Category Archives: Inspiration

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A House Is Not a Home

Now that we know for sure that we are moving we have been sorting, disposing, packing, debating, and deciding what to throw away and what to keep. It has brought back floods of memories. We have been in this house without our children for a while now. But there are still many “remnants” of them. Ashlyn last lived here for a few months last fall while she earned some money to get out on her own. Ben was here over this past Easter weekend.

Neither of them will ever again see the home in which they grew up. They have mixed feelings about that. And so do we.

But as we discussed with them our decision to start a new chapter in life we had to remind them that it wasn’t the house that made our home. This was the place where many good times, holidays, and memories were made. But the place isn’t what’s important. It’s the people.

A house is not a home. What makes the home are the ones who occupy the place. The home is the place where all of the following home-like things took place:

  • birthdays were celebrated
  • homework was wrangled
  • homecoming and prom dates started
  • music was made
  • family meals were had
  • plays were presented
  • Dad created Christmas dinner
  • Mom made special cakes
  • high school friends hung out
  • piano lessons were practiced
  • games were played
  • prayers were prayed
  • tears ran down
  • laughs went up
  • books were read out loud
  • illnesses were nursed
  • a baseball was thrown
  • a monolog was shown
  • a hamster was had
  • and a lot of love was shared

None of these things really had to do with the house. What made the home was the people.

And though the house will be missed, the people who possessed it still make the home, the home. No matter where they may be.

It is the family that makes a house a home. It is the people. The bricks and mortar are simply the boundary lines that hold it all together.

What memories have you created in your home?

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The Rumbling Thunder of Emotions

It’s late Sunday night. The thunder is rumbling. A cool breeze is blowing in the windows. My wife is in bed asleep. The TV is on with the sound all the way down so that she isn’t disturbed and I have a little light by which to write.

I’m emotionally drained and tired…too tired to fall asleep, if that makes any sense. A major life decision has been made, and I am in a reflective mood. Oddly enough, I thought about my grandfather tonight as I watched a retrospective on 60 Minutes of Mike Wallace’s career. It made me think of the 55 mile trips our family used to take to Fond du Lac to visit my grandparents on certain Sundays. The evening would always conclude with 60 Minutes on the TV. My grandfather was a news and current events fanatic.

I wonder what he would think of the current events in my life. He was a very wise man who didn’t always wear his emotions on his sleeve. Tonight my own emotions can’t help but rise to the surface. Consider the last few weeks:

  • A decision to accept a Call to Florida and start a new chapter in life
  • People walking through our house as we try to sell it (we decided we were going to move whether or not I accepted the Call to Florida)
  • An accepted offer on our house within ten days
  • Demands for repairs as a condition on the sale of our house
  • Calling people to do those repairs and get them done
  • Considering where we will live when we move to Florida
  • Helping my wife put things together for a job search in Florida (praying that the Lord will see fit to make this part of our transition resolve quickly)
  • Beginning to sort through, dispose of, and pack up our things
  • Wondering about logistics of the entire transition
  • Feeling badly about disappointing some; feeling happy about exciting others
  • Thinking about those in Milwaukee whom we are going to greatly miss
  • Looking forward to getting to know those we will soon be serving
  • Mourning the loss of our dear old (90-year-old) neighbor
  • Excited about the possibilities of a new ministry
  • Finishing up teaching two different classes
  • Submitting a writing project for Creative Communications for the Parish
  • Discovering that my best friend and I will soon live on opposite coasts of the country

My emotions match the rumbles of thunder and flashes of lightning that fill the night. 

But as I look at this list I am thankful. I am thankful that through all of the above I have people who help and support, a family who loves me, and a God who is forever faithful.

I better try to get at least a little sleep.

How are you making it through all the emotional ups and downs of your life?

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Creativity with Cardboard

I may be a sap, but by the end of the following video I was crying. I dare you to watch it and not be moved by Caine…and what a big group of people did for Caine that made this nine-year-old’s day.

Caine is creative. Caine is persistent. Caine is Patient. Caine is imaginative. Caine has a supportive father.

Raising Caine must be a delight.

Watch this ten minute video and chime in on how and why (or if) it moves you:

(Email subscribers follow this link: http://youtu.be/faIFNkdq96U)

Here’s why this video moves me:

  • As a child I was Caine, creating plays in our basement, go karts out of junk we found, space ships out of fallen trees, and carnivals to raise money for muscular dystrophy. 
  • It reminds me that we live in a different world. No one ever created a flash mob to come to one of my childhood creations. I was moved by Caine’s “success.” The internet is a powerful tool.
  • Caine has a supportive dad. My parents were always supportive, too.
  • Somebody sees “genius” in Caine and supports him by buying a “fun pass.” (Lord, help me to be supportive of creativity where I see it!)
  • I am so happy for Caine that it moves me to tears. Did you notice that there is even a scholarship fund set up for him?
How and why does this video move you?
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5 Things I Have Learned Teaching College Students

I have been teaching college students at Concordia University — Wisconsin for the past twelve years. Even in those twelve years college students have changed. They used to be much more engaged in the classroom. Now they’re much more passive. It means that educators have had to adjust, as well.

