Pope Francis Appoints Father James Mark Beckman Next Bishop of Knoxville

“I am blessed and honored to accept this appointment from the Holy Father,” Bishop-elect Beckman said. “I am a native Tennessean, and I am grateful that I can continue serving the Church and now the faithful of the Diocese of Knoxville in this region that I know well and love tremendously.”

This is the best church news I’ve heard in a long time!

Fr. Mark taught me in high school. He was an important influence on how I’ve grown as a human, a leader, and a Catholic Christian.

You don’t see many new bishop pictures featuring a fleece jacket. Consider it evidence of Beckman’s sheepy aroma. 😆

May God continue to bless Bishop-Elect Beckman & the people of Knoxville.

Finished reading: Managing Transitions (25th anniversary edition) by William Bridges 📚

“Transition is like a low-pressure area on the organizational weather map. It attracts all the storms and conflicts in the area, past as well as present.”

Confession: It was really hard to read this book without dwelling on the bad transitions I’ve experienced in the past. I hope I can contribute some positive value to the future transitions in which I will play a part.

Finished reading: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz 📚

A quick read & nice reminder of a few universal truths:

• We are formed by our first family
• Love yourself so that you may love others
• The words we use have power

Don’t take anything personally.

You are never responsible for the actions of others…

Joe Biden & Conan O’Brien on Empathy

This clip from Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend is terrific. The vulnerability this world leader (Biden, not O’Brien - ha!) exudes is exactly what we need from our leaders – especially elected officials.

Trump’s Dire Words Raise New Fears About His Authoritarian Bent

Trump is off the rails. His dehumanizing language is gross, immoral, and wicked.

If the Republican Party nominates him as their presidential candidate, they will squander their credibility & put our democracy in danger.

The biggest immediate lesson from the OpenAI meltdown

The fact that the governance of one of the most visible AI companies in the world can change literally overnight should be a reminder that we can’t make our judgements about a company’s trustworthiness based simply on a vibe about their CEO.

This is certainly true. And this is a lesson that should transfer to other large/influential organizations.