60-Second Stretch

New Hire Orientation

2012-01-13T15:49:00.001-05:00

If you find most NHOs to be "less than effective," I have an idea you can steal. In fact, I hope you do.

For those who've been "lucky" enough to sit through a mind-numbing corporate orientation, you'll understand when I say that most of these things are a huge waste of time and energy. Why so harsh? Well, in my experience, a new employee cannot possibly remember the overwhelming amounts of detail we throw at them. Yet somehow we feel compelled to continue this archaic practice.

That's why I'm challenging some brave soul to rethink the entire process. What if--stay with me, here--we made orientation exactly that: an orientation. Think of it literally. When we are in a new geographical area, we have to orient ourselves to the surroundings. That has never once meant learning every detail about every detail. When visiting a city for the first time, no one needs to know the name and function and leadership structure of every company in town. New hires don't need to know all that stuff either. More than anything, I think new hires need to be given a functional road map of the company and then shown how to use that map to get answers to questions as they arise. Most importantly, they need to be made to feel like what they just signed on to really matters. They need to walk away feeling that this journey with your company, though not without challenges, will be exciting and full of people willing to help along the way. If properly oriented, a new hire then has a reason to pursue knowledge that will aid in the day-to-day, rather than being inundated with it up front and out of context.

Christmas Angels, Pt 3

2011-12-23T18:08:00.001-05:00

It was the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001; hurricane Katrina in 2005; the deaths of Osama bin Laden and Steve Jobs in 2011—each acting as a perfect example of the kind of historic events which have marked us in this generation. These events will live on in our mental rewinds: “Do you remember where you were and what you were doing the moment you first learned about....” Interestingly enough, I first heard about the deaths of both bin Laden and Steve Jobs via that little winged electronic messenger we know and love as Twitter. In fact, I've become so accustomed to receiving my “breaking news” via Twitter and Facebook, that I struggle to remember what it was like when we had to depend on printed documents such as newspapers and magazines. Even more perplexing is the thought of having to depend on news spreading via human messengers traveling only at the speed of a horse, one person at a time. Today, the first person to break a story is only separated from the masses of follow-ups by fractions of a second around the globe. Truly remarkable when you stop to think it through. If nothing else, it certainly adds some context to the message of our third and final Christmas angel.

The scene itself is also critical. It makes the perfect mental rewind:

“So me and my buddies were out in the fields watching the sheep. It was a dark, cold night; little moonlight and few visible stars. We could hear the wolves howling in the distance, which added to the creepy factor. Most shepherds didn't work at this time of year. We were the 'lucky ones' I suppose, but it was tough, smelly, long work. And fighting off hungry predators was not our favorite past time. I suppose you could say we were all a little tense. When we looked up and an angel of the Lord was standing near us, I literally thought I was going to die. I've never been so scared in all my life.”

Whether you find”camping in the wilderness” to be peaceful, creepy, or sometimes a little of both, one thing is sure—any unexpected guests would probably scare the pants off you, too. And if that unexpected visitor happens to be from another dimension, well … terrified probably doesn’t even begin to describe how you might feel! Luke 2 says that when the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds “they were absolutely terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news’” (v. 10). Have you ever tried to get the attention of someone who was in a state of hysteria or utter panic? Yea, it was probably like that. The angel had to assure them they were safe and get them to calm down and focus. I'm sure it would have been even worse had I been one of the shepherds.

And that's how the biggest news in the history of all mankind was delivered. Not via Twitter, newspaper, or a horse-bound messenger. It was delivered by heavenly messenger to a bunch of scared, stinky shepherds who rarely ever got to hear the latest news about anything. And what exactly was this message? Simple. “Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord” (v. 11).

In other words, Jesus is here!

No matter what situation you may find yourself in, no matter how dark or depressing the nightly news of your life, God Himself has some Good News for you: Jesus is here! He’s the savior who can deliver you from evil. He’s the Christ who is anointed to give you eternal life. And He is the Lord who will guide you every step of your way if you’ll let him.

That's what I call good news. My honest prayer is that this message will mark you for all eternity.

Christmas Angels, Pt 1
Christmas Angels, Pt 2

The Things We Do for Love

2011-12-12T17:27:00.000-05:00

Camille Hayton was a long way from home. Born in Australia, she had recently moved to New York City to take an internship with Black Book magazine. While the internship was going well, an apartment fire had forced Camille to do a lot of things differently. For one, it forced her to use the subway a lot more often. And on Sunday, November 4, she was taking the #5 train from Union Station to Bowling Green. During the trip, she journaled in her diary, trying to make sense of how her life had changed. What she didn’t know was that Patrick Moberg was on that same train. And Patrick was smitten.

He was sure that this mysterious brunette with rosy cheeks and fancy braided hair (with a flower in the back left) was the girl of his dreams. Unfortunately, Patrick didn’t have the nerve to introduce himself. Before he knew it, she was gone.

