Thought Thread

[1] How to Know Who's Trustworthy
Why read this? Knowing the difference between sheep and wolves is critical.

[2] Why the Bronze Medal Feels Better Than Silver
Why read this? Facial recognition software makes a strong scientific case.

[3] What if I'm Bored?
Why read this? The distance between boredom and productivity is miniscule.

[4] Build a Better Personal Network
Why read this? People hate "networking" but connecting folk benefits everyone.

[5] Book Recommendation: The End of Big
Why read this? Old institutions are dying. What does it mean for our future? Before you buy, click here for some of my highlights from the book.

[6] Bible Teaching/Sermon: Leviticus 4-6
Two types of Levitical offerings will help us bridge the divide.

[7] From Me: Managing Non-Profit Reserves
Why read this? I was recently interviewed on a podcast about post-pandemic finance strategy. Listen or check out an article where I summed up my thoughts.

[1] When Did Fasting Become Popular?
Why read this? In case you haven't noticed, the rest of the world picked it up.

[2] The Importance of Knowing You May Be Wrong
Why read this? A longer read, here's a secular plea for intellectual humility.

[3] Are Shopping Carts a Test of Character?
Why read this? You'll never look at them the same way again.

[4] The Church Has a PR Problem
Why read this? My friend, Derek, offers strong thoughts about our present culture.

[5] Book Recommendation: New Power
Why read this? How has the internet shifted the world's power structures? Before you buy, click here for some of my highlights from the book.

[6] Bible Teaching/Sermon: Leviticus 1
For the rest of 2021, I'll offer messages from a study of an obscure Old Testament book.

[7] Taking Shots
Why read this? A personal diatribe about a soccer match reveals a leadership lesson.

[1] This Song Will Reduce Your Anxiety by 65%
Why read this? Don't take my word for it; a neuroscientist did the research.

[2] Thinking Beyond the Generational Divide
Why read this? An MIT study reveals that, at work, age is just a number.

[3] What is a Beautiful Church Building For?
Why read this? We would do well to consider the value of sacred space.

[4] Why is Left-Handedness So Rare?
Why read this? Statistically, only 10% of us will be curious.

[5] Book Recommendation: The Network Imperative
Why read this? The future belongs to those who control the network. Before you buy, click here for some of my highlights from the book.

[6] Bible Teaching/Sermon: Psalm 150
Ending message in this study of the book of Psalms.

[7] From Me: Pandemic Lessons in Sabbath
Why read this? Will we continue to slow down even when we no longer need to?

[1] The Psychology of Silent Treatment
Why read this? Ghosting someone could cause greater harm than you realize.

[2] The Digital Divide and the American Church
Why read this? A tech magazine examines the challenges of online worship.

[3] Why Can't We Live Without Sports?
Why read this? Understand why people worship players in the arena.

[4] Leaders Matter. So Do Followers.
Why read this? When you're not in charge, you still have influence.

[5] Book Recommendation: Art and Faith
Why read this? Consider how a renowned artist understands Christianity. Before you buy, click here for some of my highlights from the book.

[6] Bible Teaching/Sermon: Psalm 146
A journey from mortality to doxology.

[7] From Me: The Sin of Pastoral Narcissism
Why read this? Leaders sometimes point people to the wrong Savior.

[1] What Lack of Affection Does to People
Why read this? A post-COVID world might require free hugs.

[2] The Passion Economy and the Future of Work
Why read this? The shift from organizations to personal brand is upon us.

[3] How To Build Deeper Friendships
Why read this? Coming out of the pandemic, we need strong support systems.

[4] The Most Intelligent People Love Spending Time Alone
Why read this? Even if you're an extrovert, you may need roll solo.

[5] Book Recommendation: Clout
Why read this? Published last decade, this book reveals the keys to digital persuasion. Before you buy, click here for some of my highlights from the book.

[6] Bible Teaching/Sermon: Psalm 136
God's love for his people spans the generations.

[7] From Me: Jesus and John Wayne: Just History
God's love for his people spans the generations.

[8] Do You Love Me?
Why watch this? Who doesn't love a dancing robots?

