tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132068752024-03-07T18:42:17.121-08:00Envision PresentationsTechnology for presenting the good newsJames T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.comBlogger772125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-26308885346936371742015-02-25T11:30:00.000-08:002015-02-25T11:30:09.858-08:00When to NOT Use PowerPointI love visual presentations. Mostly I love them because they offer a much better chance that the audience will retain what has been said. A little effort on the visual side of communication can help cement a message far more effectively than simply speaking alone.<br />
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But is PowerPoint (or a similar slide program) the best way to communicate?<br />
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That's a great question. It's clear that using visuals that connect with your message in a meaningful way adds to the overall retention and comprehension of your message. It's also clear that when you simply recite words printed on a slide that actually <i>reduces</i> the retention and comprehension of the message (in that case you'd be better off just letting people read for themselves).<br />
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But what is less clears is which types of visuals give the strongest boost to retention and comprehension.<br />
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Are you ready for this?<br />
<br />
It's a <a href="http://m.cmo.com/articles/2014/9/3/whiteboard_beats_pow.html" target="_blank">whiteboard</a>.<br />
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Not slides with bullet points. Not slides with fancy pictures. A simple whiteboard.<br />
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Now, not all presentations are conducive to using a whiteboard, but when you can you should probably choose it over a PowerPoint presentation.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHHWD1XoQhhwOMsJgiG4k-oMw6SeyyUd7TDmL0hLkvF8nmSiVktuQruTDqmJZ4167B-j_pNG8S2mBPul7_udS2TJtLT_7JD_zeqVwY32q4vNED675iH7ht7NzrbnsU4fmvYfE/s1600/mmblog_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHHWD1XoQhhwOMsJgiG4k-oMw6SeyyUd7TDmL0hLkvF8nmSiVktuQruTDqmJZ4167B-j_pNG8S2mBPul7_udS2TJtLT_7JD_zeqVwY32q4vNED675iH7ht7NzrbnsU4fmvYfE/s1600/mmblog_2.jpg" height="159" width="320" /></a></div>
According to a <a href="http://m.cmo.com/articles/2014/9/3/whiteboard_beats_pow.html" target="_blank">recent study</a>, the use of whiteboard illustrations in a presentation were more memorable and more persuasive than either standard PowerPoint presentations or the type of presentation championed by Garr Reynolds in is book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Presentation-Zen-Simple-Design-Delivery/dp/0321525655" target="_blank">Presentation Zen</a>. </i><br />
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There are a few things to note about the whiteboard presentation efficacy.<br />
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First, the visuals are still key. It's less about writing out what you're saying and more about creating a visual framework for people to use in encoding what you're saying. Draw pictures, relate terms visually, call out what is most important.<br />
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Second, the engagement with the message is, in part, due to the perceived participation of the audience in the creation of the presentation. Slides are, of necessity, static, while the whiteboard represents a dynamic space where anything can happen. The audience doesn't know that you have pre-determined what will go on the whiteboard so it feels like they are watching and helping to create the visuals.<br />
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Finally, you must rehearse your whiteboard presentation as much, if not more, as your presentation. Static visuals, like through PowerPoint, are easier to use. Giving a whiteboard based presentation takes effort, creativity, fluidity, and a full command of your topic so that you aren't distracted by the details of drawing on the whiteboard in the middle of giving a presentation.<br />
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Here are a few tips:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Pre-draw your examples to make sure they work. </li>
<li>Use different color pens to indicate topical ideas (e.g. red is always for action, blue is for concepts, black is for side notes). </li>
<li>Create meaning through space. So if you want to show that one idea is central to your theme, put it in the middle of the board and show how all the other ideas radiate out from it. </li>
<li>Less is more. Just as with PowerPoint presentations, don't try to do too much on the whiteboard. Write in large letters so people in the back can easily see. Only put the key concepts on the board. </li>
<li>Don't turn your back to the audience. This seems difficult and it takes some effort to learn to write with your body at a 90-degree angle to the board, but it's important to keep your audience engaged with you. </li>
<li>Move out of the way when you're not writing. Give the whole audience a chance to see the board and to incorporate what you're saying with what they're seeing. </li>
<li>Leave room for spontaneity. One of the best things about the whiteboard is that you can adjust it on the fly based on your audience's reaction to what you've been saying. </li>
</ul>
Do you use a whiteboard for any of your presentations? How has it helped you? What would you add to this article? <br />
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<br />James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-18027243026000167982014-08-22T10:20:00.000-07:002014-08-22T10:20:17.994-07:00What Does the Future Hold? If you follow this blog, you've noticed a marked lack of posting here of late. I used to post here several times a week, but that's dropped off lately. It's not because I've stopped writing, but because I've stopped writing on this topic as much.<br />
<br />
I've been writing <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Marriage-Challenge-52-Conversations-Better-ebook/dp/B00GYBP1YO/ref=la_B006RBPJZC_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408727303&sr=1-1" target="_blank">marriage books</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Like-Mind-James-T-Wood-ebook/dp/B00E9KS8YW/ref=la_B006RBPJZC_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408727303&sr=1-2" target="_blank">novels</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/People-Purpose-Studies-Ephesians-James/dp/B009HDTKKC/ref=la_B006RBPJZC_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408727303&sr=1-4" target="_blank">bible studies</a> (and <a href="http://faithfulunbelief.blogspot.com/p/table-of-contents.html" target="_blank">other bible studies</a>), so I have plenty to keep myself busy for now. For the time being I'm going to put this blog on hiatus (officially). You can find me and what I'm writing about now<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.jamestwood.com/" target="_blank">On my website</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blog.jamestwood.com/" target="_blank">On by blog</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/JamesTWood" target="_blank">On Facebook</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/jtw78" target="_blank">Through Twitter</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B006RBPJZC" target="_blank">Or on Amazon</a><br />
<br />
<br />James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-71100113936686975602014-05-02T12:08:00.000-07:002014-05-02T12:08:31.858-07:00God in Art or Visio Divina<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Imfvk1CZm4apnT6De3GStP6OWvIjYULDgQi31QFQsEfRrODQUjFohqoi0susQK2HYRHJ5MwnRhMcuZoXD4ZiBD3LB5hdDpLp3Uzt-pLtC4ftn-Kz2d268BKAG6yKOU3o7BsY/s1600/Andrej_Rubl%C3%ABv_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Imfvk1CZm4apnT6De3GStP6OWvIjYULDgQi31QFQsEfRrODQUjFohqoi0susQK2HYRHJ5MwnRhMcuZoXD4ZiBD3LB5hdDpLp3Uzt-pLtC4ftn-Kz2d268BKAG6yKOU3o7BsY/s1600/Andrej_Rubl%C3%ABv_001.jpg" height="320" width="259" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rublev's icon depicts the Trinity at a table together.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Art is a powerful communication tool that often transcends words. Luckily God and the bible have inspired art throughout the centuries.<br />
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The Orthodox tradition uses icons to help focus prayer through a practice called <i>Visio Divina</i> or "divine seeing." It is a counterpart to the practice of <i>Lectio Divina</i> which uses scripture as a source of meditation and contemplation.<br />
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I like connecting the body back to ancient ways of looking at the bible and it's a helpful way to find applicable visuals for preaching through a passage.<br />
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For example, recently I preached about the woman caught in adultery in John 8. I found several paintings depicting the scene and was able to use one of them to start some conversation in the church on the topic.<br />
