Monthly Archives: December 2025

Spirituality

Laurels

In ancient Greece and Rome, laurel (evergreen) wreaths were placed on the heads of those who were victorious, the poets and heroes. The wreaths symbolized great achievements in their respective fields.

There’s a saying you have probably heard before, that someone is “resting on their laurels.” It means they are relying on past work to propel them forward without continuing their work. It’s a dangerous trap, one I have fallen into myself. Be on guard that it doesn’t catch you, too.

We should take the time to celebrate our accomplishments in life. Nothing great happens without sacrifice and commitment. But if we are still here, God isn’t finished with us and our work to advance His kingdom agenda. Let’s finish strong.

I do encourage you to take time for rest along the way. You will be better for it. At the same time, don’t rest too long. You might start to enjoy it more than you should! There’s much to do, and only limited time to do it. Get to work!

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Spirituality

Those Annoying New Years Resolutions

It has almost arrived. The New Year! I hope 2026 brings you health, fulfillment and growth. I also hope what you begin anew in the coming year continues beyond just 2026.

In the United States, multiple surveys have shown that anywhere from 31%-48% of adults set resolutions for the new year. It’s interesting to note that the percentage has been steadily declining for quite some time.

But whether you set them or not, here is a guaranteed way to be successful: Set one, only one, goal you want to accomplish and write it down. Review your goal multiple times each day. Keep it in the front of your mind.

After 90 days have an honest conversation with yourself about your progress. Be fair, but be honest. If you are on track, great! Keep doing what you’re doing. If not, simply adapt. Airplanes adjust course during flight due to wind and weather, so why shouldn’t we? Don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t where you want to be. You will get there if you really want to.

The other ingredient to add is a mindset of commitment. Be relentless with this one. It’s impossible to beat a person who refuses to quit. And remember to congratulate yourself for your success along the way.

You really can do anything you set your mind to…

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Spirituality

Pretension

Have you ever noticed that if someone is flying in First Class from here to LAX they will announce their seat on social media platforms? You never see someone post “Hey everyone! I scored row 29, center seat for my flight to Los Angeles.”

Pretension is, simply put, showing importance that isn’t genuine. It’s rooted in insecurity and that leads to an inflated ego. Arrogant people are difficult to spend time with. They lack substance yet portray themselves as an expert on just about everything. I hope they find themselves, their true self, someday.

God doesn’t care if we fly First Class or take a slow boat to China. He does care about developing our hearts and minds. He reminds us to care for the poor, the marginalized and the hurting children, the non-pretentious people. And we are reminded through Scripture to do it quietly. Our audience is just one.

This world will always have people who love to show the world all their greatness. But inside they might have the mindset of a scared child. Be kind to them. They need kindness, too…

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Spirituality

Heading Home

Since Christmas Day I have been in New Orleans, Louisiana. If you have never been here, I encourage you to plan a visit. The city is full of character and charm. Truly, one of a kind.

But all good things don’t come to an end. That saying is wrong because life is a progression. Every moment of each new day is filled with awe and wonder. I’m grateful for every experience life throws my way, even the bad ones. We learn from each and every experience. Nothing is wasted.

We have a few more days until the holidays are finished for 2025 and life becomes routine again. Enjoy your time off and make it count.

Austin is where I will land tonight, but it’s not my eventual home. That home is in the eternal realm. But the work I accomplish here is preparing me for the next life. It’s the same for you.

The world should be viewed through the eyes of a child. They notice each and every little thing, and they are in awe of it, whatever it is! Keep practicing gratitude daily, and the lens you see the world through will expand. I promise…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

Lead Me

Our world needs strong leaders. The kind of leadership I’m talking about are people who are moral, ethical, and they do what’s right. And those types of people are rare.

It has always fascinated me when I see the actions of cult leaders. Jim Jones enticed and forced over 900 people to drink liquid laced with cyanide. Three hundred of them were children. Everyone died from the poison except Jones, who died from a single bullet to his head.

The kind of leadership we desperately need is found in Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.” In other words, dedicate your life to serving God and follow His guidance in everything. It’s difficult, but possible.

