a l i v e & a w a k e - church_life

Literally Transforming your BRain Matter -ROm 12:1-2

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 07:13:00 -0500

Too many times we think our problems can be fixed by taking them head on, handling them or destroying them, only then can we be released because the ‘demon’ is destroyed. Jesus lived a life that modeled something different than a campaign of remove all evil. That being said, as Jesus walked and moved and lived on this earth, we could see the fruits of evil and its power being removed. How can the 2 concepts be true? How can it be that Jesus didn’t come destroy to evil but yet evil took a huge step back as Jesus lived?

This is what I believe should be a point of focus: Jesus came to bring ‘life and to the fullest’ John 10:10. In the campaign of abundant life (synonymous with ‘shalom’) evil had no place. Evil wasn’t focused on. Evil lost its power because it was ignored, neglected and dismissed. Granted evil can attack from different angles in life to make its voice heard and attempt to regain power, but the focus choice is still the same ---full and abundant life. Neuroscience reinforces this same principle at a cellular level.

New channels in our brains are constantly being used, made and reinforced every day. With the trillion plus options to adapt, change, and build, our brain watches for new pathways to travel, but it mostly likes to save as much energy as possible and will choose familiar pathways. Even if those pathways are destructive to our overall well being, the brain just sees the easiest path and takes it. It does it in such a way that we don’t even notice.

For example, as you are reading this, you have been breathing 10-20 times, but haven’t thought of it until now. In the same way we are behaving in certain ways that is off of our conscious radar. Whether they are good behaviors or bad, this is how our brain works. But… focus is the key to a change towards abundant life. Ultimately as we focus on Christ and His attributes (Phil 4:8) we are shaped, changed and cultivating more of His fullness to dwell in us. Like the man who was late for work every day at his new job.

Neuroscience and Lateness

Sean received his first career job since university. He was ecstatic and couldn’t believe he got what was potentially his life work at ‘PT Consulting’ so early in life. He knew he would have to work his way up the totem pole of roles in the company but the CEO said he had the right stuff for partnership. The CEO was also clear on a few values of the company that Sean needed to abide to without fail and his direct report would oversee Sean. The biggest haunting value was ‘Do not be late!” This was a bit of a problem for Sean who lived across town without a car and was dependant on a bus system that only began the route by his house at 8am. The 50 min bus ride was followed up by a 10 minute run to the building from the bus stop. It took exactly 10 minutes to get from the bottom of the building to his desk. This always made Sean 5 minutes noticeably late to his new manager.

Why? Because the office was on the 11^th floor which was an average of a 5 minute elevator ride to the floor #10 which was a cafeteria for all businesses in the building. It took Sean at least 2-3 minutes at least to make quick movements through the line ups, tables and people to the stair well which took him to the 11^th floor where he at best could stride to in 30 seconds. Running through the corridor, into their business entrance took another 15 seconds and making it to his desk in the south-east corner was another 30 seconds. Average total time 9-10 minutes- totally unacceptable. In addition, Sean would arrive quite sweaty. Not the most professional appearance. This was more noticeable because his department always had a 9:00am team meeting to go over the day.

Here is how Sean took this challenge on.

First he told his manager this was his first priority and to give him a week to improve. If there was no change, he left it to his discretion.

-began running, stretching and conditioning training so his speed and agility could increase for run time from the bus to building, the run on the 10^th floor cafeteria could decrease and the run up the final stair and hallway increase.

-brought a change of clothes and deodorant to make a quick tidy up

Day one, he was a bit stiff and sore from his training outside of work so he was actually 11 minutes late, but that was okay because he was careful that day to chart out the best way to run through the cafeteria without meeting the most obstacles.

Day two, Sean’s time was cut by 3 minutes.

By day 5 Sean had a five minute decrease, but he was winded and still very sweaty. Sean was discouraged because this was the best he could do and there was no hope of this ever getting better (until he could save up to get a car).

