Anyone can start the marriage race; sadly, few are willing to do the work necessary to finish the race with their partner. There are many contributing factors to the success of a marriage, but the marathon metaphor can be helpful in reminding us of a few: Train well, remember that there will always be consequences of your choices today, have an encouragement/support team and include regular doses of sweetness.

In the season of setting goals, remember to leave room for unexpected turns, mistakes and disappointments. It’s best to write our expectations and plans in pencil. God doesn’t deal so well with our permanent marker plans.

How do we help our children when news strikes, triggering our worst nightmares, the natural instinct is to immediately protect our own and prevent any harm that could come into our world. However, the very meaning of the word trauma is that it’s unexpectedly too much, too soon.

Today we talk about the 5 biggest myths about sex

Transforming leaders tap existing and potential motives in followers. Are you intentionally looking to lift others up around you? It’s a new year; consider making one of your resolutions a commitment in taking the next step in that key relationship.

Every leader is like a boat, and boats leave a wake. Leaders must be willing to pause and look at the wake they are leaving behind. Be a leader who looks behind and sees the fruit of your labor. What’s in your wake?

This picture reminds me of how often we need people in our life who can see the beauty in us, even when we are broken, messy and sometimes, stinky. These are the parts of our lives we so desperately try to hold together and keep tucked in our Monica’s closets (a reference to the show Friends for those of you old enough to remember it). We are all a mess, in some form or another, and those of us who try hard to hide it probably have an even bigger mess buried deep, if we take the time to look.