33 posts tagged “christianity”

• The Tipping Point written by Malcolm Gladwell is on my top five and it outlines the critical components of social influence. (Check out Blink also for more info on decision making.)

• The Science of Influence by Kevin Hogan which breaks down the very proven elements by which we effect others via our connection with them.

• Tribes by Seth Godin outlines the relationships and mediums by which influence spreads unto the production of MOVEMENTS of Raving Fans (that one was extra).

• We have books now such as The Lucifer Effect by Philip Zimbardo outlining the powerful elements of systems and organizations and the positive and negative psychological effects they have on peoples behavior (See an example of the effect of a failed system by reading more about Abu Ghraib).

• They are now discovering the very levers responsible for the changing of people's minds. Howard Gardners: Changing Minds: The art and science of changing our own and other people's minds. By the way this is an amazing book that is up there on my list also.

• Of course there is always the great Robert Greene who brought to us The Art of Seduction and the 48 Laws of Power. Books that will make you uneasy and even more skeptical of markets but are true in their revelation of working principles of influence.

We could go on and on adding to this list of strategies, but the point is that the world has reduced influence down to working principles they employ daily to shape, bend and direct things "their" way. Paul wrote  "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some."  - 1 Corinthians 9:22 What is he saying? I am working to influence! 

Posting a follow-up post from the NO TV experiment. You're two youngest might decide to 1) work together peacefully  2) to be creative with objects and develop their brains. 3) Your house may be overrun with toddler projects also...

Just finished reading a very thought provoking graphic novel titled Red Son. The premise is "what if Superman had been raised in the Soviet Union?" You can read more about the details of the story here. The moment I was introduced to the novel and it's basic idea I purchased it and read it in the same day. The primary reason for my eagerness in regard to this particular story has to do with the idea that "the stories we are exposed to shape our identity and view of the world (of what is good and evil even)."

How does one truly achieve or find the place of "transformation?" Of course this is our whole purpose as those called into God's kingdom to achieve "transformation" into the image of God's Son (Jesus Christ). Our psyche and ego need impregnated with, not only the idea of God, but the knowledge of Him and our new relationship with him. The bible refers to our "identifying" with Christ. All of this requires meditation, supernaturally imposed knowledge (revelation) which comes through the gospel and grace (God giving us the ability to see His image or glory in the gospel). Those two things require exposure to God's word (the gospel). The more we expose ourselves to him, engage him and absorb the word of God the more we get "wrapped up" in Him. The ego is defined as...

The more this (our ego) moves from being rooted in the natural context of "things" in this life and begins to get entangled and interwoven in him the more we take on him and his likeness. The more we think as he thinks and move as he moves. The cross is more than something we encourage ourselves with (forgiveness). It is also the thing we identify with in that we daily accept our no longer belonging to the world (as we have died to it) and now being alive unto God. This reality transitions our ego into his kingdom and it begins to take root it Him. He is my value, my worth. I am dead and only find meaning in Him. We must become wrapped up in the story of God revealed in Scripture and look to God to take us out of the trap of finding value in this life and in objects. How do we see ourselves? Get absorbed and expose yourself to new degrees to the truth of God's word and story. You are his and not your own. Embrace these realities daily.

(NOTE: The following is from some personal notes of mine hence their broken nature)

If in fact the Spirit of of Jesus is upon us... we would characterize the general behavior of Jesus as it relates to our culture. 

REFLECT on how THE SPIRIT OF JESUS might be LEADING US. Into what RIDICULOUS BEHAVIOR is JESUS LEADING US? 

(NOTE: The word ridiculous is used to signify the worldly perspective regarding the level and intensity of the behavior.)

JESUS is...

• LEADING US TO DESPISE RELIGIOSITY - MATT 23 The woes to the Pharisees and the lack of real care for others... Their works existed for themselves... 

• LEADING US INTO HUMILIATING LEVELS OF SERVICE TO DIGNIFY OTHERS - JOHN 13.1 Washing of the disciples feet - the stooping low of God to make us great... 

