“People who look like saints to us are very often not so, and those who do not look like saints very often are.”

Thomas Merton, The Seven Storey Mountain

We all have glasses on. Our set of values and criteria that inform our own definition of “saint.” Our pet peeves that immediately disqualify someone from sainthood.

Which should you put in your recipe? 

(A response to Seth Godin: Ask A Busy Person)

You might know one. They are a bit of a rarity in our culture, but you can find them if you know where to look.

Is spending time with other leaders. Quality time. Face time. Relational time. Friend time.

Not work time. Not business-talk time. Not strategy time. Not planning time. 

That inspires, empowers, or encourages someone else to do something. 

Just a small, simple, influential action that results in more. A catalytic something that sets off a chain reaction. 

It is God’s desire that he be seen and known and encountered by human beings. And all that most clearly through Jesus of Nazareth. The incarnated Christ is the apex of his communication and self-demonstration to humanity. But he does’t stop there.

Is a great question to ask God whenever you’re experiencing strong, challenging, less-than-pleasant emotions.

And then it was gone. I can’t remember it now. I lost it. 

And it was a brilliant thought, really. So stimulating, in fact, that I was happy to wake up 20 minutes early. Excited to get up and write it down, to explore that trailhead and see where it might take me. You would’ve loved it. It would’ve moved you deeply.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Psalm 100:2 (NIV )

Serve the Lord with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing!

Psalm 100:2 (ESV )

“Worship” and “serve” are both adequate (and equally inadequate) translations from the Hebrew. It’s a both/and situation.

There are different genres of music. 

Classical. Blues. Rock. R&B. Soul. Gospel. Jazz. Latin Jazz. Afro-Cuban Jazz. Pop. Country. Pop Country. K-pop. Hip Hop. Trip Hop. Rap. Metal. Rap Metal. Hardcore. Metalcore. Noisecore. Cumbia. Salsa. Ranchero. Reggae. Reggaeton. Ska. Punk. Ska Punk. Indie Rock. Surf Rock. Math Rock. Folk Rock. Folk. Bluegrass. Techno. Industrial. 

Just to name a few.

There are also different genres of prayer.