Real life friend and colleague Bob Phillips recently concluded a lengthy piece this way -– – “Begin with the end in mind. This wisdom from Stephen Covey offers caution and hope to United Methodists who shortly will begin a several-year process of hopping one express or the other. “Central to any wise decision will be…

Let me get out of the way and let Dan Hawk speak —- I’ve been thinking about the Hillsong implosion in light of Isaiah’s call narrative. Add scandals, resignations from four pastors, and a shadow over Hillsong’s founder, to the long list of high-profile scandals in evangelicalism: Bruxy Cavey, the CT Mark Driscoll exposé, Ravi…

“Maybe we don’t love someone for who they really are. Maybe love is seeing them for who they’d rather be.“ (Counterpart, S1 E5) —- Hmmm…. And then there’s this —- The Way of Love, a/k/a 1st Corinthians 13 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking…

From colleague and friend Jeff Greenway – – – Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the great German pastor, theologian, martyr, spy was asked in 1943 how it was possible for the Church to sit back and let Hitler seize absolute power. His firm answer: “It was the teaching of cheap grace.” “Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness…

“Your business is life, not death,” Jesus says in Matthew 8. “Follow me. Pursue life.” Then he got in the boat, his disciples with him. The next thing they knew, they were in a severe storm. Waves were crashing into the boat—and he was sound asleep! They roused him, pleading, “Master, save us! We’re going…

“I believe in dreams. “Dreams you can live in. “If you design the space where the story will happen, you can control them both. You can create rooms with beautiful things where only good things occur: peaceful mornings, elegant parties, romantic dinners, love. “If you design the most beautiful life, nothing ugly can get in.”…

Steven Soderbergh is good at making movies but lousy at retiring. —- That’s from TheNewYorker.com on February 11, 2022. You and I know people like that, too, and with good reason — Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. — That’s Psalm 92:14. By the grace of…

Online friend Stacy Hulm, who in my humble opinion should consider some type of vocational ministry, recently wrote this and graciously gave me permission to share it with you– – – Some of you have asked the Lord today, “But Lord, when?” I heard him say, “Your situation is still ‘cooking.’ It’s not ready yet,…

Seth Godin, whose work nudged me in this Blog direction several years ago, recently wrote this — Assuming other people have it too Whatever “it” is. That’s probably a mistake. People don’t know what you know, don’t believe what you believe, don’t fear what you fear. They’re not equally skilled, equally fast and equally equipped.…

From “Pieces of Her,“ S1 E5 – – – Young pianist, answering a question about a notebook on the piano in their home: My father likes to keep track. “Of your performances?” Of my mistakes. By contrast, hear the Good News from Psalm 130:3 —- If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, who…