what god?

I don't believe in god. 
What god? 

I do believe in god. 
What god? 

She loves god. 
What god? 

He's such a servant of god. 
What god?

She's a serious evangelist for god. 
What god? 

It can be used rhetorically, judgmentally, and even honestly. 

So... what god?

Well, I can only speak for myself. 

Humanity & relationship. 
Mystery & metaphor. 
Experience. 
Equality. 
Love.

That god?

bipartisan debt.

Well if there's one thing to unite both Republican and Democratic men and women elected to keep our government functioning at a sane and efficient level it's... spending more money. 

Around 300-400 billion more dollars.

Estimates are now that the federal deficit will reach 1.15 trillion in 2019 (that's just for that year) up from 439 billion in 2015, taking into account the new spending deal and the latest tax cuts. 

Yes, if there is one thing that bonds our culture together, it's spending more money we don't have. 

Maybe it's true. "In God We Trust" it says on our money. And I guess if the god is the one we're holding in our greedy hands it makes perfect sense the words are printed on it. 

$22,196.85

Sound like a lot of money? 

What about every second? 

That's how much money the United States will be spending every second on defense (if the current measure passes) in 2018.

It will go up next year.

Like I said, fear isn't cheap. 

fear isn't cheap.

We live in a really safe neighborhood. I would bet that we are in the top 1% of safe neighborhoods in the world. I don't know many of your stories but I would imagine most of you do too. 

I recently passed by a car in a driveway of a house near to us and the car had a steering wheel club on it. 

I'm not sure if a car has EVER been stolen from any house in our neighborhood in the last 100 years. 

Which made me think a few things. 

Fear isn't free. Or cheap. 

It's costing us money everywhere we turn. And even more time, opportunity, and contentedness. 

stevenson.

When Bryan Stevenson talks - or writes - I listen. I recommend everyone read this article, especially if you're white. It's long but worth it. 

You can't do reconciliation work, you can't do restoration work, you can't do racial justice work, you can't create the outcome that you desire to see until there has been truth-telling. And truth-telling has to happen when people who have been victimized and marginalized and excluded and oppressed are given a platform to speak, and everybody else has to listen.

we don't.

She had to be in her 80's. Maybe 90's. But she had a fire. Lifelong Patriots fan and the person interviewing her said: "What do you think of the Eagles?" 

Her answer: "We don't." 

Bam!

One could argue - maybe they should have. Might have won the game. (Congrats Philly.)

One could argue - blatant arrogance. 

One could argue - always know your enemy. 

One could argue - always have to be aware of the competition. 

Here's the thing. She didn't respond "Who?" She knew who the Eagles were. She knew they played football. I imagine she knew all kinds of things about them and how they play. But she didn't think about them: dwell on them, worry about them.. they didn't consume her thoughts. (And, if I'm honest, they do sometimes consume mine.)  

Radical difference. 

Be aware. Yes. Now stop thinking about them. All of them. Any of them. Yes, even them. 

I wonder after the game how she would have responded with the same question. I hope her answer would be the same. "We don't." 

Failure is no reason to start being consumed with them. 

sub this for that.

If we knew their story, we'd probably be more sad than angry. So, the next time we feel angry, try subbing sadness for the anger and see what happens. It's generally a more productive emotion. Sadness leads to vulnerability and empathy instead of violence and separation - like anger does. 

Just swap out sadness for the anger. See what happens.

Then, be sad with those who are sad. Be happy with those who are happy. And leave the anger for better emotions. 

yoda.

In case you missed the yoga firestorm this week, here's the quick summary: Matt Walsh tweeted something about yoga being evil and then the internet responded (per usual) with blazes of agreement and disagreement, then he wrote an article, and then there were other articles... and wow, is it 1991 again? 

I remember in High School a pastor was informing us of the dangers of Star Wars because... Yoda.... Yoga... he kept repeating slowly. Wait? Yoda is bad because it sounds like Yoga and, of course, Yoga is bad? Correct. 

Seriously, I thought the yoga-is-evil argument died when Mark Driscoll left his church in Seattle. But, apparently, it's back! 