What is Sean to do? In two days he would have to face his angry boss and he could not deliver. The problem may have been that Sean was focusing on all his problems.

What? Doesn’t it seem Sean was focusing on all the little solutions to the problem? This is what Sean’s coworker told him after the day 6 sweaty appearance. “Sean I have heard all the things you are doing to improve but you are so focused on this running, bus, sweaty problem and using so much effort, energy to solve it. Maybe you need to abandon the plan altogether.”

Sean didn’t understand at all. The coworker pulled out of his pants a pass card for the company (same one Sean had). He told him that it was a special company card that gave access to the company elevator that took only one express minute ride to the company. There was a whole new path! Our brain works the same way.

Studies show that when we learn a new behaviour, it forms a neuropath that it begins to hard wire (whether a good thing or bad). It is reinforced by behaviors, experiences and strong emotions that come from the behaviour. Over time that path will become the freeway of that area of your life and be the preferred track for communication and supplying the body with nutrients. For example the common practice of addiction (negative behaviour) was started at some point and has become a major freeway in the mind. The individual will incorporate some behaviour during the day that thinks, acts on or craves the addiction because the body is best fed by the addictions. Meanwhile other neuropaths will be under developed. It is precisely the hard task of using new pathways that will stop the destructive behaviour; it is not healing the old pathway or trying to dismantle it. It’s just simply leaving it alone while strengthening the new pathway.

As foolish as this example with Sean is, we are the same in our approach to spiritual life problems. We encounter discouragement and we think we need to pray and study on the topic of discouragement and its opposite. We find an obstacle in a relationship and we look at improving that person or our personality to hopefully change our behaviour and resolve the problem. Don’t get me wrong, we sometimes can make a smoother ride in life by examining these issues but I would venture that the problems we face and are sometimes consumed with are easily fixed by not focusing on them at all. I would also include that for those who have physiological issues, a simple chemical assessment and balance through food medication could make a tremendous difference. That still doesn’t answer the neuropath. We redirect our focus on to what we are built for - good, worthy of praise, excellent, and godly (Phil 4:8). It is taking some time to see what God has built us to be, and responding to how Christ is acting in the world around us. We develop a whole new muscle group spiritually speaking. Taking these actions will at least minimize the previous behaviors.

We are in a great position as influencers to help cultivate environments for people who deal with strong negative behaviors. We can create opportunities each week in how we develop study, compassionate and connection. The focus is to help behaviors that compliment and encourage the ability to see and respond to Christ in every moment. The temptation will be to help people (including ourselves) in their problems when it is the first problem that needs to be addressed – We are not looking for, recognizing, and responding to the ever present Christ. When we don’t see or desire that, we will go about our business and fill in our best interpretation of the activities that are pleasing to God. They may be good but over time the direct connection is what we need. He will be the voice that partners with us in the renewal of our minds.

This is a long “thought” but I hope you follow my thinking here.

Question- What are some practical ways to help people we see to desire, recognize and respond to Christ? (Individually and in a group)

Feedback?

Church?!

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:55:00 -0500

1. Church for people who aren’t into church

This statement has been the slogan since day one of The Meeting House community back in 1986. There are 2 different types of ‘church’s’ in this statement: the church people aren’t into, and the church we are truly called to be (my take).

I’ll start with the Church that people aren’t into. What comes to mind? It is what the church is regrettably mostly known for: religious, money taking, self preserving, guilt and shame, prejudice, dogmatic, angry, punishment, a building, a bible. The list goes on but you can fill in your own impression. It is not all bad of course, but it means crossing many social and sub cultural barriers before you can get the ‘goods’. You belong and prove yourself worthy of those goods once you look like, talk like, pay like, and think like the group of people of this particular expression.

At best this people group will try to attract others into their sub culture by promising the good news. It will have many programs and events for people to dedicate themselves to and the upkeep of the places and programs in essence will need the new people they are trying to attract.

