Five things friday (assholes, athletes, and... books)

Welcome back to your weekly Five Things! Although, you're probably thinking more along the lines, "Welcome back to doing your JOB!" Yeah, sorry again for depriving you of all ... this. ;)

1. I've been digging Richard Beck's substack for awhile now, and the other day (7/17) he shared about Richard Sutton's book 'The No Asshole Rule: Building A Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't.' It's basically summed up in this sentence by Sutton: "The difference between how a person treats the powerless versus the powerful is as good a measure of human character as I know."
2. I was moved this week by Rustin Dodd's piece in The Athletic, 'Why Amanda Anisimova's Emotional Post-Match Interview Was A Masterclass in Handling Failure.' You can likely find the interview she gave after being humiliated in the Wimbledon women's final last week. It was actually Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson who coined it "a masterclass in failure." Which, ironically, is a good thing! As Edmondson says, "...we all could benefit from failing a lot more" (and handling it the way Anisimova did).
3. Another athlete story that both saddened and inspired me was this story of Fauja Singh. He became the oldest known person to run a full marathon in 2011 - at the age of 100. What inspired me, though, is that he didn't begin running until he was 89 years old! It was his way of dealing with depression and grief after his wife and son had died in close succession. Sadly, he died after being hit by a car (though not while running). He was 114.
4. And... I'm sure you've been wondering about my reading. I finally finished Jeff Galloway's 'Running Until You're 100.' It had some helpful tips, but was a bit of a challenge to read at times. I am now into 'Try Softer: A Fresh Approach to Move Us out of Anxiety, Stress, and Survival Mode - and into a Life of Connection and Joy' by Aundi Kolber. It's another book from our church and the "mental health awareness" project we're doing. So far it seems good.
5.  "We are still in a position of waking up and having a choice. Do I make the world better today somehow, or do I not bother?" - Tom Hanks

Okey doke, I feel better now that we're back on schedule. Although, I'm just waiting to get sick or something... because I have felt really good this week! My blood pressure yesterday was 118/71, 112/71, and 109/71 (I always check it 3 times in a row), my heart rate/rhythm/force has been super calm, and - I dunno - it just seems like things are "okay." It's a strange feeling for me... :)

Stories about jesus

I've been thinking about preaching more (maybe)... Gah!!!

First, I need to get better at it. Period. Speaking in front of people, minimizing nervous habits, etc.; but also what I talk about!

I want to talk/preach about Jesus.

I found this stuff from Fresh Expression on "How To Tell Stories About Jesus," and it looks interesting. Not that I need another bible, but I also went ahead and ordered their 'Jesus Stories book.' There wasn't a lot of info about it, and it was only $5, so we'll see.

In the above link they offer this guide to help tell stories about Jesus or that he told:

STEP 1: Let the story get inside you!

Choose a story. Start with a shorter one, such as “A Storm” as told by Mark (found in Jesus Stories, page 85) or “A Dying Girl and a Sick Woman” as told by Matthew (found in Jesus Stories page 19).

Later, try a longer one, such as “An Official who Refused to Forgive” as told by Matthew (found in Jesus Stories, pages 43–44). 

Read the story a few times silently and aloud. Ask others to read the story to you. Listen to them as they read it. Once you’ve read and heard the story a few times, ask and discuss the following questions:

• What do I like about this story? 
• What bothers me about this story? 
• What does it say about God? 
• What does it say about me and other people?
• What is one thing I can do to make this part of my life?
• What will I do with this story? Share it? Apply it? Spend more time with it?

STEP 2: Let the story affect you! 

Ask and discuss these questions to help you notice how the story of Jesus is affecting you:

• How does the story make me feel? 
• Is there conflict?
• Who is Jesus talking to? 
• Are there any characters I identify with? 
• Are there details that have particular meaning for me? for my community? for the world?
• What parts don’t I understand?
• Does this story make me want to change?
• Does this story make me think of someone to share it with?

STEP 3: Let the story flow out of you! 

• Practice telling your Jesus story to someone else.
• Be yourself! There’s no need to be dramatic when you tell the story. 
• Use these questions to help you learn to tell the story naturally without memorizing it:
• What aspect of the story do I want to highlight? 
• What details help make that point? 
• What details seem confusing or less helpful?
• How do I introduce the story to different people in different contexts—dinner tables, casual conversations, different events?
• Have I put the story in words that are understandable, accurate, and interesting?
• How will I help my listener want to tell the story to someone else?
• After you tell your story, describe the experience to a friend or small group. What happened!?
• If possible, invite new listeners to go through the questions in Steps 1 and 2. What new perspectives do they bring?

