With gas prices at record levels and all the uncertainty in the economy today – money is a big topic of conversation.

My church sat down with the devil and talked about how he uses money as a tool for his work.    If you are very religious, you might get offended by this interview.   Loosen up!

Man …..this reminder sucks, because I’ve got the new iPhone on the brain!

‘Get wisdom – it’s worth more than money; choose insight over income every time.’    (Prov 16:16)

Until you grasp the essence of this swarm video – you may not find it relevant.

If you do get it – your mind will start running a million miles an hour on the possibilities of collaboration. Put in simple terms:

If we’d try to understand people, situations, places and things just a little bit better – we’ll communicate more clearly and may stumble upon genius … together.

When you connect with people that are passionate about the same thing – they infect you with their intense fire.  Pieces of them stay with you as you continue your journey.

Sport, Worship, Technology, Places, Food, Love ….just name it.

In other words – this is how revolutions are birthed.   Are you stuck or a revolution?

“Humanity does not pass through phases as a train passes through stations.  Being alive, it has the privilege of always moving yet never leaving anything behind.

Whatever we have been, in some sort we are still.“

C.S.Lewis.

‘… beautiful! Together in life, together in death.  Swifter than plummeting eagles, stronger than proud lions.’ (2 Sam 1:23)

Something deep inside me tells me I’ve done this a few times ….  Sometimes, I think I know just a little bit too much. 

‘The stuck-up fall flat on their faces, but down-to-earth people stand firm.‘  (Prov 11:2)

I’ve had this music playing in the background as I did some work today.

The music is beautiful.  The story told in the video continues to remind me how important it is to …. see the opportunity of every moment.

That’s vision.  It’s about recognizing when you can seize the moment.  It’s less about predicting the future.

Sometimes we get suckered into passing on an opportunity cause we worry about what others will think.   It happens to me.  I stop being authentic in that moment.

Some people think I’m crazy.  They’re right.  I make a lot of mistakes and I’m okay with that.   I also have many moments of incredible joy in my life.

I’m not interested in a sterile life or arriving safely at death.

“So watch your step.  User your head.  Make the most of every chance you get.  These are desperate times.  Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly.  Make sure you understand what the Master wants.“  Eph 5:15-17

Just in case anybody wants to work in healthcare and try to convince doctors that adopting technology can transform how they take care of patients.    

Words from a 13 year old and from people around the globe making a difference.  Love what one of the judges says to young Andrew:

“……the thing about school bullies, they don’t like you for one reason.  You’ve got more talent than they could ever dream of having.  Ever!”

Good words for me this week.  I gotta remember to stand up and sing.

Do you ever get labeled?

A wise youth makes hay while the sun shines, but what a shame to see a lad who sleeps away his hour of opportunity.    (Prov 10:5)

I had plans today.  But they got derailed by almost 5 hours of flight delays in Atlanta (yes, I’m flying Delta).   Turns out the delay is exactly what I needed.

Sitting at the On the Border munching on chicken enchildas in Terminal T – I watched what’s probably the best men’s tennis match ever played.   It was the 5 time champion, Roger Federer Vs the challenger, Rafael Nadal.   I’m happy my plans got derailed because I was reminded of what it takes to be a champion.

As great as today’s Wimbeldon Final was …..I wish there was video on what each player did to prepare.   The excellent tennis and drama was in response to the hours and hours of hard work on the tennis court, speed track and the weight room that nobody will ever see.  Sweat equity.

Makes me think about what I’m preparing for today.  What did I do today that is putting me in position so when I have a championship moment …..my response comes from the overflow of my preparation?   How many championship moments passed me by because I wasn’t even in position to recognize the moment?

We’ll hear plenty about Rafael Nadal winning – what will probably go down as the greatest Wimbeldon final ever.   Nice work Rafa & Roger!  Strong, strong work!   Thanks for disrupting my day and making me think about what I’m doing to define myself.

Just spent an hour watching these 2 videos.  The first video sets up the story for the second video.   My busy life just grounded to a halt.

As we get ready to celebrate a day of Freedom tomorrow here in the US – I dunno … I think I got a taste of what being free really means.

I felt in control of my life earlier today.   This video reminded me that I’m only in control of one thing – my choice to worship.

Stars & Stripes.  Life & Healing.   Revolutionary Love.   Incredible Faith.   Makes me whisper three words:  ‘Thank you Jesus’  &  ‘God Bless America’.

[HT: Steven Brewster for sharing this with the world]

I spent the last couple of days hearing a lot of incredible things about my friend, Deepu. He was recently set free to ‘run’ after the thing he sought most in his life.

Great lives are the result of passion, purpose and devotion – so is great faith. He deposited a lot in the family and friends he left behind. His legacy is light. A bright light.

I kept singing these words in my heart today. It inspires me:

Even in defeat
The face of tragedy
Still you’d have to say that
I found victory
In brokenness comes beauty
Divine fragility
Reminding me of nail scarred hands
Reaching out for me

To the cross I run
Holding high my chains undone
Now I am finally free
Free to be what I’ve become

(MercyMe – Undone)

Reminds me of what Deepu is doing right now and what we are free to do, when we devote ourselves to Christ. We run.

I saw the ‘light’ in the form of courage – Rebecca (his wife) and family/friends like Dilip, Jackson, Beena, Bobby and others. Reasons to live, more reason to run.

I threw this video together …with a few pictures I took today and the song above. For me, it recreates the feeling I took away from the day. I’m ….running.

See the high quality video here -> Free to Run

I took this picture of Bono in Hawaii during the last concert of the Vertigo Tour.

Bono is a mentor from a distance. He delivered the commencement address at UPenn in 2004. It challenged me then … just as it does today. Especially this part:

So my question I suppose is: What’s the big idea? What’s your big idea? What are you willing to spend your moral capital, your intellectual capital, your cash, your sweat equity in pursuing outside of the walls of the University of Pennsylvania?

There’s a truly great Irish poet his name is Brendan Kennelly, and he has this epic poem called the Book of Judas, and there’s a line in that poem that never leaves my mind, it says: “If you want to serve the age, betray it.” What does that mean to betray the age?

I’ve got some things I need to betray in order to serve the age. Namely, worrying less about what others think and being authentic to who I AM. That’s tough for me, but I’m determined to work on it.

What’s your Big Idea? What do you have to betray to achieve it?