Head-dibs

"troubles are followed by troubles." In Japanese, they say, “when crying, stung by bee.” The point of these expressions is to capture an unfortunate reality of life: that what can go wrong will… and often all at the same time. So during this COVID-19 quarantine, things are just that.  I've lost my job after 19 years I am no longer a doctoral student. The State has removed our niece from our home after yet another suicide attempt and has put us in a horrible position. Good thing we have friends and documentation of her history. Stay-at-home orders are in effect. We can't control the storm but we can control how we respond to it.  Yes, I mourn a little every day, but only when I'm not busy and start dwelling on what I can't control or change. God has me in a place where I have nothing or nobody to depend on but Him. I can now update my resume and my office is clean. I know who my real friends are (trouble has a way of sifting people). M...

What a week. My wife is taking her second Disney class at the University (required in her major) which included a study tour to all the Disney parks in Orlando. I got to tag along. Yes, CIU offers a class that does this. We even got to do a 5-hour walking tour behind the scenes at The Magic Kingdom. Amazing! The short version: got sick Tuesday and spent all Wednesday and part of Thursday in hotel room so we missed many attractions we were supposed to see. The professor was good to work with us and let us rest when necessary. We left Orlando the day the park closed for COVID precautions. Regardless, here are a few pics from when we arrived and later ventures out: The Polynesian Lobby. Space Mountain, where I almost died! Haunted Mansion. Best. Ride. Ever. Get that song stuck in your head! Mission Mars Orange. I nearly died. No, really. The ride was designed with NASA scientists. Barf bags at every station. Look it up. ...

Walked 7 miles today. And it's only day 1. We are now officially old.

Sanders, J. Oswald. 2007. Spiritual Leadership: Principles of Excellence for Every Believer . Chicago: Moody. “It is perhaps surprising that in the century that saw around 100 million people die because of the lunatic beliefs of political ‘leaders’, people in our time should have become obsessed with leadership and its applications in diverse fields—religious, military, political, entertainment, sport, arts and more.” (Spillane and Joullie, 2015, viii). Blackaby and Blackaby agree, indicating that “bookstore shelves overflow with leadership theories” (Blackaby and Blackaby, 2001, x). How has Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders maintained for so long in the presence of boundless leadership material? First printed in 1967, Sanders’ book is among the first in present-day literature to make an impact. The present volume under review exists as the third reprinting, last revised in 2007. Regardless of the publication date, this work has contributed to the works of many Christian ...

Nehemiah met opposition head-on, giving it no chance to get a foot-hold nor give it any room to grow. His response was swift and direct. He was able to do so because:  Nehemiah defined his mission. Nehemiah came to repair a wall. “Let us rise up and build” (2:18). When the opposition came casting doubt asking, “what is this thing that you are doing?” (2:19), he was able to answer them, “The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build.” (2:20b) Nehemiah narrowed his focus. His critics have no heritage, right or memorial in the city (2:20c) but with a defined mission in mind, Nehemiah focused on his target and let nothing distract him from hitting it (3:1-32). Nehemiah’s focus was so narrow that he was able to name those who were rightfully there to support the mission.  Nehemiah set a guard. Nehemiah protected his workers and their work. (Neh. 4:9-23) Any difficult endeavor tends to weaken just after the half-way mark....

Daniel is the model of a leader who preserved spiritual integrity within a hostile environment. Here are some principles for strengthening spiritual leadership while serving through unstable and unfavorable circumstances: TAKE YOUR STAND : Daniel took God’s name on himself, being identified as a child of Israel (1:3). “Daniel purposed in his heart” (1:8) not to misrepresent God. He kept the 1st through 4th commandments forcibly! This is the foundation upon which the rest of his life was built. He knew what he stood for, his convictions. KNOW YOUR “WHY” : Daniel’s “why” was his love for God. This defined his values. Under pressure, he was able to lean on his “why” and not defile himself. Daniel was among those “in whom there was no blemish . . . gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand” (Daniel 1:4) which indicates he had a solid “why” to think and act as he did--his purity got him noticed. FIND YOUR PURPOSE : Only after Daniel and his friends had proven...