But Patrick isn’t a quitter, he’s just shy. So he built a website to help his cause: www.nygirlofmydreams.com. A talented illustrator, Patrick drew a detailed picture of himself and Camille and enlisted the help of eight million New Yorkers to help him find her. Eventually, a friend and coworker at Black Book saw the site and sent Patrick an email with a picture to confirm his suspicions. It was her! The friend then told Camille. Meanwhile, Good Morning America got wind of the story and arranged a meet-up. In Patrick’s words, they “totally clicked.” The next day the two were on the show and ended up dating.

So, what happened to Camille and Patrick? The story is out there, but, as Patrick says, “I loved the idea of people making their own endings to our unusual story.”

The world is full of crazy love stories. But perhaps the most inspiring are the day-to-day acts of love that we have an opportunity to show to those around us. And what better time of year to show love and kindness than during the Christmas season?

May your Christmas be filled with kindness and love—coming and going—and may that love inspire you to do great things in 2012.

The Medi(s)care Zone

2011-11-18T10:32:00.001-05:00

Every so often, a project comes along that allows you the freedom to be truly creative. That was the case with this project I developed for a large long-term care organization back in February 2010.

The Clinical division had a proprietary process that they had developed over the years to ensure that Medicare claims were properly documented and filed. The trouble was that the turnover in healthcare is so high, keeping everyone on the same page concerning that critical process was almost impossible. I was asked to build an eLearning course that associates could access any time which would help continually educate the ever-changing workforce. In a brainstorming session, I came up with the idea of doing a spoof of the Twilight Zone. The client loved it! I immediately developed a cursory plot and some story-board graphics for how the plot would teach the basics already determined by the client. Working with an award-winning media team, a script was written and we were off to the races. I developed all of the graphics, the user interface, portions of the script designed for voice-over work, and everything that goes along with the educational content and flow of the course itself. As you can see, I wanted a working, vintage TV set, which was no small feat using Lectora and a heavily restricted distribution network.

Tens of thousands of employees nationwide have viewed the training and it continues to receive rave reviews even today. More importantly, the patented process is now being followed more closely than ever, resulting in a significant ROI for the client.

MEN: Three Simple Rules for An Awesome Facial Hair Experience.

2011-11-04T14:55:00.000-04:00

In case you haven't noticed, facial hair is all the rage right now. No-Shave November. Movember. For those of us who've been in the beard and mustache wearing biz for many years (over 25 for me), we say it's long overdo. In fact, maybe that's what wrong with our country: We haven't had a president with facial hair since the early 1900s (credit Honest Abe with starting the trend in the 1860s). Anyway, I digress.
If you are serious about being a part of the facial hair phenomenon, here are some tips--no, strike that--rules that you must follow for everyone's safety:

Get a Stiff Upper Lip. Listen, if you aren't either a real cowboy or in a motorcycle gang, trim your mustache. Personally, I never have understood the desire to grow your mustache until it covers the upper lip. It's a hygiene issue. Food on the mustache is just an unacceptably low standard. However, if you choose to violate this rule of hygiene, at least make sure that the mustache is properly groomed (meaning all the same length while covering your upper lip). Come on man, take some pride in your 'stache.
Neck Beards Are Not Okay. Even certified rebels such as cowboys and bikers don't often violate this rule. You are not a caveman. Beards are an 11 on a scale of 1 to 10, but too much of anything is still too much. Beards were meant for the face. Shave your neck. Every day.
Don't Ignore Those Face Deserts. There is no shame in having a region of your face that is barren. It happens to the best of us. But pretending that it has hair doesn't make the hair magically grow in those deserts. Instead, experiment with a style and technique that makes the desert blend in naturally. If you are new to facial hair (or have never really given your pride much thought), you may be surprised to know that there are many ways to show off your whiskers. Take a look at sites such as http://www.beards.org/ or http://www.worldbeardchampionships.com/ for inspiration.

I leave you with a few words of wisdom:

"We have now for many centuries triumphed over nature to the extent of making certain secondary characteristics of the male (such as the beard) disagreeable to nearly all the females--and there is more in that than you might suppose." --C.S. Lewis

"There is always a period when a man with a beard shaves it off. This period does not last. He returns headlong to his beard." --Jean Cocteau

"Kissing a man with a beard is a lot like going to a picnic. You don't mind going through a little bush to get there!" --Minnie Pearl

Shaped by God

2011-10-26T10:00:00.000-04:00

A few millenia ago when I was working with youth pastors, I wrote an article that really summed up my "belief" about God's manner of discipling us:

“Wanna know what life was like for me growing up? Watch Flipper. That was me . . . only I had a dog instead of a dolphin. I learned to water-ski when I was seven. I learned to sail at eight. I got my first boat when I was in the fifth grade. And I also had a horse. I went everywhere either by water or by horse. If the sun was shining, I was outside. Once I got older, it drove my dad crazy. He’d say, ‘When are you going to start thinking about your career?’ My answer was, ‘Oh, when I’m about thirty-five.’ That’s pretty much the way it happened.”

Eric Partin’s love for the outdoors was one of the definitive characteristics of his ministry to students. Just ask Chris, the 21-year-old worship leader who has worked with Eric since age thirteen.

