Gary Mintchell

Author Archive

What They Think I Want To Read

February 17, 2023

Facebook leaders were concerned people were only looking at posts from friends and not spending enough time on the app looking at ads. They told engineers to develop rules that would search the entire database and present people with posts that Facebook thought you want to see.

Twitter executives faced a similar problem. They wrote similar rules, called algorithms, to keep you on the app longer.

So, I wondered about our spiritual reading—the Bible and other writers. Do we allow someone to determine what parts we read and spoon-feed us just their point of view?

I have spent little time on social media for several years. What they thought I wanted to see was not congruent with what I really wanted to see. (Interestingly, the number of referrals to this website from Twitter has dropped by 90% over the past few months. Go figure.)

Fortunately, there is no app filtering what I should see in the Bible or in my other spiritual reading. I read out of curiosity and out of desire to refresh my poor memory.

Things like the thought I just heard, “He’s God. I’m not.”

Things like, “The first is to love the Lord your God… and the second likewise is to love your neighbor…”

I need those reminders to keep me on the right path and likewise to guide my reading.

Posted in Disciplines | Leave a Comment »

We Betray Ourselves

February 16, 2023

A friend talked about his preacher from when he was a kid. The preacher managed to work the subject of the evils of sex into every sermon. Then one day the preacher left town with the wife of the chairman of the Board of Deacons.

A man was known to have abusive attitudes toward women. He touted a book his daughter suggested he read written by two women who discussed abusive relationships. He seemed unaware that the book was meant for his own understanding.

I once listened to a pastor every week on a podcast. One day I realized that he was really self-centered and unaware of several shortcomings. His deeper vices did remain hidden…until they were brought to light. And I realized he had been telling us without realizing himself many of his faults.

Makes me think of the Scot poet Robert Burns, (not in Scot dialect) “Oh what a gift he gives us, to see ourselves as others see us.”

Makes me wonder what I’m saying that I don’t realize. How about you? What are we blind to about ourselves. Maybe time to stop and consider.

Posted in Awareness | Leave a Comment »

He Is God, I Am Not

February 15, 2023

I’m going to steal this phrase from Rich Dixon who writes on Jon Swanson’s blog every Wednesday. He tells the story of his paralysis and eventual working through it and eventually raising thousands of dollars for his children’s charity riding a hand-cranked bicycle on distance tours.

He’s God. I’m not.

Perhaps we all need to sear that into our mind. Into our soul.

All faiths. All genders. All ages.

He’s God. I’m not.

I choose to limit my news intake. Most of the time it’s meaningless to me. It just stirs up emotions with no way to release them. But I have an idea of what’s going on in the world. And politicians everywhere need to make this phrase part of their soul as they pass or try to pass laws as if they are god, he’s not.

How often have I acted or spoken as if I’m God, he’s not? I believe it’s the Baptists who use the term convicted as in when I finally realize I’ve done wrong. I stand convicted. How about you?

It actually should be a relief that I don’t have to be God any longer. I don’t have to make a career of telling people what to do with their lives. I let God take care of me, and I just serve others.

Thank you Rich for your story. And your ministry. And for giving me this phrase to meditate on and turn into personality–He’s God. I’m not.

Posted in Attitude, Mission, Service | 1 Comment »

Don’t Be Fooled By Randomness

February 14, 2023

Nassim Nicholas Taleb wrote a series of books on preparing to survive random events. The book is part philosophy of life and part investing in the markets. I’m rereading Fooled by Randomness: The hidden role of chance in Life and in the Markets.

Reflecting on the book, I thought of all the random events in my life.

I entered graduate school thinking about getting a PhD in political philosophy. The faculty voted half-way through my first semester to close the graduate program.
I wandered into a job in the recreation vehicle industry. Then came the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973 and then hyper inflation.
I landed a good engineering position, then a random article in Consumer Reports (I’ve never read a thing in that publication since) tanked our market.
I answered a random ad in a trade magazine and wound up in a new career, which led to a second position and then a good life working for myself. But the random events along the way prepared me to make the best of new random events.

Perhaps you can think of random events from near and far that changed everything. But your preparations could make all the difference.

We purchased a coffee mug when we visited the Will Rogers estate a couple of years ago. It says, “Live your life so that whenever you los, you are ahead.”