 

So, that's what I'm thinking about at the moment...

Who is jesus?

I was searching for something on my blog yesterday and stumbled across this gem of a quote from Len Sweet & Frank Viola's book Jesus Manifesto. In this post from 8/11/2010 is this (p.171):

"To say that He is our Savior and Lord is correct, of course, but it's inadequate. he is so much more. Christ is... your Shepherd, your Advocate, your Mediator, your Bridegroom, your Conqueror, your Lion, your Lamb, your sacrifice, your manna, your smitten Rock, your living water, your food, your drink, your good and abundant land, your dwelling place, your Sabbath, your new moon, your Jubilee, your new wine, your feast, your aroma, your anchor, your wisdom, your peace, your comfort, your Healer, your joy, your glory, your power, your strength, your wealth, your victory, your redemption, your Prophet, your Priest, your kinsman redeemer, your teacher, your guide, your liberator, your deliverer, your Prince, your Captain, your vision, your sight, your beloved, your way, your truth, your life, your author, your finisher, your beginning, your end, your age, your eternity -- your all and all./ He is the same yesterday, today, and forever; yet He is new every morning. But beyond all of this, He is your King, your judge, and the True Witness." 

I'd been looking for that - or something like it - while writing this most recent sermon. Naturally it presented itself just after. :) Anyway, it's still good, and I'm sure I can use it again someday.

A funny thing happened on my way here

Hope is a hot commodity these days. Everybody wants some...

But more importantly right now... How the heck are you?!? It seems like it's been forever!

Yeah, yeah... I know... It's my fault. I don't even know where to start. We were in Minnesota and Illinois for a little over a week, I was working on rewriting the same sermon into something different every day, it's been hot, I took a long running break - which kind of threw off everything else... You know, some stuff happened. But I still had you in the back of my mind all that time. :)

MINNESOTA

We went to Minnesota June 26-July 2 to help the boy and his wife and son move. They went from a rental house in Minneapolis into their first home-that-they-own (or, the bank, actually) in St. Paul. We drove up on a Thursday - in what turned out to be a 10-hour trip ending in torrential downpours the last couple hours - then rented a Uhaul and moved everything on Friday. From then until we left on Wednesday we 1) got 5 bookshelves and 2 heavy wooden wardrobes at Ikea and put those suckers together. Ugh. They have a lot of books and a king foam mattress all of which went up a tiny, steep staircase! It just about did the two of us in. 2) We also found a used electric mower on marketplace, they bought that, and I spent half of one day mowing over and over and over their lawn that was a little out of control. 3) Then we pretty much just put stuff away and played with the now 9-month-old grandson! Anyway, it was a nice time, and it's a super cute house in a really cozy neighborhood with sidewalks and close to stuff.

BUDA

Wednesday, July 2, we drove the six hours from St. Paul to my mom's house and stayed there until Friday. I did the usual work-around-the-house-and-yard while Jane went over to her brothers house and stayed with him a bit. We did go out to eat with my mom one night in the local watering hole and managed to see several people that we kinda-sorta knew, and several more that my mom was just sure we knew who they were (not). Anyway, we had a nice time but were glad to return home on the 4th of July. The cat was actually happy to see us too! Though the poor little thing was hoarse from meowing so much while we were gone. :(

CARDIOLOGIST

Somewhere along the line Jane has now acquired a cardiologist, and had a couple appointments. She complained to her doctor that her left arm went to sleep now and then, and kind of hurt sometimes. Also, she's had trouble getting back into running - losing her breath so easily. So he referred her to the cardiologist who recommended a CTA stress test with contrast (and something else at the same time but I can't recall the name of it). That test actually showed that her arteries are in good shape - other than there is apparently a 5-5-ish cyst in one of them. They believe that may have been there for some time, and don't think it's a problem, but they're having her do an 'exercise echocardiogram' on a treadmill just to see if that has something to do with the breathing problems. So that's been fun! :/

PREACHING

Oof... I preached at our church gathering this past Sunday. I'd kinda/sorta been preparing for it since late-January-ish... and that is WAY too long to prepare for a single message. Anyway, it went fine (meaning, no one was physically harmed during the process), but it was just one of those totally flat dead-air type days. The entire service just seemed 'off,' the air was unusually warm, and there just seemed a lack of energy about the place. But, whatever, ya know. However, I was reminded of this quote from Bruce Thielemann: "The pulpit calls those anointed to it as the sea calls its sailors. And like the sea it batters and bruises and does not rest. To preach, to really preach, is to die naked a little at a time, and to know each time you do it that you are going to have to do it again." Yep.

