As long as we’re talking about leaders – with reference to Benjamin Zander’s stunning TEDTalk – let’s not forget followers. Zander didn’t; that’s why he clapped for the people listening to him play. Nor does Mark – as in the Evangelist Mark...
Mark 1:16-20
posted by DJL
As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther,...
Music, Passion, and Leadership
posted by DJL
There are so many things I love about this TEDTalk by Benjamin Zander that it’s hard to list them all. He’s incredibly passionate, and funny, and warm, and engaging. That will be obvious within about two minutes. He’s talking about music – and he does that very effectively – but he’s also talking about so much more. If I were to boil it down, I think he’s talking about what it means to be a leader and, perhaps most expansively, about what it means to be human. There’s a ton here. It’s another video I often use in class and have seen numerous times and still learn something new each time. But since I can’t cover...
Mark 1:14-15
posted by DJL
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” There’s danger in the air. John has just been arrested. We had no indication ahead of...
Real Community
posted by DJL
One more thing from Brene Brown. This time, not a video, but two recent posts from her blog. In the first she describes a recent experience she had writing for USA Today and the affect of unfiltered comments, some of which were incredibly insulting. As she writes: Ironically, the essay is...
Mark 1:12-13
posted by DJL
And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Identity comes before mission. It’s hard, that is, to do much of anything lasting or significant – and...
Abundant Life: Behin...
posted by DJL
This week I wrote a column on preaching that I don’t think should be particularly risky but that I know is. It’s about when Jesus says that he comes that we might have not just life, but abundant life. Why should it not be risky? Because it’s about God’s love. So how controversial can...
Mark 1:9-11
posted by DJL
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well...
Easter 3
posted by DJL
Dear Lord, You have called us to be witnesses. You who hold the cosmos in your hand are the One who has called us. Let us heed your voice. You have called us to be witnesses. This is not some future event but a done deed. Let us heed your voice. You have called us to be witnesses. You have not...
Recipe for a Hippopotamus Sandwich: A Poem for Sat...
posted by DJL
Can I just say that in case we are ever tempted to think poetry has to be dry, or serious, or difficult, or intense, or intellectual, or any of the other stuff that usually puts us non-poetry folks off poetry before we actually read any…. Can I just say thank God for Shel Silverstein? Author of The Giving Tree and so many other stories and poems for children and adults, Silverstein reminds us that poetry, at its best, takes a definite number of words and uses them to remind us of the infinite possibilities inherent in language, imagination, and life. Note here – how can you miss it; that’s part of the joke – how Silverstein tries to...
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