Many years ago I sat in a meeting with “Jackie.” I’ll never forget the awkwardness of that day. (You can read more here.) Jackie rarely spoke well of others and often voiced her discontent with everything from A to Z. In short—she was no fun. I believe her attitude reflected deeper issues, specifically her own self-doubt. She was trapped in …
Life in the Ozarks is indeed a mixed bag. The weather here is known to change on a dime, and it’s not uncommon to have 20 degree temperature shifts within an hour or two when a front moves through. (This week we’ve hit upper 50s. Next week it’s the 30s. Brrr.) While fall is my favorite time of year, it …
Something I’ve learned over the years (and you probably have, too) is there are talkers and there are doers. It applies to every facet of life, but let’s think about it in the context of writing today. With the variety, ease, and rapid fire of social media we’re constantly bombarded by word counts and statuses. What looks good in public. …
We’ve all met them. Sometimes, they knock boldly on our doors. Other times, they slink in silence past our walls of resolve. They come unbidden. Least expected. By themselves or in pairs. They’re masters at disguise and manipulators of self-confidence. They’re the dream-crushers. Our naysayers. They’re those voices of negativity that attempt to steal our joy, thwart our goals, and …
As I step back from the busyness of life today, I wanted to share some of my favorite posts with you. Maybe you’re going through a season of difficulty or a time of indecision. Perhaps your motivation’s lagging. Maybe you just need a safe place to cozy up to—a place to absorb some encouragement. Well, kick off your shoes, friends. …
When Emily* joined our family she was such a little nugget. Like her parents, we loved her immediately. Miss Personality had flawless, brown skin and dark, expressive eyes. Silky, black hair framed a ready smile and a button nose. From China to the Ozarks, this precious girl came. And in a heartbeat we were smitten. For a while, we communicated …
I’m in awe of people who are musically gifted whether it be in vocals, instruments, arrangements, or lyrics. For some it seems to come naturally. For others it takes years of practice and discipline. In the church where I’m a member, we’re blessed to have wonderful musicians on our worship team. Some sing and others play a variety of instruments. …
When the film Gremlins was released at the box office in 1984, this horror/comedy introduced cute, furry creatures that morphed into sinister monsters. The movie garnered a PG-13 rating—something that was still new at the time—because of some violent content and language. Gremlins appealed to a lot of folks, but I didn’t like it. No surprise there—even then, I was …
There are some things on the path to publication you won’t know. Things people won’t tell you. Not because they deliberately try to withhold information, but because the journey’s so different for everyone. Some folks will offer businesslike advice while others will share more practical and helpful tips—what worked for them, how they muddled through, and what they did while …
Hi, friends! What a wonderful treat I have in store for you today! Are you thirsty? Well, grab your empty glass and pull up a seat. We’re going to have some fun! What? you may say. You mean Christians have fun? Of course we do! We weren’t created to live dry, mediocre, or humdrum lives. We were created for so …