Beyond reason 9,231 as to why Christianity is becoming more uninteresting, confusing, hypocritical and, thus, dead, every day in America, the back and forth does raise some interesting thought, beyond the whole idea of whether a pose can be inherently spiritual or whether something that started one way can change into something else - like pretty much every cultural thing we do, including church. But, I digress. 

What if Christians are flocking to yoga because it is more genuinely spiritually appealing? Yoga offers an actual experience of body, mind, and spirit vs much of Christianity which offers a theoretical concept that just sits in a brain. And eventually rots. (And sometimes takes the rest of the brain with it.)

What if Christians are really tired of being told what is good and what is bad and, instead, are starting to discover how to help make all things good (reconcile them)? 

What if Christians are actually starting to believe in a God that is everywhere - as in every...

every tree,
every person,
every rock, (they will cry out)
every pose,
every tradition,
every religion,
every building,
every ritual,

vs the god that is only in Merry Christmas (not Happy Holidays) and Easter Bunnies (after they've been mysteriously approved) and worship songs (if they say "Jesus" or are old enough to be called  hymns)? 

What if Christians are leaving Christianity and finding God? 

I guess that's the real fear for people like Matt Walsh. I just wish he would say that. 

confidence.

How much is a little more confidence for the rest of your life worth to you?

Or how about a little more empathy? 

Or joy? 

$1000? $5000? $10,000

I'd say this: I've met people who have left the country for a month and returned with at least 3 time as much confidence, empathy, and joy... for well under $5,000. 

It's not just travel. It's not just confidence.

It is about spending money for completely different reasons than we often do. 

stop waiting.

Taking my daughter to school yesterday morning I found myself behind that car. The driver was waving his arm out the window, trying to get another car that was attempting to leave the parking lot to turn in front of him, before he turned in himself. 

He was... being nice. I guess. Giving up his right-of-way to let someone else get out before him. 

But, here's the problem. 

Well, first, the driver was on his cell phone and oblivious to the guy waving his arm out the window - but that's a whole other problem. 

The other problem is that, in trying to be nice, he was actually backing up the traffic behind him, including me, and confusing everyone around him. Is he going to go? Is he in trouble? Is he going to pull out right when the other guy does? What's he doing? 

I'm all for breaking bad rules and destroying unjust systems. This is not that. 

Go. 

You're meant to go. You're meant to be "selfish" by pulling into the parking lot. You're meant to stop waiting and stop waving your hand out the window. 

Eventually the man did go. I pulled in after him and the man who had been waiting to leave, left right behind me. 

Lots of added drama and stress just trying to be nice. 

The moral of the story: be careful how you choose to be nice. Sometimes you need to stop waiting and press the accelerator - everyone will be just fine when you do. In fact, they might be even better. 

arrogance.

Sometimes... freedom looks like arrogance, especially to someone still in prison. 

And sometimes... we excuse our arrogance by calling it freedom. 

And sometimes... freedom and arrogance seem indistinguishable. 

And sometimes... we need a little arrogance to leave the cage. 

And sometimes... it all gets complicated. 

Most people don't want to be arrogant but most people do want to be free. 

So remember.

Arrogance always comes from and leads to division and inequality.
Freedom always comes from and leads to equality and unity. 

8 years.

I've got a new proposal. 

We've all noticed that the kind of people who we want to run for president don't run for president very often because getting there, and the job, are both not worth it.  Can you imagine if it was a lifetime deal? No one would run. (Check that, the worst kind of people would run.) 

I don't think it's a huge stretch to say the role of "pastor" is following the same path as president, if it's not there already. 

So, in the same way that presidents can serve a maximum of 8 years, in order to protect both the country and themselves, I propose the church institute a similar policy. You get 8 years as a pastor/leader. To protect both the church and the pastor. 

I can't say.

I have a new rule. I think it's a pretty good rule - feel free to adopt it if you'd like. 

If I'm in a conversation and someone says anything along the lines of "I heard something about you. Or an opinion. Or an idea. Or a whatever." I immediately stop them and say "Will you be able to tell me who said this?" 

If the answer is "no" or "well I can't say who said it" or "out of respect for..." then I will graciously decline to hear whatever was about to be said. 

I'm done responding to imaginary people. I won't let that evidence be submitted into the court of my head. Too many real people I'd rather respond to. 

picked.