The other ‘church’ term is maybe not as understood but much more powerful. It is a group of people who are given the name church because of the person of Christ. IT is a relational term first that involves an inward process of transformation. That transformation speaks of the growing attributes of God revealing Himself in and through the people. Attributes like peace, love, forgiveness, joy and generosity that are shown in real tangible ways to people who are suffering, alone, financially struggling, abused and poor. It is a people not restricted to space, events or time slots in a week but are called to be active in every moment, place and situation. The people called church are sent into the world and the only ‘attractional’ thing about them is Christ in them (not relying on buildings, events and catchy methods).

So what can that look like? Ideally at the Meeting House we believe the power of a group of people who support and cultivate the fullness of Christ in each other will change their city –we call it Home Church. We have talked again and again about what it means to have Home Church and the intentional community relationships there to be an entry point into our community at large. Nice ideal, however how do you start? I have seen people enter Home Churches in Brampton who knew nothing about the Meeting House, Bruxy or our services yet they knew people who knew them, supported them and did life together as neighbours. When the neighbours saw Christ working they asked more questions and wanted to check out what was going on. They had an easier time going to someone’s home with their friend to learn more about what compels them.

Getting close to people and intentionally building relationships was the first practice.

I find new thoughts can come when we take a look at our beginnings. It is true for an individual as much as it is for us as community.

Feedback?

The Human Crisis

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 07:50:00 -0400

The world around us is suffering and dying. As we look at the various causes, we find that there is a new common link connecting the deadliest diseases infecting our world. It could arguably be called the biggest ‘pandemic’ the world currently faces. Billions are suffering from it. It leaves the victim numb, hollow and severely disabled from the normal everyday functions of life. Truth be known, most of us have symptoms of this disease. It destroys us from the inside out and is the leading cause of AIDS, malaria, cancer, war, poverty, consumerism, separation, injustice and waste. It IS preventable but too many are letting it go undiagnosed for too long. “What is it” you ask? It is apathy - the indifference to life.

While some may argue that death is the biggest enemy of humanity, I can think of two reasons why this may not be the case. First of all, we know from nature (especially in the plant world) that death often marks the beginning of new life, making death not an end but a new beginning. It is a necessary part of the life cycle. Secondly, the work of Christ on the cross was done to take the finality out of death. Death has lost its power to destroy us. Though we still die physically, there is something more insidious than this … the ongoing day to day squandering of our most precious gift – the gift of life. If we live life to the fullest, we reproduce, we build, we help, we commune, we cultivate ourselves and others, and we leave a legacy. We are being true to our nature when we live this kind of life. If we miss these opportunities to live, we violate our very nature as people made in God’s image. When that happens our selfishness can kill, harm, ruin and devastate people we don’t even know and all of this can be done in complete ignorance.

The devastation we see daily from wars, diseases, starvation and injustice is due to our inaction rather than just the action of an oppressor. There is no one government, dictator or terrorist to blame. You don’t need to look any further than yourself. You may have heard that the opposite of love is hate, but the complete opposite of love is indifference and numbness to your fellow being.

This crisis or pandemic we are currently experiencing needs to be identified in ourselves, our churches, our cities, our nations and our world. We need to paint this picture for one another over and over again in many creative ways until we can wake up in the morning and know that we are no longer carriers of the disease (especially in North America). We need to paint this picture for our family, our community and our world, because the most harmful component of this disease is that is makes us sleepy, unaware and numb. The tension (as put by Alan Hirsch in his book “The Forgotten Ways” ) needs to be presented over and over until the ‘guerilla warfare leaders’ present themselves. These will be the people who say “That’s enough! We can no longer live this way. We need to take action right now!” They will be the ones who lead us to Life abundant – the life for which we were created. They will keep us uncomfortable and yet moving in a positive direction. They will have discipline to see their cause as the number one cause of Christ (John 10:10). Who are these people? Who will lead us?

You may disagree with me at first, but I don’t believe they will be the popular leaders of our day - the wealthy, the politically astute, or the influential. They will be … the poors.

