Steve Marks

This story has everything, a focus on desal that led to overlooking other water sources, a city manager making $400K/yr saying don’t panic, a former water system manager saying residents should absolutely panic, and magical thinking: “The last hope to avert disaster was a 20- to 30-inch rainfall.”

12 Timeless Relationship Principles I’ve Learned from John Maxwell John Maxwell has been a great friend and mentor for over 40 years. I'm so grateful for his love, belief, and investment in me.

"The most meaningful and transformative moments in life are bound in relationships." danreiland.com/12-timeless-...

Listen Generously You Will Give a Gift Even Greater Than Your Attention

"When we listen... we are being generous. Listening is an act of hospitality." open.substack.com/pub/anamchar...

Making Mistakes is Part of Learning to Lead How you handle mistakes helps determine who you are as a leader.

"Making mistakes is part of how we learn and grow." danreiland.com/making-mista...

How shall we respond?

"The Hebrew prophets Isaiah, Ezekiel, Micah, and Amos each condemned their own nation of Israel as well as other nations that imposed dominance, exploited others, and oppressed marginalized peoples."

"Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it, listen for what it intends to do with you. Before you tell your life what truths and values you have decided to live up to, let your life tell you what truths you embody, what values you represent." ~ Parker J. Palmer

"Spirituality is about being fully present, fully alive, fully alert, fully at peace, and in that state of true awe and wonder.” ~ Todd Perelmuter

How Crucial is the Cross? Jesus is a teacher of contemplative spirituality... but is he necessary?

How Crucial is the Cross?
open.substack.com/pub/carlmcco...

"Whenever one is moved to awe by the beauty of creation, one is moved by God. God, the Creator of both the beauty, and of the inner feelings that excite the soul." ~ Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson

Brian McLaren @briandmclaren.bsky.social encourages us "when we connect with God, it is as if we are plugging our souls into a pure current of high-voltage joy."

What Pete Thinks of Pronouns A newsletter about God, science, faith, theology, and other learnings.

A worthwhile listen... What Pete Thinks of Pronouns open.substack.com/pub/peteenns...

"For Christian leadership to be truly fruitful in the future, a movement from the moral to the mystical is required." ~ Henri Nouwen

Why I'm Spiritual AND Religious Midweek Meditation

"Spirituality is the ache for more: for connection, transcendence, meaning larger than what can be measured. Religion, at its best, is the wisdom gathered by people who have been following that ache for centuries." open.substack.com/pub/jasonged...

Divine Artistry

Gifts come in all sizes and shapes…

The Decline of Christianity... and the Future of Mysticism "The Christian of the future will be a mystic" — but what will the mystic of the future be?

open.substack.com/pub/carlmcco...

"To live within the contemplative tradition is not only to keep searching. It is also an invitation to evolve within and alongside it." ~
@cassidyhall.bsky.social

The Empire’s Power Brian McLaren reflects on the different understandings of power held by the early Jesus movement and the Roman Empire:  The historical reality of

"Christian faith initially grew as a nonviolent spiritual movement of counter-imperial values. It promoted love, not war. Its primal creed elevated solidarity, not oppression and exclusion." A must (4 minute) read: cac.org/daily-medita...

An opportunity to be present in the midst of hope continues nearly a year later...

Mysticism Matters More Than Ever It's the Only Real Alternative to Dualistic, Aggressive Forms of Religion and Belief

"Love is the unified means by which we seek to affirm the good, and respond compassionately to the evil." ~ Carl McColman
open.substack.com/pub/carlmcco...

Intro to Centering Prayer: Opening to God’s Presence - Closer Than Breath Meditation: Pathway to Divine Love In a world of increasing divisiveness and deception, it is becoming crucial that we rediscover our spiritual dimension and its energies, especially that of love. Med...

"Meditation: Pathway to Divine Love" ~ Dr. Jana Rentzel closerthanbreath.com/intro-to-cen...

Tune in to Nature…

“And what is the use of praying if at the very moment of prayer, we have so little confidence in God that we are busy planning our own kind of answer to our prayer?” –Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude

JUST TO BE CLEAR…

“Love Your Neighbor” Christianity! ❤️

Living in the moment…

Honored to be presenting with the Spirituality In Nature Gathering at the Valle Crucis Conference Center Labyrinth, Sunday, May 4 at 4:30 pm. Bring a lawn chair or blanket as come together around the theme of water for a time of mindfulness and sharing.

"The Most Important Spiritual Discovery Of All Time" Do you know the universal spiritual secret contained in all religions? A hint: It can be found within.

“The Most Important Spiritual Discovery of All Time” - www.patheos.com/blogs/wakeup...

Shout out to everyone who dares to live with their heart wide open even when living this way will mean sometimes he will get hurt. Picture by Katie abey Picture of a bee with a heart on a pastel rainbow background black writing on a white speech bubble

“Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome.” Brené Brown

There is strength in an open heart. It’s one of the bravest things we can do.
🧡

#kindness #positivity

Picture by Katie Abey

Let this soak in, please…