Recently, at a Leadercast simulcast, Pastor Andy Stanley shared about the meaning and importance of purpose in our professional lives. He highlighted that it’s hard for us to have true purpose if we think that our purpose revolves around us personally, rather than on something or someone much greater. Andy mentioned that he frequently shares with his staff, “Your glory […]

In 2014, CVS Pharmacy had a dilemma. Their company purpose was about helping people on their path to better health, but they were selling over $2 billion in tobacco products. After some corporate soul-searching, CVS leaders boldly made the move to stop selling tobacco products in all their stores. Studies now show that CVS’ decision positively impacted many communities by […]

Speaking at the 2017 Leadercast event, Pastor Andy Stanley had some great insight on purpose. Andy proclaimed that purpose is often found at the intersection of a broken heart, opportunity and skills. Jess Ekstrom, also one of the speakers at Leadercast, modeled Andy’s quote. She was broken-hearted by children with cancer who had lost their hair. Jess saw an opportunity […]

Months ago, at 1:30 am, we received the call. My wife, Kathy, was told that our son, Jeremy, was in the emergency room because the group home he lived in had caught fire! Fortunately, Jeremy was not harmed physically, but Jeremy suddenly had no place to live and no belongings. This forced Jeremy, Kathy and I to adjust. Fortunately, we […]

Calm Under Fire Audie Leon Murphy was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II, receiving every military combat award for valor available from the U.S. Army. Murphy single-handedly held off an entire company of German soldiers for an hour in France, then led a successful counterattack while wounded and out of ammunition. I remember […]

Someone I’ll call, Jim, and I were scheduled to study together our last night in college. Jim’s previous poor grades resulted in the dean requiring him to have a 3.0 grade point to be re-enrolled. Amazingly, Jim had a 4.0 going into his last final. That’s why it was shocking when I saw Jim, with his arms full of his […]

While others poured coffee, I poured orange juice, until a catering employee jerked it from my hand. She abruptly informed me that breakfast wasn’t yet served. The owner of the catering company stepped in and filled my glass. Smiling, she said to me and her associate, “It’s okay. Breakfast will be served soon.” In John 10:12-13 Jesus describes his role […]

Over dinner, a former detective and I talked about my leaving banking to begin a ministry to the marketplace. “I can chase a man down a blind alley who has a gun and not be the least bit afraid,” He said, “but leaving a job to start a ministry would scare me half to death.” Fear takes shape in many […]

In a President Harry Truman biography, I remember reading that a reporter once asked President Truman, “What do you think about your father never amounting to very much?” Truman’s retort was classic, “I don’t know that he did so bad, after all, he raised the President of the United States.” Some people don’t fully value the unpaid work God may […]

Four close friends launched a small business. After years of losses, and questions about the future direction of the company, one of the partners called me for help. We discussed the options and the challenges they faced. Her involvement, and concern for the business, was beginning to jeopardize her cherished friendships. As much as she enjoyed working with her friends, […]