This is the first of the final installments of Eden. To catch up on the series, Look up Genesis in the labels and read the columns there...
“Adam, where are you?”
The force, the tenderness of the words echoed out through the idyllic garden, moving through each molecule of every plant, every insect, every tree, every animal and even the very crown of creation. It was equal parts loving request and kingly summons.
At every syllable of the Creator, the Other, His creation enveloped His words, finding solace in them, finding source through them…His words were the very reason that they existed. He was the reason there was Creation. It was as if each leaf reached out through space and time to receive Him as the rightful King that He was. To them, He was never Other, but the Source, the Creator. The animals of the garden also responded in noble salutation, quickening pulses with sinewy muscles ready to move immediately to the One they loved and knew as their generator.
It seemed as the echo of the sound waves moved nimbly through the garden and that all of it turned towards the sound as the faces of flowers upturned to welcome the sun after a long, protracted winter. That is, all except two.
As the words rang out, never seeming to dissipate in their freshness and intensity, as if the sound wave generated from the Other was a gathering tsunami of sound that ran it’s course as original and powerful as the first utterance, the man and the woman shuddered. It was the first sobering thought that broke through the languid sensuality that had enveloped them as they ate their fill of the fruit of the tree the One had told them not to. They were sliding down the path the Serpent had bred in his slimy trail of assisted deceit.
Even as the nectar slid down their slightly open lips and onto their now viscous covered throats, they were transfixed in mid bite. Already they had crudely made themselves coverings from the sticky, ill formed and ill fitting leaves of the fig tree. This clownish covering was still moving about their once noble frames as they startled, craning their necks, catching each other’s eyes and knowing that He was here; Reality was here and crashing in upon their make believe kingdom, which was drunk in the empowerment of their wanton choice.
Ludicrously, they slid into the verdant foliage in order to hide themselves from Him even as every leaf turned every so slightly to receive the His manifest presence. It seemed to the man and the woman that their setting, their stewardship of creation was betraying them, turning on them in this critical moment. This self centered thought would seem extremely logical with the skewed compass by which they now navigated all that they knew. They had no idea, no concept of how narrow their world had already become. They viewed all of life through this new self absorbed lens. It now was all about them and how they viewed and experienced life, not through another’s eyes or perspective, but through the ever narrowing windows of life that once was called “good.”
The truth was that they were the only part of creation that was now responding differently. Every other part of this grand orchestration of nature and spirit was responding in exacting harmony and rhythm the way the Creator had made them to. The two descending into the adumbration of selfishness were out of time with the grand song the Creator had unleashed in this universe. The perceived betrayal of creation to the Creator was in reality the original song being still sung even as they launched into a foreign, dissonant refrain of sin, willfulness and self.
This feeling was squeezed through a deadly and slavish feeling of equal parts sweat, adrenaline and sickness. Fear was overwhelming a part of creation for the first time.
“Adam, where are you?”
This summons rang out and shot through the enveloping fear that suffocated the once regal couple now reduced to hiding in the shadowy recesses of the garden. The man, who had lost his voice in the most pivotal and critical point in history suddenly found voice again, speaking through thickened lips and vocal chords that in the short minutes had already become frozen in animal like reactions.
“I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid myself.”
The words were like dagger thrusts to the Creator. He knew what had happened. Nothing could take place without His knowledge. He was as connected to His creation in this moment as He was on the day he conceived of it and spoke it into being. Still, ultimate knowing is no shield from ultimate betrayal. Every word was a cut to the great, infinite loving heart. Every syllable would produce pain would scar. The heart of the Creator began a new pattern: brokenness.
There was another set of eyes and ears drawn to this unfolding tragedy. They were cold, lifeless in expression and at the same time full of loathing with the scene. Even more than the momentary victory felt by the deceiver, this new level of pain that the Other felt was more delicious, more satisfying, more animal, carnal, moving and tactile than anything he had experienced since that portentous moment when he and one third of what was once heaven’s crown, the source and focus of joy from the Other was ignobly cast from the heights that should have been his onto this material hell filled with hairless shadows of the Creator and the glory of heaven’s creation, eternal spirits. This world, this abominable and accursed plain of existence to which he was confined was too material, too natural for his refined and regal tastes. But it was this template from which he gathered his colors of betrayal and cause the voluptuous, exquisite pain that he saw, heard and experienced on the Other’s visage that caused him to come closer so he could savor each morsel of betrayal and affliction which the misguided and deluded Creator received from the “crown of His creation”, the weak, cowering, insipid and so easily distracted and deceived creatures now brushing off sap from figs and trying to stand erect in the presence of the One they had just sloughed off like the shedding skin of the serpent that he had inhabited in this form.
“Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”
Honesty, brutal and raw in its essence was what was needed now. Honesty that embraced what was done. How this moment was set would determine the fate of so much more than what the man and woman were aware of in this moment, the Creator knew this. But the answer flowing from the man rang of self protection towards himself and recrimination towards everything and everyone else, including the One who stood before, perfect in truth and holiness, the only One who wasn’t guilty in this gross spiritual menagerie.
“The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”
Even as he said the words, the man realized two opposite feelings, shame and self satisfaction. He felt the satisfaction of deflecting the blame towards both the woman and the Creator. It was so clear, so truthful. He wasn’t to blame, was he? He didn’t eat first, it was her and her execrable curiosity that got them here in the first place. Why did he have to bother with her excursions in the first place? She had a free will, a choice. He didn’t do it first, she did. And after all, had he really wanted her in the first place? Wasn’t life just fine before someone else came along and spoiled it with explorations and questions and words upon words? Who did this? It was God, the Creator. He was ultimately responsible, wasn’t He? After all, He created her, not Adam.
But he also felt shame. For a brief moment, he saw a flash of pain in the eyes of the woman, the gift that the Creator had given him. He knew that those words now were out there and unable to be retrieved. He knew that though he had masked his thoughts, there were enough words to do the damage. He had placed blame on the two beings in this world that had loved him in ways he could experience and feel; the Creator and his gift, the woman.
He also knew as he spoke this twisted convolution he passed off as truth that his words melted like wax in the heat of the sun. They withered coming off his lips to the One whose very presence defined truth. Shame covered him as no leaf could. He was naked, emotionally and physically, exposed before the glare of real truth.
“What is this you have done?"
The Creator breathed out these words knowing that the damage had been done. He was leading them into a freeing admission of what had happened and already the man had thrown back words of recrimination upon the gift that He had given to him in the moment of his greatest need. He had also experienced the blows of twisted truth recriminating Him as the Creator. His gift of free will was exploited and then reduced to something less than. He waited as he watched the woman forming words that He knew would not be true, nor would they be right.
“The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
She had no where else to go. The man rather than protecting her, standing in that moment and speaking what should have been naked truth, blamed her and the Creator. What could she say, “Yes, I did it?” She had, but there was another player. Surely it was his fault, the one who laid the pathway that she so boldly skipped down as carefree as a child at play just a few hours before. It was the serpent’s fault. He was the deceiver. It was as simple as that. What was a free choice if she was seduced into it, after all? Hold someone else accountable, it wouldn’t be her.
None of the finite players could know, but horror had been unleashed with a kernel of hope and that small seed of hope may just have been enough….
More to come….
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Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Want
Want (From Dictionary.com)
–verb (used with object)
| 1. | to feel a need or a desire for; wish for: to want one's dinner; always wanting something new. |
| 2. | to wish, need, crave, demand, or desire (often fol. by an infinitive): I want to see you. She wants to be notified. |
| 3. | to be without or be deficient in: to want judgment; to want knowledge. |
| 4. | to fall short by (a specified amount): The sum collected wants but a few dollars of the desired amount. |
| 5. | to require or need: The house wants painting. |
–verb (used without object)
| 6. | to feel inclined; wish; like (often fol. by to): We can stay home if you want. |
| 7. | to be deficient by the absence of some part or thing, or to feel or have a need (sometimes fol. by for): He did not want for abilities. |
| 8. | to have need (usually fol. by for): If you want for anything, let him know. |
| 9. | to be in a state of destitution, need, or poverty: She would never allow her parents to want. |
| 10. | to be lacking or absent, as a part or thing necessary to completeness: All that wants is his signature. |
–noun
—Idiom | 11. | something wanted or needed; necessity: My wants are few. |
| 12. | something desired, demanded, or required: a person of childish, capricious wants. |
| 13. | absence or deficiency of something desirable or requisite; lack: plants dying for want of rain. |
| 14. | the state of being without something desired or needed; need: to be in want of an assistant. |
| 15. | the state of being without the necessaries of life; destitution; poverty: a country where want is virtually unknown. |
| 16. | a sense of lack or need of something: to feel a vague want. |
| 17. | want in or out, Chiefly Midland.
|
So what does this mean, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want..."
More tomorrow...
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Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Who Will Say, Enough?
Without betraying anything, I am in pain.
Another person, who once loved Jesus, has passed because of drugs.
Seriously, when is it enough?