The poors will be the ‘guerilla leaders’ and the restorers of justice, leading us to the way of true worship and compassion. ‘Poors’ include the weak, the disenfranchised, the oppressed, the abused, the imprisoned, (the true Hebrew biblical definition of the word). Isaiah 61 is evidence of this plan (in case you think my ideas are WAY out there). In Luke chapter four Jesus is given one chance to bring a message to the Jews of His day and the one He brings and says he has fulfilled is the amazing truth of Isaiah 61. In Himself he reveals God’s heart and mission to the world. He gives an anointing to the cause of bringing justice, freedom, good news and life to the poors. They in turn will be “oaks of righteousness” and restorers of the ‘devastation’. In the same way a healthy garden brings forth food that nourishes all, these leaders will bring righteousness and celebration to creation and restore it to health. As we see the work and intent of God in this, we must also see the leaders He is calling to this cause. Seeing this compels me to submit a strategy of creating healthy environments

I think the analogy of a garden fits this discussion well. A healthy garden is a rich environment requiring good soil, care, sun, and smart planning in order to bring out the best of what you have planted. It’s all about cultivation. When it comes to growing people, cultivating the right environment supersedes raising up good programs, services, leaders and buildings. The proper environment will produce and reproduce all of these things. The strategy of creating a healthy environment – one that cultivates lives – must be our highest priority. How do we cultivate environments that will cultivate lives? We do this by seeking the face of Christ, seeing the face of Christ and celebrating His face (by celebrate I mean to speak of, treasure and live in response to).

May I suggest 3-4 principles that can be helpful when we talk of “seek, see, and celebrate”: Build Relationships that are on mission for encouragement and feedback Listen and Highlight the Work of Christ at every moment in your day

Pay close attention to How people think rather than What people think

Respond by offering your compassionate presence and look for ways to cultivate others.

Missional in a Word

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 11:30:00 -0500

One of the greatest gifts I received (looking back) in my life was Christ. Before you say ‘oh, of course you would say that’, realize there is a certain aspect of eternal life that was given to me in this relationship. I have heard many before say this. Many emphasize the salvation of Christ (meaning ‘I’m going to heaven’) and that is good –a great bonus. The greatest aspect of the gospel for me is that I have been called into the living work of Christ manifesting Himself on this earth on a daily basis. That has much more comfort to me rather than a beautiful place of ‘gold’ that I will spend eternity.

In essence the gift Christ has empowered me with is Mission!

Salvation for the human race has to include Mission. For me it has been crucial to my growth and awareness of who Christ is to seek, see and act (celebrate). This is not a one time occurrence but an ongoing salvation (sort of like “work out your salvation with fear and trembling”-Phil 2).

My first injection of this mission was at Graphite Camp. I seem to go there for the girl population and it was just a fun thing to do over the summer, but I caught a taste of something else—mission. It was the mission (looking back) of community building, helping the poor and sharing Christ that I really enjoyed on a deeper level. I had this experience off and on for about 5-6 yrs. It wasn’t until I was asked to be apart of starting a new ministry in Bancroft (switch Yard –see stories from Joe’s view) that I grabbed hold of the way Christ had equipped me.

I am now at a church (The Meeting House) and finding this dynamic of missional is needed in my setting. I see people who have not been empowered to be on mission but want to contribute to a bigger cause. The history of the church has proven to be one of a fortress mentality as opposed to an organic community placed on this earth to bless others with the mission and life of Christ. I’m in no way perfect and I forget many times to be intentional in this way. Mission is where we can all find a purpose and place to belong.

A great analogy of a Missional and non-missional mindset

If you were prejudice, racists, complainer type, you would not have time to be any of those things if you were in the heat of battle on the frontlines. On the frontlines, the bombs are going off so you can hardly hear, the bullets fly over head and your have a gun in you hand hoping the person beside you is with you. You wouldn’t care if they were racially different. You wouldn’t care if the food wasn’t great that morning, or if your clothes were the most comfortable or fashionable.

