The arts are in limbo, nearly at a crisis in educational systems. Funding for arts in public education for children has been reduced to literally nothing the last three decades. Colleges and universities struggle to validate the existence of art programs and socio-economic forces marginalize the financial ‘return-on-investment’ of liberal, performing or visual arts higher education. It is taunted as incompatible with career stability and economic viability, unless one goes

In an age where societies are consumed with “the big,” attitudes frame around “large is in charge,” which introduce the need to measure against others. From “how many likes and shares” to “the amount of followers,” from the fasting growing ‘this and that’ to the top ten of whatever category, pop culture creates an obsessive drive for more, for the viral, for the most notable. This cultural mania suppresses the mindset of contentment. It seems as if it is not enough to "jus

In Judges 17:6 and 21:25, the word discloses an accurate view of our times and why: "Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." This idea that we should get to define for ourselves what is right and true is a recipe for generational deception, disorder, and disaster. Blindness is a fitting estimation of the moral state of our generation. Deafness is the drive to look to other answers instead of the principles of God. Awakening is the call to arise from our sleep and slumbe

What is descending? What is ascending? Religion is failing. Religious dogmas are falling. What you counted on outside of ME will not sustain you. What you sought to control the minds of people will not bring unity. What tables were you counting on? Who are you promoting? Am I exalted in your midst? Was I elevated among you? You will no longer lean to your own understanding. You will release what I have deposited within you-the treasure that is in your earthen vessel. It wil

Jesus Christ described himself as the Bread of Life in John 6:35 NLT: "I am the bread of life. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." The phrase, "I am the bread of life," is one of the "I AM" statements that Jesus spoke in the gospel of John. However, it is more a function of life than a title in the life of a follower of Christ. Bread is a symbolic representation of the life-provision of Christ. When you become born again, you receive the Bread of Life and become a

How do we forget who we are? It is possible for us to get caught up and distracted in other people's lives and overwhelmed in the "roles" we fulfill. Some may ask, "isn't there more than this?" How did we get there? Many times it is because we set our own limits and we aren't aware that we have done that. We end become the roles we play and then when those roles shift or even end, then we begin another search for who we are. This moment I encourage you to make this declarati

Is freedom the “free domain?” The freedom to dominate? The dominion of the free? The highest law of freedom is the law of responsibility. As I reflect on the greatness, goodness, graciousness, grievousness, greediness and giftedness of the United States and its citizens, I can trust and not trust you at the same time. I might trust you to drive me to the doctor and not trust you to conduct the medical procedure. Humanity was created as trustees in the earth: to be fruitful,

In the world, everything from atoms to molecules to cells change to match our beliefs. Our belief inform our thinking. Then, our beliefs impact our physiology at a cellular, subatomic level, shaping outcomes and outputs. What we believe impacts who we are in the natural, physical world. Thus, we are limited by the way we think of ourselves and others in that world. If a group of human beings believe that another group of human beings are subhuman or inhuman, then the preju

Taking a look at the ego is an important truth to understand if you wish to grow emotionally, mentally and spiritually. As culturally defined, the ego is really our self-importance. Ego draws us away from God and our neighbors and toward ourselves. On the other hand, to deny self by immersing ourselves in Christ moves us beyond ourselves toward the love of God and others. Jesus was discerning in saying that everything boiled down to the Greatest Commandment: Love God and lov

In foundational collegiate communication courses, students are introduced to the ABC's of Communication: Accuracy, Brevity and Clarity. Accuracy includes both accurate information and accurate expression. The information should be correct and well-expressed. Accuracy demands precision in writing. Precision is the quality of being exact and accurate. Brevity is the quality of being brief. It is a striking feature in communication. Brevity means giving maximum information in

Romans 13:11 "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." The subconscious mind is like a garden. The seed that is planted there will grow. We've been planting many different seeds there. There are many tares among the wheat. MIND = GARDEN WORDS = SEEDS Some tares or weeds are obvious and they need to be rooted out. Sometimes it's hard to tell the bad from the good. Sometimes it's har

As a consulting professional, I am asked many questions in the course of a week. In those instances, I am expected to provide contextual co-created answers with agile synergy and strategy. In my function as a servant leader focused on revealing Christ and being hidden in Christ, when asked questions I have become aware more and more that in answering, I run the risk of revealing things wisdom directs me not to reveal. I’ve learned that I must be healed enough in my emotional

Considering that we are all joined in a unique community of believers with a variety of concepts, I celebrate every one’s uniqueness and recognize their individual journey. I have determined not to minimize, criticize or in any way demean or demonize another’s belief or religious system. I desire to live, speak and write in a redemptive manner in order to share insights and observations to help others grow in Christ. As for my belief, I do need to state clearly that I believe

Humanity finds itself in a pivotal moment: to realize civilization contains the seed of its own destruction or to recognize the capacity to plant new seeds and cultivate the constructive creation in the soil of our collective consciousness. Are our present crises as birth pains, driving us toward a brand new quality of being and a revelation becoming in human life: an enlightened, evolved consciousness? That conceivable evolution is a consciousness where we all see the certai

Felt needs are changes deemed necessary by people to correct the deficiencies they perceive in their community. To consider there is a need means there are flaws, frailty and failures; thus, there is room for growth, maturity and course correction where necessary. The need: leaders who are disciples and sons first and foremost. Discipleship fosters a dependency on Christ for direction and development; in turn, that leads to discipling of others in the words and ways of Jesus,

Over the last few years I’ve learned a reality: people ignore facts and when it comes to reasoning, identity trumps truth. In one of the arguments in “The Enigma of Reason,” a book by cognitive scientists Hugo Mercier and Dan Sperber. According to their theory of reasoning, reason’s primary strengths are justifying beliefs we already believe in and making arguments to convince others. This line of reasoning makes us fall prey to a number of cognitive biases, like confirmatio

As part of my grief recovery and wholeness journey, I craft handwriting letters and cards: signing them, dating them, placing wax on them and sealing them too. These letters are written to people I deeply and dearly love. Who I miss. Who I care about. Who I have lost. Who I have hurt. Who I have disappointed. Who have hurt and harmed me along with a plethora of scenarios I want and need them in my life. The sentiments are not reciprocal. Many days I wish and hope these impa

In a day where cover-ups rule character, being true to our motives and intentions will hopefully restore public and private faith in leaders. The power of transparency linked with truth leads us to transformation. Transformational leaders acknowledge their weaknesses. These leaders are not afraid to admit their weak areas. In fact, they honestly examine themselves in order to identify areas of need. In being transparent about themselves, they can focus on turning those w

I would put all my energy in trying to make it work, trying to help another heal, but would abandon my own needs or truth in the process, because the desire to recognize or honor my own worth was not as strong as it was for me to show you yours. Was I aware of this mindset? Was I aware of this pattern? No, for I did not keep my heart with all diligence for out of my soul flowed the controlling forces in my life (of being self-absorbed with hiding in fear and not healing in fa

When my blind spots were obvious, some may have thought my life was out of control, and the truth is, it was. Yet, I could not see it or was it that I 'would' not see it or frankly did not 'want' to see it? But it wasn’t the result of partying or drug abuse or plain ol’ laziness. It was the direct result of the condition of my soul. Instead of talking about my journey and asking for help, I shut down out of shame, fear, guilt, and remorse, and the worry of losing all. I tried