Why People with Small Children Don’t Write Devotionals
The First Step… I admit my life can be a little crazy. It includes 3 young kids, coaching two soccer teams, my wife and I leading two separate groups, each having full time jobs, meetings, etc., etc. I console myself with the fact that this craziness will only last a season- although that season will continue for another 15 years! As my wife and I compare weekly schedules, I’ll look towards our 2 year old and joke, ‘Well, the good news is there will soon be one more kid's activities to add into the mix!" The Problem I’ve recently read two books ...
How to Have Hard Conversations #’s 2 & 3
No Fun No one looks forward to having difficult conversations. I don't believe I've ever heard someone say, "I can't wait to tell my friend how upset I was with what they did last week!" But, having said that, I've found that difficult conversations have the potential to strengthen your relationship with others more than most things. Many of you won't believe me. If you don't, then I'd encourage you to read part 1 of this blog post series because how we perceive these types of conversations makes all the difference in how they'll turn out. If you view them ...
How to Have Hard Conversations
It’s happens to everyone. Your friend is always late. You know your co-worker or friend is mad at you. Your spouse never remembers to pick up their clothes or put the lid back on the toothpaste. When these things happen, you are faced with the inevitable decision- do I bring these infractions to their attention, or not? Many times we choose to wait, hoping time alone, will fix the problem. But, it almost never does. A Little Weird I have always struggled when there’s relational disharmony in my life. If I’m mad at someone, or know someone’s mad at me, ...
How Wins Build Momentum
If you lead a team, of any sort, winning is important! Last week we talked about how to determine what it looks like for your team to win. Now, let’s talk about building wins! Wins are the fuel that keep your group going and your people excited. Wins build momentum like a wave as it heads toward shore. As your team wins, it will build excitement and buy-in from the people on your team. They’ll then be willing to give more and invest more, because they know it’s worth it and it matters. But, the question is, once you know ...
The Most Awkward Text I Ever Received
Technology can be a wonderful thing. But, it can also be dangerous. A little over a year ago I received the most awkward text of my entire life. I thought I’d share my story in hopes of protecting you from suffering a similar experience. We were a few weeks away from my youngest brother’s wedding in Omaha, Nebraska. The extended Thorne family is a fairly close-knit group and texts were flying a mile a minute as the wedding approached. Soon, a large family group text began, filled with cousins, aunts, uncles, and my brothers and me. On July 2nd my cousin ...
Stuff My Kids Say #2
Over the last while I've continued collecting some of the stuff my kids say. Kids may drive us crazy sometimes, but there is no question they keep life interesting. For perspective: Caleb- Age 7 Logan- Age 5 Micah- Age 2 Dad- Hard to say Wife- Ageless "It's not how they say it, it really is what they say" 1. Quiz: What does Micah call this? Answer: "Basketball Poop!" Every time we see one, he's sure to call out, "Look basketball poop!" 2. We were going to the doctor the other day and Logan was worried about having to get ...
Dear Younger David #2
August 8, 1996 I went to Kings Dominion with a bunch of friends and a girl named Erica. Erica likes me. She is a very cool girl, but I don’t think I would marry her. So, I don’t know if God wants me to continue a friendship with a relationship in mind, or if God wants me to completely stay on the friendship level. I don’t know, I could learn so much by dating her, but I don’t know. Dear Younger David, I have no recollection of who this girl even is and you have pages of journal entries discussing ...
3 Things the Church Can Learn from the World’s Best Chefs
The church can learn a lot from the best restaurants in America. Over the past few weeks I’ve been watching Chef’s Table on Netflix and been amazed. Each episode draws the viewer into the mind of one particular chef as we discover their drive and passion for cooking. There are 3 important things every church can learn from these talented chefs. 1. Passion Regardless of the chef, there is an absolute passion that drives them. They give their all to every dish. Passion propels their creativity and pursuit of perfection, which results in breathtaking food. Imagine if the church and its ...
How to Discover Your Story
When I was in grad school one of my classes had us do this exercise. I found it so helpful and insightful that I thought I'd share. First take a piece and draw a large rectangle, covering most of the page. On the left side write, "born", and on the right side write, "now". Then by the top of the left vertical line write, "good", and on the bottom write, "bad." Now, plot your life up to this point. You can start by making dots representing the major high points and low points of your life. This can include things ...
Dear Younger David #1
My First Entry I've been journaling almost everyday ever since I was in tenth grade. What you’re about to read is part of my first official journal entry from 10th grade! I recently starting reading back through my journals and found there are many things I wish I could have told myself back then. So, I’m going to share a few of my entries along with my present day response to them. Background A little bit about me. My father died when I was in third grade from Leukemia. After 8th grade my mom decided to move us to VA. to ...