Here's some information that should blow your mind:
From the dawn of time until 2003, approximately 5 exabytes of information were created. An exabyte is 1 billion gigabytes or 1 million terabytes. That's a lot of information, right? Well...
Today we generate that amount of information every two days!
The explosion of Google and other search engines reflects this incredible fact. Do you want to know something? Google it. Information is available at our finger tips in an unprecedented way. It's also easier than ever before to disseminate information. Hence this historic tipping point.
They say that knowledge is power. If so, we are more powerful than ever before in history. Maybe we are.
But in spite of all of this information - this power - we still cannot master ourselves. We are more aware of the obscure details of the universe, and the minute (and dare I say irrelevant) details of people's lives (thanks to Twitter), but we are less self aware than ever. And why not? With all of these distractions, who has time to listen to his heart?
Information does not have the power to change lives. Only God can do that. We are not more compassionate, loving, joyous, generous, wise, or good. We are (if Twitter is any indication) more narcissistic than ever. While all of the small narratives clamor for attention, the Meta Narrative moves inexorably forward.
God seems to prefer mystery. He is not terribly concerned with providing an information dump. I've noticed that He seems to tell me things on a need to know basis - and there is much that I clearly do not need to know.
So... while from a technological perspective we're living in an exciting - and unprecedented time, nothing much has changed if you're concerned about what really matters. The changes that happen in our hearts still take a long time. The transformation of our lives, a lifetime.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
What Do You Expect?
One of my favorite songs from Christine Dente's new album is "I Expect Great Things." It's of God that the great things are expected.
Expectations are very powerful things. I've noticed that people usually get what they expect - whether it's great things of God or mistreatment at the hands of others, "bad breaks", etc.
If you're a Christian, you can be assured of two things:
1. That Love wins in the end. God is now and will be victorious in this epic romance.
2. No matter what happens, God will be victorious in your life. In other words, " In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose"(Rom 8:28). Period.
You can safely expect great things of God.
So what can you expect from the people in your life? I think it's safe to say that you can expect them to be human - just like you. Sometimes they'll far exceed what you ever hoped and sometimes disappoint. Just like you do. Even (maybe especially) in our relationships we seem to get what we're looking for. I hate to refer to two songs in one post, but it fits so well that I'm compelled. In Sara Grove's song "Loving a Person" (just the way they are) she observes, "If we go looking for offense, we're going to find it. If we go looking for real love, we're going to find it."
Mercy and grace and redemption are all around us - in our circumstances, in our relationships, everywhere - if we only have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to embrace.
So, what do YOU expect?
Expectations are very powerful things. I've noticed that people usually get what they expect - whether it's great things of God or mistreatment at the hands of others, "bad breaks", etc.
If you're a Christian, you can be assured of two things:
1. That Love wins in the end. God is now and will be victorious in this epic romance.
2. No matter what happens, God will be victorious in your life. In other words, " In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose"(Rom 8:28). Period.
You can safely expect great things of God.
So what can you expect from the people in your life? I think it's safe to say that you can expect them to be human - just like you. Sometimes they'll far exceed what you ever hoped and sometimes disappoint. Just like you do. Even (maybe especially) in our relationships we seem to get what we're looking for. I hate to refer to two songs in one post, but it fits so well that I'm compelled. In Sara Grove's song "Loving a Person" (just the way they are) she observes, "If we go looking for offense, we're going to find it. If we go looking for real love, we're going to find it."
Mercy and grace and redemption are all around us - in our circumstances, in our relationships, everywhere - if we only have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to embrace.
So, what do YOU expect?
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Focus & Intensity Versus Passion & Joy
Yesterday I answered phones for a contest we are running at work: Smartphone Fridays. I have to admit that what I do for a living feels like play most of the time anyway, but yesterday I had even more fun than usual. We had a bank of phones set up in a large training room, and when the phone rang, I snatched it up and enthusiastically welcomed the caller to the Prize Line. Giving away prizes in incredibly rewarding!
Our prize line opened at 9 a.m. and closed at 7 p.m.. One of my teammates commented that one of our other co-workers and I were just as excited at 7 p.m. (in spite of our fatigue) as we were when we began the day. And we were. Why? We were having fun. We were filled with joy.
