Category Archives: Relationships

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Do You Really Love People?

The COVID-19 pandemic, or plandemic as some friends are calling it, and the recent racial issues have really broken my heart. I’ve watched long-time friends become bitter enemies. I’ve seen family members disown other family members.

It’s sad. There’s so much hurt and bitterness over the issues at hand.

Yet it is not just COVID-19 that has brought this about. We’ve seen angry rants on Facebook about everything from vaccines to at-home childbirths to working for the man.

Everyone has an opinion. Everyone believes they’re right.

We can’t all be right. Someone will be wrong, especially when viewpoints collide.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the biggest arguments has been whether or not to wear a mask. One side will tell you masks make you sick. The other side will tell you they help prevent the spread of disease.  Read more...

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Why Are You Building Relationships?

My heart has been heavy lately. I’ve reflected frequently on friendships and friendships lost. It seems more and more these days, friends come and go faster than they did before.

I think this is even truer in the online, influencer world.

Four men sitting on a mountain trail

Photo by Matheus Ferrero

There’s a reason for the friendships coming and going faster than they used to. People aren’t looking for true friends. They’re looking for stepping stones.

Sadly, people are looking for stepping stones and not friends these days.

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I hurt typing that. I know I’ve been in this position before. I’ve used people to get to the next level. And it’s not right.

When you use people, you hurt people. You take from them what benefits you and then you leave them. Many times, they’re left wondering what happened and where you went.  Read more...

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Where Did Community Go?

One of the things that attracted me to blogging was the community. Ten years ago, commenting communities were HUGE on the blogs I would visit.

I remember voraciously reading thoughts from Dan Miller, Michael Hyatt, Jon Harrison, Chris Lautsbaugh, Alex Barker, and many others. Their ideas would percolate in my mind and I would begin to think out my own thoughts on their latest topic.

fiver people running on the field near trees

Photo by Jed Villejo

I felt like I was getting a peek inside of their minds. Then, as a bonus, I could comment on their work. I could share the thoughts they inspired and have a conversation with them.

It was a great time to be online and connecting with people. It was the thing I loved most about blogs. The connection and feeling of community.

Times Change

In recent years, the online community has changed. I was reminded of this recently when I was looking for something from Alex.  Read more...

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Stop Isolating Yourself

I’ve watched the last couple of months as the church world has been rocked by suicides from Pastors Jim Howard of Real Life Church and Andrew Stoecklein of Inland Hills Church. I’ve also heard of suicides in the business and professional worlds. Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain both took their lives as well.

This breaks my heart. The world is losing brilliant minds to depression, mental illness, and emptiness. These men and women no longer see the value in continuing to live their lives.

Woman standing with her head down

Photo by Eric Ward

Time after time, you hear from their friends and families how they couldn’t see this coming. They seemed so happy, so alive. Suicide was the last thing on their minds. But they were wrong.

Suicides are happening. To those you know and love. To those you may have heard of. To those you don’t know.  Read more...

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Give Gifts That Matter

Can you remember the last time a business gave you a really cool gift? A gift that mattered? One that made you tell your friends, family, and coworkers? You probably can’t.

Businesses have taken the approach of cheap and quick to the art of gift giving. They see gifts as a way to quickly get their name out in front of people.

The gifts you give speak volumes

Photo by Kira auf der Heide

The days of cheap gifts having an impact, if they ever did, is gone. People aren’t paying attention to you when you give cheap or uncaring gifts. Gifts like:

  • A stress ball with their corporate logo emblazoned on it
  • A t-shirt with their logo
  • A USB portable power bank with, once again, their logo
  • A cell phone stand with, you guessed it, their logo

Corporate gifts have become all about the gift giver. I imagine their marketers sit around the office and ask questions like:  Read more...