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Another benefit to using paintings is that they are often public domain images. When projecting an image in church we need to be aware of the copyright situation and only use works for which we have the copyright. Public domain and creative commons images have an open license that allows you to use them without having to pay royalties. You can also find royalty free stock photos (both free and paid).<br />
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You can <a href="http://powerpointforpreachers.blogspot.com/2014/01/google-image-search-by-license.html" target="_blank">use Google's Image search</a> to sort the images by license type.<br />
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Typically I'll start with Google Images and look for the passage I'm preaching through. Then I'll start to narrow things down by using the name of the pericope (like "woman caught in adultery" rather than just "John 8"). Then I might need to add the word "painting" to the search string to refine the results.<br />
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Usually I'll come across a great renaissance painting of the passage that will serve as an illustration for my text. I'll often use this as the title image for my sermon. It give the audience a chance to get into the passage without giving away too much of my sermon.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6BlbrUJG4FZC2bEEE8htFfV7LkrJu3d6XfDF3yUUWPHFb4YwDaIp1_Hg3NHlGik2Bw1vh3dVNPlPGY8jQmU1FmpgjWPdm1EC726Njl_LiFtxeiutwR1otNMtd5XtYs-0qsjL/s1600/a-depiction-of-jesus-and-the-woman-taken-in-adultery-1888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6BlbrUJG4FZC2bEEE8htFfV7LkrJu3d6XfDF3yUUWPHFb4YwDaIp1_Hg3NHlGik2Bw1vh3dVNPlPGY8jQmU1FmpgjWPdm1EC726Njl_LiFtxeiutwR1otNMtd5XtYs-0qsjL/s1600/a-depiction-of-jesus-and-the-woman-taken-in-adultery-1888.jpg" height="216" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This image uses dark and light to illustrate the conflict of John 8:1-11</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Connecting my preaching with classic paintings helps to keep the visual people connected, reminds the church that we're part of a great cloud of witnesses who have been thinking about these passages for millennia, and gives me high-quality visuals that are public domain for no cost. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That's pretty cool to me.<br /></div>
James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-9766653866485475562014-04-30T11:25:00.000-07:002014-04-30T11:25:05.740-07:00Simple Visuals<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXXHc5wmNVlVis8Wg750dpOdD5ae4hdScWNiiv6vqWA0NO2SlDOuNQTGjW66SpkR8D605jBcxZNidzg8cxdX2kKOaCyPkMRuBJGeNeV5BlEmIfrbiNwLvv_ButtJ7KoikVRrZ/s1600/Simplicity.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXXHc5wmNVlVis8Wg750dpOdD5ae4hdScWNiiv6vqWA0NO2SlDOuNQTGjW66SpkR8D605jBcxZNidzg8cxdX2kKOaCyPkMRuBJGeNeV5BlEmIfrbiNwLvv_ButtJ7KoikVRrZ/s1600/Simplicity.png" height="224" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice how the text and the image work together to make a point. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When presenting it can be intimidating to add visuals, especially if you don't know a lot about design. I'm working on my skills, but I'm still far from being a professional. My profession is putting words together, not images, but I can't afford to spend lots of money on design work nor can I afford to ignore the visual aspect of communication.<br />
<br />
So, I work from a stance of simplicity.<br /><br />In many sermons I'll have one slide per major point. I do that so I can still move and flow within the sermon and have something visual to help connect my ideas for the people who learn best that way.<br />
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If you're just starting out take your three point sermon and turn it into a five slide deck.<br />
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Slide 1: Title Slide - this is the title of your sermon. This slide will be up while you introduce things, read scripture, etc. It should be mostly the title of your sermon and an enticing image that invites people into your text without giving away your point.<br />
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Slide 2: Point 1 - This should be a full-bleed image (it takes up the whole slide) with one or two words that define your first point.<br />
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Slide 3: Point 2<br />
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Slide 4: Point 3<br />
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Slide 5: Title Slide - Return to your title slide for your closing remarks (and so you don't have the black screen with "End of Slideshow" at the top). Ideally there should be a sort of ah-ha moment as the image you chose clicks for the audience.<br />
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You can find some good <a href="http://powerpointforpreachers.blogspot.com/p/resources.html" target="_blank">sources for images here</a>.<br />
<br />
You can find some good <a href="http://powerpointforpreachers.blogspot.com/p/tutorials.html" target="_blank">tutorials on using PowerPoint here</a>.James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-85207375795636472782014-01-24T17:00:00.002-08:002014-01-24T17:00:54.290-08:00ListeningI recently <a href="http://bookntech.botangle.com/?p=255" target="_blank">wrote an article</a> about my experience writing <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Like-Mind-ebook/dp/B00E9KS8YW/" target="_blank">Like Mind</a>,</i> my first novel. The whole idea of the article was about the collaboration of storytelling that exists between authors and their audience.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
We readers and writers must work together. It’s our art form, not just the writers’ alone. Together you and I make something that neither of us could make on our own. Together we tell stories.</blockquote>
That same dynamic is at work in all public speaking, especially in preaching. You don't simply speak words into the void and have them fall on unsuspecting ears. Rather you work together with a community of God's people to discern God's word and work in his world.<br />
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If I, as a preacher, am not listening to the church and the word, I've failed at my task.<br />
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That's a bold statement, so bold that I'm not sure I'm willing to apply it to anyone but myself. But it fully applies to me. I cannot, in good conscience, speak to God's people without listening to them.<br />
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I've preached at churches as a guest speaker before. That's been fun, and a good experience, but I'm still trying to discern what it is that the community is saying and what they need to hear.<br />
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I suppose I see my role as a translator. I listen to both God and his people and I try to mediate the conversation while at the same time getting out of the way. I can't help either side of the dialog if I don't listen attentively. James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-86870163999974203182014-01-22T14:06:00.001-08:002014-01-22T14:06:45.441-08:00Why to (Not) Trust AuthorityOne thing about preaching -- and presenting in general -- that is tending to put people off more and more is the idea that the preacher is in the position of power and the whole audience must listen to this person in authority. Most young people aren't huge fans of positional authority figures. Those are the people that have authority because of their position: the principal or the boss or the preacher.<br />
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I live in this weird space between the millennial distrust of authority and earlier generations' inherent trust in authority. I like being able to bridge the gap, but I don't fully understand either side.<br />
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The trust of authority is a trust in the system that gave that authority. Essentially it says that the system that made someone a boss or a teacher or a preacher must have sufficient checks and balances to prevent bad or unqualified people from getting into authority and promoting good and qualified people into the best positions for them. While there are exceptions to the rule, in general, that rule tends to hold (or so authority-trusters think).<br />
<br />
The distrust of authority is the distrust of the system. The exceptions that litter the landscape prove that the checks and balances are not working and that the organization has failed to promote the right people into positions of authority. At its furthest extent, this distrust of authority assumes that if a person has been put into authority by the broken system then they are deserving of distrust until proven otherwise.<br />
<br />
So what options exist? How can those who distrust positional authority and those who trust positional authority come together on anything?<br />
<br />
At this point it's incumbent on the person in authority to show that the position isn't the source of their authority -- to both those that offer and withhold trust. One can't simply take the position of teacher or boss or even preacher and assume that everyone will accept that authority. Established or relational authority requires both submission and connection.<br />
