Friday Stream of Consciousness 2.0.1

Here's what's on my mind this morning

Note: If you didn’t read yesterday’s post, here is what Friday Stream of Consciousness is.

Here’s what’s on my mind this morning:

• Lord, have mercy on those suffering under the satanic scourge of terrorism—and especially Israel right now. Bring justice and peace. Preserve life.

• The MLB playoffs are underway. With both the Dodgers and Padres watching from home at this point, I will enjoy it just for the baseball. I would love to see Texas play Arizona (among who is left). That’s not a prediction.

• Quote I’m chewing on: “If you have to stand and fight, you train yourself so that you're able to do it.” — Jocko Willink.

• Book I’m reading: Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well, by Amy Edmondson.

• The Clippers will have a better year than the Lakers. I define that as a deeper playoff run.

• Our political process is not designed to convince the best among us to run for office.

• Every person should run for office at least once. It really does add perspective to the political process. I was appointed to public-school Board position years ago, and thus had to run during the next available election…the 2016 election (Trump vs. Hillary). I had ZERO desire to do so, but did it as a favor to the Superintendent—a friend. Oof.

• Watching the news coverage and seeing your name scroll across the bottom of the screen with a vote count makes a person feel vulnerable in a unique way. Having to ask friends if you can put a yard sign in their yard, spending your own money to run, having people attack you for no reason except that you are their opponent or the opponent of who they are voting for…well, we all should do it once. It’s quite humbling.

• I went to bed thinking I’d lost. When I woke up, I was ahead…and then endured 60 days of absentee ballot casting where the results were posted daily and no more than 100 votes separated me and my opponent. It was awful…and that’s just for a small school Board seat.

• I ran for and won a second full term unopposed. Much more pleasant :)

• I don’t want to hear anyone under 35 enter the LeBron vs. MJ for GOAT conversation. It really isn’t a conversation, anyway. Get serious.

• I would really like to see a concert at the Sphere in Las Vegas.

• I get asked a fair amount who my favorite preacher is. I’ve usually had one or two. Right now, I’m not sure I do. I’m just enjoying hearing others preach. I still enjoy preaching, but I’ve really come to appreciate what others are bringing to the table. If pressed, I like the same preachers I’ve always liked. They stay rooted in Scripture and offer something of substance to the mind, heart, and hands. Humor is always appreciated. I’ve always loved John Ortberg, Tony Evans, T.D. Jakes, Christine Caine, my friends Rick Atchley and Jeff Walling. I could go on for a while.

• Who are your favorite preachers? Drop a comment.

• What is the best sermon you’ve ever heard and why? Drop a comment.

• If an idea doesn’t work, we really should stop repeating it. Especially if an “expert,” says it. Somehow, we’ve removed all downside to being seriously wrong within one’s discipline. We are better off following ideas that work and using untested ideas as experiments rather than instructions. Experts don’t have to be right all time. They should be right some of the time.

• I just tried some low acid coffee out of curiosity. I was underwhelmed. Bring on the acid!

• Should people choose their church based solely on how interesting and inspiring it is? No.

• Should churches try to be as interesting and inspiring as possible? Yes.

• If churches really tried (no…really) and people cared less about the wrong things…we might really get somewhere. Instead, it’s like neither are perfect ;)

• A favorite interview question: What kind of people bother you?

• Is there any positive outcome the decline of men offers society? I can’t think of one. I’m sad to say we are in decline on most levels.

• Crazy baseball stat I saw this week: Willie Mays was a career .301 hitter. Tony Gwynn was a career .302 hitter….with 2 strikes.

• There hasn’t been a genuinely great book written on preaching in many years. I believe the last one that really wowed me was Barbara Brown Taylor’s, The Preaching Life (2013). If you think I missed one, drop a comment.

• I do not understand why professors believe deconstruction of students is their project. Many professors are not properly constructed themselves, and the power dynamics of a classroom pervert the process even if it were properly undertaken.

• I’ll add not all people need deconstruction or are served well by the process.

• Today, Giannis is the best player in the NBA, overall.

• Like preaching books, I don’t believe a genuinely great comedy film has been made in the last twenty years or so.

• I fell out of love with the NFL when the Chargers betrayed their city. I went back to the Broncos who have betrayed football itself.

• I’ve been watching “Suits,” for the first time, beginning with season 1. What a show! Shockingly clean for a modern-day show, as well.

• Last Sunday night, both of my daughters got to lead worship together for Waves Church (new to the Pepperdine campus. How blessed am I! 3 John 4.

• My wife and I are headed away for a couple of nights for the first time since moving to Malibu. After 23 years of marriage, I’d rather she be with me anywhere I am—even when I’d rather be by myself. To quote George McFly, she is my density.

• On Wednesday night, ten college students were baptized into Christ at the Pepperdine President’s personal home (The Brock House).

• I’ve been a part of many hundreds of baptisms over the years. It never gets old for me. It’s never too cold, hot, inconvenient, or late. It is the absolute best part of ministry. The unbridled joy. The new life beginning. The smiles and happy tears.

• I have a sense it wasn’t just the Ethiopian Eunuch who went on his way rejoicing after his baptism. I bet Philip had a big ole grin on his face when the Spirit showed up to take him away (Acts 8). It’s just the best.

• Seriously.

• The.

• Best.

What’s on your mind this Friday?