Back to School, Back to Wisdom
Walk carefully. Live wisely. Make the most of every opportunity. For many families, the new year doesn't really begin on January 1. It begins when school starts. Parents are celebrating. 🎉 Kids... maybe not so much. 😄 Gone are the days of sleeping until noon, staying...
Your Vote Is Your Voice
An act of stewardship that helps guide the future of our communities Next Tuesday, thousands of Missourians will head to the ballot box to cast their votes. This year's ballot includes several important amendments that will shape the future of our state. What always...
Knowing When to Walk Away
Leaning into wisdom when engaging in conversation One of the reasons I use Facebook is to teach, coach, motivate, and inspire people. Not everyone agrees with what I have to say, and that’s okay. I am a strong believer in freedom of speech. Most of the time, I let...
Pleasing God, Loving People
Why a life of obedience shapes the way we treat others One of the things I’ve noticed lately is that the older people get, the more they reflect on whether they truly lived well. I’m part of a weekly Bible study where I am by far the youngest guy in the room. I did...
Success Is Not the Goal, Significance Is
The four levels of potential — and the one most people never reach One of my favorite teachings of Jesus is the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25. In the story, one servant was given five talents, another was given two, and another was given one. The main point...
The Interruptions ARE the Ministry
The ministry you’re praying for may be hiding inside the interruption you’re trying to avoid I’ve always been the kind of person who likes to stay busy. I like structure. I like momentum. I like progress. I enjoy building things, solving problems, and getting things...
Christian First, Black Third
My identity has always been built around what I value most Recently, sports commentator, podcaster, and Black influencer Stephen A. Smith asked a question that generated a lot of discussion: "What's wrong with identifying yourself as Black first?" My answer is simple....
A Few Seconds of Anger, A Lifetime of Consequences
Hotheads. That's what they used to call them back in my day. You know the type. Quick to pop off. Ready to fight. Always looking to escalate a situation instead of keeping it calm. They have a short fuse, a quick temper, and a habit of making bad situations even...
Remaining Teachable
Everyone Wants the Honor. Few Want the Correction That Produces It. One of the clearest signs of wisdom is the willingness to be corrected. That is harder than it sounds. Most of us naturally resist criticism. We defend ourselves. We explain ourselves. We justify our...
Vindication Is Coming
Psalms 52:7–9 (NIV)“Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!” But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. For what...