“Our audience is like people who like licorice.  Not everybody likes licorice, but the people who like licorice really like licorice.”   —Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead Something about what Jerry said makes me smile. And then go, “But wait a minute….”

“We could leave our strategic plan on an airplane, and it wouldn’t matter. It’s all about execution.” — John Stumpf, CEO of Wells Fargo, Dec. 3rd, 2012 issue of Fortune, p.6 Dreams, goals, plans and intentions are all good.  But they’re not enough. Knowing where we’re going is good, but it’s not enough.  Driving with…

“Stop grumbling among yourselves.” —Jesus, John 6:43 I was told in Preaching and Worship courses in seminary that there will be times when there’s really nothing to add to what we’ve just read. Anything we say will only muddy the clear waters of Scripture. John 6:43 gives me one of those moments: “Stop grumbling among yourselves.”…

“Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.” — Native American tradition How might you do what this wisdom suggests? Shift your gaze from what was. Look beyond what is. Focus forward. Give thanks. Breathe.

We thank thee for this food for health, strength, and all things good.  May others all these blessings share, and hearts be grateful everywhere. I thank you God for most this amazing day; for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which is infinite which is yet. —…

My friend Hannah Vidakovich shares these great words from her favorite Josh Groban song  — “We pray for what we know can be, And on this day we hope for what we still can’t see. It’s up to us to be the change And even though we all can still do more,  There’s so much…

Mel Lawrenz wrote this, and it’s too good not to share — Dear God, You have invited us to give you thanks, and this is what we wish to do. We are living in a time of great anxiety, but you have offered us a way out of anxiety. We long to know your loving care.…

 “Sending rockets into Israel is as unacceptable as bombing Gaza.” — Thomas Kemper (see link below) Out of respect for our diversity, I normally I stay away from politics here. Out of respect for our shared interests, I’m making an exception today. For what I believe to be a much-needed perspective on the current Israeli situation,…

There’s an old hymn that goes, “Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land.”  That 2nd phrase was changed at some point to be more positive: “Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah, pilgrim through this bounteous land.” Annnnnd it was quickly changed back. That bounteous image didn’t work because  it’s not authentic…

Let’s pick up where we left off yesterday with Johanne, who lives in Haiti and said, “Mostly, we need food, water and shelter.” My friend Steve asked if that isn’t true for all of us, and he’s right: “Mostly, we need food, water and shelter.” I take a sip of my second cup of coffee.  I start deciding what to wear from our crowded closet,…