[1] More than Bias, Noise is a Problem
Why read this? We neglect to acknowledge the impact of noise in decision-making.

[2] Listening Require Waiting
Why read this? Teaching and one-on-one conversations demand space for answers. 

[3] How To Confront Someone on Social Media
Why watch this? You can't just shout them down. Be tactful.

[4] You Don't Become an Adult Until 36
Why read this? Not sure I agree, but arrested development ain't just a show.

[5] Why the Quarterback says, "Hut"
Why read this? If you don't know, now you know.

[6] Book Recommendation: The Signal and the Noise
Why read this? Prediction in this era requires nuance. Before you buy, click here for some of my highlights from the book.

[7] Bible Teaching/Sermon: Psalm 131
The pursuit of inner quietness in a chaotic world.

[1] A Recycling-based Learning Theory
Why read this? David Kolb's experiential learning is a framework worth considering.

[2] Don't Trash Your Old Gadgets
Why read this? There are better ways to utilize our old tech.

[3] Repurposing Old Church Buildings
Why watch this? When churches close, their buildings take on a different spirit

[4] The Weak Case for Grit
Why read this? Explore a counter-perspective of a popular book about true success.

[5] Book Recommendation: Contagious
Why read this? Social influence shapes the world. Before you buy, click here for some of my highlights from the book.

[6] Bible Teaching/Sermon: Psalm 127
The Scriptures describe how trash becomes treasure.

[7] From Me: What We Knew
Why read this? In the early days of the pandemic, an observation provided context.

[1] Will Remote Working Destroy the City?
Why read this? What will happen when jobs are no longer rooted to location?

[2] Seth Godin and Junction City
Why read this? Are you creating places or pathways?

[3] How To Become More Resilient
Why watch this? The city eats people up, making elasticity supremely important.

[4] Pacing Vs. Racing: Running With or Running Against?
Why read this? Part of the allure of the city is its speed, but slow and steady still reigns.

[5] Book Recommendation: Work
Why read this? This new book traces the history of laboring. Before you buy, click here for some of my highlights from the book.

[6] Bible Teaching/Sermon: Psalm 122
The psalmist romanticizes about the city of Jerusalem.

[7] From Me: Only the Lonely
Why read this? A major problem with urbanites (and all people) is isolation.

[1] Why You Stay Up Late, Even When You Know You Shouldn't
Why read this? I'm getting back to pre-pandemic sleep patterns and this helped.

[2] Don't Let the Small Stuff Get You Down
Why read this? A study reveals that negative experiences can last longer than we think.

[3] Persuading the Unpersuadable
Why watch this? To change the world, you need to learn to change your mind.

[4] The Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon by Kevin Bacon
Why watch this? While this TedTalk is a decade old, it's meta and rather touching.

[5] Book Recommendation: Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned
Why read this? While measurement is helpful, it doesn't guarantee lasting success. Before you buy, click here for some of my highlights from the book.

[6] Bible Teaching/Sermon: Psalm 119
Some brief words from the longest book in the Bible.

[7] From My Friend: The Crisis in Myanmar
Why read this? Just wanted to highlight a dear friend of mine in Myanmar. Their country is in turmoil from a recent military coup, but they continue on. If you're looking to support this cause, I'd invite you to look at their ministry there.

[1] The Last Blockbuster Store Survived the Pandemic
Why read this? This and a recent documentary reveals that nostalgia runs high.

[2] Should You Trust the Myers-Briggs?
Why read this? Reliance on personality tests might just be old school.

[3] Who Am I? The Ship of Theseus Question
Why watch this? A visual explanation of the ancient philosophical question from Wandavision.

[4] Family or Firm? Royalty and Workplace Conflict
Why read this? Tracking the Harry/Meghan issue? View it as an organizational problem.

[5] Book Recommendation: Simply Christian
Why read this? I recently reread this new classic by NT Wright and appreciated how it's held up. Before you buy, click here for some of my highlights from the book.

[6] Bible Teaching/Sermon: Psalm 116
The old words of Scripture have more relevancy that we realize.

[7] From Me: Slow Down to Remember
Why read this? Hopefully the pandemic taught us to appreciate life and honor death.