I've already admitted that my work feels more like play. I would say that passion and joy characterize my attitude toward what I do every day. Interestingly, in the company I work for, the words "focus" and "intensity" are often used to describe the qualities desired. There may be times when you're doing something difficult or unpleasant when focus and intensity are the only things that will carry you through. There's a little something negative when you combine those two words in the context of work over the long haul, however. What I picture (and often see in various work groups) are grim faced people striving every day just to get through the day.
Passion and joy take you further - help you to not only do a task or job with excellence, but ensure that at the end of the day you're just as excited as you were at the beginning of it. I don't know about you, but that's how I want to live and work and love.
Our prize line opened at 9 a.m. and closed at 7 p.m.. One of my teammates commented that one of our other co-workers and I were just as excited at 7 p.m. (in spite of our fatigue) as we were when we began the day. And we were. Why? We were having fun. We were filled with joy.
I've already admitted that my work feels more like play. I would say that passion and joy characterize my attitude toward what I do every day. Interestingly, in the company I work for, the words "focus" and "intensity" are often used to describe the qualities desired. There may be times when you're doing something difficult or unpleasant when focus and intensity are the only things that will carry you through. There's a little something negative when you combine those two words in the context of work over the long haul, however. What I picture (and often see in various work groups) are grim faced people striving every day just to get through the day.
Passion and joy take you further - help you to not only do a task or job with excellence, but ensure that at the end of the day you're just as excited as you were at the beginning of it. I don't know about you, but that's how I want to live and work and love.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Plain Speaking
Communication is an interesting thing. I feel certain that it's always been challenging, but today maybe more so than in the past. The company I work for has a pretty good credo. Part of it says this, "We respect and trust one another, communicating openly, candidly, and directly since any other way is unfair and a waste of time." I think those are words to live by.
It seems to me that much of what passes for communication falls very short of that mark. I have two teenagers at home. A great deal of their communication is via text messaging. In the business world, we say that text messaging is a great way to communicate quickly and discreetly (i.e., if you're in a meeting). That's the good that texting brings. It's also a way to communicate in a passive / aggressive way. Texting, because it's not face to face, emboldens us to say what we would never say if we were standing before someone or speaking with them on the phone.
Facebook, My Space, and Blogs work the same way. Very often over the past few years, my daughter and son have taken shots at unnamed people (who've offended them) via their Facebook status. Maybe it's not that bad. They get to vent and say what's on their mind. But does it really solve anything? How often does what they say hit home to whomever it's directed to? Should it? If it's not something they'd feel comfortable saying to that person's face, probably not. It sure gets their friends talking, though - speculating about who it is and what they did... It stirs the pot of general adolescent poo.
Bad communication goes far beyond the electronic world, however. I was having a conversation with a man in my church last week. He wanted to say something about a situation, but he didn't want to be direct. He was using a code he understood, but I did not. He told me that if I thought about it, that I'd see what he meant. The fact is, that I've thought a lot about the situation in question already, but did not understand what he was trying to say. I finally asked him to spell it out for me (I'm not a mind reader). Beating around the bush or speaking in euphemisms is, I believe, a waste of time - at least if you want to be understood.
Why do we want to say bold things electronically and beat around the bush when we're face to face? What's so hard about speaking plainly and from the heart? I think that we fear vulnerability. If we say what we really think or how we really feel, we have to own those thoughts and feelings and open ourselves to disagreement, conflict, or rejection.
The Bible urges us to speak the truth in love. Sometimes the truth is that we've been hurt or offended. But other times the truth is that we love someone and need to express it. Either way, plain speaking is the best option. It's only communication if the message is sent and received.
It seems to me that much of what passes for communication falls very short of that mark. I have two teenagers at home. A great deal of their communication is via text messaging. In the business world, we say that text messaging is a great way to communicate quickly and discreetly (i.e., if you're in a meeting). That's the good that texting brings. It's also a way to communicate in a passive / aggressive way. Texting, because it's not face to face, emboldens us to say what we would never say if we were standing before someone or speaking with them on the phone.
