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

What humanity does outside of the kingdom of God is driven by meeting felt needs. One of the greatest needs in humanity is to access the original mandate of its creation. Kingdom leaders must focus on the genesis assignment to demonstrate in the image and likeness of God. Leaders who are disciples first and foremost, followers of Christ. Leaders who deconstruct religion in a way that is dismantles beliefs that serve as a substitute for realizing and recognizing the kingdom o

"O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39 I am forever amazed at these words of Jesus. I have felt the very same thing-oh let it pass, and my circumstances are light afflictions in comparison to the sufferings of Christ. The words of Christ lead to the results of Christ. Numerous times I wanted to the cup of suffering, the chalice of pain or the bowl of confusion to pass from me---pass over me! Chr

The critical issue is how to restore the value of human life. The black experience in America is a living monument to the enduring nature of the human spirit. A collective that exemplified the miraculous ability to adapt, survive and overcome under the most dehumanizing, subhuman conditions ever conceived. The middle passage that began in Africa as a historical betrayal led to exile and evolved into a road leading to chains, shackles, auctions to the highest bidder in market

Why Your Mind Matters in a Time of Crisis and Injustice What do you want in this exact moment of time? What do you see that impacts the fabric of your heart? “Do you want to be made whole? Do you want to see the world heal?” In ghastly times, our nations are losing restraint and casting away vision. We have been inundated with misinformation, disinformation and the lack of it. Overloading of sound bites, video clips and hashtags fill our minds with images, forming a neural

Your mental health is a garden: water it, nourish it, remove weeds Some times it is pointless to argue with current realities. Life is only happening in the present. Now is what matters. The pandemic has caused normalcy to come to a halt, leading to a myriad of questions: When will this be over? What is the truth of this? When will I feel safe in a crowd? What is this really all about? What about those who live in domestic violence and are quarantined? What about child abuse