To people thinking about leaving the church, Disillusioned and traumatized, I voluntarily resigned in 2006 after twenty-nine years as an Evangelical mega-church minister with the Southern Baptist Convention. Fifteen years later, it is still the same church—the bully male pulpit, the entitled white people, the insulated culture, the canceled liberals, and the impossible beliefs. I…

I am middle-aged now. Fifteen years ago, I had an affair after three decades of monogamous marriage. After five tumultuous years of trying to reconcile and salvage our marriage, my wife and I should have divorced. But we were afraid. Of what our children, our families, and our (mostly Evangelical) friends would think. The Christian…

The Quest Book: Available Everywhere in Kindle, Paperback, Laminate, and Cloth Hardcover Versions Audiobook Coming Soon The Quest Cruise: When: April 19-23,2023 What: Cruise with Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady and The Quest Where: Port of Miami Cost: Cabins starting at $1864 – Prices are per cabin not per person Early bird Quest workshop pricing of $99.00 Destination Nassau/Key…

It was a stunningly beautiful Florida morning. As I write the chapter about emotions in my latest book, The Quest, three events of interest captured my attention. I might note that I have determined—in my quest to enjoy life—to give the gift of a warm smile to everyone I encounter. Fortunately, I do not have…

Growing up in a Christian home I was taught that taking the Lord’s name in vain was WORSE than the unpardonable sin—mainly because no one knew what the unpardonable sin—blaspheming the Holy Ghost—even meant. Even today I am prone to use curse words and even slip and let the F-bomb fly but I have NEVER,…

As Gina, Remy and I made the twelve-hour drive to our Florida beach cottage from our Tennessee country estate, we listened to an audiobook How Democracies Die: What History Reveals About Our Future by Steven Levitsky. This book shook both of us to the core. As we crossed the Florida line the guilt I felt for abdicating…

A few weeks ago I received a text from my brother Terry that said, “I just found out your old friend Billy Ray Cyrus has a number one song. Bet he is happy.” Billy Ray is around the same age as my brother and me. To be honest, I had forgotten about the text until…

Love Stories are not true. They are more than true. Not because they tell us that loneliness exists, but because they tell us that loneliness can be defeated. Here are a few of the many reasons I pay tribute to Gina on her birthday.   —She is far more than the bright sparkling creature I…

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 33 seconds. The American Ant language no longer had words, truths, or laws in which American Worker Ants or the Red Ant Leaders were interested. It was no longer possible to ask them whether they believed in Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness—and it was also unacceptable for the…

The Loss of Belonging: Ten Steps To A New (and Better) Tribe is a well-researched and thought-provoking book. It is organized, relatable, and comes from a genuine heart. It addressed several areas of my life.   The book speaks of the inherent need we all have for a tribe, and how much healthier we are…

To enter, simply: 1) Buy the book (Kindle, Paperback, or Audiobook) on May 1st, 2) Leave a comment on this post 3) Be prepared to show receipt if your name is drawn.

Fire Ceremony Today we hold a fire ceremony. Fire is a fascinating and mesmerizing event, it is not a thing. Fire is an event. It is multi-sensory. You can feel it, hear it, smell it, and if you dare—touch it. It provides warmth, beauty, and light. We can use it to cook our foods, to sit…

Various Mandalas on Pinterest Mandala Gallery The Mandala Project

In order

Psychology Today Attachment Style Free Online Assessment Mandala Templates Mandalas Fire Ceremony

1 https://www.patheos.com/blogs/formerlyfundie/christian-ghosting-destructive-christian-practice-dont-talk 2 https://archive.vcu.edu/english/engweb/transcendentalism/authors/emerson/essays/compensation.html 3 https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shawshank_redemption/quotes 4 Hebrew Bible, Matthew 22:35-40 (NIV) 5 https://dailypoetry.me/rilke/so-we-live 6 https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/alfred_lord_tennyson_153702 7 HELPGUIDE.ORG Coping with Grief and Loss. https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdcs/griefloss.htm_617933_7.pdf 8 Ibid 9 Emotional Survival of First Responders. http://www.washingtonfirechiefs.com/Resources/JobAnnouncements/TabId/2329/ArtMID/7730/ArticleID/30136/Emotional-Survival-of-First-Responders.aspx 10 HELPGUIDE.ORG Coping with Grief and Loss. https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdcs/griefloss.htm_617933_7.pdf 11 https://courses.lumenlearning.com/atd-hostos-childdevelopment/chapter/relationships-and-families-in-adulthood/ 12 Bains, Rupinder. “No Right or Wrong Way to Cope with Grief…

  Next Influencer’s Dinner August 24, 2019  To recommend someone click HERE. Tonight’s Dinner Cocktails/Mocktails Team  Step 1 Announce to our guests that tonight we are offering Maple Manhattans (whiskey), French Martinis (vodka), or a Ginger Beer (non-alcoholic) Mocktail. Step 2 Take Cocktail/Mocktail Orders from each guest. Step 3 Make Cocktails/Mocktails Maple Manhattan Add: Ice…