300 words a day

Who you hang out with can change you.

Peter and John stood in front of the leaders of their tribe. Imagine a random Catholic talking to the Pope and cardinals, an ordinary citizen in front of the Supreme Court or the President’s cabinet, a student in front of the university president and faculty, you in front of the people you grew up being […]

by Jon Swanson

Not doing nothing.

“If you have stuff,” John says. He’s talking about what it means to lay down our lives for other people. Not in the sense of being a doormat, but in the sense of following the example of Jesus. “If you have stuff.” John says. He’s not saying “lots of stuff” or “extra stuff”, he’s saying […]

by Jon Swanson

A short look at sky.

I’m not sure why Nancy picked the word “sky”. I think it’s because she’s a nature person. That’s the place where she most connects with God. (I wrote about that once.) I’m not a sky person. I’m not much of an outside person. Even when I go running, I take the inside outside with me. […]

by Jon Swanson

An evening of hopeful stories.

Becky and Rich wanted to get some people who needed to hear stories about hope together with some people who needed to tell stories about hope. When I write that sentence, I realize that means just about everyone. But you can’t invite everyone, not to the same living room at the same time. The dream […]

by Jon Swanson

Passing notes.

I write notes to myself all the time. On scraps of paper, on the backs of business cards, on waterproof paper in the shower. Sometimes they are thoughts while I’m listening to people speak. Sometimes they are notes to myself. I’ve been traveling and doing some speaking and thinking recently. Here are some of the […]