“Why don’t we just listen?” Heard that question a lot lately. Someone has a difficult story, and others wonder why simply listening seems beyond our cultural capability. I get it. Even in ideal circumstances, deep, non-judgmental listening takes a great deal of effort. Put the story in an emotionally-charged (or politically-charged) situation and one has […]
Continue readingMore TagMonth: September 2018
Road Trip!
When I was 16, my best friend and I took a brief road trip. My uncle gave me a car, a ’51 Chevy. It was a pile of junk – I think he did it mostly to irritate my dad. Anyway, my buddy and I hopped on a bus, excited about 500 miles of open road […]
Continue readingMore TagLeading Horses To Water
“What’s the secret to motivating students?” Parents wanted to know – and still do – how to get their kids to study harder, learn more, and perform better. My answer was never all that popular. External motivation doesn’t work. It’s science, backed by data and now by neuroscience and brain research. External motivation, punishments or […]
Continue readingMore TagThe Time For Justice Is…
Working on the FREEDOM TOUR gets me thinking a lot about urgency and justice. In an ancient story with modern applications, Paul and Silas were beaten and tossed into prison illegally. God intervened and used the opportunity to convert the jailer and his household. The following morning, officials try to get Paul and Silas to leave without […]
Continue readingMore TagHe’s Already There
Jesus wept. The bible’s shortest verse doesn’t describe a miracle. It’s not part of a sermon or a parable. His friend Lazarus died. Others grieved. Jesus wept. Tears weren’t really necessary, because Jesus knew Lazarus was about to rise. He knew the final result, knew there would soon be joy… and still, in the presence […]
Continue readingMore TagJust In Case We Forget
Once in a while I need to remember – maybe you do, too. On December 10, 1986, Elie Wiesel delivered one of the truly influential speeches in history. The occasion was his acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize. Wiesel looked back to himself as a small boy entering the Holocaust and asked, “Can this be true? […]
Continue readingMore TagWhat If FDR Was Wrong?
In his first inaugural address to a country mired in the depths of the Great Depression, FDR struck a note of optimism. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Nothing to be afraid of…except being afraid? I’m not so sure. Lots of fear these days, related to all sorts of issues. Much […]
Continue readingMore TagCliffs Notes
Two academics want to speed up baseball games. Steven Brams and Aaron Isaksen proposed a fairly radical rule change. They claim their idea, tested on 100,000 games over the last 50 years, would reduce the average game time by nearly 30 minutes and make games more competitive by limiting one-sided “blowout” affairs. I love baseball. […]
Continue readingMore Tag