Author: David Atchison

05 May

Posted at 20:17h in Uncategorized

I will never forget a telephone call I received on August 9, 1985. To this day, very few people know about this call. At the time I was a partner at Smiley & Atchison, a commercial real estate development company in Kingwood, Texas. We had been blessed with tremendous success and had just closed an 18-million-dollar deal. One of the Houston law firms that represented us had close ties with Washington D.C. and was involved in national politics. In fact, their lead partner was a close personal friend of Jim Baker, the Chief of Staff for President Ronald Reagan. When my assistant said there was a call for me, I picked up the phone with no specific expectation; but I can tell you that I was...

03 Mar

Posted at 20:04h in Uncategorized

Have you ever wondered how birds are able to sleep without falling off of their perches? You see, when a bird bends its leg at the knee, the tendons cause the claws to contract and grip like a steel trap. The bird cannot let go until its legs are straightened again. A sleeping bird can teach a valuable lesson about prayer. The marketplace equates power with remaining “on top” in knowledge, wealth and status. God equates power with a willingness to “come under” like a bird, to bend the knee—deliberately yielding control and becoming dependent upon him. King Solomon, the wealthiest, most influential man of his generation, spread out his hands and prayed, “Oh LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven...

09 Dec

Posted at 17:04h in Uncategorized

A person reading the Sunday New York Times is said to have more information at their fingertips in one weekend than a person was exposed to their entire lifetime during the Enlightenment. The Internet has given us access to innumerable volumes of knowledge on every imaginable topic. Our generation also has the added benefit of exposure to millennia of historical data that puts it all in perspective. Shouldn’t all of this knowledge make us smarter, happier and more successful? Reality begs to differ. Knowledge may be king but, Wisdom still eludes us. In the marketplace, Knowledge may equal power, but without wisdom our future is in jeopardy. Proverbs 14:12 (NLT) reminds us, “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in...

21 Oct

Posted at 22:14h in Uncategorized

John Locke once said, “What worries you, masters you.” Have you ever considered that worry could become your boss? Worry can take charge of your mind, producing distraction, confusion and depression. Worry can give orders to your body, manufacturing insomnia, ulcers and heart attacks. Worry can manage your spirit, generating bitterness, distrust and disobedience toward God. Worry is a powerful master—but not in a positive way. There is a difference between concern and worry. If your top client doesn’t return your phone call, or if your sales have come in below budget, there is a reason to take heed. Concern leads us to focus, analyze and revise our actions. On the other hand, worry causes us to obsess and over-scrutinize every negative possibility. Even when good...

30 Sep

Posted at 17:28h in Uncategorized

Have you been listening to the public discourse in our culture recently? Through endless rounds of debate on the 24/7 news, reality TV, talk radio, blog posts and social media, it appears that civility has all but disappeared from this generation. Even our most popular comedy routines are based on mockery and disrespect. Consideration, graciousness and good manners were once the norm—even when opponents bitterly disagreed about social, political or religious views. Thankfully we have the freedom to express our strong views and passionate positions openly in this country; however, we are failing in our ability to engage in respectful discourse and debate without pointing fingers, raising voices and name-calling—even a “silent seethe” closes off relationship in an equally uncivil manner. What examples does this leave for...

16 Sep

Posted at 16:47h in Uncategorized

You know the feeling, that moment when everything catches up to you. You are running hard, trying to get everything done, but there just isn't enough time. The impossible deadlines, the pressure to deliver, the financial consequences, the client’s expectations—all suddenly collide in your mind and . . . you are completely overwhelmed. Four out of five Americans report a need to reduce stress in their lives. Stressors—both positive and negative—come in all sizes and shapes and show up at the most inopportune times . . . • You receive an unexpected email from an important client who needs something “right now” and that peaceful, easy feeling suddenly evaporates. • You’re working against a critical deadline and your computer freezes and your blood pressure shoots through the...

09 Sep

Posted at 19:16h in Uncategorized

Sometimes when my young daughter would complain about a difficult challenge, I would tease her, saying, “Hey, Life’s hard, then you die.” That was my witty attempt at reminding her how easy it is to lose our focus on God’s promises amid a world full of obstacles. A lot of people think the Bible teaches that Work became cursed when Sin entered the world. The Bible never says that, but it sure can feel like it when mountains of frustrations and difficulties are in front of us. Genesis 3:1-12 describes one of the most significant events in recorded history, often called “The Fall.” Adam and Eve had been experiencing the perfection of the world God had created, and were in personal, daily relationship with him ....

01 Sep

Posted at 22:27h in Uncategorized

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 is both inspirational and instructional for all workplace professionals. We are his masterpiece. That statement communicates that we were purposefully designed, the workmanship of the one, living God. We did not randomly materialize by a quirk of fate, but rather were skillfully and intricately molded by the master design and craftsmanship of the Creator of the entire universe. But to what end were we created as spiritual beings with both bodies and souls? . . . created in Christ Jesus . . . Take time to back up and read Ephesians 2:1-9 for some context. The framework of God’s rich mercy and love...