It’s Beginning to Sound like Christmas

Posted November 28, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Awareness, Cultural Ideas, Life, Music, People
Tags: , ,

In our city there is a ritual that takes place the week of Thanksgiving that my kids have found irresistible. A radio station, Z93.7, begins to play Christmas music nonstop. They play every kind of Christmas music, from classic to the tunes being created this year. A couple of years ago, this was cute and, I thought, nice for people to get into the Christmas spirit.

Now, whenever we get into the car, the kids automatically ask for “Z93.7“. Obviously it was a good marketing from the radio guys. The kids aren’t asking for “Christmas music”, just “Z93.7” There is no doubt what time of the year it is – it is most definitely Christmastime!

There are a couple of good new Christmas albums that I’ll review in the next couple of days. Also, a new book has come out to help with the money crunch we feel at this time of the year, and I’ll be looking at that as well.

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How to Start-Up

Posted November 25, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Awareness, Belief, Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Influence, Starting, Vision
Tags: , , ,

There is a saying that – “Anything can be improved”. In the world economy, these simple words provide the foundation for asking questions. Every time we look around we find things that could be better. What should be there that is not? What can start with what we know or are passionate about? What bothers us? What’s missing? We can come up with a very long list of things we wish were different or could change, or have the interest or skill to do something about.

In these lists are the beginning ideas of some of the most profitable businesses around. Google found a better way to search, Amazon found a better way to buy books, Ebay found a better way to sell everything. No super magic formula, just an opportunity to make things better.

These same principles apply wherever we find ourselves. The next big idea could come from you looking around and seeing something that could be done better.

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Leapfrogging

Posted November 23, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Awareness, Influence, People, Vision
Tags: , ,

There is a lot going on in what is called the Global South – south of the equator.  One of the most promising aspects is that these countries can leapfrog, or skip over, outdated modes of development in order to embrace cutting edge technology. In fact, these countries are not only embracing the cutting edge, they are in fact redefining it for the rest of us.

One of the big areas this is most obvious is in mobile phones. Most of the countries have no existing phone system at all. Since that is the case, there is no need to spend decades, millions of dollars and untold hours of manpower to string a grid of wires when cell towers can go up much quicker. If the cell phone will work, why bother with having landlines at all?

The mobile phone technology is rapidly spreading and preempting the implementation of traditional landlines. There is so much possibility in the Global South as we look ahead and try to visualize the way it will look. We like to think that we are the center of the cutting edge, but in many ways the Global South is the place to be as far as cutting edge technology and practices are concerned.

One of the most exciting things is to watch and look at the impact this leapfrogging will have on other aspects of the social strata. How will these advances effect communication – both personal and public? How will these changes and introduction of complexity into otherwise simple lifestyles augment the development of the individual people and their individual way of making meaning in life?

These are questions with no answers right now, but with implications that will radically change the way we think and communicate in the very near future.

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Twilight

Posted November 20, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Awareness, Books I'm Reading, Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Life
Tags: , ,

twilight

Yes, I went to see Twilight. Not only did I go to see it; I was watching it at the midnight premier showing. I brought Shawn McCann, he helped me on a book review a few weeks back, and then there was about ten thousand teenage girls. I won’t put in any teenage girl humor because you’ve probably already added it in yourself!

The movie itself was different than the book in it’s tone. I read about half of the first book before going to the movie. The plot and dialogue came up to be about what the book contained. I can’t stress how different the reactions were in the movie theatre from the reactions I had planned on hearing. From the start there were more giggles than “oohs”. The main character was supposed to be a smooth guy, but he started off decidedly un-smooth.

There were some good parts, but the movie was aimed to a distinct target audience – an audience that didn’t include me. Humor was the most surising facet of Twilight. Toward the end there was a quote that was somewhat profound. The main guy and gal are dancing under the lit gazebo for the school dance and she asks him why he didn’t let her become a vampire like himself. Her feeling was that, if he had, she would be able to live forever with him. He responds by asking her if just one long lifetime with him would be enough.

I couldn’t help but think if that is the conversation the Church is having with God/Jesus today. There is such a stress on the “happily ever after” fairytale “by-and-by” life in heaven, that many so-called Christians waste the life given to them, to live here dissatisfied and without desire to “do” anything but wait “until He comes”.

How sad that the gift of Christ is used for such a small expression of life. Life is to be lived. There is an abundant life to be lived, but you must live it. It will not live on it’s own. You must give it breath and strength as you choose to step out and become active in your life.

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Dialogue for Change

Posted November 19, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Awareness, Context, Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Influence, Leadership, Life, People
Tags: , ,

One of the big topics in education and learning is the concept of Dialogue Education. Jane Vella first proposed the concept in the early 80’s. It draws on a variety of adult learning theories and combines them into an integrated learning experience. The biggest difference is that teaching is typically done in a monologue format, this form is a dialogue. The dialogue focuses more on what the student does and less on what the teacher says.

The implications for this are staggering as we look at the current way in which most learning environments are designed. In the church setting there is a person talking (monologue) and a congregation listening. In the work world during a meeting, there is a person making a presentation (monologue) and a group listening. In most educational settings there is a teacher (monologue) and students listening.

Dialogue education is a form of Constructivism, in that it focuses on the argument that people construct knowledge and meaning from experiences, because of that, Dialogue Education can be a means for transformative learning. The big reason is that it gives ownership to the learner for his own learning.

I know that is lot to digest, but the implications in the church setting cannot be stressed enough. Because of this I’m beginning a series of Dialogues, called Dialogue4Change. At the onset we will discuss the theory and practice of Dialogue Education itself and what its meaning in our different environments:work, family, church.

If there are a majority of people in the Warner Robins area we will meet at Lifepoint Church approximately once a month. If the majority are from further places, I’ll do my best to facilitate an on-line discussion in the same time-frame.

