Category Archives: Mark’s Blog

The world needs more leaders, but we need leaders who excel at following. Aristotle knew that the most important quality for leading is developed by following. What is that quality? Self-discipline. Leaders must discipline themselves in order to lead effectively. … Continue reading

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Leaders and Sabotage

Edwin Friedman has been a gift to me, with insights about how relationships, families, and church families function. I’m just now reading A Failure of Nerve, his last book. Friedman didn’t complete the book before he died, but the manuscript he … Continue reading

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Earthquakes Then and Now

I love those sections of scripture that point a finger directly at today’s problems and offer a ray of hope. Today my devotional time took me to the story of Jesus’ resurrection in Matthew 28. The second verse startled me with, … Continue reading

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Schedule a Happy Break

“What’s your Happy Break for today?” is a question I’m starting to ask those I work with. “Do you have a meeting or an activity on your to-do list that will bring you joy?” We can easily slip into a … Continue reading

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Time Experienced Simultaneously

Today I’m mediating on God’s nature as everlasting (eternity). Since we are stuck in our time-space continuum, we struggle to grasp both the nature and the implications of God’s eternity. We experience time sequentially: today I’m experiencing July 12 and … Continue reading

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God Defines “The Good Life”

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8, ESV)” This verse is commonly quoted, … Continue reading

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Convincing Evidence

“Follow me, and I will make you become . . .  (Jesus, in Mark 1:17).” When we follow Jesus, we become. Yes, I know that Mark 1:17 specifies a definite becoming: Simon and Andrew would become fishers of people. However, … Continue reading

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Answering Anxiety

I often allow anxieties to accumulate in my mind and spirit. This steals my joy and energy, and warps my perception of reality. For that reason, I experience deep longing whenever I read “Cast all your anxiety on him because … Continue reading

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Appreciating Life

Tony Evan’s book Praying Through the Names of God touched me deeply this morning. “Your life extends into mine, giving me the opportunity to experience your creation. . . Forgive me for not treasuring and taking care of the gift … Continue reading

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Like A Child . . . Really?

Does an adult view of God get in the way of our kingdom participation? I read this morning from Matthew 18-20. In this section, children were always hanging out around Jesus (Matthew 18:1-6, 19:13-15). He counted that as a good … Continue reading

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