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First the person in authority needs to demonstrate that they are submissive to an authority that is other than themselves. That is to say that they need to align with those under their authority as one who is also under authority. The boss is responsible to corporate just like her employees are. The teacher is responsible to the principal, just like his students are. The preacher is responsible to a higher authority as well.<br />
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Preachers must submit to scripture and to the community. Everyone in the church is in it together. They all must be obedient to the bible, they all must learn to be disciples and they all must make disciples. If the preacher -- or any other member in the church -- decides that they aren't under that authority, then they lose all credibility.<br />
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Second the person in authority needs to show a connection to those who are supposed to follow. The distrust of positional authority is rooted in the idea that organizations will abuse people to achieve their own ends. The only way to overcome this mistrust is through personal relationship, personal connection, and over time.<br />
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Are you in a position of authority? How do you facilitate connection and submission?James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-46869291117351709952014-01-15T12:05:00.002-08:002014-01-15T12:05:46.572-08:00Google Image Search by License I'm a fan of using <a href="http://images.google.com/" target="_blank">Google Image Search</a> to find pictures for my PowerPoint presentations. But there are legal limits to what I can use -- defined by the license on the photo -- so I need to be careful. For a long time Google just slapped a generic warning on the search results that alerted you to copyright issues. <i>Caveat Emptor</i>, or something like that.<br />
<br />
Bing -- Microsoft's most recent search engine attempt to dethrone Google -- has had the ability to search images and <a href="http://lessig.tumblr.com/post/69817011020/from-now-on-im-bing-ing-it" target="_blank">filter the results by license</a> since December, but now you can do the same thing in Google.<br />
<br />
When you do an image search in Google you can filter the results by clicking on the "Search Tools" button above the results. From there you can filter by image size, color, type, time and now license type.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNEi_02gA1N-RuMIGSKkE1HoyLkzltrX7SHC1Av6dcGaSji7_lwboaxeqUae_hwZvjrAB-PO1tnk0EEizBsQd7RlbSHj2q1uAmZ6qTtrqbX5Ky0bysg_JCZXZrV69Rjgxn06e2/s1600/googleimagesearch-licensing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNEi_02gA1N-RuMIGSKkE1HoyLkzltrX7SHC1Av6dcGaSji7_lwboaxeqUae_hwZvjrAB-PO1tnk0EEizBsQd7RlbSHj2q1uAmZ6qTtrqbX5Ky0bysg_JCZXZrV69Rjgxn06e2/s1600/googleimagesearch-licensing.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
If you aren't getting paid for the use of the image you can use the least restrictive license type: Labeled for Reuse. From there the restrictions add up, you can have something labeled for reuse with modification, for commercial reuse or for commercial reuse with modification.<br />
<br />
So if you want to edit a photo to use in selling your next book, you'll need the images licensed for commercial reuse with modification, but if you're giving a presentation at a non-profit and you don't plan to edit the picture you can use the images licensed for reuse.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://powerpointforpreachers.blogspot.com/p/resources.html" target="_blank">Here are some other presentation resources</a> that might be helpful.<br />
<br />James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-23517911973603762772013-09-13T11:10:00.000-07:002013-09-13T11:10:28.809-07:00What is Happening in the Churches of Christ? <iframe align="right" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-Rw-xr3mGZA?rel=0" width="420"></iframe>
This is a PowerPoint presentation I put together to help explain what's happening in the Churches of Christ based on <a href="http://www.gracecentered.com/what_is_happening_to_churches_of_christ.htm">Joe Beam's article</a> in Grace Centered Magazine. <br />
<br />
Let me know what you think. Is he right? Where do you see yourself on this spectrum? What do you see in the future?James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-26968029995513813172013-08-28T16:16:00.000-07:002013-08-28T16:16:16.364-07:00Win a copy of my novelReviewers are saying it's:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>"Superb" "Quick [and] fun" "Snarky Adventure" "Super Fun!" "Fast pace, great humor and romance" and "Not...terrible...actually pretty good." </b></blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" target="_new">Goodreads</a> Book Giveaway
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18275679"><img alt="Like Mind by James T. Wood" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1375395663l/18275679.jpg" title="Like Mind by James T. Wood" width="100" /></a>
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<h3 style="font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin: 0; padding: 0;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18275679">Like Mind</a>
</h3>
<h4 style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 10px; padding: 0;">
by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5626352.James_T_Wood" style="text-decoration: none;">James T. Wood</a>
</h4>
<div class="giveaway_details">
Giveaway ends September 27, 2013.
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See the <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/63500" style="text-decoration: none;">giveaway details</a>
at Goodreads.
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<a class="goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink" href="http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/enter_choose_address/63500">Enter to win</a>
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<script charset="utf-8" src="http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/widget/63500" type="text/javascript"></script>James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-69504936683882397032013-08-14T12:17:00.001-07:002013-08-14T12:17:57.878-07:00Faithful Unbelief<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFbE-n-ASkIPH6qHeQuqESOc5sCLmuzhHYZYDV0edA3DcOBsI3gYMIykRuX-JKpHl4xfwDl4_v0fZP_UZAijqJTqCiEzIRfVCN70QEkOC39QHvRnB26EGGesONpmzI51evduA/s1600/doubt.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFbE-n-ASkIPH6qHeQuqESOc5sCLmuzhHYZYDV0edA3DcOBsI3gYMIykRuX-JKpHl4xfwDl4_v0fZP_UZAijqJTqCiEzIRfVCN70QEkOC39QHvRnB26EGGesONpmzI51evduA/s320/doubt.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Mark 9:24 a distraught father, at the end of his rope, cried out his final plea to a God who had failed him: “I believe, help me overcome my unbelief.”</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-35085e8b-7e42-346f-d9ea-543bdb91ad66" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That father was in the midst of a crisis of faith. He had tried everything he could think of to heal his son, but nothing worked. He’d even come to Jesus’ disciples who were supposed to be able to do things that no one else could do. When they failed too it seemed like the end for this ever hoping, yet hopeless father. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then Jesus walked up. He started to dig into what was going on and learned of the disciples’ failure. He made it clear that anything is possible for one who believes. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That statement is life and death. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When faith is easy, it’s a joy to know that God is on your side. It adds to strength to consider that God makes anything possible. When the blessings are flowing, faith flows with them. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But when faith is hard, the idea that anything being possible for those who believe feels like another boot to the back keeping you down. It’s just another indication of how hopeless you really are. If you could simply have enough faith, God would provide. So the failure is yours, not God’s. It’s your lack of faith. Your disbelief. Your failure. Your death. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But that desperate father wouldn’t give up. Even though faith was hard for him and he was filled with unbelief, he didn’t see just two options. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We live in an either/or world that likes to divide things into neat piles. It is either this or that. It’s either here or there. It’s either conservative or liberal. It’s either science or faith. It’s either logical or emotional. It’s either faith or unbelief. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The father refused to be bounded by either/or. He claimed both faith and unbelief. He scattered the neat piles and destroyed the divisions. So Jesus smote him. Smote him good. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No, Jesus loved him. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s almost like a Kobayashi Maru, the fictional test for Starfleet officers in the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Star Trek</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> universe. It’s a no-win situation. No matter what option you choose in the test it turns out badly. It’s designed as a test of character to determine how potential officers react to real-life no-win situations. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Captain Kirk didn’t accept the rules. He denied that there could be a no-win situation so he found another way. He reprogrammed the test. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The desperate father didn’t accept that there could be an either/or situation. He wanted both/and. And Jesus gave it to him. Happily. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus healed the boy. The father’s son was well. The faithful unbelief of the father was rewarded. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The idea of faithful unbelief isn’t often explored. We usually read the bible from an either/or perspective. Either people are faithful or they are unbelievers. We don’t usually have categories for the both/and, for the faithful unbelievers. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet that happens all the time. Faithful unbelief is something that everyone deals with, if they’re honest. Death, loss, divorce, sickness, bankruptcy, unemployment: doubt-causers. For the desperate father it was the incurable sickness of his son. For others it might be years of unemployment. Or mental illness that won’t flee from medicine and therapy. Or a relationship that is so broken mending it seems impossible. Or a death that comes suddenly and leaves broken hearts in its wake. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Doubt-causers will strike every life. Guaranteed.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So what do you do? How do you cope? How do you process through a doubt-causer in a faithful way? </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What does Faithful Unbelief look like? </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Join us for thirteen conversations exploring faith, doubt, questions, answers, and how to have faithful unbelief. </span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Being Uncertainly Certain</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why what we think we know isn’t always what we know. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cognitive Dissonance </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The power and danger of thinking two different things at the same time.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Cycle of Learning</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How our reason, experience and emotions combine to create knowledge</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Asking Questions</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Exploring the different motivations for asking questions. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Asking Logical Questions</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A brief overview of logic, its questions and potential answers. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Asking Emotional Questions</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How feelings spur questions that logic may not be able to answer and what to do about it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Searching for Answers</span></div>
</li>
<ol style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ways to begin processing questions: study, conversation, experience, journaling, meditation, counseling, etc.</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Searching for Meaning</span></div>
</li>
<ol style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Touching on the difference between answers and meaning and what each one can offer. </span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Discovering Truth</span></div>
</li>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How will you know when you know what you know? </span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Big T Truth versus Little T Truth. </span></div>
</li>
<ol style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How finding your truth may or may not have anything to do with Truth.</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Change</span></div>
</li>
<ol style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to use both feelings and actions to create change, and why you should do it. </span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cognitive Consonance </span></div>
</li>
<ol style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Re-aligning your brain to a new reality is painful and rewarding. </span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Re-Engage the Questions</span></div>
</li>
<ol style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The cycle of faithful unbelief continues. Learn how to keep the process going in a healthy way. </span></li>
</ol>
</ol>
James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-55918028711192162822013-07-31T11:34:00.002-07:002013-07-31T11:34:53.897-07:00The Last Mile<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzGEIfS-wf4FQ8-stR-D9MnDF7b_zsCBa4lG5O40UGgbFwGb5Jh0Q93lPXczXmT0DjuRuWiEzu61Kh66liWhsrDh8nyil3qQhC-x7fJsQ7-u4sDZB_LRKU5aMSVbqofns4Wkc/s1600/last-mile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzGEIfS-wf4FQ8-stR-D9MnDF7b_zsCBa4lG5O40UGgbFwGb5Jh0Q93lPXczXmT0DjuRuWiEzu61Kh66liWhsrDh8nyil3qQhC-x7fJsQ7-u4sDZB_LRKU5aMSVbqofns4Wkc/s320/last-mile.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The term "The Last Mile" came from the push to get phone lines to every person in the United States. The real problem, and the most expensive part of the process, was getting the line the last mile down the road to the houses of people.<br />
<br />
It was easy to start the process. The first few miles were close to the phone company and a natural extension of what was already happening. But the farther from the phone company, the more spread out the people became.<br />
<br />
Still, getting to the towns wasn't terribly difficult. There were highways that led to most of those. What was the real issue was that last mile from the towns to each person's home.<br />
<br />
I struggle with the last mile in almost every project I do. I want to hurry up and start things, but I don't want to finish them. The minute details. The endless polishing. The last, lonely, long mile of it.<br />
<br />
But the last mile is the difference between a professional and an amateur.<br />
<br />
It's easy enough for anyone to start something, but to go through all the thankless effort of finishing well is the mark of a true professional.<br />
<br />
My first published book wasn't professional. People read it because, I think, the content outshone the flaws.<br />
<br />
But instead of rushing out my next book. I'm forcing myself to walk the last mile. To re-read what I wrote and others have read.<br />
<br />
I really don't want to do this. That's why I must.<br />
<br />
How do you deal with the last mile in your work?James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-28897804902333700432013-07-26T16:36:00.000-07:002013-07-27T09:00:53.659-07:00Wrestling Entropy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QUdwiLbNIGxI1Nsr2RzPjpJ9kJTI5eTkL78fvI6Rz9WrNung0q0ksfwyXbePbGSYubwRjithw9oWYPUJdZVHzJRCqbLmKzD0Owl3PRu5zG_qps47SyjKnhyDB_hGXnxSw_Ai/s1600/1entropy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QUdwiLbNIGxI1Nsr2RzPjpJ9kJTI5eTkL78fvI6Rz9WrNung0q0ksfwyXbePbGSYubwRjithw9oWYPUJdZVHzJRCqbLmKzD0Owl3PRu5zG_qps47SyjKnhyDB_hGXnxSw_Ai/s320/1entropy.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s vast. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Vast and constantly swirling. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it doesn’t swirl like the eddies of a river seeking
chaotic balance. It doesn’t swirl like clouds forming a funnel of violence. It
doesn’t swirl like flames erupting from
a pitch-filled knot on a log tossed into a fire. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No the swirling is fully random. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That may not seem a differentiation, but it is. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everything we see that we think is chaotic isn’t really. It’s
order that we can’t fully perceive. The swirls of sunflower seeds are arranged
according to Fibonacci’s sequence. So too the shell of the nautilus. The clouds
obey patterns of wind. Fire is defined by thermodynamics. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The pseudo-chaos we see is not chaos but our inability to
understand. The flowing river is in perfect order that we could see if we knew
ever molecule of water, every fish, every plant, every gust of wind, every
stone and every footfall of a deer slaking its thirst at dusk. It all goes
where it ought to in precisely predefined patterns. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This unending, swirling, chaos-incarnate is wholly
different. Not in degree, but in kind. There is no analogy. Laws do not define
it. Understanding cannot contain it. Vision cannot circumscribe it. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You stand at the edge as if on a cliff before the raging
sea. It writhes, alive and seeking. You can sense its cold purpose yet no words
exist to describe it. As color to one born blind. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You fear it, as you should, but slowly something dawns on
you. The realization creeps up your spine and lodges in the base of your skull.
