Tag Archives: influence

Quick Thought – Monday, September 7, 2026: Influenced or Influencing? The Lasting Power of Your Example

Posted on September 7, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Influence rarely stops with one person. Buddy Holly shaped generations of musicians, and Keith Green’s music helped shape my own faith. Jesus reminds us that our light should ultimately point others toward the Father. Continue reading →

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Quick Thought – Friday, August 21, 2026: Who Has Your Ear? Listening to the Spirit in a Noisy World

Posted on August 21, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Advertising, friends and culture constantly compete for our attention. Paul reminds us that believers have received the Spirit of God so we can recognize what the world can’t give us—and what God has already freely provided. Continue reading →

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Quick Thought – Sunday, August 9, 2026: Do What’s Right

Posted on August 9, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Doing what’s right isn’t only about our own choices. Romans 14 reminds us to consider how our actions may influence someone else to go against what they believe is right. Continue reading →

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The Mount Rushmore Nobody Else Can See: The People Who Shape a Life

Posted on May 13, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Some people change history in ways the world remembers. Others change our lives in ways only we remember. Maybe the most underrated people in history are the ones carved into someone else’s memory. Continue reading →

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Quick Thought – Monday, April 13, 2026: How Many Bags?

Posted on April 13, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

In the parable of the talents, even the servant with “just one” was managing a massive fortune. Jesus’ point is clear: every one of us has been entrusted with something valuable, and God expects us to use it faithfully rather than bury it. Continue reading →

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Three Faces of Confidence

Posted on March 16, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Confidence comes in different forms. I saw it in a father who could fill a room, a mother who quietly commanded a stage, and a stepfather whose few words carried weight. Looking back, I realize how much their presence shaped my own understanding of what confidence looks like. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: A Long Finish

Posted on February 1, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The best bourbons linger after the sip is gone. Life does the same. Sometimes we don’t realize the impact we’ve had until years later—when a former student reaches out, or a quiet word finally finds its echo. Continue reading →

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What Makes a Good Leader? Watching Two of Them Taught Me More Than Any Book

Posted on January 19, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Libraries are filled with books trying to answer what makes a good leader—and for good reason. It’s a question too large for a tidy list or a single post. But before theories and biographies, I had two firsthand examples. Watching how my dad and stepdad led—in very different worlds—taught me more about leadership than any definition ever could. Continue reading →

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The People Who Shaped the Journey

Posted on December 24, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

The biggest influences in my life weren’t loud or famous. They were faithful—my mom, a teacher who believed in my words, a stepfather who grounded my faith, and the family and quiet moments that continue to shape who I’m becoming. Continue reading →

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A Dad, a Father, and the Man I Became

Posted on December 18, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

I was fortunate—and complicated enough—to have both a dad and a father. One shaped me through presence and everyday life. The other shaped me through expectation, discipline, and a way of seeing the world. Add in the steady influence of my mother, and I didn’t become a mirror of any one of them. I became a mosaic. Continue reading →

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