Keep your focus on things above. You will not be led astray…

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Spirituality

A Moment

Thank you for taking a moment to read this piece. We all have the same 168 hours each week, and you chose to spend some of your time with me. I’m grateful.

This crazy world we are living in keeps us busy. Every time something is invented that saves us a minute, we find something to engage our minds. People are overloaded and overwhelmed. We need more peace in our lives, not more busyness.

My encouragement to you is to take a moment every day just being quiet. Turn everything off and sit in the moment. No distractions. No emails. Just you and the quiet. Calm your mind. If doing this makes you uncomfortable, sit with the discomfort. It will pass. I speak from experience.

The busy world will be waiting for you when you re-engage. You won’t have missed a thing. You will have gained some much needed peace in your life. And that’s a good thing…

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Spirituality

A Message of Peace

Today is Christmas Day. For Christians, this is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. There is no one like him.

Jesus’s ministry on earth only lasted for about three years. Yet during that short period of time he transformed the lives of countless people. The disciples recorded some of Jesus’s miracles, but according to John, if they wrote all of them down they would “fill all the volumes in the world.”

During Jesus’s era, the Israelites were living under Roman rule, but the citizens were being oppressed by their own religious leaders. Jesus changed everything, yet he never sinned. He shook things up, and they killed him for it.

Jesus rose on the third day. He left a legacy that has lasted over 2,000 years. If he was a fraud, as some say, he was the best fraud ever.

Jesus was a peacemaker. Let’s follow his lead and bring peace, too…

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Spirituality

Late Night Entertainment

When I was growing up, The Tonight Show was the show to watch late at night. Johnny Carson hosted with Ed McMahon as his sidekick. Doc Severinson led the band. Carson was a unique talent in comedy and wit. He got his start in entertainment as a magician.

The late night talk shows of today are staid and boring. They operate in one lane: who can tell the next best Trump joke. It’s too bad because people tune in to get away from politics. We are bombarded with it 24/7. Carson picked on many politicians, but did so in a gentlemanly way.

Stephen Colbert used to be hilarious. His “The Colbert Show” on Comedy Central had great guests. Colbert has a quick wit that seems lost today. He still has the talent inside of him and I hope he finds it again.

Entertainers of today believe they need to weigh in on politics. They, like the rest of the population, have an opinion but that’s it. And I have never heard anyone say, “I was watching “The View” and thought those ladies made a lot of sense.

Our world needs to laugh. We are becoming a society that takes itself too serious. Lighten up, world. Laughter is good for you…

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Spirituality

Strength Through Pain

Are you experiencing a difficult time in your life? If not now, the odds are that you will sometime in the future. I want to encourage you to flip the script on it when it happens.

Life can be very hard sometimes. God didn’t promise us an easy path. But He did give us a way through. Translation: rely more on God and less on ourselves during the dark times.

Resilience is built in the darkness. We learn that we can bounce back from the troughs of life. Our pain turns into strength. We might not like it at the time, but it can be used for good.

No matter how much social media wants us to believe that everyone has a perfect life, we know the truth. See pain as opportunity. Don’t dread it. Welcome it because better days are ahead…

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Spirituality

The Least

A few years ago I was interviewing a Pastor for my podcast. I was gently challenging him on religious rules, which he answered in the most eloquent way I had ever witnessed. Then he started talking about where the faith communities fail. His words stuck.

“We get ourselves cleaned up for church, sit in our favorite pews, praise the Lord and move on,” he said. “But we walk by the drug addict on the street corner, never inviting him in. We don’t want to get our hands dirty.” His words stuck.

It’s important to remember that in God’s eyes, the addict is as important as we are. He created us equally. When you connect your head to your heart on this, you begin to see your fellow man through a different, bigger lens.

God cares about everyone. We won’t give an accounting of our net worth or our zip code when we arrive in eternity. No. God will ask us what we did with what He gave us. Did we use our gifts or squander them? It’s something we all must consider.

There are a lot of hurting people in this world. Help them when you can. Perhaps a prayer is called for. Everyone can help someone…

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