Daily Questions
Ask not: Are we alone in this universe? Is there intelligent life on other planets?
But perhaps: How can we discover and appreciate the many other forms of intelligent life on our planet? (including fungi?)
December 9, 2022
Ask not: In our writing and speaking, how can we best use logic to persuade others to believe what we believe?
But perhaps: How can we write and speak clearly enough that others can see what we are seeing? (borrowed from Verlyn Klinkenborg)
December 3, 2022
Ask not: How can we keep this planet livable for all humans?
But perhaps: How can each human find this planet (and all her living things) lovable?
December 2, 2022
Ask not: What is the smartest thinking (on climate change)?
But perhaps: What thinking (on climate change) opens up new avenues of positive action and further thought? What is the most sustainable thinking (on climate change)?
December 1, 2022
Ask not: How can we design a solution to this problem?
But perhaps: Might we already have stumbled upon some actions that will help?
November 30, 2022
Ask not: How can imagine the world of our seventh generation descendants?
But perhaps: How can we see one another as seventh generation ancestors of our seventh generation descendants?
November 29, 2022
Ask not: How can we convince people to take climate change seriously?
But perhaps: How can we invite people to love the earth enough to join us in changing our habits?
November 28, 2022
Ask not: What should I be doing?
But perhaps: What is drawing me out of my plans and intentions to work together with it for a greater good?
November 26, 2022
Ask not: What did the author mean when they said this?
But perhaps: How did the author intend these words to move the readers?
November 2, 2022
Ask not: What did the author mean when they said this?
But perhaps: How did the author intend these words to move the readers?
November 2, 2022
Ask not: How do I make make sense of this loss?
But perhaps: How can this grief lead me into the strength of my heart?
September 30, 2022
Ask not: How can I make myself indispensable?
But perhaps: How can I help others become more productive?
September 28, 2022
Ask not: Who is the one God?
But perhaps: How is God whole?
September 27, 2022
Ask not: What are my goals?
But perhaps: What questions won’t leave me alone?
September 26, 2022
Ask not: How can we find the right answer?
But perhaps: Have we already stumbled upon something that works?
September 24, 2022
Ask not: How is Jesus exceptional (divine)? & How is Jesus one of us (human)?
But perhaps: How did Jesus become whole?
September 23, 2022
Ask not: What is right?
But perhaps: What is viable? (Margaret Wheatley & Myron Kellner-Rogers)
September 22, 2022
Ask not: How do I choose the best option?
But perhaps: How can I create more opportunities?
September 21, 2022
Ask not: How much time do I have left?
But perhaps: How good this time I have left?!
August 10, 2022
Ask not: How can I, as the preacher/pastor, communicate the meaning of this passage of Scripture?
But perhaps: How can I help this congregation trust this good news and adapt our thoughts and actions to resonate with it?
August 8, 2022
Ask not: What can the government do to strengthen local communities?
But perhaps: How can I participate more fully in community life?
August 2, 2022
Ask not: How can I protect what I have earned?
But perhaps: How can I continue to promote the common good?
August 1, 2022
Ask not: Who will be my friend?
But perhaps: To whom can I be a friend?
July 31, 2022
Ask not: How can I plan a get-away from work?
But perhaps: How can I get into the flow of work and rest?
July 30, 2022
Ask not: How can I satisfy my desire to belong?
But perhaps: How can I expand and broaden my desire to belong?
July 29, 2022
Ask not: How can we prevent our extinction as a species due to climate change?
But perhaps: How should we live in light of the inevitable extinction of humans? (Timothy Beal)
July 28, 2022
Ask not: Do I stay Christian?
But perhaps: How do I stay human? (Brian McLaren)
July 27, 2022
Ask not: Do you know the right answer to this question?
But perhaps: Can you help me investigate this question that I am asking myself?
July 26, 2022
Ask not: What kind of a world do I want to live in?
But perhaps: What kind of a world do I want to love?
July 25, 2022
Ask not: How do I make sense of this new thing?
But perhaps: How can I start a conversation with this new thing?
July 24, 2022
Ask not: Am I capable of doing that?
But perhaps: How can I get that done?
July 23, 2022
Ask not: How can we “invent … another kind of civilization, one more cognizant of limits … less exploitive”? (Barry Lopez)
But perhaps: How can we discover, embrace and share the goodness and beauty of civilization within limits and without exploitation?
July 18, 2022
Ask not: What should we be thankful for?
But perhaps: How can we slow down enough to be thankful?
