The following are some things I said a month ago at my father’s funeral. I hope this inspires and challenges you. 

What starts as a disappointment or problem can transport us to places, people, things, and events that can elevate us. Treasures lie on unexpected roads. Treasure hunts encourage openness to detours, as they are frequently where the best treasures in life are found. 

Lots of noise and intimidating words can play on your thinking process, can't they? Fear can move us from intelligent assessment to emotional distress quicker than you can say 'cowboy.’

Most of us have heard about Jonah the prophet. He was the prophet who got swallowed up by what the Bible calls a “fish” and got a whale of a taxi ride.

There will be many times in our lives when we make judgments about other people’s behavior. Today’s article is about a true and extraordinary event that many people don’t know about.

I like the idea of making coffee nervous. What a great 'word picture.' I can work with that concept. That can be the title of one of my articles. When you've been writing these articles since November 2004, everything becomes an article.

It is true that to see God, one must approach God not as an expert, but as a learner.

For the last few weeks, I’ve been addressing how to have a healthy, forward-looking response to the problems people face. This week, I'd like to show a real-life story about a soldier in World War I who went through hell and found his way forward by writing a book for his son, and for many of us as well.

Let's start with a thought we can relate to. Here it is. The primary purpose of your pinky toe is to periodically check whether your furniture is still hard. I can sense some of you are groaning as you read this. You’re remembering when your toe confirmed your furniture is still hard. Am I right about that?

When people, circumstances, and attitudes are at their worst, why not be your best?

In Tim Hansel's book, You Gotta’ Keep Dancing, there is a life-lifting poem that has transformed my life when my life becomes frustrating and intense. It's called Did You Ever Doodle, Lord? I’ve used this short snippet before, but it’s worth reading again in times like these. 

Here's a story about a problem. The problem is a squirrel infestation. The community's churches tried to solve the problem. 

Every once in a while, a thought or short writing surfaces that catches the attention of many people. Recently, I posted something that stirred up attention from my circle of friends and colleagues. 

This whole article is a bridge to and for your preferable tomorrow. It’s a compelling picture of a preferable future, equipping you with real life!

Several years ago, I was speaking in a large church in Manila, the Philippines. The church was in a poor barrio of Manila. A thousand people or more were crammed into an old, tattered building designed to hold five hundred. But the room was filled with expectant and exuberant Filipinos and Filipinas. The room was hot, but the spiritual temperature of the people was even hotter.

Have you ever considered that crises in our lives often stem from being in the wrong job or career, being in the wrong mental place, or being in the wrong group of people? Sometimes God is saying amid the crisis, "Hey, I love you, but now it's time to get you to the right spot, and that spot is not where you currently are." In other words, if at first, you don't succeed, then skydiving is not for you.