Do We Really Need To Know?

April 17, 2026

Most of the time this blog traces elements of spiritual formation or pieces of wisdom that I cull from my reading and thinking.

Sometimes I come across thinking about current events that troubles me. These are things I’d like to pass on as thought experiments for you. Or perhaps bring to realization something you just pass by.

One reason I quit watching TV news decades ago, aside from an acute dislike of emotional manipulation, was the answer to this question—Do I really need to know that?

I love Om Malik’s perspective and thinking. He just wrote about some recent news about the founder of Bitcoin in Banksy, Satoshi & The Unmasking Impulse.

First Banksy and then Satoshi. Something about their unmasking is not sitting right with me. I am bothered by it. I am annoyed by it. And even more annoyed with myself because as a former journalist I should understand, but I don’t. I am referring to Reuters’s meticulous investigation and unmasking of Banksy, and John Carreyrou’s in-depth report labeling Adam Back as Satoshi, the creator of Bitcoin.

Both investigations are technically impressive. Both raised the same question I keep turning over: what exactly was accomplished here, and for whom?

The journalist gets a career-defining scoop. The subject loses something they can never recover. Anonymity, once broken, doesn’t come back. There’s no correction that restores it.

Aside from the ego of the reporter, was any good derived from this? How much do we see or read that really adds to the quality of my life?

There are things and events that I really do need to know about. That makes news media such a conundrum. In electrical engineering we discuss finding the signal amidst the noise. That is the problem. I need the signal. But finding it amongst all the noise is distressing.

I try to provide maximum signal with minimum noise. I hope I generally succeed.

Posted in Attention | 1 Comment »

Who or What Controls Your Mind?

April 16, 2026

If someone came up behind you and pinned your arms back, you would fight for your freedom.

Why do we not do the same to those who try to control our minds?

  • Algorithm-defined social media feeds
  • Conspiracy theories
  • Lies and misrepresentations online
  • Organizations telling you their way is the only way
  • Mindless TV and streaming

 Be aware!

Enter email address on the right and click follow to receive updates via email. I will never spam you. I’m not in that business! Thank you.

Posted in Awareness, Freedom | Leave a Comment »

Then What?

April 15, 2026

The thesis topic I preferred in grad school was based on a book by Isaiah Berlin on Freedom. He discussed two types of freedom—freedom from and freedom to.

Many Americans focus on freedom from. They don’t want laws, rules, regulations. These may be from government or from religions. Just leave me alone to do what I want, they proclaim.

The concept of freedom to points to the freedom to create, to pursue the profession I’d like, to live my life.

The question pertinent to both of these ideas is Then What?

The philosopher Erich Fromm observed in the 1930s that many in western Europe had achieved this freedom from constraints. But then they didn’t know what to do with that freedom. Authoritarian political leaders leapt in to fill that void offering something to do with that void. Hate, anger toward those not like them, anger toward the rich, blame those of different faiths or cultures.

Sound familiar?

I think the apostle Paul struggled to explain this phenomenon. One of his earlier letters, that to the Jesus-followers in Galatia, tried to explain this new freedom given to us by Jesus’ resurrection. How we are now free from the rigid rules of the Hebrew scriptures and the overbearing judgements of the Pharisees. 

He struggled with how to explain how we live with this new freedom. With the Then What?

He found a clear answer in the letter he wrote to the Roman group of Jesus Followers. After going through phases of spiritual formation, he explained the grace of God. Then in chapters 12-15 he answered Then What?

  • Living sacrifice
  • Genuine love
  • Hate evil
  • Love one another
  • Subject to authorities
  • Love your neighbor
  • Don’t judge
  • Don’t make another stumble
  • Please others before yourself

These actually illuminate Jesus’ instructions, yes, even commands, to love one another as he loved us.

These ideas illustrate how we live in grace. We are not left to drift wondering how to fill our days making us prey to every articulate charlatan that comes along.

What is your Then What?

[The faculty closed the graduate program I was in before I got as far as the thesis. I was accepted into another program, but I now had a wife, two kids, and a job. I lost interest in credentials. I may still write that thesis for the fun of it.]

Enter email address on the right and click follow to receive updates via email. I will never spam you. I’m not in that business! Thank you.

