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More cowbell. Less noise.

My grandfather had a few cows. He had a cowbell for the lead cow. It was a great way to know where the cows were when you have more woods than pasture on the land you homesteaded. My mom got the...

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The twelve

When we look at the original group of twelve disciples, and then when we look at the eventual replacement for Judas (Paul), we find that they all have a clearly identified tap on the shoulder. In some...

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Say good things

Solomon was about to build a temple. He knew that he needed help. His neighbor, King Hiram of Tyre, had cedar trees and expert manpower that Solomon required to build the temple. Solomon asked Hiram if...

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Creating noise.

I keep saying to people around church, “we are creating our own noise.”  I realized that I need to take some time to explain what I mean. Imagine conversing with a friend in a quiet coffee shop. You’ve...

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Bittersweet fun

A new person that came into the group, and she fit a certain stereotype to a T. Her clothing reflected a style that passed out of vogue about 20 years ago. I was powerless. I knew a friend in that...

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Faulty voices

We were fresh out of college and went off to the big city. Our first real jobs were exciting – and stretching. My buddy invited me to join him for church one Sunday. He was part of a...

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Different Pencils

First published March 2, 2012. I enjoy making birthday cards by hand. I use colored pencils. I always sharpen them with a small Xacto knife, to maximize the lead from each pencil. If I used a pencil...

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Words matter

When I was a kid, this was a popular saying: “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” (It dates back to 1862, but I am not that old.) But words do hurt. I recently heard a...

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Writing with excellent pens can make a difference in someone’s life.

I love pens. (Jon loves pencils.) We both love writing by hand. The very best ballpoint pens I have ever found are made by a German company called Schneider. What do quality pens have to do with...

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Creating noise.

(First published May 30, 2013) I keep saying to people around church, “we are creating our own noise.”  I realized that I need to take some time to explain what I mean. Imagine conversing with a friend...

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A moment of clarity.

My academic roots are in communication. I’ve spent years trying to clarify and illustrate and explain and mediate. At my best, I’m only partially successful. Of course, most of us aren’t much better....

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Starting the work week.

As a hospital chaplain, I often walk into to rooms of pain or uncertainty or waiting. I offer presence. I offer ears. Sometimes I offer conversation or counsel. And sometimes I say, “Would it be okay...

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Spiritual venture capitalists needed.

Venture capitalists are people who have cash and expertise and relationships they use to help new businesses. They want to invest some of that cash to give entrepreneurs resources to make purchases, do...

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The second greatest

It’s as vital as breathing to be loved. That’s a common line of thinking in popular psychology,* but Jesus also underlined the importance of loving others. It’s the second greatest commandment! Think...

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Obliged. Thank you.

I talked with some junior high and high school students the other night about some of the ways that we are different. I spent some time talking about Gretchen Rubin’s discussion of the different ways...

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Words create cultures and that matters.

My degrees are all in communication. More accurately, in rhetoric, which considers how persuasion works. That training, and that kind of reflection, can get me in trouble. For example, the college...

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A moment of clarity.

My academic roots are in communication. I’ve spent years trying to clarify and illustrate and explain and mediate. At my best, I’m only partially successful. Of course, most of us aren’t much better....

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