• LEADING US INTO A SIMPLER MORE SINCERE LIFE OF CARE TO BE FRUITFUL The need to sculpt our lives or have our lives sculpted after him... the Spirit of Jesus that marches down into the messes... 

• LEADING US TO BEFRIEND AND CONNECT WITH IRRELIGIOUS PEOPLE AND EXPRESS CARE AND INSPIRE FAITH - LUKE 7.34 Matthew the tax collector... Friend of sinners and publicans. 

• LEADING US INTO RIDICULOUS LEVELS OF GIVING TO EVEN THE UNWORTHY - MATT 5.40 If someone sues you or takes from you give to them above what they took... 

• LEADING US INTO RIDICULOUS LEVELS OF REACTION TO THOSE THAT MISTREAT US - MATT 5.41 The walking of a second mile, the prayers and blessing we would offer... 

• LEADING US INTO PRACTICAL CARE MINISTRY & QUALITY TIME INVESTMENT WITH THE HURTING - MATT 25.31 The sheep and goats - the sick, hungry, thirsty imprisoned, in need of clothing and housing. In need of basic needs... 

• LEADING US INTO MINISTRY WHILE EXPERIENCING DEEP LEVELS OF REJECTION, PAIN AND HURT IN OUR OWN LIVES - LUKE 23:34 The prayer for people and the encouragement to the thief on the cross in the midst of painful trying situations... 

I first came to God in all honesty because I saw my sinfulness, my emptiness, my guilt, my nature in the light of His love (the cross). 

I had a few visions of Christ literally suffering - not as a mere man but as God Almighty, and that suffering was for me. 

I saw a perfect, powerful God, willfully suffering under the weight of ugly sinful (selfish) human cruelty. 

I saw a very capable, contented, and rich God suffering as a poor man with no defense. He did this in the stead of guilty masses that throughout history have acted in hatred and violence against him. 

A God whose chief creation had spat in his face. A God whose chief creation had denied him. 

A God who really had nothing to gain from His death except to prove an insane and unbelievable love for an ungrateful party. 

I saw him suffering under the weight of my offenses, absorbing them. He suffered there finding within himself a deniability of my truly gross and hurtful nature. He forgave, he overlooked, he looked through. He pledged himself to the one that had nothing to offer and actually would bring a very certain amount of dishonor to his name. 

He emptied himself for a very poor people with only the prospect of relationship not the certainty, not the certainty! The possibility alone of our reconciliation was enough for him to willingly choose to absorb that pain. 

Listen to the Picture of the Cross! Listen to the gospel! "God is here having made himself utterly available, not flinching in the face of my offensive attitude and life." 

He is staring at me with eyes engulfed in flames of pure and holy passion. The fact of his nail scarred hands hit my conscious mind with the sobering sense that God’s love is directed specifically at me! 

This is what broke my rhythm of destructiveness, not that he could offer to me a better life but the realization that I was created to live in THIS LOVE. I was created to know and live in the presence and pleasure of this God.

I did not come to God because I am drug addict needing help... because I somehow know that life will be more profitable or healthy, but because I was fashioned to be in relationship to and with this God, who is LOVE. 

The most rich and noble and powerful person in the universe, whose status did not keep him from loving such a needy creature as myself.

It seems we are so busy these days at justifying lifestyles and inhibited to say exactly what lines there may be in regard to behaviors that God approves of (smiles on) and does not. Post moderns are breaking free from the bonds of traditional fundamental religionists and feeling oh so free... My question, as one having three children, is when we (the "non religious") are left "in charge" of the Church and theological direction and distinction what in fact will be said and written. Will there be any definitive direction or just continued deconstruction of all we have known. Will there in fact be anything built in the place of all we have razed? What will we leave to our children except a bunch of questions with no real model or lifestyle instruction. In our loosing of boundaries and traditional black and white theology are we losing our moral compass altogether. What are the directives of our faith and lifestyles? Just a question I have been pondering? What is sin? Do you have any sense of mission and or direction in your faith or is it so abstract and ideological that is does not affect nor need to affect your life... What level of discipline and moral exercise have we engaged in?