Posted in Freedom, Grace | Leave a Comment »

Creating Value

April 14, 2026

I receive great value from the wisdom and generosity of  Seth Godin. He thought out a progression of business value. As you create products and companies and churches and organizations and personal value, consider this deeply and seriously—Create value by connecting people.

I seem to do this all the time on my business side. Perhaps we need to do more of this on the faith side?

Enter email address on the right and click follow to receive updates via email. I will never spam you. I’m not in that business! Thank you.

Posted in Evangelism, Mission | Leave a Comment »

Creating Community

April 13, 2026

The most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.   Kurt Vonnegut 

The plight of American Christian churches has been on my mind. Even the megachurches seem to be losing members. I’ve read where younger adults these days are craving a formal service rather than the Boomer-dominated rock music entertainment. I don’t know if that’s true.

What I suspect is that people want less of being told what to do and what to think and more of community.

It’s a daring thing to create community. I’ve not seen much of it in megachurches. But also not always in small ones. 

Who is daring enough to create community where you are? Wouldn’t that be better than expecting to walk into the middle of one? Do you blame others? Do you create? How does one create? The first step? Being open? 

Gosh, it’s nice creating questions rather than answers 😉

Enter email address on the right and click follow to receive updates via email. I will never spam you. I’m not in that business! Thank you.

Posted in Leadership, Relationship | Leave a Comment »

Energy–Givers and Takers

April 10, 2026

Have you finally become aware that being with certain people drains all your emotional and physical energy? You have lunch or coffee returning home exhausted.

On the other hand, you have encounters with other people where your energy level increases. You return home or to the office strangely both energized and relaxed.

The easy decision—intentionally spend more time with the latter people, reduce or eliminate time with the former.

A harder question.

Are you the former or the latter? Do you need to change?

Enter email address on the right and click follow to receive updates via email. I will never spam you. I’m not in that business! Thank you.

Posted in Awareness | Leave a Comment »

If You’re Asking

April 9, 2026

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

If you are wondering what career to pursue, ask yourself: Who can I serve?

If you are at a crossroads in life, ask yourself: How can I begin a new service?

Enter email address on the right and click follow to receive updates via email. I will never spam you. I’m not in that business! Thank you.

Posted in Service | Leave a Comment »

Listening Without Agreeing

April 8, 2026

You talk with a person who advances ideas that seem off to you. Like with a person I know who has bought almost every conspiracy theory alive on the internet.

The test. Can I listen without agreeing and without arguing?

Greek philosopher Aristotle on listening but not agreeing: “It is the mark of an educated man to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”

This remark is about 2,500 years old. I’d go him a bit modern to make it, “It is the mark of someone with equanimity and kindness who can entertain a thought without accepting it.”

Enter email address on the right and click follow to receive updates via email. I will never spam you. I’m not in that business! Thank you.

Posted in Attitude, Listening | Leave a Comment »

Practice Kindness

April 7, 2026

A philosophical razor consists of a principle or rule of thumb that allows one to eliminate (shave off) unlikely explanations for a phenomenon or avoid unnecessary actions.

Hanlon’s Razor describes one of my favorites. 

Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

We interact with other people frequently. They do or say something. We take offense. Maybe it’s on the highway and we give the American one-finger salute.

Maybe these people aren’t out to get you. Maybe they have their own problems and aren’t even aware of you. Or, maybe, yes, they are just “stupid.” 

Our best response is…kindness. (He says as he helps a mother with two small children navigate leaving Starbucks.) 

I’ve never found kindness out of proportion even when dealing with those people who have (metaphorically) stabbed me in the back or revoked promises. I don’t think it’s weakness. I think it’s an attitude that allows me to forget the past and journey into the future.

Practice kindness.

Enter email address on the right and click follow to receive updates via email. I will never spam you. I’m not in that business! Thank you.

Posted in Attitude | Leave a Comment »

How We Interpret The Bible

April 6, 2026

Rich Dixon asked this penetrating question at Rich’s Ride Blog.

Do we use Scripture to interpret what love means – or do we use love to interpret what Scripture means?

When I sit down to read, am I asking God for the message? Or, am I looking for sentences that validate what I already think?

Enter email address on the right and click follow to receive updates via email. I will never spam you. I’m not in that business! Thank you.

Posted in Attitude | Leave a Comment »

« Older Entries