MUSIC

This past weekend was a good one for us musically. Summertime in the Fort means 'Rock the Plaza' for us. The local downtown library has free music (with food and drinks) every Saturday during the summer. The time-frame has shrunk considerably over the years (I think it's only 8 or 9 weeks this summer), but we've been doing it since at least 2009, and I believe it started a few years before that. Anyway, this past Saturday was a bit like old times. They had some of the older bands, and there was just a really good vibe in the air. The last of 4 groups was a mix of musicians forming an 8-piece jam band - which we like. They were grooving 'Into The Mystic' (the Van Morrison classic that I walked the daughter down the aisle to), and just as a tear was forming in my eye, the local minor league baseball team's end-of-game fireworks show started! It was a grand way to end the evening the day before I was to preach! Then, like that wasn't enough, Sunday night we had tickets to a concert at the phenomenal Sweetwater Performance Pavillion. The 7pm show started with Yasmin Williams solo, then The Wood Brothers just rocked the house, and ended with St. Paul and the Broken Bones!!! We didn't know it was going to be a 4-hour show, but it was pretty fun if I do say so myself. I was really impressed with The Wood Brothers (our first time seeing them), and especially their drummer who also plays keyboards WHILE drumming! The Broken Bones have blown us away both times we've seen them. It was a fun weekend musically all the way around.

RUNNING

Yeah, so, I haven't really run since the end of May (I think). I've been riding the bike, if anything, and recently started walking more. Last week I did a run/walk thing one day, and again today. I've been nursing my sore left ankle hoping it's not achilles related, and I hope it's on the mend. We'll see. I need to start back into it if I'm going to do another half or four this fall, but the big challenge will be to not start back to fast or hard.

 

So, I guess that's where we're at. I need to get back into this habit - among a couple others - as well. I'll try to do better. 

I hope you've been well! Talk to you later!

Jane to florida

 The lovely lady has returned from a weekend jaunt to Clearwater, FL with our daughter. It was our gift to her for her big 40TH BIRTHDAY!!! They flew down Friday morning and flew back yesterday early morning. I think they had a nice relaxing time. 

I don’t know the name of the hotel where they stayed but apparently it had a decent restaurant in it, a nice pool along the shore, and she said the room was fine. There was no sandy beach right in front of the hotel, but they could walk to a beach with chairs and umbrellas, and the one day they drove about 5 minutes to a quieter beach area. I guess it did rain a bit each afternoon, but they were happy enough overall. 

I am currently writing this on the iPad from the waiting area at an eye surgery center in downtown Fort Wayne. A friend called yesterday afternoon and asked if I could accompany him. He’s having cataract surgery and needs someone to bring him, stay for the 3-5 hour procedure, and take him home. 

I appreciated that he felt comfortable calling me, and that I was able to do it. I’d actually done this for a parishioner when I was pastoring, and it made me feel like I was doing that again for a few hours. 

This place though… It’s an old building, and the waiting area is old and cramped… and you can hear EVERYTHING going on - from the nurses and doctors talking to each other, to patient/provider conversations. It’s a bit weird. 

Now I’m going to see if I can find a bathroom somewhere. 

Five things friday

Here we are, all the way around to another Friday. I am bachin' it this weekend as the wife is gallivanting around with the daughter on some southern beach. After dropping them at the airport I did a 20-mile bike ride (still trying to rest my ankle). It's crazy just how fast I can get out of the running habit. Anyways... here's 5 other things on my mind:

