Ashley peered through the windshield at the detour signs. The new route took her off the interstate. I could get frustrated … or I could enjoy this, Ashley thought. The picturesque drive wound through the rolling countryside and deposited her back on the highway, adding just a few minutes to her normal drive. Ashley smiled.…
Jason, Michael, and Ben decided to play “Follow the Leader” on the playground. When it was Jason’s turn to lead, he invited additional friends to join in. But he didn’t use the same route around the swing set and under the slide that his two buddies had followed. Instead, he tried his own ideas. He…
Glue, Footings, and Windows At first glance, a member of the royal family and a low-born commoner seem an unlikely pair to build an unshakeable relationship. But Jonathan and David together paint an inspiring model of an accountability partnership built on love, trust, and transparency. Jonathan was the oldest son of King Saul, already…
“I value my family,” said Ken, when asked to identify what was most important to him. His hand passed over his eyes. “But my marriage is falling apart and I don’t know my son.” Ken went on to justify his 70-hour work weeks, the need to play golf with clients on Saturdays, and his overwhelming…
Images of flattened homes, crushed cars, and building debris flitted across our TV screens in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Many of us felt saddened for the victims. But soon the reports became too overwhelming to bear. It was easier to flip the channel to a sitcom or a football game. Distractions keep our minds…
Even the most level-headed Christ-follower – one focused on worshiping Jesus – can get distracted at Christmas. If that’s you, then likely you are already well-aware of the danger in focusing on gifts, shopping, parties, vacations and even family time or special church activities during the holiday season. What may be more subtly distracting is…
From Orphan to Community Leader About Amilcar In March 2013 we visited the church in La Esperanza, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala to teach the Spiritually Healthy Leader workshops to 18 church leaders, including Amilcar and Hilda Carrilo. (Read Hilda’s story here.) We had the privilege of staying in the Carrilo’s home, one filled with an atmosphere of…