Did you grow up in a small town? The town I grew up in was so small we didn’t have a traffic light or even a blinking caution light!
When I was in college and people asked where I was from, I didn’t tell people the actual town I grew up in because no one would know where it was. Instead, I told them about the next town over which was much larger and at least regionally recognizable. Things aren’t much different now, because I still live in a small town.
It seems like everyone wants to label you and me a consumer. Economists, politicians, and corporations seem to think our greatest contribution to society is our ability to consume.
The impression we’re left with is the only thing we have to offer the world is our purchasing power. In fact, there seems to be an expectation that our duty is to go out and spend $$ each weekend so our economy keeps humming along.
What is the thing you are most afraid of someone finding out? Maybe it’s a poor decision you made years ago. Maybe it’s a decision your child made. Maybe it’s an addiction you beat.
What if the thing you most want to forget about is the very thing that would most help others?
Did you know that organizations have self-esteem? We often think of people or our own self-esteem, but rarely do we think about organizations.
Whether it’s a group, team, division, department, company, church, town, or even a country they all have a way in which they view themselves and that view impacts their self-esteem.
Have you ever felt like you invested in someone’s life and you didn’t see the change you had hoped for?
You poured a lot of time, energy, and love into the relationship, but now they aren’t part of your life. Maybe it was because they moved, had a life change, or you were heading in different directions. Whatever the reason it can make your investment feel pointless and maybe even like a waste of time.
Have you ever wondered how some companies can stay in business when they treat customers so poorly?
It’s becoming more common place and every time I experience it I’m shocked.
Have you ever been asked a difficult question and weren’t sure how to answer? Should you walk away or should you wade in?
Being a pastor I find that I get asked a lot of difficult questions. Some questions are heart-breaking like, “Will I go to hell for being divorced?” (In case you’re wondering…No.)
Everyone of us have been through at least one storm that you thought at the time would bring you down.
But there is one factor about your storm that you’ve probably never thought about or heard anyone talk about before.
Recently, I had the privilege of being a small part in seeing some prayers answered that others had prayed for years.
It reminded me that we each have a part to play in the grand story God is telling. History is really His-story. This includes the history of the world and your own personal history.
In every industry, media, niche, and forum there are rockstars…
People who are so far ahead of everyone else in terms of success, followers, money, status, album sales or whatever else your industry values that it seems mere mortals like you and me will never catch up.
