Thursday Thoughts

  • Am I creative?

    Am I creative?

    Last week, I described some of my dissonance with the term “laws.”  As I identified, some have to do with my hardware (personality) and some with my software (family/culture of origin).  But another factor influencing it has to do with my passion to be creative.  I love thinking of innovative solutions to challenges we face. …

  • Why I don’t like laws

    Why I don’t like laws

    Last week, I talked about the book entitled Laws of Lifetime Growth by Dan Sullivan.  At the outset of the book, I felt my gut twist when I read the word “Laws” in the title.  Ironically, Dan Sullivan, the author, states in the introduction to the book, “If the word law makes you uncomfortable…You might…

  • Admitting I am ignorant

    Admitting I am ignorant

    About fifteen years ago I read the book entitled Mindset by Carol Dweck, which was very disturbing to me. She gives research that supports the idea that children often develop a fixed mindset or a growth mindset depending on how they were raised. The growth mindset was demonstrated through a continued willingness to learn and…

  • I’ve been wrong most of my life

    I’ve been wrong most of my life

    Have you ever believed something for a very long time and then found out you were wrong? When this happens, you have a choice: either humble yourself, admit you were wrong at an emotional cost, or act like you believed it all the time at an integrity cost. I have been wrong most of my…

  • Jesus is my model for living

    Jesus is my model for living

    Welcome to 2024!  I like to take time at the end of each year to reflect on four questions: As I reflect on each of these questions, I find it helpful to go back to the foundation of my worldview, Jesus Christ. Each of the four Gospels appear to approach the life of Jesus from…

  • What about the Tesla?

    What about the Tesla?

    Several of you asked about what happened to my Tesla. God did his work in some unique and surprising ways. Tesla and I communicated back and forth several times. I was honest, kind, and yet forthright. Finally, they offered to accept my old Tesla as a trade-in at a decent value. This meant I was…

  • Having fun on the holidays

    Having fun on the holidays

    We had two of my three kids and their families over for Thanksgiving, and I inadvertently engaged them in a talk on politics. I only realized the danger of what I had done after I started the conversation. However, it was one of the most engaging and informative conversations I have had in a long…

  • Expectations or Expectancy

    Expectations or Expectancy

    This season, I have been learning a lot about the difference between expectations and the attitude of expectancy.  We all have, and I think, need expectations. They can be a source of great excitement or discouragement.  It seems to me that there are a few options regarding expectations: The first option is accepted by many…

  • What does maturity have to do with life?

    What does maturity have to do with life?

    In listening to Bono’s audio autobiography, Forty Songs, One Life, he makes the comment that fame does and should change you.  We call it growth. The only question is whether it changes you for better or worse.  It is a good listen despite some of his language, length, and antics. There are several things in his…

Got any book recommendations?