He is one of those larger than life figures – the kind of person that others are just drawn to.
Dr. Sam is a distinguished African American professor at our local university and a regular at my favorite morning hangout. Every morning he makes the rounds up and down the aisles here at Panara, laughing [...]
Archive for April, 2008
30 Apr
Morning by Morning…
29 Apr
Unconquerable Imperfections
There exists a life/faith coping pattern familiar to most of us. The pattern goes something like this:
Sin…confess…sin…confess…sin…confess…
Common to that equation is a single type of sin. You have yours, I have mine. The Bible speaks to “the thorn in our flesh”. Or “Sin common to man”. At lunch a few days [...]
25 Apr
Ummm….
In 1986, Peter Davies was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Northwestern University .
On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air.
The elephant seemed distressed, so Peter approached it very carefully.
He got down on one knee and inspected the elephant’s foot and [...]
25 Apr
The Power of Unison
Challenge:
Mobilize over 200 people to do the same thing, at the same time, in the same place, for exactly 5 minutes.
Impact:
You now have the attention of thousands of people. The floor is yours. Care to deliver a message? What would yours be?
My buddy David over at CYBESD sent me this incredible example of the power [...]
23 Apr
Bear In Focus
EE Cummings once said: “It takes courage to grow up and be who you really are”.
His name is Bear – a mountain man…earthy…unique…madly in love with our Creator, and assured of who he is.
I met him 6 months ago on a Tres Dias weekend. He came back to serve others with me this past [...]
21 Apr
The Junk Drawer
All I needed was 6 volt battery – the round kind.
So I went to where all odd things reside, the junk drawer. Do you have one of these too? Maybe my house is the exception, but I kinda doubt it.
Junk drawers are the disorganized secret no one else should see. We throw [...]
16 Apr
Relevant
“It’s hard to exaggerate the degree to which the modern church seems irrelevant to the modern man.” – D. Elton Trublood
Ouch.
In my humble opinion – absolute truth.
But ouch.
15 Apr
A Father’s Heart
The last time I heard that phrase, “A Father’s Heart”, was over dinner with sweet friends of mine, Pat and Katherine Thomas. She was trying to encourage me after I confessed that I continue to sabotage some parenting lessons with our girls. I just cant help but to give them more than they [...]
10 Apr
Letter To The Editor
I would guess that all major newspapers have a “Letter to the Editor” section.
My local paper The Tampa Tribune does, and it’s a section that I read each morning over my Hazelnut Coffee and whole grain toast topped with honey and all natural peanut butter (still cant get used to that).
I like the relevancy of [...]
9 Apr
Jealousy Followup
Jealousy – such an emotional and sensitive topic.
By your comments, both public and private, we have all struggled to some degree with this giant.
Sometimes just realizing that you are not the only one in this battle is the first step towards victory. Some of us are in the battle of our life right now. [...]
7 Apr
Overcoming Series – Jealousy
I have struggled with jealousy all of my life.
From the moment my best childhood friend was picked ahead of me for our big recess football game, to my high school girlfriend making out with my best friend at Homecoming, to today, when my friends “out-success” me, battling jealousy is a sneering giant in my life. [...]
4 Apr
Lunch With Dad
I am so thankful that I have a mom and dad that love God and are still such an integral part of my adult life. I treasure every moment we have together.
Yesterday I had lunch with my Best Man.
Over a Tuscan Chicken Wrap he asked me questions like – “Does prayer change God?” and “Why [...]
2 Apr
But How Can I Know?
OK!!!!
I Peek. I admit it! There…confession is good for the soul (but bad for the reputation).
When the Pastor says to the congregation something like “With every head bowed and every eye closed…raise your hand if you accepted Christ today” … I peek.
Oh it’s not a blatant peek – I’ve perfected the “peek between [...]


Say What?