Solomon was seen to be a man of great wisdom and understanding (1 Kings 4:29-30) yet by the end of his life one wonders how such a man could come to such a complicated end. There are two vital observations where one would find the answer. The first observation regards Solomon directly while the second observation begins with Solomon and projects forward with a principle that any man or woman should heed. First, Solomon was untested. He “grew up in the royal palace in Jerusalem, witnessed the intrigues of his half-brothers . . . and saw his father restored from exile. He never experienced the hardship that had forged his father into a godly leader.” (Howell 2003, 102) One point of contrast regarding the handling of hardship is seen in Solomon’s father David’s quick and deep repentances against the absence of repentance in Solomon’s life altogether. Second, “wisdom is not a spiritual reservoir that guarantees spiritual success: obedience alone would secure personal and national blessing...

to see more of Africa when I was there. It was a busy time of teaching and lecturing so I didn't get out much. I stayed in Kisumu, Kenya and was driven about 40 minutes out to a village each day. Most of what I saw was in the people and less in the places. Perhaps that was most important. I was "kidnapped" one afternoon and we enjoyed tea on Lake Victoria where the hyacinth bloomed on the lake. Me with Johann, my driver One day I'd like to go back and drive from Nairobi through Rift Valley to Kisumu. I'd also like to see Kilimanjaro. And visit Egypt.

I remember being set on the ironing board while my mom was ironing. I remember the iron falling over on my foot and burning my foot. I remember having my foot bandaged. I remember looking at the bottom of the TV set because (I rolled underneath it) and pushing the bottom of the TV with my bandaged foot.

Ok, I've been sick since Christmas and have come to a grinding halt with all things fitness. I'm getting better though. Slowly. I just want to run again. And lift. I miss running though. I miss doing things so intense that it becomes spiritual. If you've not exerted yourself that much, then you won't understand--but it happens.  So when I get better, I'm starting again from zero. Kind of have to because my strength is gone. But I'll get it back. 

Where has this band been my the entirety of my whole life? I mean, really! As long as they were around and I am just now hearing of the band aka "The Canadian Beatles"! I might as well have been living on the moon, for crying out loud. This band is amazing! Hope is like a lighthouse keeper's beam Hope the master cobbler of our dreams For Hope believes in desert streams The mightiest of stars The microcosm in a jar Vast or small they all revolve on Hope Hope the guardian angel of the dove Hope a gift of guidance from above For Hope is the heart in mother's love No plans could be conceived No ships could fare the seas For there would be no courage were it not for Hope Now the path before us lies before our very eyes Don't you see And it leads up to the gateway Lead me through Don't you see Then come and take my hand Raise up your head And dry your eyes For up ahead I see Woh woh yeah A ray of peace A shining on me So let us feel Hope And feel the sunr...

Saul came from a privileged background. If his life could be summed up in a word, one might choose the word “entitled.” This mindset would drive his heart away from God and would become his downfall. David, on the other hand, came from a very unassuming background. If his life could be summed up in a word, “responsible” comes to mind. While David committed sins of his own, he also took responsibility and discipline for his actions. This stands as an example to the people. An entitled man does not do this. Throughout his life, David demonstrated a pursuit of God’s heart, acting as lead-worshipper in the kingdom. David’s commendation as a leader is seen in his accomplishing everything God wanted of the nation of Israel since the Exodus, including the conquest of the land, to establish a nation who observes God’s commands (2 Samuel 7:8-11). In this sense, David meets the criteria for being the “man after God’s heart” (1 Sam 13:14), who “shares God’s heart for leading the people to obey...

FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT Samson’s “rule of life and work” (Judges 13:12) was made clear before his birth, being a dedicated Nazarite that would “begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines” (Judges 13:5). No formative details of his upbringing are given except that he grew, the LORD blessed him and the Spirit of the LORD moved upon him (Judges 13:24, 25). Each time the Spirit of the LORD came upon Samson (13:25, 14:6, 14:19, 15:14 and 16:28) are the times Samson shows incredible ability. These are also the times he accomplished the LORD’s purposes for his life, reminding both Philistines and Israel that out of the decay of Philistine oppression, God will accomplish His purpose of restoring sweetness to Israel (Judges 14:14) FILLED WITH HIMSELF Samson’s leadership was marked by UNSTABLE RELATIONSHIPS, as he was often found among the Philistines with careless abandon. The LORD allowed Samson to be where he needed to be. Samson’s leadership was marked by UNREALISTIC DEMANDS...

Gideon’s story begins in Judges 6 where we hear the Angel of the LORD initiate Gideon’s leadership with “the LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor” (6:2). The LORD moves him into leadership with a simply command, “go” followed by “have I not sent you?” (6:14). Nobody speaks that way in regular conversation and reading too fast, one misses the long pause “in the white spaces” where Gideon must have stood there after the first command to go. The reluctance is profound for, after prodding (“have I not sent you?”) Gideon responds with questions and a challenge for a sign, which the Angel of the LORD delivers. Gideon’s first task at home was to lead by uprooting idolatry and instituting worship of the true and living God who fulfills His promises, resulting in a new name and public reputation for Gideon. Interesting to note that Gideon’s tearing down the altar was at night. Which means that the sacrifice burned on the new altar (at night) could be seen by anyone. Hard to hide a fire at...