Sometimes when I am giving a talk, I ask people to look quickly at the person on their left, then the person on their right. I say, "Do either of those people look anything like you?" Of course the answer is no. "Then why," I ask, "do you look to those people to try to figure...

God. He has always spoken to me through stories. Whether it is the Bible, a movie or good book, I have been stretched, stirred, and changed by stories. These days we are inundated with opportunities to engage with stories. My list of things to see and read is quite lengthy. There never seems to be enough...

One of the blessings of my ministry is the people I get to meet. Richard Allen Farmer was a pleasure to get to know during the pre-conference preparation, as well as the actual conference. As you know if you were able to see him at the conference he is a dynamic soul. God has filled him with a sense...

Last night I saw one of the plays in my much-appreciated subscription series to Chicago's Goodman Theatre . The play, The Ballad of Emmett Till, is based on a tragic event that took place in Mississippi in the summer of l955. A young Chicago boy, 14-year-old Emmett Till, was visiting relatives down...

I've been enjoying - and stretched by - the most recent CD from worship leader Aaron Niequist (formerly from Mars Hill in Grand Rapids). With Broken Fists takes listeners to deeper places I'm hoping all of us will go to - places where we surrender ourselves to God for his purposes of advancing...

Ok, so I’m watching yet another complicated episode of Lost, and I just keep wondering if I’ll ever feel as though I understand this show I’ve grown to both love and hate. Every week, new characters are being introduced when I can’t really seem to keep up with all the ones I already know. But even more...

I saw a version of Les Mis last night that I’d never thought I’d be able to appreciate – “in the round” at Marriott’s Lincolnshire Theatre here in suburban Chicago. It was breathtaking. We sat in the third row (there isn’t a bad seat in the theatre), wondering how the barricade scene and the sense of...

We all love stories of people who have overcome obstacles and Jason, J-Mac McElwain is just one of those people. Some of you may have already seen the video posted below and know his story but it is worth seeing and hearing again. I recently read J-Mac’s book, The Game of My Life. It tells the story...

I have been blessed, now I want to be a blessing I have been loved, now I want to bring love I’ve been invited, I want to share the invitation I have been changed, to bring change What I like about the song Changed is it expresses who we are and how we want to live. It engages both our hearts and minds...

Did anyone catch The Last Lecture: A Love Story for Your Life ? ABC and Diane Sawyer told the story of Randy Pausch. Randy is a husband, father of 3 beautiful children, and an inspiration to many people around the world. In September of 2006, Randy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. His condition...