Starting in early childhood, people are taught to share with others. Sharing is a recognized virtue in most civilized cultures because we understand instinctively that selfishness and a lack of sharing are wrong. Whether we acknowledge God or not, we are still created in His image and are more like Him than any other createdContinue reading “Do I Have to Share?”
Category Archives: Community
Finding Your Crew
There’s a human allure to finding your tribe, to finding that place “where everybody knows your name,” as the Cheers theme described it. Whether it’s finding your “crew” in middle school, pledging a fraternity or sorority in college, joining a CrossFit gym, or amassing political cronies, having a tribe is a longing in all ourContinue reading “Finding Your Crew”
The Founding of Harvard
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.—JOHN 8:32 The Puritans arrived in Massachusetts Bay by boatloads during the Great Migration of the 1630s, and many of them were well-educated graduates of England’s leading universities, especially Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Many were theologians, pastors, and Bible scholars. One thing was paramountContinue reading “The Founding of Harvard”
Midday: See Yourself as You Are
I will never forget the day I first looked in one of those lighted magnifying mirrors. You know, the ones you can buy for your bathroom counter? They come in different levels of magnification. The one I bought was five times magnification because I needed to see certain things on my face and skin moreContinue reading “Midday: See Yourself as You Are”
Diversity Only Matters If There Is Unity
Rightly balancing unity and diversity is challenging but necessary. An unhealthy emphasis on unity can lead to a uniformity of thought and talents that makes it impossible for a group to employ a full array of strengths. An unhealthy emphasis on diversity can fragment an organization into warring factions that render it incapable of accomplishingContinue reading “Diversity Only Matters If There Is Unity”
When Mercy Is Thin
Justice and mercy can seem like opposing ideas. Justice requires the recompense for wrongs done, the wrongdoer to “pay the price” or make restitution in some way. It is most often associated with punishment for a crime done. It is meted out, or done to, the offender. Mercy on the other hand, is almost theContinue reading “When Mercy Is Thin”
Belonging in the Middle Age
I’m skeptical anyone over age 35 has close friends. That’s an exaggeration, but I’m certainly convinced there’s a dead zone for friendship between ages 35 and 50. It’s difficult to have good friends in middle age. Far more difficult than it should be, especially for men. A recent Saturday Night Live skit called “Man Park”Continue reading “Belonging in the Middle Age”
What Will We Pass to Our Children?
I was born in the middle. I came into this world in 1977 as a middle child (two out of four, anyway) in Middle America in a middle-class family. The ordinary life I’ve lived has been the experience of tens of millions of people in this country and hundreds of millions more around the world.Continue reading “What Will We Pass to Our Children?”
Men Struggle for Friendship
I’m skeptical anyone over age 35 has close friends. That’s an exaggeration, but I’m certainly convinced there’s a dead zone for friendship between ages 35 and 50. It’s difficult to have good friends in middle age. Far more difficult than it should be, especially for men. A recent Saturday Night Live skit called “Man Park”Continue reading “Men Struggle for Friendship”
Just Another Year
Youthfulness shouldn’t stop anyone from achievement. It certainly didn’t stop eleven-year-old Mikaila. Instead of putting up a lemonade stand, Mikaila opened a lemonade business. Me & the Bees Lemonade started with her grandmother’s recipe and eventually earned a $60,000 investment from investors on the television show Shark Tank. She also signed a contract with aContinue reading “Just Another Year”
Intentional Faith 