free and brave.

Think about it. Land of the free and home of the brave. 

What does it mean to be free? 

What does it mean to be brave? 

I love both words. I think they are incredibly powerful and I think a nation filled with individuals who live both, is a nation I want to live in. 

But, if I'm honest, I see a lot more people who are imprisoned by money and the chase of it and in fear of everything under the sun than they are free or brave. 

It's time to remember what we're about. 

just like coffee.

To make a good coffee, you need quite  a few things but you at least need some good beans, a good grinder, a good roaster, and some hot water. 

If beans are knowledge, I've met a lot of people with a lot of beans. They get it. They understand. They've read good books, and heard good speeches. They can talk with the best of them. 

The problem with beans is that you then need to roast them - which is not comfortable - grind them - which is not comfortable - and pour hot water over them - which is not comfortable. 

The roasting, the grinding, the hot water - that's what makes the beans actually matter to anyone. That's what takes those good beans and converts them into something that we want. 

There are fewer people who put their knowledge through a roasting, a grinding, and into some hot water to see what they are left with. They are afraid. What if all their beans vanish? What if it doesn't taste good? 

So, they just hold on to the beans. 

Honestly, pretty worthless beans. 

If you're young (often literally, always figuratively), you're more tempted to hold on to your beans, or think your beans are really valuable as they are. And they are valuable.

But only if you let life grind, roast, and burn them. Then that knowledge will matter more to us all. 

We might even want to have a taste. 

my jesus press conference.

Jesus: Good morning to you all. It's the year 24 and I'm here to answer a few questions. 

Hands raise. 

Jesus: Yes, Jim. 

Jim: Hi Jesus. Jim from ABC. Can you tell me whether or not you believe in a "America First" or "Make America Great Again" policy? 

Jesus: Excuse me. 

Jim: Yes, can you tell me...

Jesus: Yeah, I heard the question. America? 

Jim: Oh yes, sorry, it's a country that will exist in about 1,800 years. 

Jesus: Okay. 

Jim: So, do you support an "America First" policy? 

Jesus: Not sure, why you're not asking if I support an "Israel First" policy because if I supported any country first, it'd be that one, assuming it's still around but... I generally go with a Kingdom of God first policy. You know, that whole seek first the kingdom of God thing? 

Jim: Thank you. 

Jesus: Yes, Nancy. 

Nancy: Hi Jesus. A follow-up question. Do you support an Israel first policy? I mean they are the chosen people of God? Right? 

Jesus: Well Nancy if you read the Torah, you'd see that they were chosen to bless the world. So, again, I support a Kingdom of God policy... which is generally a bless the world policy. So, yes, you are first in order to be last in blessing others. 

Nancy. Thank you. 

Jesus: Mark? 

Mark: Hey Jesus. Thanks, a follow-up on that Kingdom of God thing. What is it? 

Jesus: I've already answered that. Multiple times. 

Mark: But, it seems the answers are always different. 

Jesus: They make a point. 

Mark: What is that point? 

Jesus: That you're asking all the wrong questions. 

bye bye paris...

I'm sad. 

I care about the planet immensely. I care about the people on the planet - or at least I try to.  I don't know if humans are causing climate change - although I tend to trust the majority of scientists when they agree on things and on this they do. So I trust them. Could they change their mind? Sure. But they haven't. Still, I wouldn't argue with anyone about climate change and human's contribution. 

I also care about pollution. I care about creating less of it. I would argue with anyone on that. I don't want more pollution - I want less. For myself, for my kids, for those who live in poorer countries more affected by it, for all that makes sense in the world - when I don't think too hard about it. Less pollution seems like a generally good thing and I don't need to read any articles or opinions to think that. 

I don't like smoke or trash or chemicals in my yard.  

So, when my country joins Nicaragua and Syria as the only two nations to leave an agreement between 195 countries including Iraq, Sweden, Russia, China and everyone in-between, that was about producing less pollution, well... I'm sad.