“Pastor Eric has been like a father to me, really. He’s spent a lot of time with me over the years. He taught me how to surf, how to snowboard, and how to windsurf. He was with me the first time I ever saw snow and the first time that I saw the mountains.”

One of the key lessons Eric learned over fourteen years of youth ministry was that in order to really impact someone’s life, you have to spend time with them. So he used his love for the outdoors to give him the time he needed.

“I’ve taken my leaders on trips every year. We go snow-skiing, sailing, boating, hiking, surfing . . . whatever.” He once took a group of tenth graders to Moab for a biking/hiking/kayaking excursion. “It gives us a chance to learn to trust one another at a much deeper level than I can accomplish in a leadership training session.”

Eric is now a successful senior pastor in Florida’s panhandle, but his ministry style hasn’t changed a whole lot: “Looking back, it is easy to see how God used my experiences to shape my life and ministry.”

In times like these, when the future seems so uncertain, it's easy to forget that God is both in control and that He has a plan for you. And according to the Scriptures, that plan has been in place for quite some time. If you look hard enough, you can see the unbreakable thread that runs through your life, the thread with God's fingerprints all over it. Do yourself a favor and surrender to God and His care today.

Welcome!

2011-08-21T14:01:00.000-04:00

To this weekend's (quarter million?) new @HP Touchpad owners, I'd like to extend a warm and sincere welcome to the #WebOS community.

For those like myself who have been WebOS users since day one (June 2009!), it is an experience like no other (trials and tribulations notwithstanding). Hopefully, over the course of the coming weeks, you'll come to understand why we are so passionate about this platform. HP's loss is your gain. And with the strength of our new numbers, we should be able to convince developers to continue working to bring new (as well as porting pre-existing) apps to the catalog.

As a newcomer, you no doubt have many questions. I highly recommend you bookmark the following sites as they are the community experts on all things WebOS. I've listed the web address and the Twitter handle for you:

@webOSroundup -- http://www.webosroundup.com/

@precentral -- http://www.precentral.net/

Again, welcome to the community. Long live WebOS!

We Like Your Donuts

2011-08-10T18:18:00.000-04:00

Four years ago I sold my home and left “the most magical place on earth” (Orlando, FL) for one reason: I missed Cleveland, TN. My wife and I both came here as Lee students in the late 80s and were away for many years. It didn’t take long for the idea of “someday moving back to Cleveland” to enter our hearts. Coming back to Cleveland felt like coming home. It’s a great place to raise a family. But I’m not just another person who fell in love with Cleveland. I’m also a homeschooling dad who proudly supports our local school system with both my tax dollars and my donations to various fund-raisers. Bradley County, in my opinion, has some of the finest teachers in the country. Many of them are my friends and I admire them for the hard work and sacrifice they make each day for the children and families of this community.

So, if what I just said is true, then it certainly raises at least two questions:

Why am I homeschooling?
Why am I engaged in this specific conversation before the Board of Education?

The answer to the first question is complex, though certainly not complicated. As with each family in Bradley County with school-age children, our family made educational choices based strictly on our own personal goals and values. Like I said, complex, though not complicated. One family chooses Walker Valley, another Bradley, and still another Cleveland. A fourth chooses private education. A fifth chooses homeschooling. Each choice is both legally and culturally acceptable. Each choice is also extremely personal, a fact which few would dare deny or attempt to interfere with. We all love our children and make choices based on that love. And just because one family believes the educational opportunities through choice A is “better” than choice B does not make the choice a fact. It simply reinforces how personal the choice is. Our family chose homeschooling more than 12 years ago and we are both proud of and committed to our choice, just as those who choose from the options within the Bradley County public school system are proud of and committed to their choices.

The answer to the second question is also not complicated, at least as I understand it (admittedly, I’m a pretty simple southern boy, so the point could be debated).

Imagine, if you will, that you had founded a Breakfast Club here in Bradley County. Due to certain regulations that were out of your control, every citizen of Bradley County was required to pay annual dues. For this payment, your Breakfast Club offered “free” coffee, donuts, and fruit. The Johnson family takes advantage of this every morning. So do the Williams’. But the Smith family discovered they could make coffee at home that had a slightly different flavor (with the same caffeine content, of course). This flavor appealed to the Smiths, so they chose not to stop by the Breakfast Club each morning. The Smiths also discovered they they could get the fruit they like out of their own backyard. But as time went along, the Smiths realized that they simply could not make their own donuts. They lacked the experience and the resources. So they decided that they would alter their morning routine and begin picking up donuts each morning from the Breakfast Club. At least, that was the plan. Unfortunately, Mr. Johnson, who runs the Breakfast Club, feels that if the Smiths do not also want the coffee and fruit, they should not be allowed to have the donuts either.

Homeschooling families do not deny that the coffee and fruit of the Bradley County public school system is excellent and loved by many. They’ve simply made a different choice that better suits the dreams, goals, and values of their individual families. And because they contribute the same annual dues (taxes) as every other family (and because the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association deemed it to be an acceptable request), homeschooling families simply want to be given the same access to Bradley County public school system's exceptional athletics program to which every other tax-paying, law-abiding citizen has access.

