Reid said, "I normally don't have a loss for words." I replied awkwardly, looking for something to say. "Today's a good day for no words." Reid was at the Peace Rally the night before. He drove out of the parking garage, where one of the snipers was setup, 25 minutes before the assault on the police and protesters began. It's the day after five police officers were killed in Dallas. My wife, Jen, and I were at the noon prayer vigil at Thanks-giving Square in downtown Dallas. This is … [Read more...]
The Courage to Live
July 31, 2012 by
The other night I met with a man who a friend who connected me with. We don't know the 'why' behind our connection yet. We're figuring that out. He could become a friend, a mentor, a business opportunity... We'll see. We enjoyed a 3 hour conversation about business, life, and Spirit. For most of the night, the conversation was spontaneous and authentic. We were honest and real with one another. At around the two-hour mark, we started talking about the church that Jen and I started in … [Read more...]
How amazing is your grace?
January 24, 2012 by
Familiarity breeds contempt. Spend more time with someone and you'll get jaded. You'll take things for granted, and get angry over smaller things. Hot buttons will emerge. They'll be easier to punch as time goes on. This is probably why marriage can be so hard. It's easier to forgive the waitress who screwed up your food order than it is the wife who forgot to put the cap back on the toothpaste ... again. Grace doesn't dwell well in a world of presumed outcomes. We force grace out of … [Read more...]
Thank, God. I am home.
November 17, 2011 by
I walked in the door. I said, "I'm home, Cheech (Chi-chi's one of our dogs)." A rush of emotion swept through me. "Thank God, I'm home." I've struggled with my house being my home since I moved here. It was Jen's house before we met. There's a lot of history in the house. There's a lot of ego involve in my fighting making this house my home. I create meaning that doesn't have to be there that keeps me away. A friend was telling me about the Samurai. They are not allowed to … [Read more...]
Are you on the right path?
August 31, 2011 by
I got in my car. My intuition told me to go to the Pearl Cup. The one downtown. I've never been there. Downtown has no parking. I begrudged to my intuition, "There won't be parking. I don't want to." I drove to the Downtown Pearl Cup. I figured I was supposed to meet someone. A mysterious crossing of paths. I arrived. I circled the block. Then peered in. There was nobody inside. I came to a stop when my wife called. My intuition chimed in when I was on the phone. "Drive … [Read more...]
A simple way to be a better leader – Part 1
July 12, 2011 by
In the past few days I saw a simple truth about the language of leadership. Ned and Nancy were trying to get their son to get into the pool. Their son, Niles, was scared of the water. "Do you want to get in the pool?" asked Ned. "Do you want to try to stand on the first step?" Niles froze at the decision point. He was anxious and uneasy. His answers came non-verbally. Niles stopped and backed away from the pool's edge. Parents are leaders. The leaders were putting the child … [Read more...]
How do you find your way home…
July 11, 2011 by
The pastor, Paul's, voice was thrown from the ceiling speakers. Dave stared into space. Paul spoke about the power of confession. The cleansing and healing that comes when we confess to another person. Dave sat. A 1000 yard stare. He looked lost. Distant. Like someone who could not see beyond the miles of brokenness that led him to this moment. We never saw Dave before. We offered Dave something to drink and food to eat. The state trooper who was taking a break from shadeless shade … [Read more...]
Want something to blow your mind?
June 3, 2011 by
I had just finished a conversation with Jim Denison, a brilliant theologian and wonderful man. He told me what was happening at the Brooklyn Tabernacle church in Brooklyn, NY. Ridiculous stuff that comes close to miraculous is going on at BTC. I asked Jim what was behind all of it. He said it's a spiritual renewal led by prayer. So I prayed for spiritual renewal. I left lunch and I prayed for God to create spiritual renewal in me that would blow my mind. I prayed that prayer for a few … [Read more...]