I'm more sad because I listened to our president's reasons. They involve things like: 

"demand fair and reciprocal trade that gives Americans a level playing field against other nations" 

"The Paris climate accord is simply the latest example of Washington entering into an agreement that disadvantages the United States"

"The rest of the world applauded when we signed the Paris Agreement. They went wild. They were so happy. For the simple reason that it put our country, the United States of America, which we all love, at a very, very big economic disadvantage."

I happen to live in the richest country to ever exist in the history of humanity. If more economic advantage is a reason to have more pollution, well, again, I'm sad. 

And then I read this from the leaders of Germany, France, and Italy in response to my country. 

We will step up Efforts to support developing countries, in Particular the poorest and most vulnerable...

I understand it's all complicated. I don't claim to know everything. But on the surface, this sure looks really bad, even on a pure marketing level. We care more about not being economically disadvantaged than producing less pollution for our planet. 

“It is time to put Youngstown, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan.; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania … ahead of Paris, France,

Personally, I think it's time to put all of humanity above our own economic advantage (which is already pretty large). And we just made a big publicity move (at the least) to do the opposite. 

So count me sad and disappointed today. 

is it possible (part two)?

Is it possible to truly love your neighbor as yourself
and bomb them? 
execute them?
not give them free health care? 

Since Jesus was pretty clear that our neighbor is also our enemy

is it possible to truly love your enemy as yourself
and bomb them?
execute them?
not give them free health care?

Of course, I understand, they have done something to deserve their predicament. 

I know. I know. 

What if there is a 10% chance of bombing a wedding of our neighbors instead of our enemy?
What if there is a 10% chance of executing an innocent neighbor instead of a guilty one? 
What if there is a 10% chance of you becoming the one without healthcare next year? 

At what point is it no longer possible to call that loving your neighbor and enemy? 

andrew sullivan

Andrew Sullivan has been, and is, one of my favorite writers. He is a gay Catholic conservative, which I only say because it gives background to why I trust him. That, and the fact that I've read countless articles and words from the man. 

Regardless, he recently published an article called "The Pope and the Pagan" concering Donald Trump's trip abroad. I suggest you read it. You may oppose every word, you may support every word, but I still suggest you read it because it's smart, it's well informed, and it's thoughtful and it's better to agree or disagree with smart, well informed, thoughtful writing than most of what is out there today.  

is it possible?

Is it possible to truly love your neighbor as yourself
and have 10, 20, 30 times the amount of resources as your neighbor? 

100 times? 

At what point is it no longer possible? 

of course he doesn't have to.

Getting off a plane recently it was the pilot who had put on some gloves and was cleaning garbage from the aisles, saying goodbye to everyone. He had just landed the plane and was taking out the trash moments later. 

What? 

Were the flight attendants going to fly? 

I asked. He was the Captain, just helping out. Judging from the comments and looks everyone appreciated it. 

Why? 

Because we couldn't imagine why he was doing it. Had he lost a bet? Was he showing off? Maybe he just cared about doing things he didn't have to do because he wanted to.

Today there all kinds of things you don't have to do. It's a long list.  

But, there is also a list of things you don't have to do, that you might do anyway, because you care, because you want to, because you are that person.  

And it will affect those around you.  

you confuse...

"I think you guys confuse helping people and worrying about people."

That was from my 12 year old.

Wise words.

is that a sink?

I was in a bathroom recently and noticed water all over the floor. A leak? Something worse?

Then I washed my hands in the "sink". The sink was more of a slab of granite with a faucet - it was really cool. I'd never seen anything like it. Only problem was that water spilled everywhere when I used it.

It was as though the sink was trying so hard, it forgot it was there to be a sink.

Like we do sometimes.  

Bible Belt.

I'm in Arkansas. In a dry county.

I asked a server about being in a dry county and why it was - and he explained to me that we were in the middle of the Bible Belt with a lot of Conservative Baby Boomers.

I understand.

One man. One opinion.

But if you are a generation known for being Conservative, Biblical and, thus, dry... well... 

There is one man I met who I assume has little desire to be a Baby Boomer, Conservative, or Biblical. 

Not because he can't drink but because they can't evolve.  

it all

No one gets it all.

So what do you want to get?

And what are you okay without?

I know how to make eggs

The other morning my daughter was complaining that we were making eggs because she had to leave. 

