Will You Have an Encore Presentation – Part 1

I recently read an article by Dr. James Dobson, in which he talks about the opportunities we miss in our Western cultural mindset of retirement. He talked about a retirement center “where the residents spent most of their time playing cards, pickleball, shuffleboard, and drinking heavily at parties. For them, life was like being on…

Are You All In?

Discovering what you are here to do can be a challenge. From the time that we were young children, we had adults asking us what we wanted to be when we grew up. We might have responded with statements such as, “I want to be a fireman,” or “I want to be an astronaut.” When…

Purpose Isn’t Always Glamorous

So, many times when individuals examine or contemplate their “Purpose,” they envision some great calling with astounding results. Things like: discovering a cure for cancer, preaching the Gospel to millions – like Billy Graham, writing best selling novels that thrill readers around the world, or founding an organization to help those in need – such…

Who Did You Meet During COVID

You may be thinking, “I don’t know that I met anybody during COVID, except for the person giving the vaccine, because we were all locked down at home.” Then you may have had a chance to meet a really important person – the person you could meet on introspection – yourself. From the beginning of…

Do You Have Jenga Faith?

Now you may be thinking, “I’ve heard of faith, faithfulness, faithlessness, godly faith, various religious faiths, a wide range of denominational faiths – but I have never heard of Jenga faith.” Well, you probably haven’t heard of it because I made it up. Actually, it was my son who made the following observation. So, many…

Who are You Playing For?

You may be thinking, “Playing what for?” So, allow me to ask the question a bit differently. Who are you living for? Now in this “enlightened” age, I might get a variety of answers – “I live for my kids or my grandkids;” “I live to hear the approval and applause from others;” or “I…

Who is in Control?

Walking down a side street in New Orleans, my wife and I came across a sign outside of a restaurant that was a tad unusual. While most would advertise their “great food in a fine dining experience,” this one was different. The sign stated that the food was disappointing, the drinks were not all that…

Are You Nearing Burnout?

Burnout has been defined as, “an extreme state of psychological pain.” “It’s a response to facing prolonged, chronic stressors that go beyond your ability or available resources to overcome.” Professor Michael Leiter of Acadia University in Nova Scotia states that burnout has three components – “overwhelming exhaustion, feelings of cynicism, and a sense of discouragement.”…