To let me know if you are interested in becoming a part of this cutting edge discussion, email me at dialogue4change@gmail.com.  In the next few days I’ll be putting up a separate page that will go into more detail. This is going to be Great!

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How Was Your Day?

Posted November 18, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Awareness, Life
Tags: , ,

This is a question that I’m repeating to myself each day as I return home from a day at the office. I’m asking this question, and you should too, because of the fact that we should be living remarkable (another word that is becoming very familiar to my mind) lives every day.

Sure we all have bum days where things don’t go exactly as planned…well maybe a lot of those kind of days, but that is still no reason to go home and answer The Question with a simple “OK”. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not skydiving and bull riding every day, but I have picked up the gauntlet to have remarkable experiences more often than the “status quo” wants me to.

A remarkable day is simply a day that exhibits qualities worthy of remarking about. What did you do today that can’t wait to tell other people about?

In case you haven’t heard, I corralled a snake (a Copperhead we think now) out of the church – no we didn’t keep it for Sunday. Now that’s remarkable! And I bet you want to tell someone else right now.

Look out for opportunities to do and experience remarkable things. Life is waiting to be lived – so go live it!

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Most People

Posted November 15, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Awareness, Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Influence, Leadership, Life, People
Tags: , ,

This is from the book Tribes by Seth Godin and it is great:

Most people like the products they already have, so marketers ignore them.
Most people work hard to fit in, so others don’t notice them.
Most people like eating at places where they’ve eaten before.
Most people would like the world to stay just as it is, but calmer.
Most people are afraid.
Most people didn’t use Google until last year.
Most people aren’t curious.
You’re not most people.
You’re not the target market for most marketers.
Almost all the growth that’s available to you exists when you aren’t like most people and when you work hard to appeal to folks who aren’t most people.

Here’s to you. Someone who is most assuredly not “most people”!

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What kind of Change do we need?

Posted November 13, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Awareness, Context, Cultural Ideas, Life
Tags: , , ,

The entire election cycle has had with it one undulating theme. However we try to look at it, Change, has been on the gilded tongues of both competing parties. It seems, in practice, that we humans tend to desire equilibrium more than constant change. In fact, one of the problems with many previously successful industries around the world is that when faced with a decision to change or to remain the same, they chose the latter. Typically this resulted in reduced influence or relegation to the history books.

Now, it seems, we yearn for “change”. Despite it’s popularity the word is a swarm of ambiguous ideas. Depending on how many people you question about the meaning of the word “change” will determine the variety of answers you will receive.

We have to admit that change is decidedly amoral. The true meaning has to be derived from its motivation. For me, the idea of change leads me in the direction of asking, “where is the reference for change?” When we decide to change, what will be the way we will measure our change?

Meg Wheatley (by now you know I’m a fan) says that,

Self-reference is what facilitates change in turbulent environments. In human organizations, a clear sense of identity.

the values, traditions, aspirations, competencies, and culture that guide the operation are the real source of independence

from the environment. When the environment demands a new response, there is a reference point for change.

Self-identity gives us the fulcrum to make positive progressive change happen. Self-identity and self-reflection are crucial in the volatile world we live in. Meg doesn’t say, “If the environment demands a new response”, she says, “WHEN the environment demands a new response”. Reinvention and rebirth come from change that has at it’s root an accepted identity.

Whether in our homes or at work, change will come, but the question to ask is, “Where will the reference point for change come from?” If you do not have that point identified, change can bring distress. If you do have that point solidly in place, change can produce exponential growth in your life and career.

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What Does Your Future Look Like?

Posted November 12, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Awareness, Belief, giving, Influence, Life, People
Tags: , , , ,

This past week I was rereading some books that I had stacked up, one was Turning To One Another by Meg Wheatley. Great book about the value of simple conversations and being presnt in those conversations. What struck me was a quote by Paulo Freire which said,

 “What if we discover that our present way of life is irreconcilable with our vocation to become fully human?”

If you are like me, I don’t often find myself thinking about what it means to be fully human. You may be asking the same question, but for Paulo, the answer is that the vocation, or calling, to be fully human is given to us and therefore signifies that we are part of a larger place.

To become fully human means that we live an open life that is filled with generosity. We become more human each time we make the decision to reach out instead of withdrawing into our personal sufferings and experiences.

We can only become fully human when we extend ourselves. When we create a world of secrecy and whispers around us, we lose life rather than gain life. When we chose to become aloof and non-communicative we allow our ego to reign and prevent our own growth. When we close ourselves off from those around us, we may pretend that we are doing it for our own good. The truth is that we lack the courage to engage real dialogue – conversations where I speak and then become silent and listen. Speeches do not give; they are not generous. Listening and opening ourselves up to one another are acts of generosity. These are the actions that lead to our becoming fully human and going from a human doing to a human being.

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Words From Rumi

Posted November 11, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Awareness, Belief, Centering Prayer, Life, peace, People
Tags: , ,

Rumi was a Persian poet who had and continues to have considerable influence in both the Middle East as well as here in America. His poems are known for their spiritual significance and poignancy. One that I felt would be good to share is short and to the point.

“Sit down and be quiet.
You are drunk, and this is the
edge of the roof.”

How often do we become caught up in the activities of the day, drunk if you will, and forget about the life we are living and the world around us. Taking time to consider and think about things consciously is a discipline that is lost from our collective accepted behaviour. Anyone can sit and say that they are thinking, but the truth of their words comes from the actions that follow.

Take some time today and think – if for just 5 or 10 minutes. Focus on the thinking and quiet yourself. Often when you return to your work things will seem clearer. This isn’t magic, it is the way we were meant to live our lives.

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