Here are a few suggestions:

Learn something from each event
Limit financial risk to what you can afford to lose
Develop spiritual practices that give solid inner strength

Posted in Disciplines, Wisdom | Leave a Comment »

Awareness Is Such a Beautiful Thing

February 13, 2023

I don’t know all of my weaknesses. But I know some important ones.

I can easily be addicted to computer games. I had a little handheld football game in the late 1970s. I was on that a lot. Gloria Mark in her recently released book Attention Span says that can be a good way to relieve cognitive stress. But, games have become so immersive that I’ve avoided them for many years. They can lead me beyond relieving stress into addiction.

My emotions are easily aroused. I’ve learned (mostly) not to reply to lies spreading around social media. But awareness tells me to severely limit my exposure. My mental health and stability have been greatly improved.

I am aware of the state of mind of people around me. I learned that at a very early age thanks to an emotionally unstable home life. That’s often a good thing. I can respond appropriately. On the other hand, sometimes I can misinterpret (see above about emotions).

Developing awareness has improved my life a bit at a time. I’m aware when I’m with God and when we’re apart. I’m aware when I’ve become too withdrawn and need to interact with others.

Awareness is a beautiful thing. It helps me live a better life and probably makes things better for those around me.

Posted in Awareness | Leave a Comment »

Don’t Just Do It–Finish It

February 10, 2023

Consider this story told by Jesus.

“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

I heard someone say that there are many books and teachers instructing with tips on how to begin. You know, get busy and get started.

How often have we been taught how to finish?

How often are we like the first three “seeds” in Jesus metaphorical farm?

We get an idea—write a book, cook a meal for someone, do a project—then the idea flits away like finches in the bush.
We get an idea. We’re going to take up painting. Or write that novel. Or prepare that meal to take to someone. We purchase the supplies. We’re all set. Then, something else comes to mind. All those supplies gather dust while we, well, flit off like those same finches.
We get an idea. Friends, neighbors, relatives, strangers even, tell us we’re crazy. We can never do that. We worry we’re not good enough. We never finish.

Jesus was right—again. We must learn to finish what we start. That makes for a satisfying life. Don’t be like the shoe slogan—just do it. Be more like—I did it, and I’m happy that I did.

Posted in Attitude, Disciplines, Doing | Leave a Comment »

Body, Mind, Spirit

February 9, 2023

The Apostle Paul writes to the Jesus-followers in Corinth “don’t you know that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit…” The context was to teach people living in a society that celebrated immorality (sound familiar to Americans?) to be intentional about what they do with their bodies because that connects to the spirit.

Some religions and philosophies consider the two separate. That was a major competitive philosophy/religion at the time of Paul. Unfortunately for us in the West, the philosophy of Rene Descartes became way too influential in our thinking divorcing spirit from rationality. Almost divorcing spirit from everything. Look around. Can you see it?

The longer I live, the more I find the truth of integrating body, mind, and spirit.

That is why my daily practices as much as possible include spiritual reading, meditation, physical training, and reading/thinking. I recommend as much for everyone to the best of their ability within any limitations.

I’ve recently begun receiving a daily positive thinking newsletter from Arnold Schwarzenegger. Usually there are three different recommendations in each brief communication. You can check it out here.

Posted in Disciplines, Intention | Leave a Comment »

Nutrition While Traveling and Open to Experiences

February 8, 2023

Yesterday’s thoughts concerned traveling and trying to stay fit and healthy. I talked about maintaining a proper attitude for fitness. It’s easy to say, “I don’t feel like it today.” If you are a person of routine, like me, travel kicks you out of routine. You must fight to quickly adapt a new routine.

Last night I thought about nutrition and how it affects health in the moment and attitude.

I thought I copped with Monday’s travel disruptions well. I had started the day with some scrambled eggs and a bit of bacon at the United Club. But the flight was delayed. Nobody’s fault. Stuff happens.

I’d packed (thank you to my wife) a little bag of mixed nuts. Those came in handy. The flight was to have landed about 11 and I would be at the conference in time for a sandwich. Instead, the flight landed at 2 pm. I knew there was a Wendy’s at the end of the concourse. I grabbed a quick single with cheese for lunch (no fries or soda).