In simpler words, we like your donuts. We can’t make them ourselves. We’re just asking for fair and reasonable access that does not penalize us because of our academic (coffee and fruit) preferences.

I recognize that this is a lot to digest. Should the Bradley County Board of Education graciously agree to permit homeschooled children to participate in athletics programs, it also seems clear that there will be both administrative and regulatory issues that will have to be dealt with in a timely manner. However, I am confident of the Board's ability to meet those issues head on and to handle them with fairness and grace. I am also encouraged to know that there are literally hundreds of other local school systems around the country who have made this step and who have gathered an impressive array of best practices from which to glean wisdom and insight.

Thank you for what you do for the citizens of Bradley County. I am proud to be part of the Cleveland, TN family.

Blessings!

Eric Wilbanks

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

2011-05-10T11:24:00.001-04:00

Times are tough all over. Unemployment is high, and many people around the country are struggling to make ends meet. But despite how bleak things may look for some, what we are now experiencing doesn’t even comeclose to the conditions during the Great Depression of the 1930s. One simple example makes this point vividly clear: bread lines.

In New York’s Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, there is a bronze casting created by sculptor George Segal titled Depression Bread Line, which “depicts five men in shabby trench coats and hats standing in line in front of a brick wall and doorway. . . . The five individuals, hunched over in downcast isolation, await their rations of food, playing out an all-too-familiar scene from the Great Depression” (www.mmoca.org). The scene is described as “both heartbreakingly private and unsentimentally public.”

In 1931, lyricist E. Y. “Yip” Harburg and composer Jay Gorney wrote what is probably the bestknown American song of the Great Depression called “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” Many artists have recorded this song over the years, but perhaps the most well-known version was recorded by Bing Crosby. The song is truly an anthem of the era, as it echoes the probing questions of those whose blood, sweat, and tears built the nation yet found themselves abandoned and desolate, waiting in bread lines:

They used to tell me I was building a dream,
with peace and glory ahead; Why should I be
standing in line, just waiting for bread? Once
I built a railroad, I made it run, made it race
against time. Once I built a railroad; now it’s
done. Brother, can you spare a dime?

For those who lived through this period, a piece of bread often meant the difference between life and death. And while we might not quite be at this stage in America, throughout the country we have homeless shelters and soup kitchens that are full of people living in extreme conditions. While it’s true that some may just be looking for a hand-out, many more are really looking for a hand up—for someone to help them get out of their situation.

It makes me think of the many who have lost family, homes, and every material good during the recent string of disastrous tornadoes that ripped across Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. I challenge you to find someone in need and figure out a way to help. No, you don't have to be the only source of help. That's a burden few can bear. But you can be one among many. And even if all you can do is the equivalent of a dime in the 1930s, that's a perfectly acceptable gift to those in dire need.

Obedience Training

2011-05-02T10:26:00.000-04:00

I love animals . . . so long as they are not in my house, that is. But to watch animals either in the wild, at a zoo, or on TV has always amazed me. I am especially intrigued by animals that have been trained to do incredible tricks. I lived in Orlando for almost nine years and my favorite theme park was Seaworld. If you’ve ever seen any of the shows at Seaworld, you cannot help but be awed by the collaboration between man and marine life: a human riding on the nose of a killer whale; a dolphin sailing out of the water like a rocket through a hula hoop. I even saw a show at Seaworld once that featured a bunch of rescued animals (including birds and cats) performing a massive variety of stage tricks. It was truly amazing.

And then there are the plethora of talk shows which feature amazing pet tricks—like a Jack Russell terrier that jumps rope, a goldfish that can score soccer goals, and a mini pig that plays the xylophone! Don’t believe me? The videos are all on YouTube. And lest you feel inclined to dismiss these amazing feats, let me ask you how many cool tricks your pet can perform. I’d personally be pleased if I could teach my dog not to destroy every object upon which she can get her teeth.

I often wonder how many hours of training it takes to get to that level. Even more curious is the process involved and the discipline it must take on behalf of the trainers to teach these obedience tricks to animals. Hours upon hours of patient instruction. Makes you wonder how God must feel as He continues to work with us, probably wondering why such simple acts of obedience sometimes seem so difficult for us to grasp.

Is there a particular command or principle in Scripture that seems to continuously give you problems? Do you ever feel that maybe God loses patience with you concerning this issue? Obedience is both a foundational and, sometimes, elusive concept in Christianity. If you need some inspiration, take a look at the Old Testament story of Ruth—a story of both courage and obedience under trying circumstances. I know for myself, any insight I can gain is always helpful.

Harry Potter and the Empty Tomb

2011-04-25T10:16:00.018-04:00

How would you feel if you were to find out that the resurrection of Jesus was somehow a hoax, or at least a misunderstanding?

In his book, Philosophia Christi, Gary R. Habermas responds to some “suggested alternative scenarios” posed by Dale Allison concerning Jesus’s resurrection. You can read part of the response at www.garyhabermas.com, but for now, here’s a quick look at some of those alternative scenarios:

Veridical Apparitions—This is just a fancy way of saying that what everyone witnessed was a ghost. And while there are some intriguing biblical examples of apparitions as well as some global fascination with ghosts (and thus many claims of having seen one or more), none of these experiences, real or imagined, have the qualities associated with Jesus’ post resurrection appearances.