Back ten miles from the frontlines –rear echelons—they find the soldiers are complaining about everything –even when they can hear the battle in the distance!

This is true with the church sometimes if we are not consistently putting ourselves in the reality of the battle around us. If we are positioned in the church like a ‘rear echelon’ than we will find people complaining, acting on prejudice, apathetic and harmful for team moral.

Here are some of my thoughts on how the church can transform into a missional community. We need to create missional environments. It is moving from where we have typically practiced church to something else.

Missional is moving from

l Giving l God’s power Revealed l Learning l ‘what’ thoughts l Building relationships l Christ –reconciler

to...

l Equipping l Empowering l Learn to teach l ‘how’ thoughts l Partnering l Christ reconciling through us

Cultivating an atmosphere of Moving from a goal to gather, to a goal of gathering to move. Bottom word INTENTIONALITY!

Lots more can be said, but this a taste of my journey.

A Place for our Voice

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 13:45:00 -0400

Here is a picture of someone who appeared in the Ottawa Citizen just today. As the teaching pastor of The Meeting House, Bruxy Cavey is well known as being one who integrates cultural literature and media into his messages. The article was showcasing his unique style of "preaching pop culture". Quite interesting. I am happy that my brother (Joe) is working with someone who has such a good sense of what the poets and preachers of society are saying. I too am aware that the media is revealing a society that has a facsination and interest in the supernatural. It causes lots of questions and creates lots of seekers.

Here is picture of another man who also believed that as Christians we need to hold the newspaper in one hand and your Bible in the other (the newspaper was the most common form of media at the time). Billy Graham has always tried to listen to the heart's cry of society to bring a pointed and relevent message. As far as I know he continues this practice.

It's in listening to what is being said and asked that we can begin to stand up and speak. So often I find myself talking, not "understanding the times". Today's paper was an encouragement and a gentle reminder to not shelter myself beneath the cover of indifference or ignorance, but instead pray for the wisdom to find a place for my voice.

Jon

The Giver of Life

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 20:36:26 -0500

"God is not a sedative that keeps you calm and under control by dulling your senses. He does quite the opposite. He awakens your spirit to be truly alive." Erwin McManus

I am a follower of Jesus, the Messiah. I am becoming more and more hesitant to use the word Christian, not because I don't understand the original meaning of the word, but because most other people don't.

It has become synonymous with boring, fundamentalism, irrelevance, hypocracy and uselessness. Many people view following Christ a selling of one's life to a creed that gives them a list of do's and don't's.

I like this quote, because it captures my thoughts exactly. I found that when I met Jesus (the real Jesus - not some institutionalized version found in a church building) my life changed. Aside from my hyper tendencies, I found an internal well of life that became the new driving force in my life. Suddenly, every fibre of my being was invigorated by energy, meaning and an optimism that far surpassed any of the modern-day positive thinking programs. I just found myself to be such a happy person.

It's sad to think that people are turned off finding a life-giving spiritual connection to their Creator because of the institutionization of the Church. If you have found yourself dulled by traditions and religiosity, it's time you personally met the Jesus I know. You find him, you will find life.

Jon

The Sermon

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 22:10:00 -0500

This is a simple story to illustrate that some of the clearest messages that God wants to say happen in the most unlikely places. The moral? Don't assume religion is doing all the talking.

Jon

*************************************

It was 9:30 Sunday morning.

Reverend William Stokes had risen early and was trying to concentrate on his last illustration for the sermon that morning.

Mr. Smith sat at the breakfast table deciding whether or not to eat the crusts off his toast and whether or not the sermon would teach him anything about God. Mrs. Smith was washing young Benjamin’s tangled hair, wishing he would sit still, and wishing her husband would sometimes help.

After placing a large stuffed turkey in the oven, Penelope was perched quietly in her favourite high-backed chair, carefully sipping a hot cup of peppermint tea. She was waiting for her ride to church.

