by Lon on September 29, 2009
Photo Credit: paolomargari
Since my last post about U2’s song “moment of surrender”, there’s been a number of verses that provoke me, but the line “vision over visibility” has really stuck with me.
Is there something that you see, that others can’t? A vision, a reality of what could be, that others don’t seem to ‘get’?
It looks dark and murky but you’ve got this strong gut-level hunch it’s a direction you ought to be going in?
Please keeping moving forward.
Seize it, for the love of God. Do something about it.
We’ll always be working in low-visibility, but vision doesn’t always come.
Take a hold of it and make it into a reality. We need you to help us see it. Our world is filled with too many people with eyes wide shut, working merely with the visible.
That statue waiting to be carved out of that stone block; that word of truth or encouragement that no one else can quite articulate the way you do; that service your community or city desperately needs but knows how to go about it… we need you to help us see the invisible.
Because if you don’t, it might slip away. And worst yet, it might be lost to humanity forever.
by Lon on December 12, 2008
I’m thinking of opening up the new year with a talk on hell. Possible titles of “the Hell word” or “we didn’t start the fire” come to mind currently.
Where are you at with hell right now?
Who’s heading there? Who’s in it? How could God? Why would he? What’s it smell like? Is it full? Or is it empty? Have we been too fixated on it? Have we been avoiding it? Is it just? Is it full of friends and family? Does it really matter?
I’ll take any feedback in the moment, theological, anecdotal, struggles, convictions, recommended reading, anything.
The Toronto District School Board has approved a proposal for opening Afrocentric schools this year.
The hopes are to help remedy the 40 percent drop out rate amongst black youth.
The African-centred school would teach students from junior kindergarten to Grade 8. It would have more black teachers and mentors, a focus on students’ heritage and more parent involvement.
Students would attend by their own volition. Further articles here and here.
What do you think? Is this a massive step backwards, or a new way forward?
by Lon on February 3, 2008
I’m not as well-versed in the ethnic issues as many of my peers are, however I’ve been chewing on this article by Fast Company for a number of months now. Click on the caption below for the full article.
The Chinese don’t get creativity, right? Sure, they can stamp out a widget, or knock off a DVD, but when it comes to imagination, they just don’t have the gene. Well, keep telling yourself that.
The mindset that they’re countering has almost always been my perspective, and I’m Chinese.
China has increasingly been equated to a global manufacturing powerhouse due to the mass amount of cheap labor available… ie. the reason why you’re wearing and touching several items ‘Made in China” right this moment.
The article suggests that there is a revolution underway. Not just in terms of manufacturing, military, or the economy, but with creativity in China.
Could it be that God might be using globalization, technology, and the democratization of information, to liberate people like never before?
What would happen if the imaginations of 1.3 billion people in China were unleashed?
If its true that China and India (also known as Chindia) are emerging global superpowers – what implications does that have for Christianity?
As the developing world transitions from the Industrial Age to the Creative Age, what’s next for the current Creative Class?
Some excellent notes have come out around the web from the Q conference.
Via churchrelevance.com -
Kevin Kelly of Wired magazine on the next 1,000 years of Christianity
A World of Change
The Internet is about 4,000 days old. Our world is changing. In fact, no U.S. president has died under the same flag he was born under. The future is nothing more than small changes over time.
One way to think about the next 1,000 years of Christianity is by generations. It is really not that far away.
60 generations ago was the time of Abraham.
30 generations ago was the time of Christ.
13 generations ago was 1000 A.D.
Think of the next 1,000 years of Christianity as 13 generations. What can you do to affect the next 13 generations? A chain of 13 people.
Life in 1000 A.D.
13 generations ago there was:
- official anti-semitism in the church
- illiteracy
- few Bibles
- no change in a lifetime
- practice of indulgences
Christians were not aware of how they would shape the future, but their focus on a God-organized world was instrumental in science. A lot has changed in 13 generations.
In 2040
Half a generation from now, the world will experience:
- the end of the Baby Boomers
- a shrinking world population
- China as the largest economy
- 80% of the world’s population living in cities
In fact, it is predicted that 30% of China will be Christian by 2040.
Christianity Circles the Globe
1 AD :: Christianity begins in Israel
500 AD :: Christianity’s center moves to Rome
1000 AD :: Christianity’s center moves to Europe
2000 AD :: Christianity’s center moves to North America
2500 AD :: Christianity’s center moves to Asia?
See the rest of the notes here, and also additional notes on the conference from the l2foundation
CNN has a special feature currently engaging ‘leading thinkers’ on visions for the future. Ranging from sustainability, nuclear energy, extending life spans, global pandemics, and even one on humanity’s identity crisis. Definitely worth the glance.
I just rediscovered one of my all-time favorite monkey video clips. A classic I never get tired of.
Imagine a gathering of people who have each discovered a way to know and communicate with the Creator of the Universe. Each of them growing daily in purpose and passion as the God of heaven and earth reveals more of himself to them each passing moment. They share stories all day – personal teachings from the Greatest person to ever live – building one another up with nothing but words of encouragement and truth. Their excitement erupts into singing – each person uniquely expressing their thankfulness and praise to the one who gave them a life worth living.
This is the community that I imagine as Paul encourages the Colossians,
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (Col 3:16)
A community of people so touched by the love of God and possessing the heart of God in whatever they do,
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him… Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.” (Col 3:17, 23)
Father God let me offer up this entire day to you.
Photo Credit: paolomargari