Sorcery—Yes, you read correctly. Some have suggested that a sorcerer/necromancer stole Jesus’ body. Given the fact that Egypt’s sorcerers were able to perform some pretty nifty tricks (albeit inferior compared to those of Moses), the theory does make for a riveting fictional plot for, say, a new Harry Potter book (Harry Potter and the Empty Tomb, anyone?).

The Truly Shocking—Both Allison and Habermas find these theories comical, but they are, nonetheless, actual theories. First, there’s the idea that Jesus’ dead body simply turned to dust and blew away. Another states that an aftershock from the Crucifixion earthquake opened up a crack in the earth and swallowed Jesus’ body, then resealed itself without a trace. And let’s not forget those who say aliens abducted Jesus’ corpse, inserted a new brain, and created a “better body” for Him.

Despite the foolishness of these theories, they do raise an important question: Is the Resurrection story, as presented in God’s Word, critical to the Christian faith? If someone were to say to you, “What does it matter” how would you respond?

Must Read: A Collection of Easter Thoughts from Twitter & Facebook

2011-04-23T11:24:00.000-04:00

Here are some of the best thoughts I've run across. May you be as challenged, stretched, and inspired as I have been.

Joe Long (via Facebook):

"And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Nevertheless I must walk to day, and tomorrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem" (Luke 13: 32-33).

Herod is a "fox", who thinks he's king of his own kingdom and making the important decisions and scheming the schemes for himself, just as we think we're "in charge" and doing important things...but the Lord has him in derision. "Tell him he can kill me when I have TIME to let him kill me; I'm busy right now." (Elsewhere He declares, "I lay down (my life) myself; no man takes it from me.")

"Fox" is also a bit sarcastic; it's more "he thinks he's pretty slick", than any suggestion that he really is.

Pharisees were the ones warning Christ of the death plot. They get a bad rap - but many of the greatest leaders of the Church were drawn from among the Pharisees. Pharisees were serious people, scholars and "seekers", prone to grievous errors but also sometimes profound insights - and Jesus loved them enough to confront and chasten them, over and over and over again.

The irony, indeed the black humor, of vs. 23 is not what we expect from the blue-eyed, curly haired character from the Sunday School paintings, who's always holding a lamb. "I've got three days of hard travel ahead, but after all, prophets HAVE to be martyred in Jersualem!" That's the Man I want to follow - not the smiley cartoon caricature

Jonathan Grubbs (via Facebook):

When Jesus said, "It is finished!" on the cross, it wasn't simply a statement referring to the end of His suffering or the end of his life. The Greek word Jesus spoke here is tetelestai, a legal term of His time that means "paid in full." The payment that was required for the sins of the world past, present and future was "paid in full" by Jesus that day on the cross!

James P Bowers (via Twitter):

The darkness before the dawn.

Athena Buckner Davis (via Facebook):

This night must've been the darkest night... so full of fear and emptiness... so devoid of hope... I wonder what it must've felt like for them, not knowing that Sunday was coming? I wonder how many in the world right now feel that way? I wonder why we aren't falling over ourselves to tell them about Sunday?

Leonard Sweet (via Twitter):

Holy Saturday, aka “the longest day,” is when Jesus’ mission moves from the tomb into dark womb of the earth.

Rob Alderman (via Facebook):

Death took a bite and said, "Hey... There's something different about this guy. I suddenly don't feel so good."

Kevin Trowbridge (via Twitter):

Will you follow or unfollow? Now is the time to decide.

King James

2011-04-18T10:08:00.001-04:00

Basketball fans know him as “King James.”

Lebron James was already being hailed as a future NBA superstar when he was a sophomore in high school. At age 18 he signed a contract with Nike and then became the number one draft pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers straight out of high school. He was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2003 and led the Cavs to consecutive NBA playoffs from 2006 to 2010. And then came the time to exercise his free agency. That’s when all Hades broke loose in the King James world. BleacherReport.com columnist Aaron Green probably summarized it best for Cavs fans everywhere:

“For months, I had anticipated an emotional press conference where James would say how much he loved Cleveland and the Cavaliers organization. He would tell Cavs fans everywhere that he came to Cleveland intending to bring the city its highly sought-after title, and he’s not going anywhere until that’s accomplished.”

There was a press conference. But it wasn’t at all what Cavs fans had expected. They were hoping that King James would be the NBA savior who pulled them out of a 46-year drought. Instead, James announced on national TV, “I’m going to take my talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat . . . I feel like it’s going to give me the best opportunity to win and to win for multiple years, and . . . to win championships.”

Ouch. To be fair, “saving” the Cavs was a tough cross to take up for a rising superstar, but James did it. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the courage or motivation to stick with it until the end. Given the chance, James chose to come down from that cross and take what many fans considered to be the easy way out by signing with the Miami Heat.