It is felt, but not yet known. Your fearing, lizard-brain, fight-or-flight knot-in-the-pit-of-your-feet
locks you in place. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your blood pressure rises. Sweat embraces you. Breath
escapes you. The chaos is growing, coming, seeking to destroy you. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Panic cries out, begs for your obedience. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But with Alexander’s blade your gut-thought cleaves the
Gordian coil. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Entropy fears you. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You fear it. As well you should. It desires that all should
be like it. Everything should fail, crumble, topple and rust into oblivion. It
devours worlds, stars, galaxies and hearts. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it fears you too. As well it should. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You stand before it defiant. Its all-consuming chaos is not
death to you, but life. It is from whence all things come. Not willingly, but
eventually. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You wrestle with Entropy. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Each match is a titanic struggle laying low one or the other
opponents. You know not if you will succeed or fail, yet you stride forth into
battle. Into chaos. Into death-life you wade knowing that you can drag out of
its vast, swirling depths some order. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But not the order that can be understood, contained and
explained. No, the order you draw forth is other. Like Entropy is other. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your order is something new, something wondrous. It is
Creation. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What was not now is. Because you stand, fight and overcome
Entropy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do not diminish the heroic act with petty labels. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Artist”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Writer”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Painter”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Musician”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Sculptor”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Mother”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Teacher”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Conductor”<br />
“Preacher”<br />
“Engineer”<br />
“Plumber”<br />
“Farmer”<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those are but orderly, understandable, circumscribable
labels for those who stride forth, like you, and wrestle Entropy into
submission in order to bring a Creation forth into the world. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You should fear Entropy, but so should Entropy fear you. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
You are mighty. You Create. <o:p></o:p></div>
James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-60618009279542026332013-05-06T10:48:00.002-07:002013-05-06T10:48:20.322-07:00Why Productivity isn't Always the Best Goal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb524BNcNYeCGQBo7cO6AdId0BWZaX7zq9YGuw8YBMfgIHEeZHEqKWdCZz2I3BkJ1ZbA00rCf4fEBaRcREOsChRiLGUL0pP-jzcQXn59Y685JbYIS39eRWj75oCLI0-DtC092K/s1600/writing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb524BNcNYeCGQBo7cO6AdId0BWZaX7zq9YGuw8YBMfgIHEeZHEqKWdCZz2I3BkJ1ZbA00rCf4fEBaRcREOsChRiLGUL0pP-jzcQXn59Y685JbYIS39eRWj75oCLI0-DtC092K/s320/writing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My 2012 was wildly unproductive. I want to feel like a failure. I'm trying not to though.<br />
<br />
For most of the things I did in the last calendar year I have no measure of success. By any quantitative, objective standard I'm a failure. I made less money. The church I was working with closed down. I didn't publish a book (after publishing 2 in 2011). My writing business ended up writing off more than it made.<br />
<br />
All that really makes me want to feel like a failure.<br />
<br />
But I'm reminding myself that productivity isn't my goal. I don't want to be a productive writer, teacher, minister, or husband. I want to be better.<br />
<br />
Instead of looking at 2012 through the lens of productivity, I'm trying to look at it through the lens of improvement. Am I better?<br />
<br />
In 2012 I started developing my craft as a fiction writer. I joined a critique group and a connection group for writers. I've been able to give and receive feedback on writing that is thoughtful, helpful, and not personal.<br />
<br />
I started teaching in 2012 and I've been working to develop my skills to communicate ideas over the long-term and to translate my thoughts into concepts that can be understood by all the different types of thinkers.<br />
<br />
I helped a church see what true ministry looks like, how difficult it is to be a disciple-making-disciple, and to come to the realization that they no longer had the energy to do what they were called to do. Even though the church closed, the members left with a better understanding of God's calling for their lives.<br />
<br />
My wife and I have kept working to improve our marriage. We revisited our marriage mission and vision in order to make it more closely align with who we are and what we're doing. We experimented with new ways to express love to each other, kept having conversations about how we can improve and have just worked hard to be great at marriage.<br />
<br />
If I evaluate 2012 based on the standard of productivity, I failed. But in 2013 I'm a better writer, teacher, minister and husband than I was in 2011. So I'm doing my best to not feel like a failure.James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-55790506604812409072013-04-10T11:14:00.001-07:002013-04-10T11:14:42.977-07:00Not Either/Or, but Both/And<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFIY9R8zlLIpJJxe_zh0YsJC1fNF9izUdbBs1V4mw5MJtDxO8KUIJSN5_7V3XGDzyWiYM1WjRYgRkDDZhiOpkqFlLN46_Olg4ouEDRRSEQxPj1YC3pIVIs99sx_lhfIyzgNwT/s1600/iStock-apple-and-orange1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFIY9R8zlLIpJJxe_zh0YsJC1fNF9izUdbBs1V4mw5MJtDxO8KUIJSN5_7V3XGDzyWiYM1WjRYgRkDDZhiOpkqFlLN46_Olg4ouEDRRSEQxPj1YC3pIVIs99sx_lhfIyzgNwT/s320/iStock-apple-and-orange1.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
<b>Either/Or thinking is, in general, a waste of time.</b><br />
<br />
For one thing, it's a <a href="https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/black-or-white" target="_blank">logical fallacy</a> to assume that there are only two possible answers to most questions. In nearly every discussion there are multiple answers with varying levels of validity.<br />
<br />
It also immediately puts the discussion into the realm of right vs. wrong, which isn't a helpful spectrum on which to operate. If we are only concerned with being right, we won't entertain any other possibilities which actually increases the probability that we'll be wrong (more on that in a bit).<br />
<br />
It's also a relationally destructive paradigm because conversations are reduced to competitions in which one party is the loser and the other the winner.<br />
<br />
<b>Both/And thinking offers more hope and certainty.</b><br />
<br />
Looking at how both views can be right and wrong allows ideas to be placed on a continuum rather than set up as diametrically opposed. Seeing the continuum, or even a web of thoughts, provides not only a fuller understanding of the issue, but a better way of disagreeing.<br />
<br />
Instead of pitting right versus wrong, a both/and view allows the strengths and weaknesses of different ideas to be expressed. However if you're stuck defending the "right" answer, you are likely to never see its inherent weaknesses nor to discover the strengths in other points of view. This is, in essence, what the church did with Copernicus and Galileo. Their emphasis on being right blinded them to the strengths in the argument of another. So they were unable to admit the weaknesses in their own argument and therefore drastically reduced their chances of being right.<br />
<br />
Ultimately, both/and thinking seeks relationship over rightness. But that doesn't mean that rightness is sacrificed. Rather, when the relationship takes priority, it allows a forum for more ideas to be heard and a fuller understanding of the ideas to develop. Oddly, emphasizing relationship increases rightness. James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-33037916233167235142013-04-03T12:05:00.000-07:002013-04-03T12:05:25.846-07:00My Favorite Gay Atheist or Why Conversation Makes Us All BetterI just finished reading a very good book:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0807014397/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0807014397&linkCode=as2&tag=poweforprea-20" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfyEcQgDD81YMKmG1DYjflYZDcC2jF6pSDrreM3b8XskdBZXXUdHfVW69ppE1_qP1SrYUV16d0JleUnE0uf9XUWGmxmkRIp3ltwsQYr_qHKA-hb1TRnTaKcTq-04uUiwuyHEJ/s320/Faitheist.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0807014397/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0807014397&linkCode=as2&tag=poweforprea-20">Faitheist: How an Atheist Found Common Ground with the Religious</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=poweforprea-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0807014397" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. In it Chris Stedman tells the story of how he grew up, converted to Christianity, came out as gay, went to bible college, became an atheist, discovered that religious people aren't universally terrible, went to seminary, and began advocating for interfaith dialog and action - even though he doesn't have any faith per se.<br />
