Big Hair Preacher

Dancing Around the World

So there's this guy named Matt who decided to dance across the world.  Seriously.

This video brings me so much joy, it's ridiculous.  Be sure to watch it full-screen.

Reminds me of that great quote by W.H. Auden, "I know nothing except what everyone knows-- if there when Grace dances, I should dance too."

Quote: Anne Lamott on Shrinking God

“You can be certain you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out he hates all the same people you do.”
-- Anne Lamott, writer & author of Traveling Mercies

Quote: Blaise Pascal on Religious Vanity

“God created people in His image on the sixth day, and every day since, people have returned the favor.”
-- Blaise Pascal, 15th century French mathematician, physicist, and religious philosopher.

QTLB: William Law on Perspective

"If you attempt to talk with a dying man about sports or business, he is no longer interested.  He now sees other things as more important.  People who are dying recognize what we often forget, that we are standing on the brink of another world."

-- William Law, 18th-century British theologian

QTLB: Guy Kawasaki on Innovation

Just heard Guy Kawasaki-- the former Apple guru turned venture capitalist-- open up Innovate 2007 with his keynote address "The Art of Innovation."  Not only is the guy brilliant, but he's evidently a committed follower of Christ (who once passed up the CEO job for Yahoo before it took off-- woops.)
He shared a ton of insights on innovation, but the 6 that struck me the most were:

• The root of all great innovation is the desire to make MEANING (not money).
• Make a MANTRA, not a mission statement. (A mantra is two or three words long and explains why you exist. ie: Nike - "Authentic athletic performance"; Ebay - "Democratize commerce")
• True innovation happens when you JUMP CURVES, not when you stay on the same curve.
• In whatever you create, ask if it is"DICEE" (Is it D=Deep; I=Intelligent; C=Complete; E=Elegant; E=Emotive)
• Don't be afraid of POLARIZING PEOPLE. Some people will love what you do and some will hate it.  (The worst thing would be if no one cared about what you do.)
• If you don't upset a few people, you aren't doing your job.

Guy's one of those modern-day Asian mystics-- just the kind you'd expect to come from Apple and love Jesus.  You can watch a version of "The Art of Innovation" here.

QTLB: Henri Nouwen on Community

"Community is like a large mosaic. Each little piece seems so insignificant. One piece is bright red, another cold blue or dull green, another warm purple, another sharp yellow, another shining gold. Some look precious, others ordinary. Some look valuable, others worthless. Some look gaudy, others delicate. As individuals stones, we can do little with them except compare them and judge their beauty and value. When, however, all these little stones are brought together in one big mosaic portraying the face of Christ, who would ever question the importance of any one of them? If one of them, even the least spectacular one, is missing, the face is incomplete. Together in the one mosaic, each little stone is indispensable and makes a unique contribution to the glory of God. That’s community, a fellowship of little people who together make God visible in the world."

— Henri Nouwen, Can You Drink the Cup?