You received without payment, give without payment. — Matthew 10:8. I’ve been incredibly fortunate throughout my life to be surrounded by wonderful friends who’ve showered me with countless gifts. And no, I’m not talking about that Porsche or Ford pickup I’m still waiting for! The true treasures I’ve received are the unconditional gifts of love, time,…
In Silence Our Soul Waits
For God alone my soul in silence waits; from him comes my salvation –– Psalm 62:1. Psalm 62:1 offers a counterpoint to the often-heard imagery of the soul “crying out.” While there are certainly seasons for fervent prayer and passionate lament, this verse invites us into a different, yet equally vital, posture — silent, expectant…
Turn Your Barrel Over
For they understood nothing about all these things; in fact, what he said was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said. — Luke 18:34. It’s striking to look back at Luke 18:34 and see how the disciples “understood nothing.” From our perspective, Jesus’s predictions about his suffering and resurrection seem perfectly clear.…
Lose With Poise and Win With Grace
John Steinbeck wisely observed that “Somewhere in the world there is defeat for everyone. Some are destroyed by defeat and some made small and mean by victory. Greatness lives in one who triumphs equally over defeat and victory.” His words resonate deeply with the “old school” values my coaches instilled in me: “lose with poise,…
The Saving Voice
The memory is as vivid now as it was all those years ago in college. A group of us, my teammates and I, ventured into a “cave” in Northwest Arkansas. It wasn’t the kind of cave you stroll through with paved paths and dramatic stalagmites like Blanchard Springs. No, this was more of a vertical…