Times 2
April 17, 2008
Last night we agreed with friends, Betsy, Corey and their kids Lily and Jonathon to “live in community.” About two months ago, they spent a week in our house testing the waters. It was a trial run of sharing meals, letting the kids entertain each other, and working more from our strengths.
We took time individually sharing our highs and lows based on our experience from that week. We set a few ground rules and parameters for what we all hope will be a great experience.
Rule #1 – Transparency.
Just like in our conversation last night, we all said what we meant and meant what we said. That’s not always comfortable for me. I generally try to avoid conflict, but I put my feelings out on the table.
Rule #2 – Maintain Rule #1 and we can handle anything that comes at us.
I strongly believe that communication that hides, is also communication that hurts. I tend to let my introverted nature take hold. I share what I think are necessities and the other 95% stays in. Not a great way to build trust and community. It builds apprehension and separation as others feel like they don’t really know you. I’ve always sucked at this, especially in my family, but I’m trying to forge new relationships.
Transparency builds:
So, it really feels like it’s time to stop talking about living in community, and dive in head first. Hopefully we’ll rise to the top of Life Together.
He who loves his dream of community more than the Christian community itself becomes a destroyer of the latter, even though his personal intentions may be ever so honest and earnest and sacrificial. –Bonhoeffer
BTW – if you haven’t read Life Together, I think you should. It’s in my top 5 of all time. Bonhoeffer is deeply challenging to the modern Christian.
Life Together
The Bishop (from Neeraj)
April 13, 2008
Bishop Desmond Tutu was in North Minneapolis this Saturday.
Love Minneapolis was there doing their thing…Simple Acts of Service.
I don’t know about you, but viewing blogs in a newsreader is ok, but I at least try to be a designer so I need a little more.
I use the built-in newsreader in Safari. I primarily use it to so if there is anything interesting to read…if so, I actually click in. Reading all content through the lens of the same basic RSS page isn’t enough. Design lends itself to the character, personality and style of the individual. So when I read your blog through the backdrop of an RSS page or the backdrop of your flower page or your clutter free page or your web 2.0 page…it makes a difference in how the content affects me.
Don’t be satisfied by bloglines, google reader, rss bandit or the rest. Taste your content with a little extra flavor. It makes a difference.
All that to say, in May, before I leave for France at the end of the month, I will be moving to a new domain, new design, and hopefully leave you with a new way to frame the content you see here.
I’ll let you know when the big launch will be…big to me at least. or fun I should say…
My tendency towards invincibility.
March 6, 2008
Yesterday was a really hard day…Haven’t had a day this hard in years…
Somethings I learned through being real:
1. I have a long history of assuming I’m right.
Whether it’s the small decisions, the big decisions or not my decisions at all. I trust my own judgement and I have been let down enough times to be wary of trusting others. ( see self-assurance in my top 5 strengths…Unharnessed strengths can be weaknesses)2. On the Flip-side: Not trusting others is not an option.
I may not understand or I may not agree, but either way, some decisions are not mine to make. I need to learn that the decisions of others have validity, even if they aren’t decisions I make. Trust is not negotiable, however. It’s a necessity for team building.3. I’m still not sure how to not be in charge.
Every job I’ve ever been in, I’ve worked my way up to running the show. It feels natural to me. Whether it’s running the art department and print shop or running my own business, or planting new businesses, I like taking the lead. It’s a huge struggle for me when the buck doesn’t stop with me.4. Bottom Line: I care far too much about my own control, I care far too little about your ideas.
I need to learn how to “play well with others.”
Sometimes you need to be broken. Though, I tend to feel I’m invincible, I know that growth happens more in my brokenness than in my impenetrability.
Kiva Portfolio
February 25, 2008
We’re in our second round of Kiva Loans. Several of the original loans are all paid back.
Here’s the portfolio: The Power of We.
Forced to Breath
February 24, 2008
We’re still taking 12 minutes…
February 22, 2008
Though I’ve missed somedays just because of the insane busyness of this season for Sarah and I, I’m still committed to seeing things through…. visit 3 friends on a 12 minute journey at www.12minutes.wordpress.com
Play Pump…Innovation through play.
February 10, 2008
Guy Kawasaki points to the “Cleverest idea he’s seen in years.”
Check out the video of the Play Pump.
Innovation comes through many channels. Clearly, in someone’s mind watching the wheels of a pump spin, they reached back to the days of their youth and remembered these wheels spinning.
In the book, “A Whole New Mind,” Daniel Pink talks about PLAY as one of the six senses or aptitudes of the future right-brain ruled economy.
Joy comes from play. Jesus wants us to make our joy complete (see John 15:11) in him. Joy and play go hand in hand.
When was the last time we set out to party as a church. To play together. To share God’s joy with one another. When was the last time we played together to get inspired, to imagine, to innovate.
It sounds fun to me.
Love Minneapolis and my 3 year old.
February 9, 2008
Love Minneapolis was today…
Elliot and I went to pack food for children and families affected by hunger and starvation. It was fun to see my boy pouring the rice and getting the chance to help him understand God’s justice even at an early age…
