Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Security. Protection. Shelter. Safety. Refuge. Retreat. Defense. Safeguard. Sanctuary. Guard. Sure. Supported. Safe and sound. Trustworthy. Freedom from harm, danger, fear, hurt, wickedness, abuse, wrong, injury, Freedom from hopelessness, hurt, disaster, suffering, pain, damage, worry, trouble. Freedom FOR truth, belief, joy, hope, confidence, love, contentment, purpose, Freedom FOR happiness, playfulness, growth, peace, pleasure, blessings, anticipation. God. Jesus. The Holy Spirit. Forgiveness. Salvation. Security. … [Read more...]
Explaining Our Smarts Part 6 – Nature Smart
April 3, 2013 by · 2 Comments
Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. — “It sure is ugly outside today.” “What do you mean?” “You know. It’s so cloudy and foggy. It’s dark and the air just looks heavy today.” “It’s just another kind of beauty.” “What?” “It’s just another kind of beauty.” A friend and I had this conversation. I’m the one asking “What?” with disbelief in my voice and a perplexed expression on my face. My friend is so nature smart that she sees beauty in it all. Because of her, I’m more nature smart then I used to, but I’m still not as nature smart as she is. Nature-smart children would rather be outside than inside. … [Read more...]
For God So “Dvu”-d The World
March 25, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Love is on my mind. It’s Easter week. That makes it “love week” for me. It’s better than Valentine’s love, birthday love, and even wedding love because it’s about God’s love. I’m grateful I know and believe in the love sacrifice God made on our behalf. Our behalf. Ours. He sent His Son to take our sin upon Himself so we’d be forever free from the death penalty. I hope you know Him and believe. Please read what follows. It’s written by Bob Creson of Wycliffe Bible Translators USA. Titled, “God so ‘dvu’-d the World…” it’s one of the best things I’ve ever read about love. I’m glad … [Read more...]
Dream. Dream big. Dream large. Dream gigantic.
January 21, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Change. It’s a word and a concept that results in many strong reactions. There’s not a person alive who doesn’t have something they could change in order to have a better life. More productivity. More peace. More joy. More friendships. More hope. Less fear. Less trouble. Less trauma. Less loneliness. Less despair. Change will more likely work out well when all five core needs are met in healthy ways. This gives us a lot to count on during the sometimes shaky transitional times surrounding change. How do we get started? Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose life and legacy we celebrate in America today, … [Read more...]
Thought Provoking Discussion Starters #45: How Do You Decide What to Believe? How Do You Know What is True?
December 14, 2012 by · 2 Comments
Every Friday, I’ll post thought provoking discussion starters. — I have a series of questions for you today to help you unpack these questions: How do you decide what to believe? How do you know what is true? If you need a context through which to think about this, how about these questions? What do you believe about Jesus? Why? Are you influenced by people’s opinions? Whose? Are you influenced by information? What type? How much? Does the source matter to you? How? How much independent thinking do you use? How do your feelings enter into your decision making regarding truth? Does your gut response inform you? … [Read more...]
Use Your Smarts to Increase Holiday Joy
December 5, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. — Do you collect anything? Are there things you value? I know things aren’t important in comparison to people and beliefs, but they’re not valueless. This month, on our corporate Facebook page, I’m sharing a nativity each day from my amazing collection. As I’ve traveled internationally, they’ve been the most fun to purchase from different on-the-street markets and stores. I’m very privileged. I like some of the nativities because of their color and unique design. That’s the picture-smart part of me kicking in. For example, In the one I own from India, each of the ten pieces is designed as a stamp … [Read more...]
Studying With All 8 Smarts
November 14, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. — As the semester continues, are you hearing more complaints from your students or children? Are they less motivated to complete their homework well than they were when the school year began? Is it harder to get them to focus and persevere? Remember that studying and practicing with all eight smarts helps motivation and comprehension. It can also enhance memory and, therefore, the application of truth. Depending on what’s being learned and studied, all 8 could be used for quick repetition in one study session. It’s also wise to use them over time. Children can use one-two each night when reviewing … [Read more...]
Thought Provoking Discussion Starters #41: Challenging Thoughts from The Apostle Paul
November 9, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Every Friday, I’ll post thought provoking discussion starters. — Paul wrote many of the God-breathed books in the New Testament of the Holy Word of God, including Colossians. I pray thinking through my questions about a few verses will be meaningful for you. And, I hope you’ll find people to discuss them with, especially if you’re people smart and you think well with others. In Colossians 2:1-4, Paul tells some people that he wants them to be “encouraged in heart and united in love.” Maybe you need this particular section of Scripture today. Would encouragement and unity through love bless you? Paul wanted people encouraged so they would “have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may … [Read more...]
Welcomed. Precious. Smiled upon. Beautiful. Celebrated.
November 5, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Welcomed. Precious. Smiled upon. Beautiful. Celebrated. … A week ago, it was my joy to share with the faculty of Train Up A Child Preschool and Kindergarten of Abiding Savior Church in Sioux Falls, SD. Like many other teachers I’m privileged to meet and influence, they were teachable, joyful, and unified. I was assigned three topics on Friday and two more for Saturday, when parents and others from the community joined us. Each topic was important and related to raising and teaching children according to God’s best principles. A highlight for me was the first topic on Friday. We read and discussed passages from … [Read more...]
The Question of Legacy: What can you do today, tomorrow, and in the days that follow to be more certain that your beliefs are passed on? Will you?
September 28, 2012 by · 1 Comment
Click image to see larger version. Yesterday would have been my mom’s 87th birthday. She’s been alive in heaven now for just over 3 years. I still miss her. So does my entire extended family. I’m surrounded by things that remind me of her. Many are beautiful, valuable, and meaningful. More important to me, though, are the beliefs I inherited from her and my dad. They’re way more valuable than anything I now own. What can you do today, tomorrow, and in the days that follow to be more certain that your beliefs are passed on? Will you? … [Read more...]
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