Welcome! Below are a couple books I have found helpful in my own life and in mentoring others. I hope you find them as helpful as I have. Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well…even when it is off base, unfair, poorly delivered, and frankly, you’re not in the mood I love this book! I consider it a must read for everyone. I wonder what our relationships and our fights with other people would be like if we … [Read more...]
Book Recommendations
These books are great tools for personal growth and development, and wonderful mentoring tools. I generally try to recommend books I think everyone (or at least every Christian) should read at some point. These three books fit that distinction. Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home by Richard Foster This is the best book on prayer I’ve ever read. I’ve been re-reading it recently and am reminded what a rich, heart-felt book it is. As I … [Read more...]
Randy On Video? Yikes!
Blocks and Barriers Illustration on Video: Last September, I had the privilege of being part of a Mentor Training class at Mission Church in Roselle. The staff made a video of each session. Here is a clip of me sharing one mentoring tool I sometimes use in the work I do. I hope you’ll take some time after watching it to identify some of your own blocks and barriers to receiving love and letting love flow freely. Note: It’s so hard for me … [Read more...]
How We Love!
“How We Love” – A Book Recommendation: Is there a reoccurring issue in your relationship that you and your spouse go round and round about, that never seems to get resolved? Is there a predictable pattern or way you and your spouse react to each other that leaves you both feeling frustrated or dissatisfied? If there is, below is a book recommendation for you. (Note: I recommend this book to single people as well, if they can look beyond … [Read more...]
36 Questions That Can Make You Fall In Love With Anyone!
Happy Valentine's Day! I ran across this article - “These 36 questions can make you fall in love with anyone” - one morning over breakfast (Click on the Title to open the article or keep reading to see the questions below). Basically, some researchers developed 36 questions (followed by four minutes of eye gazing) that they tested on complete strangers to see if they could get them to fall in love. They had some interesting results, including … [Read more...]
Breath Prayer
Breath Prayer This month’s update describes a spiritual discipline called a “Breath Prayer” that can be very transformative if practiced seriously. I discovered my first breath prayer in the late 90s. I prayed my specific breath prayer regularly for over a year, probably close to two years. God did some incredible work in me through that simple prayer. Read on to discover what my breath prayer was and what it did in me. The following is … [Read more...]
Soul Care Exercises
Below are some time-tested exercises to help you listen to and assess the condition and capacity of your soul. They are wonderful resources to return to again and again, especially when your soul feels depleted. May these simple exercises bless you into fullness and abundance of being. Step 1 - Invite the Lord into the Process: It can be so tempting to rush head-long into things like this, trying to figure them out on our own strength and … [Read more...]
Chad Finishes Well
Randy's February, 2012 Update: Finishing Well: At the very first meeting I have with people, one of the things we talk about is the ending of our season together and what it might look like to finish well. I have found it helpful to talk about the ending at the very beginning to set proper expectations that lead us both to finishing well, which ultimately enhances the whole experience. What finishing well means to me is that neither of … [Read more...]
Forgive to Live!
Randy's March, 2011 Update: Forgiveness is a common piece in the process of our transformation and healing. I often see the need for forgiveness weaving its way into the work I do. So this month’s update describes a Forgiveness Process you may find helpful. Forgiveness Process: 1) As you consider the issue of forgiveness in your life, invite God into the forgiveness process. You can do this by praying something like, “Lord, I invite … [Read more...]
My Gratitude Journal
Randy's August, 2010 Update Something a little different this month - a spiritual practice I’ve found helpful… with photos I recently took at the Morton Arboretum (something I’m grateful for). My Gratitude Journal: About a month ago, I resurrected my Gratitude (Thankfulness) Journal. I resurrected it because I could sense a nagging feeling of discontent in my spirit, with more scarcity thinking than abundance mentality. For … [Read more...]
Top Ten Lies
Randy’s December 2009 Update Merry Christmas! It's a season of celebration! Here is an anonymous story of life-change worth celebrating. It’s a great representation of some of the lies that many people struggle with: My Top Ten Lies List - by Anonymous: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) “Identifying and naming my Top … [Read more...]
Helpful Tools for greater self-awareness and subsequently God awareness.
Randy’s September 2009 Update “There is no deep knowing of God without a deep knowing of self and no deep knowing of self without a deep knowing of God.” – John Calvin “A humble self knowledge is a surer way to God than a search after deep learning.” – Thomas a Kempis “Grant, Lord, that I may know myself that I may know thee.” - Augustine Free Assessments: This month’s update is designed to point you toward some free assessments … [Read more...]