1. I'm not sure what made me think this, but is it possible that Caitlyn Clark has become a female version of don trump? I mean, I have nothing against her personally, but she certainly has created a stir - with quite the loyal following - especially in mostly white, rural communities. I am not up on the WNBA or women's basketball in general, but she seems to be somewhat of a polarizing figure. I wonder...
2. Speaking of polarizing figures...  I saw a statistic that said 63% of US Americans identify as Christian, but according to this Barna study, the percentage of Americans actively following Jesus with a Christian worldview is more like 4%. I'd have guessed that was shockingly true enough, but then I went to the link and saw it was from 2003!!! Well, geez, that's like a million years ago! So I wonder how different it might be today? I'd guess the 63% might be higher, and the 4 might be lower. However, the markers used to determine both may be completely different from in 2003. I dunno, but it's interesting.
3. Okay, here's something a little less serious, but maybe even more important (although... I dunno): This WSJ article apparently tells how to delete your personal data from an old computer. I'ma gonna need that, probably sooner than later... 
4. I'm sure this is less serious and less important: My reading list. I've been trying to wade through Jeff Galloway's 'Running Until You're 100'. It's... uh... not the easiest read. Plus it seems like a lot of "Read my book about *this* to understand what I mean." I guess there are some helpful tidbits, but it's been a little disappointing. On deck is 'Try Softer' by Aundi Kolber. It's a book our church got as part of our mental health grant. I also bought 'What I Talk About When I Talk About Running' by Haruki Murakami... because I've always wanted to read it!  
5. "We really never do anybody much good unless we share the deepest experiences of our souls." - Frank Laubach

Welp, time to get my ice bucket ready for ankle soaking, do some more work on the sermon, and if all goes well, maybe take an afternoon nap.

Peace!

Stress test (jane)

Jane had a CT Coronary Angiogram (w/contrast) and a CT Coronary Calcium Scan done this morning (I think that's what they're called). Both were done at the same time at the new IU Medical facility just minutes from our home. We arrived at 10:45am, and were on our way back home by 11:35am - so, we were there less than an hour.

The reason for the procedure was because she saw her doctor about some discomfort, and given a family history of heart issues he recommended she see a cardiologist, who then recommended doing this just to see what was going on. 

She couldn't have caffeine the morning of the test (though she was able to have a piece of toast right when she got up), and they gave her a pill to slow her heart rate before arriving (apparently they want to take the images between heart beats, so slower heart beats allow for better pics).  

It didn't take long to do. They had her put a gown top on, put an IV in her arm, then get on the scan table. When they send the dye through it makes you really warm (and kinda feels like peeing your pants), but it only lasts like a minute. They also had her take a nitroglycerin tablet to open up the passageways (which doesn't taste great, and may give you a slight headache). That was it.

She has a follow-up cardiologist appointment in like 3 weeks, and hopefully she will get the results of the test before then (maybe next week). 

Otherwise... it's Wednesday; and I got caught in a total downpour on my bike ride this morning before taking her to the doctor.

No kings

I am not entirely opposed to kings. A number of countries operate as such, and I don't know that it makes them good or bad. I am, however, opposed to the trump administration and all things currently republican in the supposed USA. THAT is why I participated in our local "No Kings" protest this past Saturday.

The weather was not great - overcast, rainy skies - but it actually may have made it that much more of a spectacle in that SO MANY PEOPLE still came out!!! 

Fort Wayne's event was from 2-4 PM on Saturday, June 14. We headed downtown right around 2 and noticed right away an increase in traffic. We decided to park at the library several blocks away and several other carloads of people had the same idea at the same time. 

Immediately you could hear the noise. I couldn't tell what it was at first, but as we got closer it turned out to be cars honking, people screaming, singing, cheering and just the sheer number of human voices gathered in one place! It was crazy!! ... It was beautiful.

Yes, I got teary-eyed several times.

I heard a rumor that Fort Wayne's crowd covered 10 blocks of downtown, not to mention the congestion of cars driving around blaring their horns. Someone estimated maybe 10,000 people but I have seen no confirmation of that. I'd be happy with half that. I've also never heard a definitive national number: somewhere between 5 million and 13 million. That's a lot of people.

I honestly don't know what the point, or intended outcome, of the event is/was, but it was hard not to feel a level of enthusiasm in the air like I've not experienced in some time. Maybe it was just finding out we are not alone in how we feel. Sometimes that's all it takes. Sometimes that's what it takes for something more to happen too! 

As a friend of mine said:
"Most days I think, "How can people be okay with this" (the onslaught of lies, evil, propaganda day after day after day)? Today I realized that they aren't. Sure, some people are, but it was shocking just how many folks were carving out space to make their voices heard. Even if those words fall on the deaf ears of billionaire grifters, it turns out we needed a moment to hear each other..."