Facebook, My Space, and Blogs work the same way. Very often over the past few years, my daughter and son have taken shots at unnamed people (who've offended them) via their Facebook status. Maybe it's not that bad. They get to vent and say what's on their mind. But does it really solve anything? How often does what they say hit home to whomever it's directed to? Should it? If it's not something they'd feel comfortable saying to that person's face, probably not. It sure gets their friends talking, though - speculating about who it is and what they did... It stirs the pot of general adolescent poo.
Bad communication goes far beyond the electronic world, however. I was having a conversation with a man in my church last week. He wanted to say something about a situation, but he didn't want to be direct. He was using a code he understood, but I did not. He told me that if I thought about it, that I'd see what he meant. The fact is, that I've thought a lot about the situation in question already, but did not understand what he was trying to say. I finally asked him to spell it out for me (I'm not a mind reader). Beating around the bush or speaking in euphemisms is, I believe, a waste of time - at least if you want to be understood.
Why do we want to say bold things electronically and beat around the bush when we're face to face? What's so hard about speaking plainly and from the heart? I think that we fear vulnerability. If we say what we really think or how we really feel, we have to own those thoughts and feelings and open ourselves to disagreement, conflict, or rejection.
The Bible urges us to speak the truth in love. Sometimes the truth is that we've been hurt or offended. But other times the truth is that we love someone and need to express it. Either way, plain speaking is the best option. It's only communication if the message is sent and received.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Shameless Love - Part II, Fire Insurance
Sometimes in Christian meetings an interesting question is asked toward the end (before the altar call): "If you were to die tonight, do you know where you'd spend eternity?"
It's interesting because if you think about the redemption meta narrative - and God's yearning, seeking, searching, redeeming love, it's more than a little insulting. Get saved so that you can avoid the flames of hell. Grab a little fire insurance.
From the beginning of the story, God's desire has been to enjoy an intimate relationship with his creatures. This is an incredible honor - an epic condescending! God wants to enjoy us and to be enjoyed by us. It's the desire of a lover for the beloved.
To think that we could respond to this beautiful longing for intimacy with the self serving notion of fire insurance is base and frankly horrible.
Interestingly, God's love is so shameless, that He honors that low impulse, and is willing to embark on a faith journey with those who are "using" Him to avoid hell. His ways are indeed unsearchable and His grace amazing!
It's interesting because if you think about the redemption meta narrative - and God's yearning, seeking, searching, redeeming love, it's more than a little insulting. Get saved so that you can avoid the flames of hell. Grab a little fire insurance.
From the beginning of the story, God's desire has been to enjoy an intimate relationship with his creatures. This is an incredible honor - an epic condescending! God wants to enjoy us and to be enjoyed by us. It's the desire of a lover for the beloved.
To think that we could respond to this beautiful longing for intimacy with the self serving notion of fire insurance is base and frankly horrible.
Interestingly, God's love is so shameless, that He honors that low impulse, and is willing to embark on a faith journey with those who are "using" Him to avoid hell. His ways are indeed unsearchable and His grace amazing!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Shameless Love - Part I
It's been a while since I've had anything in particular to say, but this evening, my head and heart feel an impending explosion if I don't take a few minutes to write things down, so here goes...
This Sunday past I heard a sermon on Luke 15: 11-31, commonly referred to the "Parable of the Prodigal (or lost) Son." It would be more correct to call it the "Parable of the Father's Love" or something like that, because the focus of the story is the Father and his astounding - even shameless- love. Interestingly, the father in the story is dreadfully insulted by both sons - not only the one that went away and wasted his inheritance (For a full treatment of the parable see Kenneth Bailey's work).
Shamelessness is a predominant characteristic of God's love throughout the biblical narrative. He is continually forgiving, accepting, offering mercy and grace. Think of the story of Hosea who's told to marry a prostitute. Why? Hosea's life is an analog of God's love and forgiveness for the people of Israel, who continually run after others, rather than remain faithful to God, the rightful husband.
There is a part of each of us (I think) that longs for reconciliation like this - reconciliation with God - and reconciliation with one another. Have you received this kind of shameless love? Have you given it?
I'm NOT referring to neurotic or co-dependant love - the kind that reaches out to the other out of sense of personal neediness. Instead, this is a love for the person alone - not for anything the person brings to the table. I'm afraid that many folks today have no experience of receiving love like this. Not only do others expect us to bring something to a relationship - we expect it of ourselves (I know that I like to think that I bring value into my relationships). How about loving someone just for themselves? How about being loved just because you're you?
