Nick Saban, head coach at the University of Alabama, has won 5 national championships and become—arguably to Auburn fans—the greatest football coach in history. The guy must be doing something right. But, what is it? When Saban is asked that question, which is often, he always gives the same answer:
Many of us are wary of change, though it’s often a good thing. And, at times, we all need change. Often, there may be some-thing or some-one who encourages such a transformation. That makes them a catalyst, and having such a change agent in our lives can be wonderfully helpful
There are over 7 billion people on earth. Each has their own circumstances: where they live, who they are, what they do, how much they have. Those things make up the “world” they inhabit. But each also has their own world—inside of them—which is where they really live. That
Contentment seems to have gotten a bad reputation. These days, some think of contentment as being passive. Others would say that if you’re content, you’re saying you are okay settling for complacency. Instead, we’re supposed to be dissatisfied with the status quo. Fighting for more, working to get ahead, and
Maybe you rarely think about God. Perhaps you aren’t sure—deep down, in the dark times—he is there. Or, you believe there must be a God, but you can’t imagine he cares about you very much. It could be you go to church, and even pray a bit while you’re there.
As we climbed the steps, we were drawn in by the energy and the smiles of twenty-somethings genuinely glad to be exactly where they now were. The older, borrowed building seemed at first a contrast. Its stained glass and aged woodwork were reminiscent of, well, a regular church, but that
In physics, inertia is a property by which a body remains at rest or in motion unless acted upon by some force. Simply put, inertia is resistance to change, and it can be your friend or your enemy as you seek to live intentionally. In life, we face inertia all
It’s pretty exciting when you get a chance to see how God works through us firsthand. Last week, I attended the third and final session for Lifework Leadership, a curriculum for Christian marketplace leaders to clarify their calling, challenge their mind, and engage their hearts for service. These executive retreats
Everyone faces brokenness at some point, and we all have issues and trials. Including you. Brokenness is a time of pain and sorrow. You may feel so damaged you can’t function normally, and getting through the day becomes a struggle. Perhaps you have given up or fallen into despair. But,
I was startled when my four-year old crept into our darkened room. I glanced at the bedside clock—3:00 AM—and was concerned . He never did that. He said he had a bad dream, also a first. Though sleepy, my words of comfort came easily: “I’m your Dad. I’m here, and
You are special. Whether you know it or not, and even if you don’t feel you are. You are unique, with gifts and talents that position you to add value to the world and serve other people. You are designed to do good work. Understanding Your Design Your strengths make
If you were given 3 wishes for someone you care deeply about, what would you choose? Since this is just a game (well, sort of), let’s add a couple of rules. First, we’ll say that all versions of “wealth, health, or happiness” are off limits. And, second, you can’t wish
I had gone back and forth about coming, but somehow found myself driving the crowded van toward Jacksonville. We were running late, so most of the crowd was already in the stadium as we wound our way up the ramps to the upper deck. Finally, we found our gate and
What does “safety” mean to you? To me, it is when home means security and happiness, and feeling I am where I was meant to be. Safety is relationships built on kindness and authenticity. It is anticipating tomorrow as a good day, perhaps with its own problems, but without self-induced
I went to Celebrate Recovery for several years. It is an understatement to say it was one of the most wonderful experiences I have ever had. Some of the life-changing discoveries the program brings include: We all have issues. Some of us just don’t realize it yet. The hardest step
Last week, I spent two days in a conference room with twenty or so business leaders from my city, which is Birmingham, Alabama. We were there to experience an executive version of Lifework Leadership, a program about how God works transforming leaders who, in turn, transform cities. I believe God
The last STEPS Journey Blog article on “How to Create a 1-Hour Life Plan” outlined a simple process to help you focus your time on things that matter. That sounds good. And the opening sentence dripped with aspiration with the promise: “In 60 minutes, you can change the trajectory of
Around Christmas, regular people actually talk about Jesus. Much more than they normally do. Kept within limits, it becomes almost politically correct, as long as the reference is offered in the holiday context of celebrating the birth of the baby Jesus. For example, people talk about when Jesus was born.
Mom’s birthday is today. After church, we’ll treat her to lunch at Cracker Barrel, one of her favorites. She’ll likely order the “Chicken N’ Dumplins” platter with three vegetables and open our present, three just right mystery books–not gory, but not too tame. Tomorrow night, we’re going to take
This past Saturday was just another day. Except for the part about me turning 60. For months, I had been waiting for this to turn into a big occasion, but it didn’t. And that’s okay. In fact, it seems to be the way this milestone was meant to be for
