The Power of Speaking Praise to Build Connection
I almost skipped a recent episode of the John Mark Comer Podcast because John Mark wasn’t speaking. That would have been a mistake! Alex Rettman, the guest speaker, was talking about praise. He began with the word behold—to truly take something in, to capture its beauty. When we behold something, appreciation naturally follows. And appreciation, […]
Gleaning the Fields of LinkedIn
In the Old Testament, there was a practice known as gleaning. Landowners were commanded not to harvest to the very edges of their fields. If grain fell during harvest, they weren’t to pick it up. Why would someone “waste” something so valuable when food was scarce? Because God built generosity into the system. The leftovers […]
Knowing Yourself is Extremely Hard
Ben Franklin once wrote, “Three things are extremely hard; steel, a diamond, and to know one’s self.” He was right and I think knowing one’s self is the hardest of the three. Understanding who we are—and why we do what we do—takes time, effort, and courage. All three are in short supply in an age […]
Will the Truth Set You Free?
While watching the news recently, I heard someone accused of a crime say, “The truth will set me free.” I hear that line quoted a lot. Almost always with confidence. Almost always without context. When it comes to influence, words matter, context matters, and so does truth. Jesus actually said something more precise—and far more […]
A Decade Later The Southwest Split Persists
I wrote the following in February 2016. It was about a negative experience I had with Southwest Airlines. Because of it, I stopped flying them from that point forward. In hindsight, Southwest lost a loyal customer and gained nothing. On the other hand, I’ve enjoyed great experiences with United, American, and Delta. Their prices and […]