When Martin Luther baptized babies, he would hold the infant up in front of the congregation and say, "See what love the Father has for us, that we should be called His children, but so we are." It's perfectly clear the a baby isn't bringing anything to God - not even his or her faith, but God loves and receives the child anyway. He loves and receives you that way too. He's not interested in you because you're beautiful, intelligent, witty, fashionable, rich, or whatever. He doesn't need anything from you (or me). His shameless, searching, redeeming love reaches out to us because for some reason, he loves us - just for us. What incredibly good news!
This Sunday past I heard a sermon on Luke 15: 11-31, commonly referred to the "Parable of the Prodigal (or lost) Son." It would be more correct to call it the "Parable of the Father's Love" or something like that, because the focus of the story is the Father and his astounding - even shameless- love. Interestingly, the father in the story is dreadfully insulted by both sons - not only the one that went away and wasted his inheritance (For a full treatment of the parable see Kenneth Bailey's work).
Shamelessness is a predominant characteristic of God's love throughout the biblical narrative. He is continually forgiving, accepting, offering mercy and grace. Think of the story of Hosea who's told to marry a prostitute. Why? Hosea's life is an analog of God's love and forgiveness for the people of Israel, who continually run after others, rather than remain faithful to God, the rightful husband.
There is a part of each of us (I think) that longs for reconciliation like this - reconciliation with God - and reconciliation with one another. Have you received this kind of shameless love? Have you given it?
I'm NOT referring to neurotic or co-dependant love - the kind that reaches out to the other out of sense of personal neediness. Instead, this is a love for the person alone - not for anything the person brings to the table. I'm afraid that many folks today have no experience of receiving love like this. Not only do others expect us to bring something to a relationship - we expect it of ourselves (I know that I like to think that I bring value into my relationships). How about loving someone just for themselves? How about being loved just because you're you?
When Martin Luther baptized babies, he would hold the infant up in front of the congregation and say, "See what love the Father has for us, that we should be called His children, but so we are." It's perfectly clear the a baby isn't bringing anything to God - not even his or her faith, but God loves and receives the child anyway. He loves and receives you that way too. He's not interested in you because you're beautiful, intelligent, witty, fashionable, rich, or whatever. He doesn't need anything from you (or me). His shameless, searching, redeeming love reaches out to us because for some reason, he loves us - just for us. What incredibly good news!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Try, Try Again
OK... you may think this is silly... but here goes. Lately I've been playing a solitaire game called FreeCell. I'd heard several people say that it's possible to win every game. At first I did not believe it. It turns out that it's true.
Since I figured out that it is indeed possible to win every game, the way I play has changed. I play until I win the game. Sometimes that means undoing several moves I've made - sometimes all the way back to the beginning. Though it requires patience and perseverance, I can win every game.
It's made me wonder. If I knew that I'd be successful, how would it change the way I live? Would I persist? Would I be willing to scrap all the moves I'd made and begin again? How about you?
Babies and toddlers know how to persevere. They babble until they learn to communicate with words. They scoot, and crawl, and cruise until they learn to walk. They practice every skill they want to learn continually. And they don't seem to mind.
Most of the things that I need to learn these days are soft skills - mostly they're relational. And I'll admit that I often despair that I'll ever get it. But playing FreeCell has reminded me that I shouldn't give up hope.
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
Since I figured out that it is indeed possible to win every game, the way I play has changed. I play until I win the game. Sometimes that means undoing several moves I've made - sometimes all the way back to the beginning. Though it requires patience and perseverance, I can win every game.
It's made me wonder. If I knew that I'd be successful, how would it change the way I live? Would I persist? Would I be willing to scrap all the moves I'd made and begin again? How about you?
Babies and toddlers know how to persevere. They babble until they learn to communicate with words. They scoot, and crawl, and cruise until they learn to walk. They practice every skill they want to learn continually. And they don't seem to mind.
Most of the things that I need to learn these days are soft skills - mostly they're relational. And I'll admit that I often despair that I'll ever get it. But playing FreeCell has reminded me that I shouldn't give up hope.
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)