We saw a number of people we knew and faces we recognized; there were a lot of younger people, but it was mostly old folks - even older than us; we did not see a single police officer anywhere (though I'm sure they were lurking about); it was mostly like a great big party with a lot of laughing, smiling, singing, and even some dancing. :) 

What I simply don't understand are the people I've heard since then who complained that it was somehow anti-military or anti-American. Like... what?!? That's one of the things that yanks my chain the most: this idea that anyone who doesn't support trump, or isn't a republican, is somehow anti-American. Since when has that been a thing? Well, I think since trump's first run it has for sure. And I don't think he's smart enough to come up with any of this stuff on his own. He's a puppet, and the puppeteer purposely hides away. Oof... Anyway...

Yeah... for a couple of hours it felt pretty good. I felt a little bit of hope. I don't expect the current anti-Christ administration to change anything because of it, but it was nice that it changed my mindset for awhile, and maybe over time it can change some other people's too. We will see.

EP doctor visit

I had my scheduled 6-month exam with the Electrophysiologist today. It began with a weight measurement (162), 12-lead EKG, and BP reading.

The BP was 180/90, which is what it was when I checked it before leaving the house. I "think" I'd just freaked myself out due to nervousness about this visit (and I have no idea why I was so anxious). Of course, the more I tried to calm down, the worse it got. Anyway, the doctor checked it after we talked awhile and it was down to 160/82, so he was satisfied. I also showed him my regular checks from home, which are usually in the 120-ish/70-ish range.

All told, he was happy with things. I'm still having erratic heart rate "episodes" of some kind every 1-2 months, but with the Kardia mobile device I am able to text those readings to him and he is good to follow-up. Most episodes only last a few hours, with occasional longer ones. None have yet gone past 24 hours.

He said these are not damaging or endangering my life in any way, but merely present a "quality of life" issue. He suggested maintaining the current course of treatment (diltiazem, apibaxin, lisinopril, and rosuvastatin), and if I would ever start to experience pain or the episodes got to be every 1-2 weeks or 1-2 days, he would suggest a second ablation (rather than additional medications). He said said he would do a pulsed field ablation if we need to do another, and he is currently the only one doing them in Fort Wayne. They are apparently much less invasive and are showing good signs.

Also, he said I have GRADUATED to annual visits instead of 6 months! I am to watch my hydration levels, electrolyte balance, medication therapy, and keep him updated with any odd Kardia readings. If at any time I'd like to do the second oblation I can just text him or call the office.

I guess that's good!

Five things friday

 I know. I had good intentions of blogging several times this week... Yada yada. Anyway...

1. I did take the week off from running due to my bum ankle. Instead I rode my bike Monday, Wednesday and today. I also continued to ice, soak in epsom salts, and wore a compression sock as much as I could stand it. The swelling has gone down some, and it doesn't hurt like it did, but I definitely needed a break from running. The ankle was feeling pretty good until last night when I played basketball with the grandson. Dangit! Of course, the 23-mile bike ride today didn't help. I may take another week off from running (at least).
2. I finally started the actual writing of a sermon this week. I've sort of been preparing for it since February, and I don't deliver it until mid-July. I probably over-prepared though, which then made the act of writing that first sentence that much more difficult. I read several books, consulted several others, plus various substack posts and other items of information. I'm putting way more work into than it warrants, but, you know, that's how it goes. I'd say the hardest parts for me are: just getting started, and then putting the final touches on once I've got the basics down.
3. I read today where, between 2020 and 2024, the median price for a starter home rose 44%, from $169K to $287K. Did you catch that: a STARTER HOME!!! Oh, but let's occupy our news/politics/mindless airspace with the nut-job in the white house! The article doesn't mention it, but I still say private equity is to blame (or whatever the proper term for it is -- corporate "something"). Grr.
4. I saw the picture at the top of the page in the June 6, 2025 Renovaré newsletter It's from Fan Pu and is called "Happy Jesus" (I LOVE it!). This is the little write-up they had with it: "Christ’s Incarnation is unrepeatable, unique. But it was the Trinity’s good plan that the physical body of Jesus would leave this earth, and that his people would become the dwelling place for his Spirit. Fan Pu’s image reflects the incarnational reality that we are Christ’s body—the habitation for his Spirit on earth. Is our fellowship of such a character and unity that we are a “happy” expression of Christ’s body to the world? My friends, we cannot bear the image of Christ alone. Each person is one expression of God’s creativity, one unique package of personality, gifts, and beloved personhood. But the expression of God’s reality as a loving communion only comes into focus and into power as we love each other and join in worship, submission, growth, service, and friendship. A body’s strength and beauty comes from the diversity of its parts." 
5. "Simplify, then add lightness." (This guiding principle for high performance is from engineer and inventor Colin Chapman - h/t to James Clear - and is how I want to do the final edit on all my sermons from now on!)

