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Random Thoughts

Yo Ho Yo Ho, a Pirate’s Life For Me!

A few days ago I found myself humming the Pirates of the Caribbean ride theme song. You know which one I mean?

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me.
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot.
Drink up me ‘earties, yo ho.
We kidnap and ravage and don’t give a hoot.
Drink up me ‘earties, yo ho.

What struck me was how I manage to morph so many songs into this one. Can’t quite remember that praise song from church? Somehow I turn it into the Pirate’s song. Those Eagle’s lyrics from the late 70’s just not coming …

Random Thoughts,

Making the World a Better Place

Came across this quote a few months ago about making the world a better place, and I’m still processing it. It rings completely true to me but I’ve yet to grasp all the significance it has for our individual, corporate, nonprofit, or other actions.

“It is sometimes easier to make the world a better place
than to prove you have made the world a better place.”
Amos Tversky

There are a lot of organizations and people tackling problems or creating value, many of whom seldom attempt to prove their actions are making the world a better place. Should they be?…

Random Thoughts,

Dear Pastors, Please Stop Posting Pictures Online

Dear Pastors,

When it comes to social media, please stop posting pictures of yourself on stage. Or the stage itself. Or the band. Or the cool lighting.

To you it looks like an invitation. You think it says, “Look, we’re cool! Come visit!”

In truth it says, “Look, we’re like every other gathering of people you’ve ever been to, with lights, music, and somebody who bores you for 30 minutes in a conference room!”

Most importantly, it does not tell people who Jesus followers really are.

Jesus said we should be known by our love. Not our sound system.

James …

Random Thoughts,

Ten Silly Things Every Traveler Should Pack

With a lot of travel coming up this summer, here’s my list of ten silly things every traveler should pack. Why silly? I guess because they aren’t really necessary, but sure are handy when you need them.

Duct tape. Not the whole roll, but just a yard or two. Duct tape fixes everything: broken suitcases, cracked smartphones, even reading glasses (though you look a bit dorky, but hey, it’s better than being blind).
Lots of ziplock plastic bags. Not just for TSA security reasons, but for wet clothes, dirty clothes, and that last minute impulse purchase of Ouzo

…

Random Thoughts,

Signs of Hope

For years I’ve espoused the excellence of the devotional book Celtic Daily Prayer. This was the daily reading for May 11th:

How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a land that we feel is still strange to us?

Part of our task is to recognize signs of hope, outcrops of the Kingdom, to recognize works of the Spirit even where God’s Name is not named.

We can waste so much energy assuming everyone is against us, and in reacting defensively. Whoever is not against us is for us. This may be the time to form spontaneous coalitions between …

Random Thoughts,

Politics, Lent, and Sloth

Found this graph on Twitter and laughed out loud. In our age of highly politicizing things, why not do so with the seven deadly sins? And why not bring it up as lent winds down?

Besides, I always have been a moderate, so I approve of sloth being the foundation of my political viewpoint!…

Random Thoughts,

Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior

At this time in our history as a nation, it’s worth reading the list of rules of civility our first President created for himself. When he was a young schoolboy in Virginia, George Washington wrote by hand a list of 110 ‘Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation.’ Unsurprisingly, the list is broadly based on a 16th-century set of Jesuit guidelines.

Much of this is about etiquette, offering pointers on such issues as how to dress, walk, eat in public and address one’s superiors. But don’t think of it as “mere” etiquette. There is moral guidance here …

Random Thoughts,

Being With Jesus

A few days ago I was mentoring a young man and he asked me something that triggered this comment:

“In the first quarter of my life I studied and learned a lot about Jesus. In the second quarter of my life I continued to learn about Jesus as I also served Jesus. In the third quarter of my life I find myself learning and serving, but with a deep desire to become like Jesus. And in the fourth quarter of my life I suspect I will learn about Jesus, serve Jesus, want to become like Jesus, but most of all …