One year ago this week I asked a group of incredible people what they felt made them great. Today, I am following up to see how they feel about their greatness now. As I specifically invite each of them to evaluate how they feel today and share their response, I extend the same invitation to you. I have been greatly empowered on my journey of creating my story of greatness by those who share their journey. I hope in a…
A 4th grader set up a typical lemonade stand, sold a few cups of sugary joy, and saved a life. That life belonged to Todd Sylvester, a kid failing in college and struggling with addiction so severe he was ready to end his life. But then he found that lemonade stand. And a spontaneous decision to give all the money he had to that little 4th grade girl selling lemonade changed his life. And then saved it. Welcome to your unplanned,…
Our beautiful friends, it’s been a joy to welcome you into our home, to share our joy, our love for our Savior Jesus Christ. He is indeed risen, triumphant in glory, He lives to bless us with His abundant love. To remember our Savior The gift of His atoning grace For He is risen in glory splendor Triumphant truth that we may know His arms await our soul to embrace No matter our burden, our challenges, our despair, He lives…
A Note From Les… If today you are rising from defeat, succeeding in failure, buffeting the storms of life, then this is the day you become the best version of yourself. This is the day you see your eternal worth, the day you step forward in courageous confidence, the day you change for the good. This is the day you love yourself with more grace, and love others with more understanding. This is the day you receive that grace, and…
It’s Monday morning, the start of a new week, a week for both you and me will be extremely busy. As you start out your week, I invite you to think about what it means to be busy. Lee Iacocca counseled us to keep busy. “In times of great stress or adversity, it’s always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive.” Henry David Thoreau took the opposite side of the spectrum and strongly…
A failure in 1957 led to a present-day miracle. The failure was the death of a little girl “gravely ill from congenital heart disease.” The miracle was the healing of my heart. The world of health care was much different 65 years ago when President Russell M. Nelson was pioneering efforts in open-heart surgery. Pioneering efforts are fraught with trial and error, mistakes and failure. Yet, few have more dire consequences than the pioneer efforts in medical care. But without the…
I have often found myself, by choice or circumstance, in the arena, battling my fears, trembling in fear, defeated more by myself than the battle. Not anymore! I am in the arena. I know why I am there. I stand in more confidence. I rise when I’m struck down. I empower others to also rise. My inspiration for today’s thought comes via Aaron Kelson, a good friend from our college days, who shared his thoughts on Teddy Roosevelt’s passionate speech…
I joined for the connections and knowledge. I was quickly was embraced by the love and hope. And Wednesday I came home with a guitar. Yep, life doesn’t get much better. Or does it? Time for a story! DREAMING OF SPEAKING I have long enjoyed sharing stories, one-on-one, in front of a group, and on a stage. But that wasn’t always the case. While even as a youth I like to share stories and give talks in church, I didn’t…
There have been many over the course of my journey who I have seen as SPIRITUAL GIANTS. As I have pondered what it is that makes a person a spiritual giant to me, I believe it comes down to three core principles. FAITH They believe in their God and in the essence of how they connect with God, even if they doubt, have questions, or struggle to live the precepts they ascribe to. They hope for that which is true,…
My friends Jenna Riser and Emily Marlow have caused me to ponder again on my journey with body image. As I have contemplated I have poured my thoughts into creating. If I may share… First, a couple of stories, And then a gift of poetry. GYM INTIMIDATION I have often felt intimidated in the past when going to the gym because scrawny old me couldn’t lift like other men could. Lifting was unfamiliar, I really didn’t know what I should…