In our little city of 12,000 people we have an overabundance of people who are hooked on, you name it, prescriptions, illegals and alcohol.
The government does the best it can through social services and police, but they always seem to get the short and late end of the stick stepping in when they can legally after lives are ruined and families destroyed.
For those of you who dabble in this who think big business and the government is corrupt, have you ever considered the pusher and the alcohol distributor as big business?
Think of it. The only thing a meth lab or direct sales person mourns is the fact they have to get a new customer to replace the revenue that the deceased person brought. They don't and never will care that little children are left behind confused, sad and angry without a parent. They don't care that extended family and friends are left with questions and pain and sorrow. They don't care that people who have invested hours and days and months into these people are left with the same questions and pain and self doubt.
No, they care about money and themselves.
To my little city: how much longer are you going to allow this to happen in your midst? When are we going to admit as a city that substance abuse of all kinds is a serious problem here?
For me, this was one too many. If I sound angry, it is because I am. This was a waste. I knew this person. They once were vibrant, healthy and ......alive. They were full of what could have been even though they had fought for most of their life against that demonic stronghold of drugs. Now, there is no more potential.
Oh, I know what will happen now, it always does. Anger and recriminations will start flowing towards government, NGOs, non-profits, the church and even God Himself. The question that will never be answered is the "why" and this one, "Couldn't you have done more?"
But rarely do you hear outrage towards that first supplier and the one who continued to supply their craving need that was created. You don't hear a populace stand up and say, "enough is enough." If we dried up the flow, turned away the suppliers from our town, yes, some would go to where the supply is because they think of us as a market for their goods. You see to them, Our people are a means to commerce. It is foolish, sick and sad.
But some, would not find drugs so available in their boredoom. If foolish adults wouldn't buy the booze for kids in some desperate attempt to be "a cool adult" or some misguided backlash at the law prohibiting alcohol sales to minors, we might not have the problems we have. If people would serve others in the midst of their pain rather than trying to medicate it, we might erradiacte this in our midst.
The libertarians and anti-nomians among us would say, "Let them do what they want. People should be free. They aren't harming anyone." Is that right, you self righteous, smug group of feel-nothing, do-nothing hypocrites? Don't you mean as long as they aren't harming you; as long as it's your ox who isn't being gored?
Do you see the families grieving, the children lost without parents, the social workers broken, police at the edge of their nerve having to encounter this daily, businesses and individuals being robbed and the places where we as servants of Jesus go to try to bring comfort where there is so much pain? Yet, you want to what, legalize the trade to make more money off of it? Stand back and say, "If they are uncontrolled enough to go after it then at least we have the money to pay for the social services to take care of them." You Scrooges! Why not make more workhouses? Will your money pay for the social, familial and spiritual loss. Your money perish with you!
No, people like Brad Pitt, who advocates the legalization of marijuana, just want to have a toke with their friend and not let anyone push back. Remember River Phoenix? Like the people I've known who died because of drugs, they didn't start with meth, heroin or acid or end up dead on a back alley with a blood alcohol rate commensurate to kerosene. No, it was an innocuous drink before prom, a toke behind the gym or while chilling out listening to music. Oh God, I am so tired of the loss! Suicide, overdose, drunk driving, sclerosis of the liver, an exploding esophagus, hepatitis, HIV - when will this stop? When we as a people say we have had it. When we don't bury ourselves back into the comfort of our personal pursuit of happiness.
Somedays, I feel (although I know it's not true) like the Dutch boy with his finger in the dike. You feel overwhelmed daily pushing back on believers who want to go back to drugs. It is maddening, saddening and discouraging.
But now, I am going to mourn, see where I can help and hope that one day, not just one voice but many will say, "Enough!"
For more information, please go to www.sterlingfoursquare.com where you can find events, information and more...
Another person, who once loved Jesus, has passed because of drugs.
Seriously, when is it enough?
In our little city of 12,000 people we have an overabundance of people who are hooked on, you name it, prescriptions, illegals and alcohol.
The government does the best it can through social services and police, but they always seem to get the short and late end of the stick stepping in when they can legally after lives are ruined and families destroyed.
For those of you who dabble in this who think big business and the government is corrupt, have you ever considered the pusher and the alcohol distributor as big business?
Think of it. The only thing a meth lab or direct sales person mourns is the fact they have to get a new customer to replace the revenue that the deceased person brought. They don't and never will care that little children are left behind confused, sad and angry without a parent. They don't care that extended family and friends are left with questions and pain and sorrow. They don't care that people who have invested hours and days and months into these people are left with the same questions and pain and self doubt.