Whether you are a basketball fan or not, I’d like to hear your opinion on the decision by Lebron James: Do you think he made the right move? More importantly, what crosses have you had to bear in your own life (could be “good” or “bad” crosses)? Were you able to bear them until the end, or did you find an easier way out?

Sometimes the crosses we bear are both unhelpful and fully deserved. Sometimes they are neither. I hope you've taken the time to reconsider the significance of the cross of Christ and of His willingness to endure that cross for us all.

A Toothless Gospel

2011-04-11T10:01:00.015-04:00

Not long ago I found myself in the middle of a difficult conversation with a very dear friend. The issue had to do with choices. My friend—against advice, good judgment, scriptural admonition, and old-fashioned pleading—had chosen to make some lifestyle changes that were clearly out of harmony with God’s Word. Well, I say “clearly”, but for my friend, things were no longer clear. His words to me were simple: “I’ve made my peace with God over this issue. I believe He loves me anyway, so I’ve chosen to stay on this path.”

I was heartbroken. I tried every argument I could think of to help my friend see the error of his ways. But it didn’t matter. Biblical arguments were met with less enthusiasm than a telemarketer’s phone call on a lazy afternoon. He had convinced himself that God was not concerned with the choices he made and that all that mattered was that he still believed in God and still believed God loved Him.

How is it that we, as the body of Christ, have come to trust so completely in a toothless gospel where choices lack consequences? How is it that our eyes have become so blind and our ears so deaf to the dual reality of truth and love? I thought long and hard about these questions in the days following my conversation with my friend. Honestly, I simply don’t have any clear or easy answers for these kinds of dilemmas.

Have you ever had one of those “difficult conversations” in which you couldn’t seem to help the other person see the truth (not an argument, but a genuine plea for caution and redirection)? Have you typically found it easy to balance the dual reality of truth and love, or does it seem that they are often at odds with one another?

In the end, I simply have to echo the heart of Joshua when he declared to the Israelites that, regardless of how others choose to live their lives, “I and my family will worship the Lord” (24:15). It may not always be easy or popular, but at some point, we all must make that choice, and the consequences reach all the way into eternity itself.

What's For Dinner?

2011-04-04T09:47:00.010-04:00

I have a friend who is a single male in his late forties. Career-wise, he’s quite successful. And his passion for Christ and genuine love for others is obvious after only a few minutes in conversation. But even more striking is his story of how he found a level of contentment that many single adults never find. The answer was food.

My friend works with singles and young adults in his local congregation. Because of his compassion, he often found that groups of young adults would “drop by” his house and wind up hanging out on any given night of the week. This made for plenty of interesting and entertaining moments, but it also made for quite a bit of stress and chaos. Then one night, my friend decided that this group of twenty–somethings could probably use a real, home-cooked meal. He went to the grocery store, filled his cart, and came back to prepare a meal. Those who felt comfortable doing so chipped in to help with preparations. The event was magical. My friend and his ten visitors shared a meal together, but somehow, they shared something more. They shared stories. They shared dreams. They shared life. And they decided soon after that they should do it all again sometime soon.

That was many months ago. Now this “family dinner” is the highlight of the week and everyone pitches in to buy and prepare food. As word spreads, more and more people are anxious to get in on the deal. Why? I think Miriam Weinstein, author of The Surprising Power of Family Meals, has the answer: “Sitting down to a meal together draws a line around us. It encloses us and, for a brief time, strengthens the bonds that connect us with other members of our self-defined clan, shutting out the rest of the world.”

So, did you and your family have regular family meals as you were growing up? If so, what do you remember most about those times? In your experience, what is it about sharing a meal that typically makes it such an enjoyable bonding experience?

Christ often used mealtime as ministry time during His brief time on earth. Even in His stories, meals often played a big role. How would your relationships be different if you adopted this method and mentality?

The Power of a Name

2011-03-28T09:40:00.001-04:00

Paul Harvey was one of radio’s most famous personalities, known primarily for his radio segments titled “The Rest of the Story,” in which he weaves fascinating tales, waiting until the last moment to reveal the identities of the story’s main character. For example, he once told the story of sixteen-year-old Michael, a basketball player who collided with an opponent during a game and wound up biting off and swallowing the tip of his own tongue. Harvey went on to tell how Michael was also a budding young singer whose voice was forever altered by the incident. In fact, even Michael himself assumed his singing days were over. But (according to Harvey) that fateful event gave Michael a raspy tone and style that would eventually make him a star and a legend.

So, who was this young man? Well, that’s a good question. But perhaps a better question is, does it really matter? After all, the story itself should be sufficient inspiration for never giving up, overcoming tragedy, yada yada yada. But it doesn’t work like that, does it? What if I gave you more details? For example, this incident is visually connected to a cultural icon for which Michael is famous. Still no clue? Well, the man’s full name: Michael Phillip Jagger, otherwise recognized as the lead singer for the Rolling Stones. (Now the big lips and tongue make more sense, right?)

Surprised? I sure was. Harvey got me every time with those hidden identities. And at the end of each segment when he finally reveals the name—BAM!—I’m blown away. That’s the power of a name.