No time for anything but a bit of water after I arrived at the venue and went directly to work.

I saw an old friend between press conference and reception who bought a whisky (thanks, Mike).The reception afterwards featured enough food for a light dinner. It was, however, in the exhibit area. I took a small plate and took a spoonful of two types of pasta. Plus one more whisky (no e). Had so many impromptu meetings that I barely touched the pasta. Walked the 1.5 miles to my hotel.

Felt terrible and slept fitfully.

Yesterday, I was much more careful. Oats in the morning, lunch of mostly a variety of salads, two beef tacos (meant as an hors d’oeuvres before the conference big dinner) for dinner.

Felt fantastic.

Another cool point about traveling. Stopped at the outdoor bar at my hotel to get out the laptop and finish a few things including my Spanish lesson on Duolingo. Two guys were having a decent political discussion. One guy a business owner. The other guy looked like a Harley owner. He turned out to be fascinating. He was a musician. He was also a technician. Much like me in my early years, was a tinkerer. Suggested an Australian band to me in a genre I’d have never touched (metal/blues/rock/folk mashup). I checked it out when I got to my room. Pretty cool.

Keep your body and mind in shape and be open to experiences. You can meet the most fascinating people and learn new things. Keeps life interesting.

Posted in Learning, Physical | Leave a Comment »

Attitude Makes All the Difference

February 7, 2023

I am traveling again. Not as much as the old days in the industry, but it’s nice to get out after the pandemic lockdown days.

Traveling can be tiring. The three hour maintenance delay of my flight was not that stressful. Then a taxi to the conference hotel. Directly to the press conference room. Meet people, listen to presentations, take notes, digest information. Then to meet people, ask questions, absorb more information. Eat very little. Walk 1.5 miles to my hotel. It’s 9 pm and I’m tired.

Now, the question is, I got in my steps, but when to do strength and flexibility work?

It’s attitude.

With a positive, energetic attitude, I can work in a little Yoga and write. Or, scan email from for the first time in several hours, send a couple of text messages, get in a few minutes of Duolingo language study to keep my 159-day streak alive, and go to bed.

It’s attitude that either allows me or prevents me from overeating

It’s attitude that guides me to my daily mediation even with a different schedule and environment.

It’s my attitude that I must nurture. And allow it to guide me in the proper direction.

Guard your attitude. It makes all the difference.

Posted in Attitude, Disciplines | 1 Comment »

Sin Is A Pass or Fail Test

February 6, 2023

Shortly after I get up in the morning, I put my coffee on to brew and then I measure my blood pressure. I thought about the test. At the doctor’s office, they hustle you back to the examination room, have you sit on the table, they may or may not tell you to put your feet flat on the little shelf, then they measure. One time. That reading is today’s reading. Pass or fail.

But in reality, your blood pressure will vary somewhat during the day. If they took a measure, waited a few minutes and repeated, the measurement would be different.

Once upon a time in my career, I was proficient in preparing products for testing by UL (Underwriter’s Laboratories) in order to meet a safety standard. I was even on the Industry Advisory Board for standard development for one standard.

The procedure goes like this:

make an appointment
send product and any required accessories
UL engineers and technicians run the test
UL engineer informs you–pass or fail

The test engineer for my standard told me once that companies from one geographic region always asked about going 2 out of 3 if the first test failed. Companies from another region would want to negotiate.

This made me think of some discussions Jesus had with his religious opponents–the Pharisees. To Jesus, an act (physical or in your head) was either a sin or not. Pass or fail. He accused the Pharisees of negotiating. If a law of Moses was inconvenient to their way of life, they made up a rule to circumvent it. Remember the discussion about the law about supporting one’s parents but how the Pharisees had a rule that was like a loophole out of the sin of not doing that?

How about us? Do we negotiate with God? Do we ask to go 2 out of 3?

A sin is a sin. We all do several every day. I know people who sort out certain groups or types of people and won’t let them participate in church because they are sinners. Well, we are all sinners. Why bother pointing our finger at some certain group?

That is why God invented repentance and grace. We have the ability to become aware of our sin, talk with God about turning our ways into a different direction, and then accepting God’s grace that we are still loved and accepted.

That was the Good New Jesus brought. That offering still exists. And will exist.

Posted in Grace, Sin | Leave a Comment »

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