I read a lot. I read for pleasure, to solve mysteries, to learn, to distract myself, and to be inspired. Bible Babel by Kristin Swenson is one book that is truly inspiring. Bible Babel is a book about Books – and by that I mean the library of writings that we recognize as the Bible. It is an excellent introduction to the Bible, and it is more than that. Kristin clearly knows a lot of information about the Bible... Read more
Scouting the Divine by Margaret Feinberg has set me off on a new adventure, thinking about things in new ways. We start by asking questions. How does the Bible come to live in our hearts? How do we move from being informed by the Bible to being transformed by it? One obstacle in our path is that the lives of the people in the Bible were so different from ours today. It’s challenging to relate to stories of tax collectors... Read more
When I was a child, what I wanted to do “when I grew up” was be President of the United States. I read biographies of quite a few of the presidents; I think their stories connected with the take-responsibility, first-born, older-brother part of my personality. Politics seemed exciting, especially from the vantage point of living in the country outside a rural small town, and focused on important decisions. In elementary school, my class took a field trip all the way... Read more
I wrote in an earlier post about recognizing the depth of value and connections on Twitter. I mentioned that I was hooked on tweet-chats. Tweet-chats are just what they sound like: talking with a bunch of people simultaneously, following the conversation, and crafting contributions at the same time. The first tweet-chats that I have found myself participating in are on Tuesday evenings. These tweet-chats are focused on “leading from within”. The chat is hosted by Lolly Daskal. Lolly believes that... Read more
We commonly think about crime as something that happens between the government and a defendant. We understand they are the ones represented in court, and they are the ones who participate in the probation, jail, prison, and parole system. Through this, my work in the criminal justice system sparked my interest in Restorative Justice. Restorative Justice is a way of understanding and practicing justice that is different from our traditional approach in the United States. It gives everyone who is... Read more
Lent is a season of the church calendar which begins on Ash Wednesday, and culminates with the great celebration of Easter. This season helps us recognize that we are not able to provide for ourselves, and prepares us to receive God’s overwhelming gift of new life. Lent is a lot like working in the yard, or farming, in the spring. Before we can plant any new life, we need to clear away all the signs of death that have accumulated.... Read more
1. The intellectual and verbal challenges of putting together and making cohesive, coherent arguments. 2. The experience of explaining, persuading, and convincing people. 3. Virtual immunity from traffic tickets. 4. Having a strong sense that I was “wearing a white hat,” and was on the side of justice. 5. Cross-examining people. 6. Sharing with Law Enforcement Officers and being able to tell them what to do. They are an interesting and colorful bunch of people, and often have unique perspectives.... Read more
I have been on Twitter for a few months @StrategicMonk. I was skeptical about twitter before that. It seemed quite self-absorbed from the outside: a lot of people interrupting me to tell me that they were going to eat lunch or dinner; people on TV trying to attract even more attention; lunch trucks telling me they had moved three blocks. It was a challenge to see the practical benefits. It might be fun to be able to get a bunch... Read more
1. On a clear day, sunlight in frigid air has a unique quality and brightness. 2. Walking across the surface of a frozen lake. 3. Having an excellent, easily accepted reason to stay at home reading or watching movies. 4. The depth of the early morning silence. 5. The heat, taste, and aroma of smoking a pipe in the frosty air. 6. People who actually understand how to drive in weather that is not perfect. 7. Watching snow fall. 8.... Read more
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