Porcupines have trigger points that cause the sharp quills on its back to raise up. When it’s threatened or irritated, it can get really mean and shoot those quills into someone or something and cause a lot of pain. Well, I’ve got certain trigger points that cause me to get cranky and prickly. One of mine is unmet expectations. When I have crazy high expectations for others, and those expectations are not met, I...
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
There are some short sentences that every child needs to hear, on a regular basis, from their dad. These sentences can make or break their sense of identity, belonging, security and value. For example, tell your child “I'm here for you.” Being available to your child is incredibly important. And it’s more than just permission to come to you when times are tough…it’s an invitation with a welcome mat. It tells...
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
When it comes to relationships, communication can be emotional. So it needs to be handled carefully. There are some basic truths that Susan and I try to keep in mind when we’re trying to sort through relational issues. First, remember that we’re all made for relationships. Maybe this is obvious, but we sometimes forget that life is not just all about “me.” When we get stuck on ourselves, we lose perspective on...
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
Life can be routine, mundane and can feel like a washing machine going round and round. In the cycle of life, how can we make sure we are living a life that’s significant? NFL broadcaster JB Brown says one way to live significantly is to recognize your gift and perfect it. We’ve all been blessed with special gifts and talents and if we perfect them we can impact the world around us for good. By perfecting his...
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
I confess; I’m a porcupine…at least sometimes. The average porcupine has about 30,000 sharp quills that it raises up and shoots into another animal, or person, when it feels threatened or gets angry. Like a porcupine, when one of my trigger points is pulled, I can get pretty prickly, ornery and downright cranky. One of those trigger points is unmet expectations. When I build up crazy high expectations for myself...
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
When we think about what’s valuable to us, we often think about material things… our home, car, investment portfolio. We think about business success. We think about getting praise… getting the credit… all temporary things. But we should value relationships above results, the process above the product, what’s “God-made” above what’s “man-made,” serving others above being served, giving others credit above...
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
With all the games, movies, and books out there, our kids still somehow find a way to whine, “I’m bored!” One great way to cure their boredom is to take them on an adventure: a treasure hunt! Setting up a scavenger hunt around your home is easy. Just create clues and then hide them around the house in different places—under the table, in the food pantry, or on their bathroom mirror. The hunt should end with...
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