<br />
The story is very personal and thoughtfully written. If you've never met an atheist or a homosexual person, you should absolutely read this book to see the humanity within those groups. Chris doesn't hide his humanity.<br />
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The story of Chris desperately struggling to not be gay was particularly moving and thought provoking. Especially since that's not what caused him to lose his faith...<br /><br />Right now Chris is primarily concerned with helping atheists to have a moral purpose other than just disagreeing with theists. He's helping his atheist brothers and sisters to serve, connect, and make the world a better place. Chis is also helping atheists to converse with people of all faiths through his connection with <a href="http://www.ifyc.org/" target="_blank">Interfaith Youth Core</a>.<br />
<br />
Chris' story is one of continually diving into the deep end of dialog with people. Through it he's been hurt, abused, and rejected. But, more importantly, through it he's helped erase hate, bigotry, and violence that are bred of ignorance.<br />
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Dialog, according to Chris, doesn't call us to lessen our beliefs, ignore our convictions, or change our faith to accommodate others. Instead, actively sharing what we believe and why we believe it helps to strengthen the core of compassion, love, and connection with others. Listening to other people is a powerful way to show value for them. Listening without trying to convince exclaims respect.<br /><br />I notice that Jesus never tried to convince the Romans to stop following Jupiter. Jesus' words about religion were to those who claimed to have a lock on the truth. He broke the lock, kicked in the door, and invited in everyone to have a part of the conversation.<br /><br />Jesus' beliefs did not require him to convince others of his rightness, nor did his beliefs weaken in response to open dialog with others.<br /><br />Why can't we have the same attitude?James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-11213254780225270482013-03-26T09:33:00.001-07:002013-03-26T09:33:34.768-07:00Why the Conversation Matters or What Heisenberg has to Teach Us about Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNtcUHTHNjNbazULr2OsQ1ne6WzjRzBEza9cHBpWPUErJ3UR-2LxZkpcIxECJSF-Bp3F6l8cqZVs3dqhuzVrfaaLYBoE-IW9pZ9qa-JV6dLPrVhAcG3aZi7HIGiCqNvuU_LL2/s1600/heisenberg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNtcUHTHNjNbazULr2OsQ1ne6WzjRzBEza9cHBpWPUErJ3UR-2LxZkpcIxECJSF-Bp3F6l8cqZVs3dqhuzVrfaaLYBoE-IW9pZ9qa-JV6dLPrVhAcG3aZi7HIGiCqNvuU_LL2/s320/heisenberg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Albert Einstein famously responded to Heisenberg's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncertainty_principle" target="_blank">uncertainty principle</a> with the quip, "God does not play dice with the universe."<br />
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Einstein hated the rise of quantum physics even though it was a direct result of his work.<br />
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So, what does that have to do with conversation? I'm glad you asked. Heisenberg's uncertainty principle is the quantum application of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Observer_effect_(physics)" target="_blank">observer effect</a> which states that when measuring a system, the observer changes the system. This effect is so pronounced when taking measurements at the quantum level that the observer must be considered as a part of the system being measured.<br />
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Make sense?<br />
<br />
Okay, let me try again. If you check the pressure of the air in your tire, you have to let some of the air out in order to gauge what's going on inside the tire. You change the system to measure the system. If you wanted to do a quantum measurement of the electrons of the molecules inside the tire, your act of measuring would make you a part of the system.<br />
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The same thing happens in conversations. I had a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jamestwood/posts/918002813551" target="_blank">conversation on Facebook</a> recently about gay marriage. It got up to 265 comments over the course of 5 days. Toward the end several people were questioning the point of such a lengthy discussion since no one appeared to be changing opinions on the matter. I don't think anyone did end up changing views, but they all changed. Every person who contributed to the conversation was changed for it.<br />
<br />
By measuring your thoughts, you change your thoughts. You cannot state what you think without affecting what you think. So by being forced to type out words, everyone in the conversation was also forced to subtly change their minds. Then, in addition, they were forced to specifically address their thoughts toward opposing views, and since I won't brook abusive, dismissive comments, they had to do it in relationship with others.<br />
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That changes people. That changed me.<br />
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Even though my opinion on gay marriage isn't substantially different now than it was before, I better understand why those who disagree with me hold their views. They better understand why I hold my views. And, I think, we're all better for it.<br />
<br />
How have you benefited from having a conversation in which no one changes their opinion?James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-32398211472014831522013-03-21T10:18:00.000-07:002013-03-21T10:18:06.628-07:00Opinions on Gay Marriage are Shifting for Everyone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5EAhfIn94gcP3N-s2GkYPqV9mEzWq_Mv1zeDSDgurV2nW2oenAinS5OeLkwYDXlqPcvfbn5n6nQhd-bvAU6WkaQaaUJfMWZHra5mOTmb988DP9Ew_3xmNS9RNZvoYe-783xe/s1600/same-sex-marriage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5EAhfIn94gcP3N-s2GkYPqV9mEzWq_Mv1zeDSDgurV2nW2oenAinS5OeLkwYDXlqPcvfbn5n6nQhd-bvAU6WkaQaaUJfMWZHra5mOTmb988DP9Ew_3xmNS9RNZvoYe-783xe/s320/same-sex-marriage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Yesterday <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/03/20/174852782/pew-poll-for-many-whove-changed-same-sex-marriage-views-its-personal" target="_blank">NPR pointed to new research from Pew</a> that says people's opinions about gay marriage are changing.<br />
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Currently more people support gay marriage than oppose it (49% to 44%), which is a change from previous views. But the astounding statistic that comes out of this research is that 28% of people who currently support gay marriage used to opposed it.<br />
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It's a rarity in modern social and political spheres for people to so radically change their minds. What could cause such a shift in opinions on such a divisive topic?<br />
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Relationship.<br />
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People changed their mind on gay marriage because of a relationship with someone homosexual. It's much harder to oppose something when you put a face on it. It's much easier to change your mind when you do it out of care for someone.<br />
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Relationships change minds far more than statistics, logic, rhetoric, or pleading. Knowing someone and being known by someone is, perhaps, the most powerful way to convince someone. It creates a cognitive dissonance to see someone who seems good and to ascribe to them the label of evil. It's difficult to believe that gay people are bad when you know a good one.<br />
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Do you know any homosexual people? How has your relationship changed your mind?James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-60051377203975763902013-03-19T10:31:00.001-07:002013-03-19T10:31:19.530-07:00Is Rob Bell Right or Wrong about Gay Marriage?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJAR959aQePKq33I9LN8n3J7hfCHc87AjOh6L-rdn9GBt-a8gJ7C43CrgXv92qZ_GW-khUCn27qVf9s3fM8gfZfrXLSy16-W-J_tC2NCnByjPq8LEjRWkwZetD7coIcLjgd3p/s1600/rob+bell.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJAR959aQePKq33I9LN8n3J7hfCHc87AjOh6L-rdn9GBt-a8gJ7C43CrgXv92qZ_GW-khUCn27qVf9s3fM8gfZfrXLSy16-W-J_tC2NCnByjPq8LEjRWkwZetD7coIcLjgd3p/s320/rob+bell.JPG" width="207" /></a></div>
So, I guess Rob Bell is in favor of gay marriage now.<br />
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According to the Huffington Post Bell said:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">"I am for marriage. I am for fidelity. I am for love, whether it's a man and woman, a woman and a woman, a man and a man. I think the ship has sailed and I think the church needs -- I think this is the world we are living in and we need to affirm people wherever they are."</span></blockquote>
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So, is he right or wrong?<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/dear-rob-bell-welcome-to-the-struggle-for-marriage-equality/2013/03/18/bc23a178-8ff1-11e2-9cfd-36d6c9b5d7ad_story.html" target="_blank">Washington Post</a> welcomes Bell to the side of right and justice in a new Civil Rights Movement.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/thoughtlife/2013/03/rob-bell-homosexuality-and-the-new-cultural-acceptance/" target="_blank">Patheos blog</a> descries Bell as the latest celebrity to fall to the scythe of cultural normativism.<br />
