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. 

black museum.

So if you believe in a Hell, or if you know someone who believes in a Hell - where people are eternally tortured, I have a challenge for you. 

Watch. Or invite that person over to watch episode 6 season 4 of Black Mirror. It's called "Black Museum". It's dark, of course. Hell is dark. 

It isn't specifically about Hell but think of the concept of Hell as you watch. If you - or the person who believes in Hell - watches that episode and still believes in Hell - well, I'll be honest. I'd be worried.

universalism...

This is part question and part statement.

If you aren't a universalist, how can you possibly, correctly, understand the love of God? 

one million...

When I was 20

I said

I would be a millionaire

by the age of 25. 

Boy, was I wrong. 

Unless

I wasn't talking about a million pieces of paper

but instead

a million

experiences
conversations
laughs
words heard
words spoken
instances

that matter. 

Which 

is funny.

Why is the dream to collect pieces of paper that don't even exist? 

And not instances - even some boring ones -

that matter. 

today.

We bought one of those little signs that you can slide letters into and light up. You know the ones. They're big right now. 

Problem is, there is lots of pressure to come up with a wise saying that will fit into the thing - and that we have enough letters for. The pressure. We've all got to be inspired when we walk into the kitchen! 

So, how's this? 

Today, or not today. 

That is the question.
Arguably the only one. 

If it's not today, it was yesterday or it will be tomorrow and, well, yesterday is all memories and tomorrow is all ideas about future events so really if it's not today - what is it?

We can remember today, of course. And we should. We can plan today, of course. And we should. 

But there's no use wasting time today on something that doesn't need to happen today.
And if it does need to happen today, well, then make it happen! 

hard to believe.

I just watched The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo because my wife read the book and because it's filmed in Sweden and, well, we needed some Sweden. It's a pretty dark movie but there is a great line in it: It’s hard to believe that the fear of offending can be stronger than the fear of pain.

Of course there is the obvious fear of offending your grandparents by swearing at the dinner table but there is also the fear of telling someone no, of letting someone down, of breaking with the expected and ritualistic - when you know you are supposed to. 

life vs. money.

I was talking to a friend who said something along these lines: I've never met anyone who was sincerely pursuing the kind of life they want, who didn't find enough money. They might exist but I haven't met them or heard those stories. 

To which I added something along these lines: And I've met a ton of people who were pretty intent on pursuing money and didn't find enough life.  

I'm 44 today. Here's to pursuing life and letting the money show up where it will, instead of pursuing the money and endlessly waiting for life to show up. 

I think Jesus said similar as well... seeking first or something like that... right? 

preference.

Would you prefer to be a protégé, a prodigal, or a prodigy?

A protégé is guided by a person who is more skilled than the average. 
A prodigal is reckless - but learns - and ends up more aware than the average.   
A prodigy is gifted beyond the average. 

Each of them brings us somewhere above average but by very different means... 

Instruction. 
Failure. 
Talent. 

The good news is we probably don't need to choose. In fact, if you're lucky, you have all 3 in your life. 

mlk

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."