Okey doke. I've been soaking my left foot in a bucket of ice water while writing this. Time to warm it up a bit with my afternoon tea, and maybe a nap. 

Find some peace (and joy) this weekend. However you can.

Lost all sense of morality, security, and innocence

As promised... Here are a few shareables from the beginning of 'A Non-Anxious Presence' by Mark Sayers...

In the introduction he opens with this quote from Hermann Hesse:

"There are times when a whole generation gets caught to such an extent between two eras, the styles of life, that nothing comes naturally to it since it has lost all sense of morality, security, and innocence."

Man, does that not describe where we are right now (at least in the United States, but also largely the world)? I guess the good news - if you can call it that - is that this isn't the first time we've been here...

Chapter 1 talks about the end of an era. As he says on p. 21, "When reframed, the phase that feels like destruction, mayhem, and death is the moment just before birth... We are moving into our in-between moment, in which the usual rules do not apply..." (and this creates anxiety) 

One example of changing eras is: War used to be fought almost solely on a kinetic level (shooting and blowing up the enemy). Now there are so many other forms of war: cyber, information, legal, criminal, psychological, economic, etc. 

His point in this section is that we have not yet entered a new era; instead we have entered an in-between phase, a "gray zone." The Gray Zone is the overlap period between two eras.

So, our challenge now as christians (and he is more specifically focusing on leaders) is to follow an unchanging God, who is advancing His kingdom in this gray zone moment. This is where we currently live... morality, security, and innocence seem like things of the past. But are they???

As noted in chapter 2 (30), "...what may look like decline, loss, or even obliteration can be revival's launching pad."

(31) "There is a longing among God's people to see His church live out its potential." ... "When viewed through a biblical lens, gray zones often precede renewal and rebirth."

In chapter 3 Sayers covers a previous era which contained what historian Tom Standage labeled the 'Victorian Internet.' Standage said this new wave of information supplied by the ... TELEGRAPH... "was like a drug to businessmen, who swiftly became addicted." And, like all drugs, there was a powerful side effect -- anxiety. (remind you of anything today?)

This section was pretty enlightening to me about the history of the world as we know it - and the role of information processing, the introduction of the middle class, and as Sayers says, the role "comfortable, prosperous, and stable times" played in creating not only anxious people, but a culture of anxiety.

So, this was a brief overview of section one. The next section of the book addresses how secular society attempted to remake the world during those tumultuous times...

A non-anxious presence

Starting out I thought Michael Sayers's book A Non-Anxious Presence: How A Changing and Complex World Will Create a Remnant of Renewed Christian Leaders was going to be The Answer everyone needed to be able to navigate this chaotic "gray zone" we now find ourselves in (as we make our way into a new era of some kind). Unfortunately, as with most books/authors/podcasts/studies etc... it fizzled somewhat at the end.

Still, I found this to be a phenomenal resource. Sayers explains the history behind "how we got here" very, very well (so good). Where I felt it lacked was in exactly HOW to be a non-anxious presence. But, it was good; and, at just under 200 pages, a quick and worthwhile read.

Here is the table of contents:

PART 1. THE GRAY ZONE: IN BETWEEN ERAS

Chapter 1: The End of an Era

Chapter 2: Rebirth

Chapter 3: The Victorian Internet

PART II. AN ANXIOUS WORLD: FROM STRONGHOLD TO NETWORK

Chapter 4: Life and Leadership on Secular Autopilot

Chapter 5: The American Century

Chapter 6: Birth of a Networked Age

PART III. LEADING IN THE GRAY ZONE: THE WAYS OF THE WILDERNESS

Chapter 7: A Non-Anxious Presence in an Anxious Age

Chapter 8: From the Gray Zone to the Comfort Zone

Chapter 9: Leading from the Comfort Zone

Chapter 10: From Efficiency to Adaption

Chapter 11: The Anxious Frontier

Chapter 12: Gaining a Heavenly Orientation

Chapter 13: Hidden Kingdom Power Laws

Chapter 14: Pressure and the Presence

 There were plenty of good stories, highlights, and things I want to save, so hopefully I will be sharing some snippets here in the days to come.

