In 2018, Uber released their annual Lost and Found Index of things left behind in their cars. Not surprisingly, the most common items were phones, wallets, and keys. They also found a flat-screen TV, a love letter from a boyfriend in jail, someone's tax returns, and a cat carrier. There was no word on whether the cat carrier was empty. While finding a love letter from an imprisoned boyfriend might be unusual and surprising, what isn't surprising is when Uber identified the most likely time period when someone might lose something: Between 10 pm and 2 am. When I was in high school, my father used to tell me, "Nothing good happens after midnight." In our modern American culture, when we lose something and can't find it, we generally replace it with something new. In fact, we might not even look all that hard to find it. We've been called…
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I’m not sure how many times I’ve missed the right answer because I was asking the wrong question. Even if you get the right answer to the wrong question - it's still the wrong question. Here's what I've learned: to make forward progress in any area of life (marriage, business, faith) requires us to ask the right questions. As you would imagine, people asked Jesus all kinds of questions. In fact, much of his teaching is not of the presorted, canned variety; it's in response to someone's question. In today’s passage, an expert in Jewish law asks Jesus a really good question: how can a person have a right relationship with God? The expert answers correctly. It boils down to two things: Love God and love your neighbor. Let’s pick up the story in Luke 10:28-29 … 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”…
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In the game of life, everyone is a participant. No one is ever truly just an observer, a member of the studio audience. We will either play an active or passive role, but in both cases we are choosing to do something. Regardless if we are creating our day-to-day experiences or simply allowing them to happen, they are still happening. There are no bystanders in this life. Both action and inaction have consequences. Action-based results are easier to identify because we see the connection between cause and effect. When something works, we refine it and do it better. When it doesn't work, we can make adjustments or drop it altogether. But I believe it's harder to see the consequences of inaction, especially the long-term impact that inaction has on our inner wellbeing. I was recently rereading a story of Jesus, one that is familiar to many people -- at least…
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A short clip encouraging you to make 2020 the year of personal momentum.Watch more videos at the Mountainview YouTube channel. Looking for a Speaking Coach? The most successful people are not always the smartest people. But they have one thing in common: they communicate well. I'd love to help you become a better communicator. Click here. Professor at Warner University church planter with Stadia former former president, Church Planters of the Rockies helped start 2 for-profit tech companies Need a Speaker or Presenter? Interested in having me speak for your church, conference, or organization? Follow this link to learn more.
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“Midway through our life’s journey, I went astray from the straight road and woke to find myself alone in a dark wood.” - From Dante's Inferno If Dante had been writing for a social media audience, he might have added a hashtag: #HowDidIendUpHere In 50 years of living, I've never had a morning when I woke up to find new tattoo on my arm (or any tattoo!). But I've had many mornings ... and afternoons ... and evenings ... that did not go according to plan. Interruptions happen, but I'm not talking about interruptions. I'm referring to those moments when you are sitting in the accumulated darkness that gathered as a result of your choices. It wasn't a sudden jump from morning to night. Incrementally, over time, I dimmed the lights and allowed the darkness to ease in. As my spiritual and emotional eyes adjusted, the darkness became easier to…
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