The Importance of Finishing Well

Wise King Solomon fell prey to folly - Here's how you can avoid it

“Well begun is half done.” – Aristotle Throughout my life, I’ve found that I begin new tasks with great gusto. This is a good thing, and I have learned to take advantage of my enthusiasm to create momentum that will help carry me through the eventual letdown. The particulars vary from project to project, but […]

Rediscovering Hope Through the Power of Forgiveness

Gentry and Hadley Eddings forgave the man who caused the deaths of their sons

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” – Jesus  in Mark 11:25 (NIV) I had the privilege recently of interviewing my friend, Gentry Eddings, Worship Pastor of Forest Hill Church’s Ballantyne Campus, and soon Campus Pastor for that […]

Re-Post: The Unsung Hero of Christmas

The noble character of Joseph

Merry Christmas! While we celebrate the incarnation of Christ Jesus, I want to ask you to consider the example of a man who was indispensable to the Christmas story — Joseph the carpenter.   Meet Joseph When we first meet Joseph in the Bible, he is defined in terms of his relationships — as the […]

How to Prevail When the Spam Hits the Fan

Hardship is inevitable. Defeat isn't.

“Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes. You must look into that storm and shout as you did in Rome, ‘Do your worst, for I will do […]

Re-post: “The Dwarfs Are For The Dwarfs!”

The perils of parochialism

“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a […]

Does Religion Deserve the Blame for Paris?

The folly of painting with too broad a brush

“An appeaser is a person who feeds the crocodile in hopes of being eaten last.” – Winston Churchill Like many of you, I am feeling shock and anger at last Friday’s attacks in Paris. I have spent time in and around Paris and have friends there, so this is not purely academic for me. Despite […]

What Are You So Afraid Of?

Don't let fear hold you back

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” – Nelson Mandela It’s an interesting week to consider today’s topic. Last Sunday was the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt, and […]

The How and Why of Saying No to Your Boss

Daniel and the Limits of Obedience

“Learn to say ‘no’ to the good so you can say ‘yes’ to the best.” – John C. Maxwell In a recent post, I explained the debt a man owes to his employer. (If you weren’t paying attention then, you can read it here.) In that post I presented a general rule that employees should […]

The Most Powerful Lie Is The One You Tell Yourself

Learn to Think and See Clearly

“People lose their way when they lose their why” – Gail Hyatt A man on a mission has to be on his guard, as there are obstacles and enemies that would thwart his purpose. Bandits will try to rob him, women will try to seduce him, fatigue will try to overpower him and even his […]

Act! It’s How Wisdom Triumphs over Ignorance and Injustice

Once you see something, you can't "un-see" it

“We are men of action. Lies do not become us.” – The Princess Bride We’ve all seen some shocking events in the news lately. Undercover videos have removed the gauzy curtains of plausible deniability regarding the true nature of abortion and the truly abhorrent selling of human body parts by Planned Parenthood. For those who […]