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Which one is right?<br />
<br />
I think that we're asking the wrong question here. Or, to put it differently, we're not asking the right questions.<br />
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Rob Bell says that he supports gay marriage. Okay, great. But what does that mean? Doe he now think that homosexuality is not a sin in the bible? Or does he think that the bible shouldn't affect civil laws?<br />
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Both are conversations that are worthy and need to be discussed. But what's happening here (in the case of the Patheos blog, to name just one) is that Christians are condemning Bell to hell (ha, the jokes on them since he <a href="http://powerpointforpreachers.blogspot.com/2011/03/is-controversy-healthy.html" target="_blank">doesn't believe in hell)</a>. On the other side, gay rights activists are saying the Bell is in favor of homosexual relationships (not just gay marriage).<br />
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From what we have so far, we can't really make a determination. And that's the problem.<br />
<br />
The conversation about gay marriage is so mired in preconceived notions that any statement on either side means that one must align with a particular view. It's inconceivable that one could be for gay marriage and still consider homosexuality a sin according to the bible.<br />
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And that's why we can't talk about this. We're yelling at each other rather than having a discussion. Yelling gets us nowhere and, in the case of the church, it is only serving to further marginalize and minimize any message of hope or truth they might have.<br />
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Please stop yelling. Please stop promoting the yelling. It's not helping anything.<br />
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So, is Rob Bell right or wrong about gay marriage?<br />
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I don't know, let's have a conversation and figure it out.James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-54462150944334253512013-03-15T09:46:00.003-07:002013-03-15T09:46:18.182-07:00Embrace Fear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself," quoth Franklin Roosevelt.<br />
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In some sense that's absolutely true, our fears are based on our imagination far more than on reality. But what if we didn't perceive fear as a negative emotion? What if we decided that fear was simply a barometer pointing to the reality of our lives?<br />
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What if fear stopped being something we avoid and started being something we embrace?<br />
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Not that we should become fear junkies who seek the next fright-fix, nor that we should hope to encounter terrifying situations, those aren't helpful.<br />
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But fear is. Helpful, that is. It tells us when there's something that we want to avoid, and often that thing is something we really ought to do.<br />
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Think about it. Top fears - once you get past spiders, snakes, and rats - are public speaking, dealing with conflict, and pursuing dreams.<br />
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We fear what we need to do. We know what's good. We're easily able to determine what is good, but we have a hard time moving to do the good that we know we ought to do. We're afraid. We run from the fear and so we don't do the good that we ought to do.<br />
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Instead of running from fear, we should embrace it. As Brene Brown says, "Lean into the discomfort."<br />
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Growth is uncomfortable; it's scary. But that doesn't mean we should avoid it.James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-69034156630491315352013-03-13T09:26:00.003-07:002013-03-13T09:26:30.700-07:00Fear, Guilt, and Life<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1gF9HN2aUHvUDD48EjTdMI6X9uFdS5ElrmnRP1kLuQjWCtYbBAErOD1uV3RGKShMotb9KL390QO8qFA-RphwLS5hwDtVKMc-GE3gsDi1Kclm22wJrF-LeVn-B7aeCfYkvd-a/s1600/guilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1gF9HN2aUHvUDD48EjTdMI6X9uFdS5ElrmnRP1kLuQjWCtYbBAErOD1uV3RGKShMotb9KL390QO8qFA-RphwLS5hwDtVKMc-GE3gsDi1Kclm22wJrF-LeVn-B7aeCfYkvd-a/s320/guilt.jpg" width="307" /></a><br />
Fear and guilt aren't bad things. They help us to identify what's going on in our lives. They are powerful, useful markers that should increase our awareness of what we're doing.<br />
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But we've shifted so that we are driven by our feelings rather than being driven by purpose. It would be like planning your life around which gas station you can get to with your car rather than just finding a station when the tank is low.<br />
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Fear and guilt signals that something's happening, not unlike the low-gas light on your vehicle. But what you do with the signal matters far more than the signal itself. We've become signal averse rather than signal aware.<br />
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We think it's the light that should be avoided rather than the low gas level. So we might do things like put tape over the light, remove the fuse, or constantly and obsessively fill the tank ever few miles.<br />
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It's no different with fear and guilt when we seek to numb them, avoid them, or constantly assuage them through some sort of penance or ritual.<br />
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We're missing the point of the emotional signals we have.<br />
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How do you work to integrate fear and guilt into your life rather than avoiding them?<br />
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<br />James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-10604066209765027872013-03-11T10:03:00.000-07:002013-03-11T10:03:01.436-07:00We were Made for This<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In the origin story, we read about two trees being place in the garden. One tree was life, the other knowledge. The tree of knowledge was forbidden. Yet it was grasped anyway.<br />
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In some ways it seems that the church has interpreted this to mean that knowledge is evil. If it was a sin to take and eat of the tree of knowledge, then it must be wrong to pursue knowledge now. The conclusion became that knowledge itself was wrong.<br />
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What if that's not the case? What if we were made for knowledge and he problem wasn't in gaining it, but in gaining it too soon?<br />
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In the biblical stories, the life-tree never leaves. It's in the beginning and at the end. We were always meant to eat from it. We were made to eat from it.<br />
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What if we were made to eat from the knowledge-tree too? Just not yet.<br />
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Look at a child who is confronted with the knowledge of good and evil before they're ready. Children who suffer through abuse and tragedy don't have the mental power to cope with what they've learned. They gain the knowledge of good and evil but lack the ability to comprehend them. So, most often, they shut down in various ways.<br />
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What if that's what happened to humanity?<br />
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What if we became aware of good, and it was too much for us, so we feared it? We covered our nakedness and put up barriers to vulnerable relationships because the sheer goodness of them is terrifying.<br />
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What if we became aware of evil and it was too much for us, so we felt guilty? We let guilt overwhelm us and blind us so that something minor exploded into a major problem; greed gave birth to murder.<br />
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These twin demons of fear and guilt are coping mechanisms that our immature minds threw up against the onslaught of overwhelming knowledge. And since that moment in the garden we've been grasping forward trying to deal with the knowledge that was thrust on us long before we were ready for it.<br />
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Knowledge isn't bad; we were made to eat from the knowledge-tree. We just got there too soon.James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-77588799828289128272013-03-08T09:37:00.003-08:002013-03-08T09:37:56.467-08:00Questions of the HeartToday's blog lives on <a href="http://ozziepete.wordpress.com/2013/03/08/questions-of-the-heart/" target="_blank">another site</a>. You should <a href="http://ozziepete.wordpress.com/2013/03/08/questions-of-the-heart/" target="_blank">go there</a> and <a href="http://ozziepete.wordpress.com/2013/03/08/questions-of-the-heart/" target="_blank">read it</a>.<br />