Eva Longley shifted uncomfortably in her thick woolen blankets; contemplating how cold the nights were getting and marveling at how long she could go without a hot meal.

Further down the street, Fred the cop whistled a happy tune while swinging his billy stick. He was glad he wasn’t going to church because he believed he learned nothing there anyways.

The Robertson twins dressed in their Sunday best sat grumpily on the hall tree knowing they would miss their favourite shows on TV that morning.

After a late night of self-inflicted partying, Deacon Roger Dierston lay in his bed, trying to see through the blinding headache.

The church meeting would start at 10 O’clock.

******************************************

Mrs. Smith’s fingers danced joyfully across the old keys of the organ as the handful of choir members sang at the top of their lungs.

Benjamin Smith had found a spider under the pew and had managed to squeeze his entire body under his dad’s seat to watch it.

At 10:23 am, a random street person tried to get into the back doors of the church, but luckily Deacon Roger, who himself had entered late, was able to spare the congregation from any interruption, and turned him away.

Penelope sat as straight as a poker, piously holding a hymn book on the fingertips of her right hand.

Outside Fred the cop stopped whistling long enough to see if he knew what they were singing. He didn’t know, so he continued merrily on his way.

The hymns were sung. Deacon Roger collected all $67.58 of the offering. The children were seated in their proper places with paper and crayons in their hands.

Then Reverend Stokes preached vigorously for 53 minutes from the book of Isaiah while some people watched Deacon Dierston’s head bobbing lazily.

Mrs. Smith held Benjamin’s busy hand while giving the evil eye to her indifferent husband. Mr. Smith was feeling puzzled as to why he wasn’t learning anything new about God. Penelope was checking her gold watch, wondering how her turkey was doing.

And the Robertson twins were still grumpy.

****************************************************

At 11:16 am, the meeting was over. People wandered socially to their cars. As they left the old church building, Reverend Stokes shook every hand, particularly pleased to have used his new illustration in his sermon.

There was an argument in the Smith car.

Deacon Roger Dierston pulled from the parking lot and on to Main Street and checked his watch to see how much time he had to sleep before the football game.

Penelope was dropped off at home just in time to pull the perfect turkey from the oven.

The street person who was denied entrance into the church building by Deacon Roger found Eva still lying in her thick woolen blankets. Bending down, he placed his last crumpled bill in her hand…smiled… and walked away.

Fred, who was resting from his walk that morning, saw what the street person did. Surprisingly Fred learned something about God.

Bringing a Balance to Leadership

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 09:25:00 -0500

There is so much out there about leadership and being a person of influence, but to balance the plethora of books, seminar and websites, I believe there needs to be a counter-balance of something called "followership"; the ability to be lead. One of the issues I can see emerging in business, in church life, and even in the home is the overpopulation of self-made leaders, without the ability to work together. Teachability, teamwork, and mutual submission to each other's giftings will allow a greater fluidity of role amongst a team, without elements of competition or division.

Followership means being able to step down when someone else has a better idea, and then you are able to help promote them. Followership means you allow other respected people to have their say in your life. Followership means you support someone else's vision, rather than having people serve yours. Followership means you are willing to let your resources be donated to the cause of another.

Followership also means you lead strongly knowing someone else will hold you accountable for your actions. It means you walk a tight balance of giving and receiving strength and correction and input and guidance.

As a team, all members must submit to each other's roles and responsibilities, as well as to the overriding mandate that the team carries. Once people are joined together in a meaningful way, and together under the authority of their purpose, they can begin to become unified in their endeavours. A team that exercises this kind of followership has a chance of being able to deal with differences of perspective, difficulties from external pressure and diversity of people.

Jon

Am I My Brother's Keeper?

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Wed, 23 Nov 2005 15:11:50 -0500

There is a pervasive attitude amongst us in North America that to need someone else is weak. This coupled with the fact that people are generally only concerned with their own lives leads to a society that lacks a proper view of community. Am I my brother's keeper? Do I have a responsibility to look out for the well being of others?

