We wanted to share with you the power of relationships in action...I (Sean) would have never imagined a simple hike, with a group of dear friends would turn into such a wonderful transcendent experience. Our hope, in sharing just a few of the highlights of our trip will encourage and strengthen you. We hope you enjoy it!

Leading researchers, from all over the world, have concluded regular physical activity and exercise, healthy eating, quitting smoking and or managing stress, while all important, are not the most powerful interventions to improve one’s health. What is the source that generates the most power and energy to live well and be happy according to leading scientists? 

If you guessed “healthy relationships” you’d be correct! In fact, according to medical scientists, the three relational sources which influence your physical health more than anything else is; Love, deeply connecting with others and friendship. You mean it’s not...

Treating other people well is a great rule to live by. But did you know it’s also good for your health, vitality and growing resilience?

Psychology researcher Barbara Fredrickson, PhD, author of Love 2.0: Creating Happiness and Health in Moments of Connection, studies how “micro-moments” of connection with others, like sharing a smile or expressing concern, improve emotional resilience, boost the immune system, and reduce susceptibility to depression and anxiety.

In Fredrickson’s view, we need affirmative human connection in much the same way that our bodies need wholesome food. “Moments of uplifting positive emotions function like nutrients for creativity, growth, and health,” she says.

And when we look at the New Testament, we see the same sentiment of love being the highest goal and treating others with care and compassion as our ideal. Colossians 3:12 says it best…

"So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe...

How are you? How was your week? We hope you are well! 

This week, we wanted to share with you a very simple, but incredibly important skill to bring greater joy, hope, happiness, and purpose to your day and life. 

According to researchers, what is the source that generates the most power and energy to live well and be happy? If you guessed “healthy relationships” you’d be correct! 

In fact, according to medical scientists, the three relational sources which influence your physical health more than anything else are; Love, intimacy, and friendship. You mean it’s not our diet? It’s not our exercise? It’s not how we handle stress? But rather, it’s how connected we are that has demonstrated to have the greatest impact on our emotional, spiritual, and yes, even our physical health. The latest scientific research has uncovered when we are isolated or disconnected from important life-giving sources, such as close and...

Like most of you, we are brokenhearted by the recent events in our nation. As we take a collective pause as a country of how we can best move forward to bring healing, we are reminded that the healing needs to start with us…
 
…to come back to our own lives and make sure that peace and harmony are reigning there. 
 
It’s our prayer that we can fully embrace our true call to love – with a love that never fails…
 
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” - John 13:34-35

As we seek to love as God designed us to, we wanted to share a segment of a prayer for healing and hope from Pastor Rick Warren…

“Father, 

We know that this is not the world that you planned. This is not the world that you want it to be.

We have lived self-centered...