Teaching is simply one form of communication, and it’s techniques apply to other forms, too. Here are five things I learned teaching college students that apply to communication, no matter what it may be.

  1. College students care when their teachers care. Students can tell from the moment a lesson begins whether a teacher cares and is passionate about the subject. If they sense a caring teacher, they will be immediately engaged. If they sense a teacher who is disengaged and uncaring, they will be too. Don’t ask me how I know this… Good communicators care about their audience.
  2. In this digital generation, college students frequently need things changed up. How many minutes is it between TV commercials? That’s generally how often teaching techniques in the classroom should change. Every eleven to twelve minutes switch from lecture, to small groups, to video, to question and answer. Good communicators keep an audience on their toes.
  3. Over the past few years, college students would rather listen to a lecture than do small group work. This generation of young adults is used to having people cater to them. That’s OK for a while, but they do need to be stretched and taken out of their comfort zone if true learning is going to happen. Lecture for a while, but don’t do it exclusively (see above). Good communicators do the same.
  4. Given the opportunity, most college students want to impress. Give an assignment that’s more than just writing a term paper, and most college students will go above and beyond just the bare minimum. They want to create something excellent and unusual. I once had a student write and perform a song, ala Phoebe on Friends. It was one of the most excellent homework assignments I have ever had the pleasure of grading. Good communicators give their audiences opportunities to participate in a unique way.
  5. College students sometimes need some motivation to keep them on track. It’s the reason why there are tests and grades. Some students are motivated by them more than others, but all college students need motivation, whether it is a “carrot” or a “stick.” Good communicators motivate their audience to move forward in some way.

Based on your own learning style, how would you suggest communicators keep you interested and engaged?

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Why This Week is the Week to “Set Apart”

In the Bible, the word “holy” means “to be set apart.” This is Holy Week. Taking a cue from the biblical word, this is a week to “set apart.”

The Christian church sets apart this week every year to focus on the central events of the Christian faith, which are the central events of Jesus’ life and our salvation:

  • The Last Supper
  • The Passion, Trial, and Torture
  • The Crucifixion
  • The Seven Words on the Cross
  • The Death
  • The Burial
  • The Rest in the Tomb
  • The Descent into Hell
  • The Resurrection from the Dead

The Holy Jesus, God and Man, set apart His life on the earth to earn for us forgiveness, life, and salvation. His perfect life  was lived for our imperfect lives. His sacrificial death was carried out for the punishment that we deserved. His resurrection means eternal life for all those who believe.

In Holy Baptism we were set apart by God Himself to be enjoined to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

  • We are His disciple at the Last Supper
  • His Passion, Trial, and Torture are ours
  • His Crucifixion is carried out as our punishment so that we will not suffer hell
  • The Seven Words from the Cross are spoken directly to us
  • His death becomes ours
  • In His Burial all our sins are shut in the grave
  • His Rest in the Tomb means rest for all the saints
  • His Descent into Hell to proclaim victory over Satan is our victory
  • His Resurrection from the Dead means new life for us

The Church sets apart this week we call “Holy.” God set apart His Son to carry out our salvation. Jesus set us apart in our baptism.

Shall we not set apart four days — Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday — to receive  His gifts and respond in thanks and praise?

  • Set apart time to worship at your local church
  • Set apart time for personal devotion and meditation
  • Set apart time for some sort of service to someone who needs it
  • …And on Sunday, set apart time to celebrate the greatest gift ever given

You are holy because you have been set apart.

What will you set apart this Holy Week?

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10 Creative Ways to Say Thank You

I have lately found myself having to thank people a great deal. I am blessed to be blessed by so many people, and I want them to know they are appreciated. Expressing thanks is becoming a lost art. Let’s revive it.

Here are 10 ways to say “thank you”:

  1. The Old Fashioned Way: Keep a stack of Thank You Notes handy. A hand-written thank you note that comes delivered by the mail man/woman is a delight.
  2. The Generous Way: Purchase a few gift cards and stash them in your desk. When you “catch” someone doing something for you, whip one out and surprise your benefactor’s day.
  3. The Spousal Way: Too often we take our spouses for granted. A little bit of thanks goes a long, long way in a marriage. Show your thanks by cooking a special meal, taking her or him shopping, or delivering a “thank you” text message during the middle of the day.
  4. The Sneaky Way: You’ve heard of “Secret Santas” that many offices play during the holidays. How about being someone’s Secret Santa in March or May. Over the course of several days anonymously deliver small gifts to someone who deserves your thanks.
  5. The Oral Way: Don’t be afraid to actually sit someone down and say out loud just how much you appreciate what they have done, are doing, and will do for you. Wouldn’t you love to hear with your own ears what someone appreciates about you?
  6. The Pay-It-Forward Way: Tell someone that you have been inspired by their generosity toward you, and that you’d like to pay it forward. Tell them that in their honor you are going to specifically help or serve someone else. And tell them exactly how you plan to do that.
  7. The Social-Media-Shout-Out Way: Make your thanks public by tweeting or placing a status on Facebook, thanking someone for what they have done for you. Everyone loves a little fame every now and then.
  8. The Superior Way: When a service employee helps you in an extraordinary way, don’t just tell them; tell their boss.
  9. The Say-It-With-Flowers Way: Fresh flowers brighten any space. And they do an excellent job of saying “thanks.” This even works for (most) men.
  10. The Culinary Way: Take someone to lunch or dinner. Pick up the tab. Everyone loves a free meal at a nice place (and make it an independent restaurant…not a chain!).

