imagine a forest of only 10 trees… 5 trees… 2 trees… That’s not a forest at all. A forest is a good metaphor of what the Christian life is like. We don’t have to stand alone. In fact, God doesn’t want us too. He has even created a...
7 Essential Ways I Balance Work and Family
As a leader and pastor, one of my greatest struggles to is balancing time between work and family. Everyday this is under attack as the demands of the urgent things in my life try to eclipse the important. In order to ensure that I am staying balanced, below I have listed 7 disciplines I maintain regularly. Ways I Am Maintaining...
Creating a Work Culture Where People Want to Stay
Have you ever hated your place of work? Maybe you loved your job, but the place you perform the work is less than desirable. I've been there too and had to muscle through. If you relate to this struggle, this article is for you. Or perhaps you are a manager and a leader in an organization. If so, your employees...
Keeping Less So We Can Have More of Life
One of my new favorite pastimes is to get rid of things. Over the last few decades of life, I have managed to collect boxes of keepsakes, paraphernalia and "I might use that someday..." stuff. I have literally filled my basement with who-knows-what. If we had a flood, I would not be able to tell the insurance adjuster what...
The Secret to a Highly Productive Day
What side of the bed did you wake up on? Mornings are really important to me, so I guess you could say that even if I don’t wake up on the right side of the bed…I get there as soon as possible. I choose to start off the morning well because I have learned that it has a great impact...
Is Your Criticism Having the Opposite Effect You Hoped For?
Some of the kindest people in my life have said the hardest things. They hoped to cause a change, but instead caused grief. Maybe you have felt this way too. Whether it was a family member, mentor, boss or loved one—they say something to “Help” but they only cause hurt. Even if their words are true, their tone seemed...
Training I Pursued to Preach Better
My job is to help people. While all jobs have some bad days, this is one that I enjoy even on the worst days. However, I know that my primary calling in life is to preach. I believe that this is the reason why I was created (it has taken me years to even get to the point of...
God’s Love Finds Us in Unexpected Places
In the heat of the summer night, Carrie stood in line to get in. Her hair was all done up. Her make-up was perfect. Her cloths were in style and probably the type that her dad did not want her to go out of the house wearing. Every guy gave her a glance. That was just what she wanted. As...