I think there can be a darkness within each one of us that loves to reach up, take hold of our confidence, and pull it down into an abyss of self-pity. You know the days. The bad thoughts or feelings start to steamroll. It’s the opposite of positive momentum. You feel deflated. Then you catch … Continue reading When you feel defeated
wisdom
Are all new ideas good, bad, or something else?
Some people think every new idea is a good idea. And others think that every new idea is a bad idea. But it’s not that simple. So let me share something that I think should make us both more humble and more hopeful about how we approach new ideas. Larry Osborne points out that virtually … Continue reading Are all new ideas good, bad, or something else?
Why your brokenness can be useful
All of us carry a certain amount of brokenness. These are problems we have, mistakes we’ve made, good-plans-gone-wrong that weight us down like the proverbial tonne of bricks. Because we think of these things as negative, we think they have no redeeming value. But know this: Your temporary brokenness can have eternal usefulness. Here’s what I … Continue reading Why your brokenness can be useful
The difference between information and wisdom
Have you heard of data overload? Researchers at the University of Southern California found that the average person in 1986 was exposed to the equivalent of 40 newspapers worth of information each day. By 2006 that number had increased to an equivalent of 174 newspapers a day. And that was way back in 2006! Can … Continue reading The difference between information and wisdom
The perfect day to begin again
I came across an unsettling statistic. It was that most suicides occur on Sunday nights, and that most heart attacks happen on Monday mornings. (If you’re reading this on Monday morning, don’t stress—take a deep breath!) Maybe it’s because, for many people, Monday signals the return to responsibility. And with it, a reminder that there … Continue reading The perfect day to begin again
Believing what we WANT to be true, verses what actually is
A 2007 Gallup poll revealed that 81% of people believe in heaven, but only 69% believe in hell. That seems strange to me. But it’s also very telling. We like to believe in things we like, but not in things we don’t. The Scottish theologian James Denney did a survey of Jesus’ teaching and found … Continue reading Believing what we WANT to be true, verses what actually is
Advice that only a friend can give
Some people have annoying habits and don't do anything about them. But what if that annoying person was you? Here's what to do about it with the help of a friend.
Who is an expert, really?
Several years ago my wife and kids and I were up in Bracebridge, Ontario visiting some family. My daughter got a strange bug bite. And since it looked weird we went to the local walk-in clinic. I was totally impressed by the doctor. First, he listened and didn’t speak down to us. Second, he was … Continue reading Who is an expert, really?
Clinging to mistakes
Someone once said, “Don't cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it.” I think there’s incredible wisdom in that statement. But what does it mean? The last I checked, we humans don’t like to be wrong. But we sometimes are. Even still, we will defend decisions, words or actions … Continue reading Clinging to mistakes
The words that are inspired inspire
Have you ever played Scrabble? The idea is simple: Make words for points, and whoever gets the most points wins. But issues can arise when someone puts a word on the board that the other player doesn’t recognize. If challenged it has to be looked up in an agreed-upon dictionary. The word only stays if it’s … Continue reading The words that are inspired inspire
