Does your demand for self-gratification ignite conflict between others? Before you answer that question, ponder the times when you’ve been involved in conflict due primarily to the need for someone (you or the other person) to feel superior, smarter, more experienced, or simply in control. We’ve all been there before – shutdown, shutout, or silenced by someone unable to appreciate
The cause of our struggles in life are not other people or our situations. The cause of our struggles is the HEART that we bring to those people and those situations. When we are faced with conflict, it is natural to blame the other person. In doing so, we often respond in sin. We create mini-wars between us and the
I saw a shirt recently that read, “Love like Jesus.” I thought it was the most awesome shirt because it’s a great reminder of the second greatest commandment. In Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV) one of the the Pharisees asks, “‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
Over the weekend we made an impromptu stop to pick strawberries. After riding in a car for nearly three hours, I was carsick and needed a pit stop. The strawberry patch was closing in less than an hour, but we didn’t care. It was just a quick fun stop for our daughter and fresh air to hopefully calm my symptoms.
One of the best pieces of advice I was given early in my career was: “Your way is A way, but it’s just that, A way. There are lots of ways to accomplish the same task. Some ways are more efficient. Some ways are more effective. Some ways are more expensive. Some ways are more creative. But always be open
Yesterday all I wanted to do was cry. Read a text message … cried. Someone walked out of my office … cried. Left a meeting … cried. I knew why. I felt overwhelmed. For the last several days I have felt overwhelmed. And instead of counting the things I have accomplished and focusing on what is going right, I have
This week I attended a Grow Class centered on learning how to live “The Gospel-Centered Life.” The class centers around Biblical concepts taught from a book by the same name. This week, the class focused on learning about the law and the Gospel. The group looked at how taking the legalism or license view, instead of the Gospel view, can
“First Things First”. When you hear that, what comes to mind? In his sermon yesterday, Dr. Terry Carter used an analogy borrowed from Bryan Dyson, a former President and CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises. In life, our relationships and activities can be put into three categories: Rubber, Metal, and Glass. Picture those categories as balls you’re juggling. They’re all competing for
I got in trouble twice that I remember in first grade. First, my teacher had her evaluation with the principal the same day my body decided to run fever in class. She had told us to be on our best behavior, so when my head started to hurt, I simply laid it down on my desk. When the principal left,
On the way to church yesterday the radio DJ spoke about how pride sometimes keeps her from experiencing what church is really about. She wakes up in the morning focused on what she’s going to wear. She focuses on how her hair looks and what her makeup looks like. During the Worship Service she worries if she looks like she’s
