Find yourself 30 minutes to sit down and do nothing else but watch this.
Smith Family Story from Matthew Singleton on Vimeo.
You can read their blog here after you’re done.
Similar Posts…A Passionate Pursuit… by Lon on June 2nd, 2004I’m not sure why this image stirs me… by Lon on January 23rd, 2006Explode… by Lon [...]

Posted in Faith, Hope, stories, video 3 Comments »

I’ve had this life metaphor in my mind the last while inspired by this unforgettable scene in “Indiana Jones and the temple of doom“.
It’s where this cult leader uses his bare hands, ripping out the heart of another person, and allowing him to watch it still beating in his hands right before he dies.
My mission [...]

Posted in Character, Hope, art, creativity, mission 3 Comments »

I’ve never followed politics much, let alone American politics. But I like Obama. Catapulted to fame at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, he’s hard not to like. See the big speech at youtube part1 and part2.
I’ve been skimming through his book “The audacity of hope” and it offers an inside look [...]

Posted in Books, Culture, Hope No Comments »

Take a moment and listen to this interview with Catherine Rohr who began the Prison Entrepreneurship Program
I didn’t know who she was, nor do I really have much interest in those in prison, but this is definitely worth listening to.
It’s taken from a catalyst podcast, i just clipped out the interview portion.  I hope they [...]

Posted in Hope, mission No Comments »

Continuing our Creativity & Spirituality series.
When it comes to creativity quantity quite often must preside over quality, at least initially. Yvz always tells me how the kids that she teaches always struggle with spelling when they are writing stories. She continuously encourages them to just make it up and simply get their ideas [...]

Posted in Hope, Pictures, art, creativity 2 Comments »

During our Creativity & Spirituality sessions I attempted to creatively take people through the overarching narrative of the Scriptures.
One simple and interesting exercise (inspired in a different context by Phyllis of Sketch) was this…
Take a moment and jot down the three most important and treasured things, ideas, or people in your life today.
My class had [...]

Posted in Hope, creativity, life 6 Comments »

I’ve been speaking at Teen’s Conference over the last few days. Looking into the eyes of these incredible emerging adults, I had forgotten how lost I was when I was their age.
- thoughts of ending my life secretly plagued me
- I mocked anyone who wanted to do anything significant with their life
- my journals [...]

Posted in Character, Hope, confessions, life, stories, youth 8 Comments »

Years back as a young punk kid, a friend and I stole some video games downtown.
Even worst, we put it in the backpack of another friend, without telling him. I remember sweating as I watched him prance through the metal detectors completely oblivious he was carrying our stolen goods.
Needless to say my friend wasn’t [...]

Posted in Hope, confessions, life, stories, youth 3 Comments »

Last night Yvz was watching something on tv, where they were interviewing kids in the ghetto.
The reporter asked one kid - “What do you want to do when you grow up?”
boy resonds - “become a CEO”
the reporter is a bit shocked and says - “become a CEO of what?”
the boy then says - “actually i [...]

Posted in Culture, Hope, life, stories 2 Comments »

I never explained one of the items in my Lon-gerie fashion line earlier.

A while back I had wrote on my MSN messenger tag “My life is brilliant”, inspired by the first line in the James blunt song ‘You’re beautiful”.
Someone wrote to me and said how it was so typical of me, and how easy it [...]

Posted in Hope, Quotes, life 2 Comments »