What ways of saying “thank you” can you add to the list? I need your ideas!

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Plane Perspective

I’m writing this on an airplane while I’m trying to gain perspective on a major life decision. I’m looking out the window from 30,000 feet above the ground. There’s a great deal to see.

I see tiny cars, buildings rising out of the ground, the patterns of streets and highways, clumps of trees, and bunches of lakes. It’s beautiful and a work of art in a mystical, magical, divine kind of way.

It reminds me that there’s a great big world out there with limitless possibilities. Sometimes one has to take a step back, and take the long view to gain a bit of perspective. There are times when we look at our lives from a perspective that’s too close. We get involved in the daily grind. We lose vision. We struggle to see things that are right in front of us. We become so “involved” that we lose all perspective.

It is not only being on a plane that brings perspective, it is getting away all together. We have the opportunity to do that at least once a week. It’s what weekends (or at least “days off”) are made for. It’s what staycations are made for. It’s what vacations are made for. It’s what Sabbath is made for.

Now I see mountains down below out my oval window. They remind me that our getaways, our Sabbaths, our pauses are mountain top experiences designed to bring perspective. When we take the “long view” it brings perspective to the “short view.”

Remember to regularly take some time to take a look at the “long view.”

  • What do you want to accomplish by the end of the week?
  • With whom do you want to connect by the end of the month?
  • Where do you want to be at the end of the year?
  • What would you like your life to look like in five years?
  • What are the goals you have for your career?
  • Do you have hopes and dreams for your retirement?
  • What would you like your legacy to be?

What do you regularly do to help you gain perspective and take the long view? Please respond with a comment below.

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Unexpectedly Pleasant Surprises

If you live in the upper midwest you have been experiencing an unexpectedly pleasant surprise. In a typical March we may have an occasional day in the 60’s or even the 70’s, but we never have the extended above average temperatures that we have had over more than the last week.

Perennials are already blooming. People are eating dinner al fresco. Kids are out on their bikes and skateboards. Shorts and t-shirts are as common as a summer day.

There is something about unexpectedly pleasant surprises that bring

  • a new outlook
  • a change in attitude
  • a different view
  • a favorable demeanor

Even if the weather is unfavorable, you can bring some sunshine into someone’s life with an unexpectedly pleasant surprise. I am certain that if you pay attention to those around you there will be someone (maybe more than one) who could really use an unexpected surprise today.

What can you do to bring to someone in your life

  • a new outlook
  • a change in attitude
  • a different view
  • a favorable demeanor?

Here’s your challenge:

  • Pay attention today to co-workers, family members, or neighbors
  • Pick one person for whom you will provide an unexpected surprise
  • Plan that unexpectedly pleasant surprise tonight
  • Execute it tomorrow

Please post in the comments below what your unexpectedly pleasant surprise is going to be.

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The Little Things

Last week I accompanied my wife to a store that is exclusively a women’s store. From beginning to end it was one of the finest customer service experiences I have ever witnessed. It was all about the little things, small details that made a big difference.

  1. Though it was a store for women, the area right in front was a sitting area for men, complete with Sports Illustrated magazines. I was even offered a bottle of water. They know that if men who accompany their women are well-cared-for they will be patient while the shopping takes place. Longer time in the store more often than not means more purchases.
  2. One clerk was assigned specifically to my wife the entire time she was in the store. She helped with fitting, selection, and personal service. It was truly one-on-one customer care.
  3. When she was finished shopping, my wife made a significant purchase. The clerk who checked her out threw in an extra item for free. And it wasn’t just something cheap. It was something that was relatively expensive.
  4. Specific instructions were given on how to care for her purchases once she got them home. And there was the promise to provide help at anytime if it was ever needed. It was just a phone call away.
  5. Two days after we visited the store my wife received from the clerk who had worked with her a hand written thank you note in the mail. When was the last time you got a handwritten thank you fro a clerk in a store?

This was “unmarketing” at its finest. It was all about the customer and her needs. The little things involved in the visit to the store added up to make it a truly “wow” experience.

How often do we miss this in the church, or in our non-profits? We get so wrapped up in ourselves and what we want, that we forget to make it a “wow” experience for those who are visiting, potential members, or future clients.

Little things do add up. Little things like:

  • How does the bathroom look?
  • Is the art and decor out of date?
  • Can logos and letterhead be given a splash of color and “cool.”
  • Is a guest made to stand alone, or is there a plan in place to welcome guests and clients and make them feel special?
  • Today’s “church shopper” (for lack of a better term) is much more sophisticated. What can you do to make the whole experience more “professional” while always giving glory to God and being about the business of serving people?

What little things would you add to this list?