Blog-Ference Day 1

My topic is Leading Change Out of the Faith/Future Base: Redeeming Our Apostolic Calling. What does that mean?

 

I put up a diagram that attempts to illustrate what I mean. The four grids are Dominantly Faith, Dominantly Self, Dominantly Present, Dominantly Future. The x and y axis are Known and Unknown. 

If you were to draw a circle that reflects your orientation to these categories, that would be your Leadership Base. I added Known/Unknown to the grid for the purpose of our discussion. By that I mean do you shy away from or are you drawn to that which is known or unknown? 

The next diagram shows where I believe we all want to be, and want Campus Crusade as a whole to be. You can see that the circle is orientated highly towards Faith, Future, and the Unknown. This is definitely how Campus Crusade was started, and definitely why I joined staff. Personally, I have seen God work most dramatically when I have made decisions in light of this orientation. 

However, as I look out over the landscape of the campus ministry, I can't help but wonder if we have shifted from this orientation. NOT in our hearts, but in PRACTICE.  Although we hear 'the best is yet to come,' I wonder if we lead more like 'the best already happened.' 

I believe that in order for us as an organization to reclaim this Faith/Future base, and consequently our apostolic calling, we have to explore and shift some fundamental paradigms towards work, time, and how we understand our role on campus. 

I wanted to close with a quote from Seth Godin's book Small is the New Big. I hope that it will spark some great discussion over this topic and inspire us to re-evaluate how we lead:

"Today, 'long' and 'hard' mean two different things. The future is about work that's really and truly hard, not just time-consuming. It's about the kind of work that requires us to push ourselves, not just punch the clock...Today, working hard is about taking apparent risk...something that you believe is unsafe but that you realize is in fact far more conservative than sticking with the status quo."

Where is your circle? Do you agree with my assessment of the campus ministry? What do you think needs to change?

Blog-Ference Gearing Up...

So if you are checking this blog out to read more about the blog-ference, this post's for you.

In the last few months, I have become increasingly bothered by the reality that there so many staff out there with tons of wisdom, knowledge, and experience, yet little interaction. With blogging and other online platforms, I have seen that we now have the tools to begin bridging this gap, and leveraging our organizational size in new ways. 

This Blog-ference is a first stride at sharing and dialoging about ministry related issues in a platform that all of us use--the internet. This is meant to simply get the conversation started. 

If you have never blogged before, and are wondering how to participate in this blogference by leaving comments, read this post. 

I'm really hoping that you will be challenged and also get a sense of conquering perhaps a new territory--blogging. 

Any thoughts? Leave a comment...

Wisdom From An Unlikely Place...

I have really enjoyed Kottke's website. It has a diverse blend of intellectually stimulating articles, videos, etc, that are great for passing time in between things.

As I was reading an article that he linked to, I stumbled upon this great this great quote from Norman Mailer, the author.

Here's what he says...

Mailer welcomed Frey into the elite circle of bad boys. “For 40 years they stomped on me. Now you have the privilege of being stomped on for the next 40 years.” And he compared them both to boxers. “Every fight, boxers prepare to take their opponent’s best shot. You should prepare to take huge shots every time out because they’ll never stop The work has been controversial enough that you’re never going to be like one of the guys. You’re never going to be one of the ones that the newspapers love or that wins awards. [You’re] always going to take a beating publicly. And that’s endurable if you just focus on what matters, which is the work.”

As a person that loves and lives for change, this quote resonated deeply with me. It was not just the analogy of the boxer, but the focus on the work. The work is worthy enough to take a lifetime of beatings is how I would rephrase what he is saying.

For me, it's not books or writing that is the work, but Jesus and his glory. He causes me to continue to push transformation and change. He is worth a lifetime of being misunderstood, frustrated, held down, marginalized, and even attacked. Because for me as I authentically encounter Christ, I know that things cannot stay as they are. 

I need to believe...

Something has been gnawing at my soul the last couple months, and I haven't been able to pinpoint it until this weekend. Our organization has been making changes, which definitely causes instability within the ranks.

This instability finally drew my attention to something--belief. I've noticed that the things I give my life to, or spend the most time doing, are interconnected with what I believe in most. When I doubt something's effectiveness, value, or whatever, the amount of time and energy spent on that thing instantly plummet.

I went to Mosaic when I was a student at UCLA. Erwin McManus is gifted at many things, but his belief and hope impacted me most. His belief in Jesus was contagious; people lived MORE and risked MORE after interacting with Erwin.

I sense that our culture is in transition, much like our organization. In times like these, it's easy to get lost amongst all the change. I'm learning how important it is to discern where God is at work, and be able to live and communicate in ways that reflect my belief in him. I cannot control who follows me, but I can control where I'm going, and what I'm all about. The more clearly people understand where I'm going and why, the more they can either get behind it or decide to follow someone else.

Great Post on Productivity and Work Dynamics

Seth Godin understands work dynamics well.

Here is an insightful post on how most Americans view work and productivity.

2000 Miles...

I had a great time this weekend with family in Monterey. My parents joined Aubrey, Mase, the twins, and I, and we had so much fun swimming in the hotel pool, going to the Aquarium, and hanging out together.

My 100 mile bike ride started early Sunday morning, 7 am. It was by far the most challenging ride I've had up to this point; there was a significant breeze, steep climbs, and I spent the better part of 6 hours cold.

The best part of the ride was eclipsing the 2,000 mile mark on my bike. I started counting late August of last year, and it was so encouraging to see the progress I have made. It's not the distance that's rewarding--it's the amount of stress reduced, the amount of fitness gained, and the amount of think-time enhanced by riding 2,000 miles. Being introverted and cerebral AND working with people all the time is a real challenge. Time on the bike has helped keep me fresh and focused throughout the year.

100 Miles...

This weekend my family and I are heading out to Monterey. On Sunday, I will be setting out to complete my second century bike ride. I love all the aspects of a 100 mile bike ride; the endurance, the mental focus part, the great sense of accomplishment that comes from finishing, the energy of cycling with lots of other people, and the pit stops. Unlike marathons, century rides have amazing rest stops full of energy drinks, carb stuff (muffins, breads, etc), and fruit. They make the 6 hours spent on the bike worth it.

I'm hoping to complete the race in 30 minutes less time than last year, but my ultimate goal is to have fun, soak in the scenery, eat well, and finish. And take a lot of pictures.

Also during the race I will eclipse the 2,000 mile mark on my bike for this year! That is so crazy to think about, but all those miles are the place where I pour out and leave all the stress of life. More updates next week.