I’m glad I’m a husband and I’m glad I’m a dad. These are the two most important human relationships I have; that should go without saying. If you’re a spouse and a parent, they need to be your two most important relationships too.
In all of the daily roles I fill, there are none more crucial to me than those of being a husband and dad — if I fail at these, everything else will crumble along with them. Strong statement? Continue reading
A concept that just keeps coming back to me again and again from several sources and at varying degrees is that of “being” vs. “doing”. Which one’s more important? Does it matter if one’s more important than the other?
Image: renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Is who I am more important that what I do? In an earlier post (A Lesson in Communication), I emphasized a distinctive between the two on the basis of “doing” being defined by my work (i.e. job, vocation, etc.). However, when “doing” is cast in a different light as simply describing Continue reading
Enough is enough.
In the name of productivity (and my sanity) I determined a couple of days ago that I can’t go on the way things are. My office environment, quite simply, is just too cluttered. Well, it was too cluttered — now it’s just plain messy, until I finish getting everything where it needs to be.
As a peek into how I arrived at this process, here are the steps that got me here and where I’m going with it:
In a recent post I addressed the topic of the unmitigated rise of profanity and obscenity in everyday communication. Though it wasn’t delivered verbally, this weekend’s Super Bowl half-time show “middle finger” gaffe from British singer M.I.A. only serves to prove this.
Image: sippakorn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
I recently heard someone addressing this topic and the principles presented were as follows. The words we use must be, in this order…
Not long ago in one of the LinkedIn groups of which I’m a member, the following was posted by a fellow group member, Gene Ziesel (Twitter / LinkedIn), a pastor from the Roanoke, Virginia area. It is a vivid illustration of the fundamental purpose of this blog, “leading from beneath/behind.”
Image: jscreationzs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
I invite you to take a few minutes and soak this in, particularly if you’re in a similar spot as I am — leading, though not “the” leader. Continue reading
Last night I had the express privilege of speaking in the evening devotions time in the men’s dorm at the Word of Life Bible Institute, Canada Campus. It was a windy, blustery winter night but the fellowship with those guys was warm and welcoming.
Photo courtesy of: dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
My topic in the brief time we had together was “Making The Best Use of What We Have.” It’s one that I’ve been developing for several years now in various speaking roles. I first shared it at a leaders retreat four years ago but it is fresh and exciting to me every time I review it.
I am bothered by the growing use of profanity and vulgarity in our everyday surroundings. Are you?
Image: Danilo Rizzuti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
The title of this post parallels the old technology axiom: “Garbage in, garbage out.” When I was a teenager, I remember hearing the following quote from a man I highly respected and held in great esteem and I’ve never forgotten it. I too have said it many times since: “Profanity is the weak attempt of a feeble mind to express itself in a forcible way.”
A simple enough statement but it carries profound weight. Continue reading
In Part 1 of this post (last week) I introduced the process of selecting a “personal study theme” which is essentially choosing to focus for an entire calendar year on one area of my life, particularly in my reading plan. (Yes, I have a “reading plan.” This is one of those areas where when I fail to plan, I’m really planning to fail. I need to map out my month, quarter and year when it comes to my reading or it just doesn’t happen. You?)
Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
I can emphatically say that I am far beyond where I would have been without this process because I know me. I mentioned in Part 1 that I would provide some tools and resources for you in this post that have assisted me in this process.
Courtesy of Six Pixels of Separation, this funny video illustrates a representation of about 90% of the business, organizational or local church presentations I’ve ever sat in on, as the Six Pixels author notes also. It’s funny because it’s true. Lack of preparation because I’m not being productive is no excuse for a bad presentation; if what I have to say is important enough to present to other people, then I’d better prepare and present well.
I trust this brings some levity to your day as it did mine. Enjoy! Feel free to leave any comments you have below.