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It's a big world—too big. Can't get my mind around it. I see the hurt in so many people in so many places and wish I could change the world, but it seems impossible. How can one person change the world? One person can change the world for one person at a time. Our efforts create ripples that reach beyond ourselves.

I think most people want to be liked, respected, treated decently. And I think most people would like to treat others, at least some others, similarly. You scratch my back. I'll scratch yours. But there are individuals who are difficult to like, maybe even impossible to like—to love. That's how we may feel about someone else, but that's not how…

You've probably heard the phrase "Love the sinner but hate the sin." Unfortunately it's nearly impossible to keep that straight, and it's too easy to let some of that hate for sin bleed over onto the sinner. Over the years I've become more and more convinced of two things. First, I don't know everything. In fact, the older I get…

Sometimes hope is born in the darkest of places. When Abraham’s great grandson Joseph was 17, he was thrown into a dry well while his jealous brothers argued over whether to kill him. They sold him to nomadic traders who sold him in Egypt to Pharaoh’s captain of the guard. Through no fault of his own he landed in prison.…

He was the youngest, weakest nobody in a family of nobodies. His family, his farm, his country had been overrun. Invaders had stolen their crops, their livestock, even their wives and daughters. Fear scattered a once-thriving community and forced everyone into hiding. While the nomadic invaders made their camp in his home, he fled to the mountain with what was…

Is the world spinning faster? Or is it just me? The clock is ticking—faster and faster. Or at least there are fewer ticks left. Where did the past year go? Where did yesterday go? And tomorrow seems to be coming up way too fast. Time to slow down Pause Reflect Re-evaluate Breathe Sometimes I feel like that person who rolls…

I've tried to imagine the savior's birth so many times, and every time it seems surreal, mysterious, and bewildering. The all-powerful lord of the universe became human. Not a mighty prince in a palace. Not a powerful warrior or a superhero. He was born to an unknown, a young woman from nowhere—not a Cinderella engaged to a handsome prince but…

You've seen the quote. Maybe you’ve even said it. “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” But do you believe it? I hope not. I’ve seen too many people collapse under more than they can bear. No difficulty comes upon us that others haven’t faced as well. We’re not alone in our pain. And God is with us…

There's so much to do, so much to give. And only so much you can take. This time of year gets crazy busy, and it's easy to lose yourself—and not in a good way. Last year my daughter and I wrote a song together that blended our shared thoughts about Christmas and what we've done to it. And what that…

Ever imagine what it would be like to have all the money in the world—to be a king or a CEO, a wealthy celebrity? To even be close... What if you were like the second in command, the CFO—to be in charge of immeasurable wealth—to have power and influence and the accolades of others who marvel at your position and…

“If you never heal what hurt you, you’ll bleed on people who didn’t cut you.” I’ve seen this quote a lot—too many times. It would be a nice, cozy world if everyone could get over themselves—move on—get past whatever it is and leave us all alone. That’s how the quote strikes me. The presumed intent is for the wounded to…

It’s not easy. It’s unnatural. When things—when life doesn’t fall into our plans—our dreams—our expectations, frustration and worry creep in—settle in and make their home in our thoughts. Worry is natural. It’s easy. It doesn’t have to find its way into our minds. It is born there—lives there and refuses to die. Worry may come naturally, but worry is not…