In his book, Invisible God, author Phillip Yancey uses an illustration from practicing piano to illustrate why it's important to pay attention to fundamentals: "I do not play the scales for their own sake, but in order to play the grander pieces I must build on the daily mastery of the ordinary." The daily mastery of the ordinary. This is important lesson across many facets of life. Athletes know that to compete at a high level they must operate from a strong foundation of basic habits. Though an accountant may use Excel and pivot tables, many decisions often return to a basic understanding of addition and subtraction. When it comes to maintaining momentum in your spiritual life, it requires building on a daily mastery of the ordinary. The most gifted athletes practice. The most skilled musicians practice. People who mature in their faith have learned to practice the fundamentals of their faith.…
Read More
Have you tossed any relational hand grenades lately? It might have happened over breakfast as you were discussing the day ahead. One off-handed remark and a good breakfast is ruined by an explosion. At the office, you probably have a short-list of grenade throwers. These are the folks who pull the pin and toss grenades into an otherwise peaceful discussion. Parents pass down relational hand grenades to their children. Teachers toss them into the hearts of students. At one time or another, all of us have been guilty. When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossian church, he listed a few hand grenades that will rip apart any relationship: "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you…
Read More
I'm pleased to announce that I now have three books available for the Kindle: one novel and two short ebooks. The novel is called "Lesser Angels" and tells the story of a brother and sister who discover a secret about their deceased mother and set out to find answers. I titled it "Lesser Angels" because of the people they meet along the way and what they discover about themselves. "The Cure for Insomnia: Preaching That Won't Put People to Sleep" offers my perspective on preaching and communication. Much of this has been road-tested over the past twenty-five years, including those early sermons that inflicted too much pain on my audience. It's not intended to be an academic treatise but the journal of a fellow traveller. "Leading with Heart: Faith-Filled Thoughts on Leadership" is designed to look at leadership through the lens of faith. If leadership is best defined as influence,…
Read More
“As long as we are unable to forgive we keep ourselves chained to the unforgiving. We give them rent-free space in our mind, emotional shackles in our heart, and the right to torment us in the small hours of the night.” I'm not sure who wrote that but I like it. How often have you given someone "rent-free space" in your mind? Long after the comment or the event has passed, you go back and replay it again ... and again ... and again. It becomes an unwelcome guest, like family members who stay beyond three days (just kidding). You feel the emotional shackles every time the person is around, or when their name is mentioned. An unwillingness to forgive is a willingness to be tormented. It doesn't have to be that way. I am sure who wrote this (and I like it even more): "Therefore, as God’s chosen people,…
Read More
Here's a video we showed at church a few weeks ago featuring a good friend of mine and his story. Rick Bowers Service Testimony from Mountainview on Vimeo.
Read More