Tag Archives: character

Quick Thought – Saturday, September 26, 2026: Judging by Appearances–God Looks at the Heart

Posted on September 26, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

We live in a world shaped by images, appearances and carefully crafted impressions. But 1 Samuel 16 reminds us that while people look at the outside, God looks at the heart. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: The Unlabeled Bottle

Posted on August 2, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

An unlabeled bottle strips away reputation, price, and expectation. Blind tasting reveals what is really there—and so does careful discernment when we look beyond the labels people wear. Continue reading →

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What Shapes Us More: Our Experiences or Our Character?

Posted on July 16, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Are we products of our experiences, or do our character and choices determine what those experiences become? The story of two men named Wes Moore suggests the answer is both—but neither character nor circumstance gets the final word. Continue reading →

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Best Advice: You Play Like You Practice

Posted on June 23, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The habits we build when we’re young do not usually disappear when life gets more serious. School is preparation for life, and the way we practice now often becomes the way we perform later. Continue reading →

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I’m Inspired By the People Who Take Away My Excuses

Posted on June 22, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Some people inspire us not because their lives are easy, but because they keep showing up when life gives them every reason not to. Their example reminds me how much I have — and how few excuses I really have. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: The Warehouse Heat

Posted on May 3, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Warm-climate bourbon ages differently because the heat drives the whiskey deeper into the barrel. Life can work that way, too. Pressure does not always destroy. Sometimes, it accelerates purpose. Continue reading →

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What Really Makes a Person Unique?

Posted on March 31, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A person’s uniqueness usually isn’t one dramatic thing. It’s the combination of experiences, personality, values, flaws, humor, memories, and perspective that nobody else carries in exactly the same way. Continue reading →

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Two Words I’d Be Glad to Wear

Posted on March 19, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

When I asked Lizzi for one word that describes me, she chose the same one I already had in mind: loyal. Add reliable beside it, and that feels like the kind of reputation worth keeping. Continue reading →

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Quick Thought – Sunday, January 4, 2026: Take Responsibility

Posted on January 4, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Read Matthew 27:24-31 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it … Continue reading →

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What a Handshake Taught Me About Character

Posted on December 22, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

I do think I’m a good judge of character—not because I’m never wrong, but because I pay attention. First impressions aren’t verdicts; they’re signals. Eye contact. Presence. A handshake that tells you whether someone is fully there or already looking past you. Discernment isn’t about suspicion or cynicism—it’s about noticing patterns and remaining open to being corrected. Wisdom knows when to trust the read… and when to revise it. Continue reading →

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