questions – Page 37 – 300 words a day

Making change

(I’m following up on yesterday’s post about planning how to grow.) If you want to have less self-centered pride in five years than you do now, here’s one thing to say: If I am sitting in a meeting, and I feel a need to speak up, then I will count to five and say, “Am […]

by Jon Swanson

rest

The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you. For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling,that I may walk before the LORD in […]

by Jon Swanson

Jesus does not need you. (a rerun)

(This first appeared on July 13, 2009) Many of us are pretty convinced that Jesus needs us. If it it weren’t for us, after all, how would he be able to hug people who are hurting? If it weren’t for us, how would he able to comfort the sick and the sorrowing? If it weren’t […]

by Jon Swanson

Abbondanza

I love pizza. I eat it regularly. At times, I have eaten it daily. When I was growing up, Mama Celeste talked about her frozen pizza using one word: Abbondanza. It is Italian. It means abundant. For pizza, abundance means lots of good ingredients. It means overflowing. It means a little sloppy, a little messy. […]

by Jon Swanson

My mind is racing; where is Jesus.

Though I sit with my feet on my desk, my mind is racing. I am thinking through teaching projects, writing projects and a retreat. The threads of thinking are tangling; each time I tug on one, my mind races to another. “Is this the project to start or is that? Can I tie some of […]