There is an old Japanese fable that compares heaven and hell. In hell, it says, people walk around using chopsticks that are longer than their arms. Although food is abundant, people are in a constant state of starving. In heaven, people use the same chopsticks, but people are well fed and content. What's the difference between heaven and hell? In hell everyone tries to feed themselves. In heaven they feed each other. In the same way, society works best when we take care of each other.

Mentoring is a term that has become popular as a concept, but rare as a practice. True mentoring is the act of coming alongside someone else to give them the very best you have to offer. It is a relationship that allows someone to speak into the other's life. I have had many. many people who have thankfully spoken into my life; people who have deposited building blocks of truth, and as a result, have helped to guide me through life's challenges.

To be mentored by someone takes quite a bit of humility. We are trained from an early age (just watch Disney videos) that to get through life on your own is admirable. Society preaches independence and a life of success through sheer willpower and determination. While those are excellent qualities, we were built for a life vitally connected to others.

Who do you know that is able to speak openly and honestly into your life? Is there a person you can talk to about the real, pertinent issues of life? Are you allowing someone (or some people) to give you perspective, and possibly correct you? Being surrounded by these kind of people will ensure there are safeguards in your life. They will be the people who will help you to avoid lots of life's difficulties.

Being a mentor isn't hard, it just requires a desire to help others. Practically mentoring can be summed up in the acronym, B.U.S.

it starts with building a trusting relationship with someone else. Part of that is making yourself open and vulnerable to them (allowing them into your life).

Once you've established the friendship, you are able to listen to understand what they are going through, what they are saying.

After you hear them out and are able to see the issues clearly, then you are able to speak into their life the things they need to hear.

There are many people who desparately need someone to come alongside them in life. So many of us travel through life unassisted and alone. We must begin to take care of ourselves by finding true friends who will walk the same path as us, and in turn look to be that same friend to others.

Jon

The Power of the Minga

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 21:45:00 -0500

THE FOLLOWING IS TAKEN FROM THE PEACE AWARD ADDRESS GIVEN BY CRAIG KIELBURGER AT THE INTERNATION PEACE AWARDS CEREMONY HELD IN JULY 21, 2005

"It was during one of our overseas volunteer trips that I was reminded that people don’t need money or power to better the world, merely the willingness to come together and work in a spirit of solidarity. A few years ago, our organization brought twenty student volunteers from the USA. and Canada high into the Andes Mountains of Ecuador to build a primary school in an indigenous community. Running behind schedule (an animal traffic jam stalled the mules that were carrying our construction supplies up the mountain!), we asked the advice of the village elder. Explaining that we had return plane tickets and would not be able to complete the project, she replied, “No problem. I’ll call a minga”.

In the local dialect of Puruhae India, she forcefully shouted, “A minga will happen tomorrow”. The next day, hundreds of people arrived. Men left their fields at peak harvest time. Women carried babies on their back. Children walked miles to help construct a distant school that they would never be able to attend because of the long journey it would take to reach it. The crowd asked for nothing in return and even brought food to share with the village.

Amazed, we asked the chief, “What happened? What is a minga?” She explained that this traditional word is a call to action—it means ‘a community coming together to work for the benefit of all’. When people hear this word, they stop all personal activities and come together for the collective good. Our translator struggled to explain the idea, and he finally asked us: “What is the word for ‘minga’ in English?” Huh? My brother and I looked at each other. We were dumbfounded. It wasn’t volunteer work—you could do that alone. Mission work? Not really. A minga is like a riot of people coming together, but not for evil—for good"

There is great power (ability to do work) within community and team. As a coach of various sports teams I am very interested in the principles that allow a group of strangers to function well together. Probably as you read the excerpt a number of things popped out at you, which if you have the time, please highlight them to me.

The concept of the Minga has shown me 3 principles which I believe are essential qualities of the team that wishes to bring change. They will be addressed in 3 separate articles: Servanthood, Solidarity of Vision and Submission to Gifting.

Jon