Cramming New Thinking Into Our Old Ways

May 1, 2026

Rich Dixon thought about Jesus’ metaphor of pouring new wine into old wineskins.

Of course, we have no clue what Jesus was picturing. What the heck is a wineskin? You mean they were allowed to drink wine back then?

Rich transformed the thinking from first to twenty-first century language.

It’s tempting to cram Jesus’ teaching into our old ways of thinking.

For a math teacher, I think he nailed it.

Can we think of times someone has tried to persuade us that their old way of thinking actually reflected what Jesus taught? I hope we haven’t fallen victim to reinterpreting Jesus to suit our own politics or prejudices. That would be a huge loss.

Posted in Attitude, Thinking, Wisdom | Leave a Comment »

Spiritual Fitness Routine

April 30, 2026

Computer science professor Cal Newport writes on the intersection of technology and life. His latest thinking involves reducing the distraction of smart phones and digging behind the hype of AI.

He synthesized some research recently on his podcast regarding cognitive fitness. I think these easily fit within a spiritual disciplines or practices framework.

Newport suggests five routines that promote cognitive fitness:

  • Read—delve into progressively more difficult texts over time if you have not been reading
  • Write—journal or keep a notebook of thoughts, ideas, experiences; write the newsletter for your organization; writing requires thinking and motor skills
  • Take “Thinking” Walks—get outside for a period of time each day, no phone, perhaps take a problem you’re working on or a concern to ponder, write insights achieved
  • Plug in your phone—when home, plug your phone in the kitchen or foyer, go to it when you need to look up something, also delete distractive apps
  • Learn a hard skill—guitar, violin, knitting, carpentry, something where you can see progress as you practice

These are great ideas. Transforming these to assist our spiritual development takes but a small step.

  • Read spiritual texts from the Bible to respected authors (e.g. Merton, Nouwen, the Desert Fathers, and the like)
  • Write a journal or daily reflections, a newsletter or blog
  • Take meditative or prayerful walks (with eyes open!)
  • Plug in your phone (see above), remove distractions from your life
  • Practice service and kindness (for many of us, this is a hard skill) or perhaps a musical instrument to contribute to gatherings

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Law of Unintended Consequences

April 29, 2026

I devoted a portion of my university years studying international politics. I learned a sensitivity toward people in countries other than the US and even Western Europe. The study of the history of international actions taught me about the Law of Unintended Consequences.

It also taught me to consider alternative trains of thought.

For example, consider what we call the Golden Rule. No, I don’t mean “he who has the gold makes the rules.” I have met people who honor that one. I am thinking about “do unto others as you would like them to do unto you.”

I always adopted the meaning of doing good for other people.

Three sources in my reading last week all pointed to a nefarious side of this rule.

“Do unto others as you would like them to do unto you…so that, they will reciprocate and give you something.”

Gotta say, I am so naive that I never considered the use of the rule for manipulation.

I try to avoid being the object of manipulation. I think of it every time I open Facebook or LinkedIn (the only social media I use). These are engaged in a constant battle to manipulate us. Enter at your own risk.

I will continue to try to live by the Golden Rule. And, I guess that as I become aware of someone trying to manipulate me, I’ll decide my response from there.

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Walking Hand-in-Hand

April 28, 2026

The shuffling elderly man walked the narrow aisle of the airplane hand-in-hand with his struggling wife. He guided her through the door and down the jetbridge to the terminal.

I thought of another image of walking hand-in-hand—that of two persons faith and doubt. Faith is not certainty. Who needs faith for that? Faith is living with doubt. And triumphing over it.

Like the man who hoped Jesus would heal his daughter—I believe, help me in my unbelief!

We walk hand-in-hand—my faith and my doubt.

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Beyond Mere Learning

April 27, 2026

I have always been a person of great curiosity. Science, technology, philosophy, literature—I’ve delved into all.

I evolved my approach to leading Bible studies over the 35 years from asking what did they mean to what does it mean—to us.

Intellectual curiosity can be pleasurable. More important is how we incorporate the teaching into our lives. I think that’s what Jesus meant when he invited us to live in the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Stoic philosopher Epictetus noted something similar when he wrote, “Philosophers advise us not to be contented with mere learning, but to add meditation likewise, and then practice. If, therefore, we do not likewise put into practice right opinions, we shall be nothing more than expositors of the abstract doctrines of others.”

I think of people I have known who can quote a hundred Bible verses, yet, whose lives, actions, words, belie any real knowledge of the Spirit of the words.

Don’t be a know-it-all. Be like Jesus living in the Kingdom of Heaven now.

Posted in Learning, Living | Leave a Comment »

What We Observe

April 24, 2026

Author Esther Hicks on where to look: “If all you did was look for things to appreciate, you would live a joyously spectacular life.”

Posted in Attention, Attitude | Leave a Comment »

Three Rules for Life

April 23, 2026

Coach Lou Holtz offers 3 rules: “I follow three rules: Do the right thing, do the best you can, and always show people you care.”

Posted in Attitude, Disciplines | Leave a Comment »

Repetition Builds Consistency

April 22, 2026

A truly ingrained habit forms not through motivation, but through consistency, through repeating actions until they become automatic. Through repetition. Don’t wait for motivation (he says as he’s waiting to get motivated to practice the guitar).

Because what you repeat becomes who you are.

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Crucial Question to Ask of Yourself

April 21, 2026

If you want to activate more happiness in your life, ask yourself: Who am I helping grow? 

Posted in Attitude | Leave a Comment »

Freedom To Focus

April 20, 2026

My last post considered what we really need to know. Is our attention captured by corporate interests seeking to keep us on their web site or TV station?

And yet… many people have learned to shift the stories they rehearse. 

The first step: change the external focus. Change the people we interact with, the media we consume, the attention we offer. Not all at once, but as a habit, a persistent practice of being mindful about the triggers and amplifiers we consume. 

If you’re not happy with what your attention is bringing you, you can change it. 

Aristotle said that we become what we do, but before we do, we focus. And the freedom and responsibility of that focus belong to us

Posted in choosing, focus | Leave a Comment »

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