<br />
My friend Peter asked me to write a guest post for his blog. The title I chose was: "Questions of the Heart."<br />
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Here's a teaser for you:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white;">"<span style="color: #4b5d67; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15.671875px;">Growing up in church, I was taught that certainty, not cleanliness, is what’s next to godliness. From the pulpit to the Sunday school classroom, we were told that we could be sure of our faith. It came as a surprise to me, then, when I discovered the many of the heroes of faith in the Bible have struggled with questions.</span>"</span></blockquote>
You should <a href="http://ozziepete.wordpress.com/2013/03/08/questions-of-the-heart/" target="_blank">go and read</a> the rest. And leave a comment over there.James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-52363986377123898822013-03-06T11:06:00.002-08:002013-03-06T11:06:49.447-08:00Then it All Went Wrong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It seemed like a good idea at the time. It really did. The Industrial Revolution transformed our world. It shaped government, economics, education, religion, and nearly everything else about our world. We found ways to make things faster, cheaper, more long-lasting, more interchangeable, and more profitable.<br />
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We went from a world where everything was hand-crafted as a unique item. Every bowl, gun, book, ship, house, and saddle were unique. They cost a lot of money, time, and effort to produce which helped to keep the poor poor and concentrated power in the hands of the few rich. But with the Industrial Revolution we learned how to replicate identical copies of a prototype.<br />
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So we tried to replicate identical copies of the United States government around the world.<br />
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We tried to replicate copies of intelligent people through our educational system.<br />
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We tried to replicate copies of our religious leaders through our churches.<br />
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While you can easily copy a tire, mass-produce it, and end up with better, cheaper results, it's actually detrimental to try to do the same thing with government, intelligence, and religion. We took the good of the Industrial Revolution and made it a bad thing by over-applying it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html" target="_blank">Sir Ken Robinson</a> points out that schools are killing rather than nurturing creativity. One of his main complaints is: <span style="background-color: #ece6df; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-indent: -4px;">“If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.”</span><br />
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Yet we've designed an educational system that systematically punishes students for doing exactly what they need to do in order to learn and grow.<br />
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How messed up is that?<br />
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People, and the systems made up of people, cannot be replicated. Human beings are not interchangeable parts to be swapped out on a whim. With each person, with each generation, we need to provide opportunities for growth and change. We need to provide opportunities to doubt, question, and grow.<br />
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The current generation needs to take up the ideas of racism and civil rights and examine them anew. They can't rely on the conclusions of the past. The current generation needs to work through the deepest questions of religion and philosophy for themselves.<br />
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We should, absolutely, interact with the great thinkers who have gone before. But they aren't molds into which we inject our own minds to be conformed to their way of thinking. Rather they are guides who've blazed a trail for us. It's on us, however, to walk the path--or to choose to blaze our own trail.<br />
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<br />James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-86978454471345547362013-03-04T13:50:00.002-08:002013-03-04T13:50:44.254-08:00You Can Never be Right without being Wrong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We're born with the innate capacity to be drastically wrong and still be okay with it. Babies eat dirt and, most of them, learn that dirt doesn't taste very good. Toddlers touch something hot and learn that it's a bad idea. Children crash their bikes and learn that the jump was too high.<br />
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But somewhere on into the teenage and early adult years we start making the switch. We have, somewhere, gotten the idea that to be an adult is to be right. I wonder where children could have ever gotten the impression that adulthood is the equivalent of always being right...<br />
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But it's the very people who eschew the idea that we're right who are our greatest innovators and heroes. The dirt-eating baby who grows up continuing to try new and daring combinations of flavors might be a famous chef or a prize-winning chemist. The toddler who burned her hand might grow up to develop new technology to keep us safe in our cars. The child who crashed his bike might grow up to be a test pilot and get to crash even bigger things.<br />
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We have this dual-personality issue in our society where we laud those who embrace being wrong only once they've been wrong enough times to be right. We focus on the end rather than the means that got them to that end. We don't praise Edison for his failed bulbs, but for his success. We don't praise Asimov for his terrible writing, but for his breakout works. We don't praise Steve Jobs for NeXT, but for OS X and iOS.<br />
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What if we started praising people for failing? What if we started encouraging people to be wrong?<br />
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How would that change our schools? Our jobs? Our government? Our churches?<br />
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Most of the major breakthroughs in history would have been impossible without people being wrong. Why then, are we so averse to it?James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13206875.post-54408355123445184612013-03-01T10:55:00.000-08:002013-03-01T10:55:09.838-08:00Lessons in being Wrong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABD8NOcFf7BMQL6YnN-fAh8_MsSbgWMLGkcvAOC2QryZLnu8u_8jdeY2YERoJt2IXoc-KKRvRfbGU0jvQ_nEIRQp2ieAB3G2B0DGIZ6FXTgzdZw1dGa44hOSuBL8A2QgP5i8u/s1600/Sequester-Cartoon1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABD8NOcFf7BMQL6YnN-fAh8_MsSbgWMLGkcvAOC2QryZLnu8u_8jdeY2YERoJt2IXoc-KKRvRfbGU0jvQ_nEIRQp2ieAB3G2B0DGIZ6FXTgzdZw1dGa44hOSuBL8A2QgP5i8u/s320/Sequester-Cartoon1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
Happy Sequestration Day!<br />
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Today is the feared, dreaded, awful day on which the sequestration of federal government funds takes effect and mandates spending cuts across the board.<br />
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We're here for one reason: no one is willing to be wrong.<br />
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The Democrats won't admit do being wrong. The Republicans won't admit to being wrong. The president won't admit to being wrong. The senate won't admit to being wrong. The house won't admit to being wrong.<br />
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But in some ways they're all wrong. They've all made mistakes. It's not a surprise (or it shouldn't be) that human beings thought one thing was right and, after time, discovered that it wasn't. That's the story of how we've progressed from stone-age cave-dwellers to masters of our world (which we're admitting that we've been wrong about).<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Hey, maybe it wasn't a good idea to eat that chicken raw."<br />"Hey, maybe you're right. That was a mistake. I'll try to fix that in the future." </blockquote>
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"Hey, maybe it wasn't a good idea to racially enslave people."<br />"Hey, maybe you're right. That was a mistake. I'll try to fix that in the future." </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Hey, maybe it wasn't a good idea to make that asbestos so easy to inhale."<br />"Hey, maybe you're right. That was a mistake. I'll try to fix that in the future."</blockquote>
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But, for whatever reason, the current government seems incapable of having a similar conversation. And, for whatever reason, the current church seems incapable of having a similar conversation.<br />
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There's no danger in being wrong, or even in the possibility of being wrong. The greatest danger is in convincing ourselves that we can never be wrong.<br />
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Am I right?James T Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13870789574689752112noreply@blogger.com0