No, they care about money and themselves.
To my little city: how much longer are you going to allow this to happen in your midst? When are we going to admit as a city that substance abuse of all kinds is a serious problem here?
For me, this was one too many. If I sound angry, it is because I am. This was a waste. I knew this person. They once were vibrant, healthy and ......alive. They were full of what could have been even though they had fought for most of their life against that demonic stronghold of drugs. Now, there is no more potential.
Oh, I know what will happen now, it always does. Anger and recriminations will start flowing towards government, NGOs, non-profits, the church and even God Himself. The question that will never be answered is the "why" and this one, "Couldn't you have done more?"
But rarely do you hear outrage towards that first supplier and the one who continued to supply their craving need that was created. You don't hear a populace stand up and say, "enough is enough." If we dried up the flow, turned away the suppliers from our town, yes, some would go to where the supply is because they think of us as a market for their goods. You see to them, Our people are a means to commerce. It is foolish, sick and sad.
But some, would not find drugs so available in their boredoom. If foolish adults wouldn't buy the booze for kids in some desperate attempt to be "a cool adult" or some misguided backlash at the law prohibiting alcohol sales to minors, we might not have the problems we have. If people would serve others in the midst of their pain rather than trying to medicate it, we might erradiacte this in our midst.
The libertarians and anti-nomians among us would say, "Let them do what they want. People should be free. They aren't harming anyone." Is that right, you self righteous, smug group of feel-nothing, do-nothing hypocrites? Don't you mean as long as they aren't harming you; as long as it's your ox who isn't being gored?
Do you see the families grieving, the children lost without parents, the social workers broken, police at the edge of their nerve having to encounter this daily, businesses and individuals being robbed and the places where we as servants of Jesus go to try to bring comfort where there is so much pain? Yet, you want to what, legalize the trade to make more money off of it? Stand back and say, "If they are uncontrolled enough to go after it then at least we have the money to pay for the social services to take care of them." You Scrooges! Why not make more workhouses? Will your money pay for the social, familial and spiritual loss. Your money perish with you!
No, people like Brad Pitt, who advocates the legalization of marijuana, just want to have a toke with their friend and not let anyone push back. Remember River Phoenix? Like the people I've known who died because of drugs, they didn't start with meth, heroin or acid or end up dead on a back alley with a blood alcohol rate commensurate to kerosene. No, it was an innocuous drink before prom, a toke behind the gym or while chilling out listening to music. Oh God, I am so tired of the loss! Suicide, overdose, drunk driving, sclerosis of the liver, an exploding esophagus, hepatitis, HIV - when will this stop? When we as a people say we have had it. When we don't bury ourselves back into the comfort of our personal pursuit of happiness.
Somedays, I feel (although I know it's not true) like the Dutch boy with his finger in the dike. You feel overwhelmed daily pushing back on believers who want to go back to drugs. It is maddening, saddening and discouraging.
But now, I am going to mourn, see where I can help and hope that one day, not just one voice but many will say, "Enough!"
For more information, please go to www.sterlingfoursquare.com where you can find events, information and more...
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Give a hand up to the under-resourced people of the world through KIVA
Ever since two weeks ago when I first heard about it, I have been chomping at the bit to give a loan through Kiva. Kiva is a place that arranges micro finance loans from lenders through the internet ($25-$100 or more) direct to those who are unable to get a loan because they are unable to provide equity.
Our first loan was to a lady in Uganda. In fact, here is the text about her from the web site:
Naluyima Yeko is the leader of her lending group in Lugazi. She is a hard-working business lady who has been selling agricultural products, such as matooke and sweet potatoes, for 10 years. Yeko started on a very small scale in the Lugazi Central market but, at the moment, she is able to make profits worth 150,000/= a week. She says that her loans enable her to stock quality produce and enable her business to move swiftly.
She plans to build a residential house for her family and ensure that all her children get a quality education. Yeko needs a loan to help increase the capital in her business so that she is able to buy more produce to resell. This is Yeko’s 35th loan and she and her businesses have grown because of them. She is 50 years and married with 6 children ages 16 to 35, because she also takes care of orphans.
Now if you are wondering, matooke is a plaintain (type of bananna). Join the revolution and let's make a difference in the third world. Check out kiva!
Our first loan was to a lady in Uganda. In fact, here is the text about her from the web site:
Naluyima Yeko is the leader of her lending group in Lugazi. She is a hard-working business lady who has been selling agricultural products, such as matooke and sweet potatoes, for 10 years. Yeko started on a very small scale in the Lugazi Central market but, at the moment, she is able to make profits worth 150,000/= a week. She says that her loans enable her to stock quality produce and enable her business to move swiftly.
