A friend said last week that you don’t need to put a sign in front of an apple tree to know it’s an apple tree. You know it’s an apple tree because it produces apples. We have crosses on our FREEDOM TOUR jerseys. They’re a symbol, a proclamation about who we represent. But my friend’s […]
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Bought? Or Sold?
When kids are enslaved in brothels, are they bought…or are they sold? To me, it’s a curious question. Without demand this entire sordid business couldn’t flourish as it does. In that sense children are bought like any other commodity in any other marketplace. But on the other side of the equation, marketers work to supply […]
Continue readingMore TagWho Cares?
I’m grateful for people who care. It’s a lot easier to not care, to look away, to pretend the needs aren’t there. Not caring lets us off the hook. We don’t have to do anything. Caring means a chance to be involved and make a difference, a chance to contribute. I’m grateful for you because […]
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Wants And Culture
Someone suggested an interesting exercise. First, make a list of what you really want. Next, make a check next to the items obviously generated by cultural norms. Finally, mark the items that represent actual needs. How much of what we want actually flows from our cultural ideas? How often do we let the culture turn […]
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Sod Or Seed?
In the “old days” yards were planted with seed. Scatter the seed, water it, wait a while, and grass grows. But we, of course, are impatient. So we use sod. Instant yards. Dirt in the morning, grass by nightfall. It’s a pretty good metaphor for the way we deal with a lot of processes. Jesus […]
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Wrecking A Classroom
Isaac Newton invented calculus in isolation. Newton was a student at Cambridge University in 1665 when students were sent home in fear of bubonic plague. Studying privately, Newton developed the basic ideas of calculus…as well as gravitational theory and optics. Most of us are not Isaac Newton. Perhaps the most powerful lesson I learned in […]
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Context
It’s been a while…last time we talked a little about sharing our experience with others. I remember my first college calculus class like it happened yesterday. I can see Dr. Cornett in front of the lecture hall, and I still remember what he explained that day. He didn’t begin with a bunch of problems or […]
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Experience
My friend John Swanson wrote an interesting blog about experience. My takeaway: If you do something for a while, you might get good at it. And if you’re good at it, then it might be a gift you can share with others. I spent 35 years in classrooms with students. Recently I’ve had a chance […]
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Notes
“Notes don’t lead to learning.” It was a common statement in my classroom. I encouraged students to take notes, the more the better, but I always tried to be clear that notes and summaries don’t create learning. Only one thing creates learning – choosing to do the hard work of understanding. And that doesn’t happen […]
Continue readingMore TagJobs Or Roles
We recently hired a local company for a small home improvement project. The two guys who did the job were remarkable. My construction experience helps me recognize people who care about their work. These guys weren’t just doing a job. Everything about their approach told you they took pride in both the process and the […]
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More About Foundations
THE FREEDOM TOUR isn’t about fundraising. That statement might surprise you since we support a group of kids rescued from human trafficking. Obviously, that support requires money. But when I ask you to join us, I hope it’s not a fundraising appeal. I hope it’s an invitation to follow Jesus’ call to seek justice for […]
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What’s It Built On?
My friend Rob talked about foundations last weekend. His church recently completed a new building. Rob described his frustration with the foundation phase of the construction process. So much time, effort, and money spent on a part of the building no one will ever see. Rob spoke about Jesus’ parable of the wise and foolish […]
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