↩ Looking Back
Last week I listened to 4 Chair Discipling by Dann Spader, a book that illustrates the path of growing into a faithful disciple of Jesus as four chairs of increasing maturity.
One simple line struck me:
You can only reproduce what you are.
I can’t ask my kids to become something I haven’t modeled. I will reproduce both the best and worst of myself—not just in them, but in anyone I invest in.
That’s a sobering thought.
It reminds me to regularly ask: What am I trying to instill in others that I haven’t first developed in myself?
↑ Looking Up
Someone recently asked me what it takes to stop smoking. I couldn’t speak from firsthand experience, but I knew recommending a nicotine patch or gum wasn’t going to scratch the itch.
I thought for a moment and told him what he needed was friends.
We’re communal creatures. From the beginning, it was not good for man to be alone—even in a world without addiction. In a culture of endless distraction and easy entertainment, faithful friends are still in short supply. Fortunately, friendships can be forged.
👉 If you want to change—and become the kind of friend who helps others change—this post will get you started: You Can’t Change Alone
↪ Looking Forward
Our family has faced a lot of loss lately—some expected, some that crushed us with unexpected weight.
It’s made me think about how fragile life is… and how urgent it is to “live at peace with everyone, as much as it depends on you” (Romans 12:18).
Loss illuminates. It forces you to ask: Am I willing to leave things like this forever?
Is there a relationship in your life that needs repair?
- You can’t fix it alone.
- It might not be all (or even mostly) your fault.
- Some relationships won’t heal this side of heaven.
But for the ones that can… what step could you take this week?
- A message.
- A call.
- An invitation.
The regret of silence is far heavier than the pain of reaching out.
🔧 One Useful Thing
My wife discovered this album, The Greatest Story Ever Told: The Bible by High Point Church. It was released in 2018, but bangers are bangers, and these hold up.
My kids have memorized nearly every song, and the whole album is genuinely enjoyable for the whole family. It blends catchy tunes with a great overview of the Bible from Creation through the Epistles of the New Testament.
Wrapping Up
If something here brought someone to mind—or nudged you toward a conversation—pass it on. (And if you got this from a friend, click here to subscribe.)
Got a favorite line or a question still rattling around? I’d love to hear it—just hit reply.
And if this no longer serves you, feel the freedom to unsubscribe with zero guilt.
Until next week.
Keep reaching out, building up, and living fully.