My wife said, "Do you not know how to make eggs?" 

"I know how to make eggs" she shouted back.

"But do you know how to make them when you don't want to make them?" I responded. 

That's very different. 

And then we all laughed at my fake zen wisdom. And then we thought about it how true it was. 

go with the flow?

It always sounds good.

Just go with the flow, man.

And, often, it is good. 

As long as you're in the flow you want to be in.

Are you? 

buy experiences .

Buy more experiences and less things. 

Some things create experiences, those are better things. 

Some experiences become about things. Those are not as good of experiences.

If money is finite, which it is for 99.9% of the world, when confronted with where to spend it, spend it on what leaves you with with more experience and less stuff by the time it all shakes down. 

welcome to love's!

I was just in Ritzville to fill up on gas. Ritzville's population is about 1,500.

Ritzville was settled in 1880 but, today, Ritzville is primarily known for having a Starbucks, some gas stations, and a McDonald's on I-90 between Seattle and Spokane. 

It's pretty much the middle of nowhere. 

But, today, after filling up I went into the truck stop "Love's" to get some water and the woman working the cash register said "Welcome to Love's" with a massive smile. She said it to every single person that walked in while I stopped in line. She asked everyone how they were doing and she left every interaction with a genuine "Have a wonderful day!" 

Most people ignored her. Some seemed surprised. One out of the 25 I saw smiled and said something back. 

Most people didn't care. 

But she did. 

And I did. And I thanked her for it. 

Because, sometimes you're just that genuine, that nice, that welcoming, that joyful and no one seems to care. But you keep doing it anyway, because you care. Because it matters. Because it makes your world better. 

And, even if they don't smile back, it makes their world better too. 

we might agree.

The other day my wife was shaking her head yes and I was giving her a disgusted no face. Obviously, we disagreed.

Then we said to each other - wait are you thinking we should buy or we should sell? Maybe we agree?

It ended up that we did.

So before you move on, and start prepping all the ways to convince the other person how wrong they are, make sure you are both asking the same question. You might actually agree.

want to be a beta reader this summer?

I'm on the fifth draft of a new fiction book that I've written and I'm almost  ready for some people to read it and give me feedback. For what it's worth, I've been working on this baby for over four years and it's one of my favorite pieces of art that I've ever created.

Yeah, I'm really excited about it! 

Here's what you get: 

1. To read a book before anyone else. 

2. To provide feedback and help craft the book. 

3. To be a part of something special. 

Here's what you give: 

1. Read it. I need people committed to reading the book within 30 days (from the time they receive it - probably mid-June). It is 140,000 words (the size of The Return of the King by Tolkien). It's not copyedited, so there will be some mistakes and issues but you'll ignore those.  

2. Provide feedback. I need people committed to telling me if they like it, and why, or if they don't, and why. Even offer suggestions.

3. Care. I can find random people who would do this. But you read this blog and care at some level or another about me and my work. That means I trust you. If you'll care about making this better, I'd be honored for you to read it! 

Here's the back of the book summary to help you decide. If you want to apply, send me an email and explain why you want to do this. I'm choosing 7 from those that apply and we'll go from there! (Again, hoping to choose and hand the book out mid-June.)  

---

Not that I had ever met a demon before, but Ehs was the most normal demon I had ever met. Nice, authentic, funny, a joy to be around. Most of the time. 

Ehs asked me to trust him. He said he needed me to help him change the world that you and I live in, the world that he created, the world that he regretted creating. He also needed me to help him find love. 

Ehs promised me many things if I helped him, not the least of which was a story to tell.

This is that story. And it affects everything you believe.

Listen. Part Seven.

This has been really cool and so god to get some insights to who reads this blog. Thank you! 

My final - and seventh - question for you is here. 

It's anonymous so you can be honest. And I would, honestly, love to hear your wisdom and perspective and thoughts!

Maybe we'll do something fun with all of it after we're done. 

Listen. Part Six.

Almost there!

My sixth question for you is here. 

It's anonymous so you can be honest. And I would, honestly, love to hear your wisdom and perspective and thoughts!