Why You Need More REST… and 10 Ways to Get it Done!

Everyone thinks their life is too busy. I can not recall the last time someone told me they felt really rested. It is almost like, being exhausted and overworked is a badge of honor. Nothing could be further from the truth! Being well rested is God's idea. He was the first one to actually choose …

The 30 Second Heart Check… it will save your life!

Over the past few weeks I have notice a pattern, that left unchecked, will impose devastating limitations to reaching my full potential. It is a pattern everyone can easily fall into. It seems to happen without even us even realizing it. When it is pointed out in our lives, we often come up with excuses, …

A Biblical Response to Social Tension!

When you turn on the television, open a newspaper or surf any news provider’s website these days, it will not be long before you come face to face with the fact that our society is currently wrestling with a wide range of really challenging issues. Racial and ethnic tensions abound across our nation. Bitterness, animosity …

The Man Who Taught Me… That Only 2 Things Matter!

A few days ago, heaven celebrated the arrival of my grandfather... and we said goodbye. I initially posted some of these thoughts on Instagram, but wanted to also put here with a few expanded thoughts My grampa was the most impressive man I have ever known. He truly lived like Jesus. His love for others was relentless …

3 Habits That Unleash Greatness!

Rich Froning is the World's Fittest Man. Some say he is the fittest man in history. The title of World's Fittest Man is given to the man who wins the World Crossfit Games each year. Crossfit is a community within the fitness world in which participants engage in many different fitness activities across a wide range of disciplines.  Competitors …

Great Leaders Choose to Engage Reconciliation – Ezra 8&9

As mentioned in the last "Great Leaders" post, the strongest teams are comprised of the strongest personalities and the most influential people possible.  When I was the principal of Athena High School, I sought to ensure that the my leadership teams included these kinds of people.  I recruited the most influential leaders and educators in …

Great Leaders Choose to Embrace Empowerment – Ezra 7

A couple of months ago I was asked to be the project manager for the Christmas Village at my church, The Father's House in Rochester, New York. Each December we put together a huge community outreach event.  For this event were preparing to host a Christmas production that would include a stage performance in our auditorium with …

Great Leaders Choose to Be Ridiculously Disciplined – Ezra 7

For as long as I can remember I have had a passion for jumping.  As a child, I climbed every tree in sight.  In middle school I gravitated to sports that involved jumping. Throughout high school I played basketball for my school.  To the surprise of my coach and teammates, I dunked a ball in a …

Great Leaders Choose to Practice Relentlessly – Ezra 7

The 10,000 Hour Rule was popularized by Malcolm Gladwell in 2011 as he adroitly analyzed the commonalities of high achievers in his 2011 book Outliers. He discovered that regardless of field of study or profession, it takes roughly 10,000 hours of practice to achieve mastery. Gladwell's research led him to study a wide variety of professions ranging from musical prodigies …

Great Leaders Choose to Create Great Celebrations- Ezra 6

The annuls of history are full of triumphant celebrations.  Conquering generals from Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan to Napoleon Bonaparte have thrown extravagant ceremonies and feasts following military conquests.  Ticker tape parades across America following the defeat of Nazi Germany in WWII reflect that this response was not limited to the ancient civilizations.  In recent …