Practical Faith in everyday life.

Healing Power of Gratitude

Posted on December 12, 2011August 16, 2020 by Michael Rose

Many of us grew up having had “good” manners drilled into us. Please and thank you being the “magic words” of etiquette but more than just being polite, showing gratitude may just have some unexpected and profound healing effects. Who doesn’t like to be thanked, to be recognized in an appropriate way when we have…

Stressed Out or Burnout?

Posted on December 6, 2011September 17, 2019 by Michael Rose

There is an important distinction to be made between stress and being burnt out. Stress is a natural part of human existence. Consider when we exercise, our muscles experience stress and this stress over a period of time results in stronger, healthier muscles. As anyone who has overdone it with exercise can attest, too much…

What is Burnout?

Posted on November 29, 2011March 4, 2015 by Michael Rose

It was a season of a lot going on. New projects, lots of pressure. I was off balance in almost every area of my life. Working 14 hour days, 7 days a week with no down time with constant demands from many different directions – it was a stressful season to say the least. The…

Love Your Wife Well: Affection

Posted on November 5, 2011February 18, 2016 by Michael Rose

I remember a comedian talking about his relationship with his wife and trying to navigate the complexities of a woman, and how often we get, what we as men think, are “mixed signals.” It was funny because I think many men have scratched their head in total confusion about what exactly women want – They…

Re-starting after a Vacation

Posted on September 6, 2011October 24, 2018 by Michael Rose

The Labour Day weekend signals the transition from the summer / vacation mindset and serves as the clarion call to return to the office / school and the often maddening pace with programs, activities and new projects beginning! If you are like me, cranking it up after a long break can be a bit of…

In the Light of Common Grace

Posted on August 23, 2011June 17, 2013 by Michael Rose

As a couple who try our best to live and make everyday decisions according to a personal life rule to live simply and tread lightly upon the earth, my wife and I don’t often do a lot of shopping for things that aren’t necessities. When we do shop however, we prefer to avoid the hustle…

Surviving Betrayal

Posted on August 22, 2011October 5, 2019 by Michael Rose

“It was like I couldn’t breathe. Like I was punched in the stomach and couldn’t get a breath” she said with hands clenching the arms of the chair while speaking of learning of her husband’s affair. There are few people who have escaped the pain of betrayal. It is a terribly common experience but none…

I Smell Like Sheep Poop: Spirituality of Work

Posted on August 16, 2011July 23, 2015 by Michael Rose

I got a call from a friend a couple of days ago. He has a small sheep herd of about 100 head and he was needing help sorting them. Some had to go to market. Some had to be tagged and tattooed. And some needed to be culled off for shearing. I love a day…

Learning to Listen

Posted on August 8, 2011September 16, 2013 by Michael Rose

I was astonished to learn that we only retain 25% of the things we hear. Not only does this further illumine the need for a variety of forms of communication – it also brings to light the need to cultivate effective listening. Julian Treasure* suggests that listening is very important for many reasons, primarily because…

Great Communication in a Digital World

Posted on July 26, 2011November 17, 2018 by Michael Rose

We were having dinner a while ago – going around the table, each person sharing about their day. As a person was sharing something exciting, the familiar “voice mail received” rudely interrupted. Without a second thought, the message was tended to. We realized that this little intrusion stole a very precious moment from us. “Somewhere…