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Live

Who is a Refugee and How Did They Get Here?

Ran across this infographic from World Relief that is really helpful in understanding the process by which a refugee gets to the U.S.  It’s also important to be clear about who, exactly, is a refugee versus, say, an illegal alien or an internally displaced person, or an asylum seeker or a migrant.  Each term has a specific meaning (with an associated legal status).  When engaging in conversations about the current global refugee crisis, it’s important to define the terms since there’s a tremendous amount of mis-information that’s being fueled by the media. 

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Ed Unfiltered Live

A Personal Take on the Refugee Crisis, Part 3

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The third and last group we visited with was Friends of Refugees which is a community organization with the mission of Helping Refugees experience an abundant life in flourishing community and from what we were able to see, they are making an impact in Clarkston!

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Cycling Live Run

Walking Around Birmingham

I was talking with my neighbor from California the other day and he was remarking how there aren’t any good resources online to find out where to go walking around Birmingham.  In addition, he said that while he’s met lots of people from California who’ve moved to Birmingham (who knew?!) that there wasn’t any way to connect with them.  As anyone who’s “not from around here” knows, it can be challenging to plug into a community like Birmingham where it seems like all the insiders know each other and if you didn’t grow up here, you feel like a real outsider!

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Live

A walk around the neighborhood

My busyness, whether that which comes with life’s seasons or that which I bring upon myself, robs me of my wonder and my joy.  What I know with my head isn’t always consistent with what I do with my time, too often frittering it away as I confuse activity with effectiveness.  I know this is true and I see the folly, but why don’t I translate that knowledge into the action of proaction, of margin and space, of quiet and reflection?  I think that for me, there are several answers to the question and as these thoughts percolate in my mind, ideas gradually become coherent.  There is much there, but it is still mostly hidden from me, like these roots.

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Live

For Those Who Feel Different…

Being Differet

I ran across this beautiful scene early in the spring and it immediately brought to mind those of us who feel different; like we don’t fit in.

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Live

An Easter Meditation: Christ and Caiaphas

This Easter season I’m struck by the picture of Jesus and the High Priest of Israel, Christ and Caiaphas, face to face on the stage of history.

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Live Work

A Bright Vision of the Future

“What’s in it for me” is a fundamental question of human nature. If you want me to buy into your vision, you probably ought to figure out how you can make that vision relevant to me.

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Entrepreneurship Live Starting a Business Work

5 Common Hurdles to Visioneering

I recently heard a great definition of vision from Mark Conklin, Sr. Manager of Leadership Development at Chick-Fil-A: “Vision is a preferred picture of the future that creates passion for you.”  We would all likely agree that organizations (teams, business, community, church and yes, even families!) perform more effectively with a clear, common vision.  In fact, the lack of vision creates division in you organization.  If you aren’t providing a clear vision, people will tend to pursue their own personal agenda, often in conflict organizational goals.

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Live

Jellybeans, and It’s All In My Response

Recently my daughter went shopping with her aunt and came back with a ton of clothes.  One thing you should know about my daughter is that she’s not into fashion.  In fact, sometimes we really wish she’d show a little interest in how she dresses, but we figure that will come with age and time.  But tonight, it seems like that all changed when the clothes kept coming out of the bags and the receipts kept stacking up.

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Live

Lord, Give Me…

Eyes to see others the way you do.

A Mouth that is quick to encourage and slow to anger.

Ears that listen and understand.

Hands that serve others with skill and gentleness.

Feet that walk in others’ shoes.

A Heart that loves the things of God more than the things of the world.