Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win – Sun Tzu This quote comes from China at about the time when Babylon had already crushed Jerusalem and led the best and brightest of Israel into captivity. The Chinese were far beyond the […]
Read MoreCategory Archives: Christian Living
Four Commandments for Graduates
You—or someone you know—may soon be graduating. The time has finally come for the ol’ cap-and-gown routine. I extend my congratulations! You may not have set new academic records or had perfect attendance . . . but you finished. You got it done. You saw it through. I commend you. Your course was lengthy, at […]
Read MoreFinishing the Race
Ask me what my favourite Olympic memory is, and I could tell you in an instant…the men’s 400 metres semi-final in Barcelona, 1992. British athlete, Derek Redmond, was in good form, had posted the quickest time in all the heats, and was one of the favourites for a medal. He left the blocks well, but […]
Read MoreFast Results
There’s an old proverb that says “it takes a box of salt to make a friend” – you have to share some meals together before you really get to know someone. During my time at Dallas Seminary, I had the privilege of leading several student small groups as a Leadership Fellow. Whenever my groups met, […]
Read MoreFaith on the Zip-line
In the scouts, a long, long time ago, we called them aerial runways. Consisting of a rope, or cable, strung between two trees; one end high, the other end low, with a pulley, harness belt, and a profound (sometimes misguided) trust in your own skill with knots. Whenever we constructed a new one, there was […]
Read MoreFaith in the Workplace
You invest more than one-third of your life at work. Punch the clock, turn on the computer, start your engines at 8 a.m., rest a few minutes at noon, but keep your mind and body in gear till the sun has set. Then tomorrow—repeat. Sound familiar? So how can your relationship with God grow in […]
Read MoreEarly Retirement?
I’ve retired! Or, more accurately, I’ve been ‘retired’! It’s come as a bit of a shock. ‘Out of the blue,’ you might say. Here I was, expecting to ‘work’ until at least 70. Suddenly, the axe fell, and I’m finished. My services are no longer required. I started with the company, on a casual work […]
Read MoreCultured Company
How would you define a “culture”? Have you ever given any thought to what makes certain cultures distinctive? Now let me clarify; I’m not thinking of yoghurt, and I don’t mean the opera. I’m not against either, but those aren’t the kinds of cultures I have in mind. A culture is the set of principles […]
Read MoreChuck’s Insights on a Life Well Lived
What does God expect of you? Few of us have thought long or hard about that question, though all of us should. The answer determines whether we live life well or live life poorly. The ancient prophet Micah pondered what God expected. The simplicity of Micah’s divinely inspired answer shocked the affluent society of ancient […]
Read MoreBehind Closed Doors
Some people like to keep journals. Not me. I like to collect little souvenirs. I have bits and pieces—memorabilia that help me call to mind particular events and stories. Ebenezers is what the Old Testament calls them – “stones of help.” My New Testament wife calls them clutter. One of my mementoes is a Father’s […]
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