Faith on Tap” is a short series on the divine connections I see between monastic life and the art of brewing beer. This blog series is meant to be a red-carpet inauguration of the First Annual Strategic Monk Brewery Pilgrimage. Our tour began on May 1st with Eagle Rock Brewery in Los Angeles and continues on June 4th at LadyFace Ale Companie in Agoura Hills. RSVP here to join us! “For a quart of Ale is a dish for a... Read more
“Faith on Tap” is a short series on the divine connections I see between monastic life and the art of brewing beer. This blog series is meant to be a red-carpet inauguration of the First Annual Strategic Monk Brewery Pilgrimage. Our tour is set to begin on May 1st with Eagle Rock Brewery in Los Angeles. Stay tuned! “God has a brown voice, as soft and full as beer.” -Anne Sexton (author, 1928-1974) I am a lay oblate at a... Read more
I have worked with a lot of people in a variety of different situations. One thing that has been consistent whenever and wherever I have worked with anyone, whether paid staff or volunteers, is that people appreciate being recognized for the work they do. It may not be the primary motivation for most people, but it is motivating to be thanked for the work one does. The initial steps in recognizing the value of a person’s contribution include a few key elements. ... Read more
A dear friend of mine works with a Peace-building NGO in Cairo. I asked him if he’d give us an insider’s look on what Egypt feels like after the revolution. Here’s what he has to say. It is amazing looking at the differences in Egypt before and after the revolution. I think it can best be summed up by a new-found pride which had been stripped, beaten and corrupted out of the majority of Egyptians before the revolution. The... Read more
A very special “aloha” and thank you to all of you that came out to Monday’s Happy Hour at Roy’s in Pasadena. A post-tax day exhale was had by all. Next up? Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 1st at 2pm! It’s the Commencement of the First Annual Strategic Monk Brewery Pilgrimage! Tell all of your monastic-curious, beer-loving, leadership-brewing friends and neighbors! [ Image by PinCheck ] Read more
For years, I have heard about dramatic conversions. Overnight, someone’s life is changed forever. They then cannot contain themselves, and tell everyone they meet about how the blinders have been removed from their eyes, how much better and faster they are able to do things, how their greatest frustrations have now disappeared, and how much better their lives now are, now that everything has changed. Everyone else invariably rolls their eyes, makes skeptical remarks, and tries to be patient as... Read more
I get together every couple of weeks with a group of guys for breakfast. Now, I participate in a variety of groups, but this one is unique. There are eight of us. I think I am the youngest member; some of us are retired, and others are facing retirement. We get together for breakfast, and we talk about a book. Right now, we are finishing Let Your Life Speak by Parker Palmer. I spend quite bit of our times together... Read more
The books I appreciate the most are the ones that help me see or think in new ways, or that help me start something new. A few months ago, a friend of mine recommended A Whole New Mind by Daniel H. Pink. He may have suggested it to me because I am left-handed. Subtitled Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future, A Whole New Mind begins with an overview of left-brain dominated vs. right-brain dominated thinking. Filled with examples, quotations, and... Read more
My faith has become more contemplative over the last several years. Sometimes it’s a challenge, coming from an Evangelical background, to describe how my relationship to God is growing and deepening. It can be difficult to understand and explain; it can be frightening and lonely; it is both draining yet also the source of great joy and peace. People who know me as an extroverted, get-things-done, results-oriented activist may not understand my desire for silence and solitude. It used to... Read more
The second of an ongoing series of reflections on Lent. Click here to read earlier posts in this series. Lent can easily become a challenging and ill-humored season. People who are struggling to live without caffeine or other familiar comforts can be cranky! It is easy to get caught up in accomplishing our goal, or become trapped in pride if we think we are sacrificing more than others. It can be hard to experience Lent not as a sacrifice,... Read more
Strategic Monk
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In