Make no mistake, I still recommend this book. I was kinda just expecting a little more clarity at the end. :)

Five things friday

I am fresh off a lunch meeting at one of the new Duckpin Bowling establishments in town (Ducky's). It was... a place. But more important than that... here are my five things you've been waiting all week for!!

1. Boy, oh, boy... I started reading 'A Non-Anxious Presence: How a Changing and Complex World will Create a Remnant of Renewed Christian Leaders' by Mark Sayers this week. Wowza. It was written during the Covid shutdown, so things have grown even worse in the world, but this is a pretty powerful little book as far as understanding how we got here. I still have a few chapters yet to go and can't wait to get to them.
2. I liked this article about how football coach Chris Petersen apparently reset Sean McVay's coaching career (and maybe life); and especially liked this quote from Chris: “The arena can squeeze you and narrow you so quickly to certainly a lesser version — or the worst version — of yourself extremely easily... You have to have a plan. You have to be almost counter-culture. Like, you have to work against everything society is telling you and rewarding you for.”
3. I've been reading Richard Beck's substack series on Free Will and Predestination. This first one was really helpful (as are most of his writings). 
4. I also like Chuck DeGroat's substack writings. Particularly this short piece on Authenticity, which he says is "...the slow remembering of who you were before the world named you too much or not enough."
5. I've already shared a couple quotes, so here's one in the form of a meme I stole from someone who stole it from someone else: 
   
   
   

Alrighty... now it's time to get the grandson who needs a ride to his basketball practice. In the meantime, let's all wonder what we're really being distracted from while this trump-musk twitterspat is clogging the news!

Peace

Mission… air purification

 Last night we took in the new Mission Impossible movie in the theater. It may have been more because we had a hankerin’ for movie-theater popcorn for supper, but still… It was an okay movie. I gotta say, though, parts of it were a little unrealistic (he he). Reality, however, slapped us in the face when the alarm went off this morning after staying out past 11 on a weeknight!

My mission today was to get an AIR PURIFIER. The daughter has been a believer for some time, and I’ve lately been warming to the idea. I’ve looked at a number online, but after working out today I stopped at Menards and decided to just get one in store (stickin’ it to Amazon). I purchased this Vornado AC350 for $109 (plus a rebate). It has decent reviews and apparently the major knock is lack of smart-phone control. That was almost enough reason for me to get it right there! 

Set-up was nothing more than plugging it in, and filter changes seem easy enough as well. So far, so good!

Five things friday

I'll be darned if I didn't forget about a FTF last week. I'm probably going to lose all two of my readers! Sorry 'bout that.

1. My running has actually been going quite well lately. My legs feel great, no aches or pains, but... the other day I noticed my left ankle was swollen. It doesn't hurt (other than a twinge now and then), but it's almost as big as all those sprained ankles I used to get playing football. So I've been icing it and soaking in epsom salts to see if I can get it to go away on my own. You'd have never known while I was cruising 13 miles this morning!
2. NBA basketball. What do you think? I gave up watching regular season games a long time ago. Still, I can find myself getting caught up in playoffs and the finals. But, geez... Is it real, or is it nothing more than professional wrestling? I mean, the officiating is so poor that it either has to be rigged... or... it's America. [Can anything good come out of America?]
3. Have you heard... According to the National Restaurant Association’s 2025 report, 75% of restaurant traffic is now takeout (link). The article lists some reasons, but I think there may be more to the story. Like, what about staffing problems, customer dissatisfaction with in-person-dining service, and people just generally being fed up with being around other people! I think someone should look into those reasons. Oh, and the fact that there aren't really any "fast food" establishments anymore. Might as well get take-out at a decent restaurant since it's going to cost about the same and take as long...
4. I have no desire to live a long time (hopefully just as long as m'Lady does), but I did read this Doctor's Science-Backed Formula for Aging Better article with interest. It is nice to be fairly healthy.
5. "I learned not to measure the value of a day by how much I got done." - Carolyn Arends on what she discovered during her sabbatical (I'm trying to learn this) 

Oddly enough, I felt like I had a productive week. I can't really tell you anything I accomplished... but I feel pretty okay. Which is actually saying something in this day and age given the amount of discouraging and disorienting news (unless your an unhinged maga nut). Maybe finishing Jesus Changes Everything by Stanley Hauerwas has something to do with that. I don't know, but I'm not complaining.

Here's to a peaceful weekend!