Is grace happening to you?
Is grace happening in you?
Is grace happening through you?

I’ve been stuck emotionally and spiritually more than I’d like to admit. Raise your hand if you can relate? Okay, we’re all “not alone.” But, let’s not stay stuck!

Looking to take a step forward in your life?

Want your actions to more closely match your intentions?

Me too!

Each of the themes below links to a previous mysilentscream post that has been helpful to readers looking to make a change. 1

Love – Tired of empty expressions of “love”?

My wife and I traveled to California recently to see our friends Jill & Eric Lacher.  In the past few days I told tales of Sierra, Max and Eric. In this fourth installment of “Lessons from Lachers” I’m going to tell you about Jill.

For several years I worked with Jill Lacher at a remarkable place called TreeHouse. At TreeHouse Jill was able to captivate people — teens and adults — with her friendly and outgoing personality.

At TreeHouse Jill was legendary for her kindness, compassion and care for others; and the occasional late-start to a meeting because she was helping someone. As Eric explained, “with Jill, compassion trumps time.”

In Curtis Eichelberger’s new book Men of Sunday he recounts coaches Tony Dungy, Marvin Lewis, and Brad Childress talking about the importance of having men of faith on their rosters.

“These players understand there is something bigger than themselves and realize that someday they’ll have to answer for their actions. The result is oftentimes a greater sense of humility, a willingness to think about the team over themselves, and the realization that their talent isn’t their due, but rather a gift from God to be used for His purpose.

Faith

This week I’m responding to Ken Davis’ call to be “fully alive.” Fully alive people are characterized by many things including meaningful friendships, courageously overcoming fear, and a determination to course corrections when they fail.

We all fail.  Failure is painful.

Pain is part of the price of living.
– Love is painful.
– Relationships are painful.
– Failing is painful.

If we choose to move forward in our quest to live fully alive, we will fall, it will hurt . . . and it will be worth it.

Be prepared to pay the price. Change costs.  Progress can be painful.

I had just thrown an interception. In my opinion, throwing an interception was letting my team down. I failed to complete the pass. I failed to help my teammate Madison. She could have caught a good pass, but I threw it where she couldn’t catch it. 

“Other Scott” happily grabbed it. 

“Other Scott” won the game’s MVP award, but I — this Scott — let my team down. I hate when I let my team down.

Fortunately, I was not alone.

“God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control.” 1

Fully Alive by Ken Davis challenges us to step out of our comfort zones, and yesterday as part of being fully alive we discussed the importance of making friends and building deep friendships.

You Can’t Fake Being Fully Alive

“You can fool people for a while, but eventually they will know. And you can never fool yourself.

Being alive is more than simply looking fluffed up and combed out on the outside. It’s a matter of attitude. And that comes from the inside. Approaching…challenges with the right attitude is the first and most important step you can take. Your attitude will launch your dreams or bury them.”

Yesterday I posted my review of Fully Alive by Ken Davis.

Davis’ book challenges us to step out of our comfort zones to build deep friendships.

Today is the first day of school for millions of children; it’s an ideal opportunity to build on old friendships or to start building new ones.

How Can I Build Friendships?

Davis explains, “Making friends is like exercise; it requires discipline and vigilance.”  1
– It takes time
– It takes patience
– It takes graciousness.

Graciousness?

Ken Davis unveiled, “I had not been living fully alive for a long time, but I was ready to start. First I had to change some of the attitudes that had sucked the lifeblood from my veins.”

Subtitled “a journey that will change your life”, author Davis challenges us to step up, step in and live life fully alive.

Discovery

Ken Davis’ family was celebrating Christmas at a cozy cabin in the mountains of Colorado. While sledding with his grandchildren Davis had a surreal experience.

“I blazed past my grandchildren…’Grandpa! Wait for me!’ they hollered.

This weekend I finished the fifth of five of wonderful marriage celebrations in the last couple of months.

Ashley and Jesse Stinson got married
Nate and Manna Towler got married
Jonnie and Courtney Towler got married
Luke and Jessica Skelly got married, and,
Amy and I celebrated our 25th anniversary with a vow renewal ceremony.

Faithfulness

Yesterday, I reviewed Stu Weber’s book Tender Warrior in his book he challenges us as men to be finishers.  And to you my male readers — newly-married, or not — let’s honor the women in our lives by being “finishers.”

I’m thinking through what this means for me today, tomorrow, and my tomorrows.

What does the Lord your God require of you?
He requires only that you
fear the Lord your God,
and live in a way that pleases him,
and love him
and serve him with all your heart and soul.
- Deuteronomy 10:12, NLT