Do you feel like you need to be picked? Are you upset if they choose someone else? Is that a sign of strength or fragility? 

So why do you believe in a god that needs to be picked? 

to. day.

I'm writing this before Sunday morning but it's set to publish Sunday morning. Why does that matter? Well, this Sunday morning is my last Sunday morning speaking to some amazing people at a church I started over 7 years ago. 

I haven't begun to process all the emotions - it still feels pretty normal -  and I've only begun to dream with my wife about what is next (and where we will find paychecks) but I can tell you this: You'll be the first to know it all. Right here. 

To a new era! 

In the meantime, after watching The Greatest Showman (twice!) here are some lyrics to inspire you this morning. 

They can say, they can say it all sounds crazy
They can say, they can say I've lost my mind
I don't care, I don't care, so call me crazy
We can live in a world that we design

'Cause every night I lie in bed
The brightest colors fill my head
A million dreams are keeping me awake
I think of what the world could be
A vision of the one I see
A million dreams is all it's gonna take
A million dreams for the world we're gonna make

art.

The great thing about art is that you can interpret it in lots of ways, you can agree or disagree with it, you can try to seek context, you can learn about the creator, you can dismiss it, you can emotionally react to it - in good and bad ways - and it can alter your life or it can not. (Hint: the Bible is art.) 

With all that said, Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan made this piece of art in 2016 and it's on display in the Guggenheim. It's called "America". 

React as you will. 

excellence.

We often hear something along the lines of "if you're going to do something, do it with excellence." 

I completely get the sentiment. 

Problem is, for someone like me, I like to do all kinds of things. And sometimes I wonder if doing all kinds of things, prevents me from doing one thing excellently. 

In a recent conversation with someone about this, I have a new statement. 

Live with excellence. Sometimes that means doing a lot of things pretty good. But, don't do one thing excellently if doing that makes your life pretty good.

perkins.

Tony Perkins, leader of the evangelical Family Research Council recently said that Trump gets a "mulligan" on his alleged affair(s) because evangelicals "were tired of being kicked around by Barack Obama and his leftists. And I think they are finally glad that there’s somebody on the playground that is willing to punch the bully.”

A few comments. 

1. Good for Perkins giving Trump a mulligan and/or do-over. Can we give mulligans to most of the prisoners in our current prison system as well? At least the ones that are only in there because they are black? Oh and also mulligans to Hillary Clinton? And, probably, Barack Obama for his ruthless kicking them around? 

2. Christians should never be kicked around. Definitely agree. I'm trying to think of a time when Jesus was kicked around but I just can't. He's got a great point. I'll keep trying to think of something of some kind of story where Jesus illustrates that sometimes empires and religion kick you around... 

3. I think if there's one thing we can all agree on it's that Jesus was definitely all for punching playground bullies. No doubt about that one. Equally obvious, and illustrated by great leaders throughout history is that the best way to promote change is to punch someone. 

Reasons 7645, 7646, 7647 why Christianity is a) a joke b) uninspiring c) losing more people every day. 

One more from Perkins. “Look, Christianity is not all about being a welcome mat which people can just stomp their feet on.”

One more from me. "Look, if this is how you understand Christianity, please leave fast. There are far better ways to life and spirituality, I promise."

tariffs.

Given that the United States just imposed tariffs on solar panels and washing machines, it brings up an interesting point: what are the equivalent tariffs for people who are beating me in my market place? Or just my life? What about that man/woman who just seems to work more efficiently and produce more creative work than I do? Or who has it together more than me? Can I impose some kind of fee on her/him so that my work will have a chance? Can I impose a fee of negativity that they have to battle more against, to help myself? 

No.

But we sure do our best. Breaking down other's reputations, trying to erode trust, encouraging more "questions" about what they do, so everything they do - and attempt and produce, costs them a little more. 

That's just wasted energy. 

Instead keep failing, keep working, keep testing, keep improving, keep trying to change the world, and keep being content with doing good work that only you can do.

We don't more tariffs. We do need more good work. 

find.

One more on the Hell stuff. This one is about Heaven. 

You don't get Heaven. You don't go to Heaven. You find Heaven. 

Ask. Seek. Knock. Find. 

Just think how that would change some theology.