July 14, 2022
Ask not: How can we achieve sustainability?
But perhaps: Sustain what? For whom? How? (Andrew Revkin)
July 13, 2022
Ask not: How can I maintain a sense of control over my life?
But perhaps: How can I enjoy my “place in the family of things”? (Mary Oliver)
July 12, 2022
Ask not: What should we do to be good people?
But perhaps: What good can we do?
July 11, 2022
Ask not: Who must I love as myself (because he is my neighbor)?
But perhaps: Who can I be a neighbor to and love as myself? (Luke 10:25-37)
July 10, 2022
Ask not: How can I feel like I belong in this world?
But perhaps: Is there a place that when I am absent from that place I know that place misses me? (Barry Lopez)
June 23, 2022
Ask not: What does this event mean?
But perhaps: What is the larger pattern in which this event participates?
June 22, 2022
Ask not: How can we create a better world?
But perhaps: How can we better appreciate the created world?
June 21, 2022
Ask not: How can I decrease my carbon footprint?
But perhaps: What can I do to slow down and enjoy the world around me?
June 20, 2022
Ask not: Where can I find the next wonderful thing?
But perhaps: How can I live wonder?
June 19, 2022
Ask not: Is this correlation indicative of causation? Can it be reduced to cause and effect?
But perhaps: Is this correlation part of a larger sustained system (or living ecosystem)?
June 18, 2022
Ask not: What do I remember from that book?
But perhaps: What did I learn from that book?
June 17, 2022
Ask not: What will my legacy be?
But perhaps: What can I do now that has the possibility of continuing to produce good after I die?
June 16, 2022
Ask not: What is the good life?
But perhaps: How can I maintain a sense of well-being?
June 15, 2022
Ask not: Why are you able to do this so well?
But perhaps: What have you had to learn to get better at what you do?
June 14, 2022
Ask not: How can I help you understand what I understand?
But perhaps: How can I invite you into a more honest understanding of the world?
April 25, 2022
Ask not: What do the words of the Lord’s Prayer mean?
But perhaps: How can these words become our prayer?
March 13, 2022
Ask not: Why are we so curious?
But perhaps: What escapes my curiosity?
March 12, 2022
Ask not: How do I uproot the prejudices in my thought and life?
But perhaps: How do I reverse the privileges I use?
March 1, 2022
Ask not: How can we reduce the levels of inequality in society?
But perhaps: How did we come “to be trapped in such tight conceptual shackles that we can no longer even imagine the possibility of reinventing ourselves? (David Graeber & David Wengrow)
February 24, 2022
Ask not: What can I take from the land?
But perhaps: What do you need? (Wendell Berry)
February 19, 2022
Ask not: What do I have to give to others in need?
But perhaps: How can I follow my desire to see others receive good gifts?
February 18, 2022
Ask not: Why does Jesus always talk about the kingdom of God?
But perhaps: Why does Jesus keep talking about the kingdom of God without ever calling God a king?
February 16, 2022
Ask not: What to we need?
But perhaps: What do we long for? (Makoto Fujimura)
February 14, 2022
Ask not: How can I know this by subjective experience (instead of merely objectively)?
But perhaps: How can I know this with an embodied mind (instead of merely with a disembodied brain)?
February 10, 2022
Ask not: How can I avoid sadness?
But perhaps: How can I rise from this sadness (and its little death) with humor in order that I might not fear another sadness? (Stephen Colbert)
February 6, 2022
Ask not: How can we uncover (explanations for) the mysteries of the universe?
But perhaps: How can we uncover (ever more) mysteries of the universe (to investigate)?
February 5, 2022
Ask not: How can I get people’s attention?
But perhaps: How can I gather people to share attention on something that matters?
February 1, 2022
Ask not: How can I put my faith in Jesus?
But perhaps: How can I invite Jesus to put his faith into my life?
January 29, 2022
Ask not: What do we like to do together?
But perhaps: What intentions do we share?
January 12, 2022
Ask not: How can we make theology practical?
But perhaps: How can we practically participate in what God is doing? (Mark Lau Branson)
January 7, 2022
Ask not: What does Jesus’ death do to save us?
But perhaps: What does Jesus’ life do to save us? (Jennifer Bashaw)
January 6, 2022
Ask not: How do these plants compete with one another?
But perhaps: How are resources distributed within this plant community? (David Read)
January 5, 2022
Ask not: How does it feel to be adopted as a child of God?
But perhaps: What work of the Father do we have the authority and duty to engage in as children of God?