March 2011 – 300 words a day

Every weekday

More, sort of, on sales. Every weekday, I set up a little storefront here. I offer you 300 words. It will cost you time to buy them, at the expense of other words you could buy with that time, other tasks you could complete. It will cost you attention, focus that could be spent on […]

by Jon Swanson

Jon Swanson, sales.

Yesterday, Chris accused me of being in sales. He said What are you selling? Who knows? Jon sells religion (though I’m sure he’d prefer I not call it sales). The funny thing is, I’m more bothered by the idea that what I’m selling is religion than the idea that I am selling. Part of what makes […]

by Jon Swanson

Learning is hard when you don’t know something.

As part of my day job, I lead a weekly staff meeting. Nine of us who spend our time supporting the people who call themselves Grabill Missionary Church. We mostly have the title ‘pastor.’ At these meetings, we talk about what’s happening in our lives, what’s happening in our areas of responsibility. We like and […]

by Jon Swanson

8 things to expect in conversations with Jesus

This list started last week in “The recipe that isn’t.” 1. Jesus often helps you with the conversation. 2. Jesus loves you more than you hate yourself. 3. Jesus challenges just about every attempt to routinize religion. Or, better, to routinize a relationship with him into religion. 4. Jesus does make demands. But not the […]

by Jon Swanson

The recipe that isn’t

I was talking with a friend about following Jesus. My friend, like many of us, like me, would find a formula helpful. It would be great to have 3 steps or 5 levels or 12 magic words. But recipes don’t seem to work with Jesus. My friend reminded me of the opening chapter of Searching […]