Why is it so critical for us to know the name of a person? How is it that someone’s history and character can be so inextricably tied to something as simple as a name? More importantly, how does this insight relate to prayer?

12 Steps to Health

2011-03-23T10:46:00.034-04:00


Step 1 ... Adjust your attitude! The way you think about yourself and your ability to get healthy is critical to your success (or failure). Think about it.

Step 2 ... Go ahead and indulge in a little chocolate, just make sure it's dark chocolate.
The benefits are truly amazing.

Step 3 ... learn to eat better and stay away from the S.A.D. American Diet!

Now that I'm "caught up," I'll blog one of these each month. All you have to do is make your focus for the entire month the one simple step featured, and within a year, you'll be living healthier and feeling better than ever!

The True Cost of Discipleship

2011-03-21T09:25:00.002-04:00

On February 4, 1906, in Breslau, Germany, Dietrich became number six of eight children born to Karl and Paula Bonhoeffer. Karl was a professor of psychiatry and neurology. Paula was a university graduate who home-schooled Dietrich while he was young. A brilliant student, Dietrich went on to become the only Bonhoeffer ever to pursue a career in theology.

If you are a student of history, you may recognize that Dietrich lived during the rise of Hitler. As a Christian, it may seem obvious that the ethics of the Nazis and their anti-Semitism were offensive to a student of the Bible such as Dietrich. More importantly, his outspoken demeanor got him banned from teaching at the University of Berlin, so he created an underground seminary. And when the German church proved less than enthusiastic in its stand against Nazism, Dietrich helped create the Confessing Church to fight against Hitler’s Third Reich. Eventually, Dietrich became recognized as an active force of protest against the Nazi regime.

By the 1930s, Nazi power and philosophy were in high gear, and the holocaust began as Hitler’s “final solution” against the problem of “Jewish infestation.” In an effort to thwart Hitler’s efforts, Dietrich joined a military intelligence organization and began feeding information to the resistance. By 1943, Dietrich’s anti-Nazi resistance landed him in Tegel prison, cell 92, where he began to live out his famous words: “When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die” (Cost of Discipleship).

On April 9, 1945, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was stripped and hanged for his fight against Hitler and Nazi Germany in the name of Christ. More than most, he understood the true Cost of Discipleship.

What do you suppose it would have been like living and working under Hitler’s Nazi Germany?
Apparently, Bonhoeffer’s “outspoken demeanor got him banned from teaching” . . . and eventually imprisoned and even hanged. Has your desire to speak out ever got you in trouble
Do you think the actions of Bonhoeffer were brave, stupid, or both? Why?
Obviously, none of us have been martyred for our faith. And while that would be the ultimate sacrifice, certainly there are many other types of sacrifice that we can make. So, what would you say you’ve personally learned about the Cost of Discipleship?

St. Patrick, Bold Faith

2011-03-17T12:28:00.004-04:00

On the Eve of Easter (and during the Celtic feast of Bealtaine), 432, the High King Loaghaire prepared to kindle the “new fire” on top of a hill at Tara, the ancient capital of Ireland. All fires had to be extinguished as the High King lit the “first fire,” from which all others would then be lit. The Druids would then take these fires to their homes. But on this night of the Druid New Year, another first fire, ignited by the Holy Spirit himself, had already been lit in the heart of a man named Patrick. As such, Patrick couldn’t bear to stand back and watch this festival take place without opposition.

So Patrick built a fire of his own on the hill of Slane opposite the hill of Tara. The Druids complained to Loaghaire that the fire, lighted in defiance of his royal edict, would blaze forever unless they extinguished it that very night. Nine chariots were sent against the saint. But Patrick’s fire seemed to have magical powers and the kings’ men were unable to prevail against the power of this holy fire.

The next day, Loaghaire invited Saint Patrick to Tara, intending to ambush and kill him along the way. Patrick accepted the invitation. Along the path, he and eight young clerics began reciting the Breastplate Prayer (a.k.a., the “Deer’s Cry”). As the soldiers readied the ambush, a cloak of darkness fell over the men causing the soldiers to see only eight deer and a fawn going past them. Even the Druid wizards had warned the king that the posterity of this man would remain until doomsday, because he was the herald of the Prince of Peace. In the end, Loaghaire was forced to concede that Patrick’s God was more powerful than the gods of the Druids. From that time on, the influence of Saint Patrick spread until all of Ireland had heard the message of Easter, thanks to the courage and anointing of this remarkable disciple of Jesus Christ.

The story of St. Patrick’s epic showdown with the High King Loaghaire is not one we typically hear about. What strikes you most about this story?
Do you think it would have been difficult for you to light that fire opposite of Tara if you had been there instead of Patrick? Why.
Can you think of any biblical stories which sort of parallel this story from Ireland?

The key to Patrick’s passion and courage was, of course, the anointing and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. As believers we are called to walk (journey) in the Spirit (Romans 8:4; Galatians 5:25). As we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and the Easter season, “May your blessings outnumber the Shamrocks and may the strength of Three be in your journey.”

Covenant Marriage

2010-10-16T15:38:00.001-04:00

On Oct 16, 1993 I proclaimed to the world that I had "found the one whom my soul loves" (Song of Solomon, 3:4). The Covenant we made that day is still just as strong today as we celebrate 17 years of marriage. But we've been together for almost 20 years, and I still remember the day we met as if it were yesterday.

I had just arrived home from work (I was a DJ at a local radio station) and Phyllis and her friend, Shannon, came by the house to invite me and my roommates to a party. I was the only one home, so I went with them. (If you want to see the full story--in the style of Alice's Restaurant--click here: http://ericwilbanks.com/our_story.html).

The party itself was a pretty low-key event. A small group of us decided that it would be fun to play cards and I suggested my favorite game, Rummy. Phyllis had never played Rummy, so I volunteered to be her teammate and teach her the game. Today, we still have a set of rustic King and Queen wall hangings displayed prominently in our living room as a reminder of that night.

We saw each other a few more times, and within a couple of weeks I had finally experienced what so many talk about concerning love: I knew that I had found "the one." Of course, I wasn't a kid any more, and I knew the dangers of rushing love, so I kept my thoughts and feelings private for the time and decided instead to journal them. My plan was to say in the journal all the things I wanted to say to Phyllis, and then present it to her as a gift the night before our wedding. Even long after our verbal commitment to one another had been affirmed, I continued to journal my deepest thoughts for two years.

Through the years, Phyllis has been the kind of wife and mother that every home needs: Kind, compassionate, committed, positive, inspiring, and so much more. But more than that, she has been my soul mate, my love, my life. I am looking forward to the next seventeen years with great anticipation of all we will experience together.

Happy anniversary, Phyllis. I love you.

-- Sent from my Palm Prē

Is America going through its own, modern version of the "dark ages?"

2010-10-11T10:12:00.000-04:00

At the 2009 Neuroeducation Summit hosted by Johns Hopkins University, "several roundtable participants pointed out that art is no longer taught in their schools. According to the Alliance for Childhood's Crisis in the Kindergarten report, 48 percent of kindergarten classrooms in New York and 64 percent in Los Angeles have decided there's no time for art activities; 60 percent in New York and 67 percent in Los Angeles reported not enough time for dramatic play.* The larger question is inherently economic: Can the United States afford to abandon the training of creative ways of thinking and learning in the hope that these skills will come from some source other than specific training in the arts?"

Has modern American education become so driven by test scores and public policies that we've lost what it means to holistically educate? If so, maybe it's time for a renaissance of sorts. The question, then, is What would a true renaissance in education look like? Add your two cents in the comments.

*Miller, E. & J. Almon. (2009). Crisis in the kindergarten: Why children need to play in school, p. 31. College Park, MD: Alliance for Childhood. Retrieved from http://www.allianceforchildhood.org/sites/allianceforchildhood.org/files/file/kindergarten_report.pdf

Image Source: Neurodegeneration by Sophie Blows, Impington Village College. Various manifestations of life in the brain from DNA to an MRI scan. http://www.endocytosis.org/ImaginingTheBrain/NeuroArt2007/gallery.html

Who Knows Best?

2010-05-26T20:44:00.003-04:00

Another political campaign flyer arrived in the mail today. It wasn't really all that extraordinary, but my 13-yr old son was bored so he stood beside me and began silently reading through the flyer -- until he reached this line, which he read out loud:

"[Name] ... knows what's best for us -- not government!"

To which my son immediately responded:

"...and yet he's running for a government position."

Touche.

Careful politicians. The next generation of voters are not only tech savvy, but they are also politically aware. And they're paying attention to what you say and do.

Font Faux Pas

2010-05-03T22:40:00.005-04:00

There's a time and place for every font ... people who can't figure that out should have to go through a fontervention and be embarrassed on national TV via a new reality series titled What Font to Where?

iPad: For Consumers or Creators?

2010-04-17T17:04:00.004-04:00

A number of folks have come out recently to try and combat the "naysayers" who say the iPad is not for content creators, including Mike Elgan for Computerworld, and Brian Solis. I think they are missing the point. Here's why...

The Consumers vs Creators argument is not about capability. It's about market share.

Take any slice of the population, and more than 80% of that slice is perfectly happy to do nothing but consume the available content. They don't want to write blogs or books, or make videos or music, or design games, or whatever else is considered content creation. They just want to consume.

The creators? Less than 3%.

Historically, Apple was the company of choice for creative types. They developed a cult-like following but temporarily lost the war for market share against Windows. But somewhere along the line, Apple got smart and decided to be the company of choice for the consumers, too. The iPad is the next evolution of that strategy. It is the ultimate consumption device.

Can you create with it? In very limited ways, but sure, I suppose. However, that isn't the point, because the folks buying the device -- 80% of them -- have no desire to use it as a content creation tool anyway.

How to Make a Milky Way

2010-04-16T19:55:00.001-04:00

By Daci, age 4

First you take a little bit of water,
and some sweet salt,
and a little bit of lemon,
then add some Easter egg candy.

Put it in the oven for seven seconds.

Dad, can you make some now?

EW

Sent from my Palm Pre