She plans to build a residential house for her family and ensure that all her children get a quality education. Yeko needs a loan to help increase the capital in her business so that she is able to buy more produce to resell. This is Yeko’s 35th loan and she and her businesses have grown because of them. She is 50 years and married with 6 children ages 16 to 35, because she also takes care of orphans.
Now if you are wondering, matooke is a plaintain (type of bananna). Join the revolution and let's make a difference in the third world. Check out kiva!
For more information, please go to www.sterlingfoursquare.com where you can find events, information and more...
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Thunder Lizard Evangelists
I know I'm late to the party, but I am completely enamored with Guy Kawasaki's book, "Selling The Dream".
His main thesis is about the difference between selling people a product and evangelizing people to a cause.
Now I know that he is secular, but this is a great "outside the box" kind of book that can jump start your thinking.
Here is a way to order it!
Now I know that many of you are wondering why this book? I'll state the following:
1) We can lose passion in our missions. This guys gets it and all he was giving was a way to change the world through silicon! Look at what we have.
2) I really believe that when we explore things that are outside of our disciplines, it stretches our thinking. After all, he actually went to a Billy Graham School of Evangelism to learn more about being one - for a business guy!
Happy reading!
For more information, please go to www.sterlingfoursquare.com where you can find events, information and more...
His main thesis is about the difference between selling people a product and evangelizing people to a cause.
Now I know that he is secular, but this is a great "outside the box" kind of book that can jump start your thinking.
Here is a way to order it!
Now I know that many of you are wondering why this book? I'll state the following:
1) We can lose passion in our missions. This guys gets it and all he was giving was a way to change the world through silicon! Look at what we have.
2) I really believe that when we explore things that are outside of our disciplines, it stretches our thinking. After all, he actually went to a Billy Graham School of Evangelism to learn more about being one - for a business guy!
Happy reading!
For more information, please go to www.sterlingfoursquare.com where you can find events, information and more...
Moving From Concpets to Causes
My friend, Joe Alvarado showed up in the most unexpected place today, my television in our kitchen/service porch. I heard the anchor of 9 news talk about Eternal Rock Church and their annual give away of backpacks to the poor. Then, I heard and saw Joe talk about the "why" of the project - to bless the kids.
This is what I mean about moving from concepts to causes. You see, anyone can believe in a concept. I can tacitly agree to love my irascible neighbor, or to agree to the concept to help the poor. But when you move into actually doing it (which Joe and his church have been doing for at least four years without press coverage), you are moving from believing in a concept to being enlisted in a cause.
That's what Jesus came to do. Enlist into the cause that many of us pray every day - "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven."
This is the kind of church I want to be a part of; a church that moves beyond concepts, past the easy believing of agreeing into the incarnational reality of being enlisted into a cause that reaps benefits on earth and in heaven, both now and for eternity.
You see, Jesus had a "cause based" vision. He could have believed in the concept of saving us, but instead, He became enlisted in His own cause, incarnating and becoming one of us to save us.
This is "fusion" at it's best.
What do you think?
PS - Here's the link to see the article on 9 news. I don't think they saved the video.
For more information, please go to www.sterlingfoursquare.com where you can find events, information and more...
This is what I mean about moving from concepts to causes. You see, anyone can believe in a concept. I can tacitly agree to love my irascible neighbor, or to agree to the concept to help the poor. But when you move into actually doing it (which Joe and his church have been doing for at least four years without press coverage), you are moving from believing in a concept to being enlisted in a cause.
That's what Jesus came to do. Enlist into the cause that many of us pray every day - "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven."
This is the kind of church I want to be a part of; a church that moves beyond concepts, past the easy believing of agreeing into the incarnational reality of being enlisted into a cause that reaps benefits on earth and in heaven, both now and for eternity.
You see, Jesus had a "cause based" vision. He could have believed in the concept of saving us, but instead, He became enlisted in His own cause, incarnating and becoming one of us to save us.
This is "fusion" at it's best.
What do you think?
PS - Here's the link to see the article on 9 news. I don't think they saved the video.
For more information, please go to www.sterlingfoursquare.com where you can find events, information and more...
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Open Sourcing the Church - Gary Hammel's Blog
Today I was blown away as I read Gary Hamel, who is an MIT Professor and Wall Street Journal Blogger.
Here is the link: http://blogs.wsj.com/management/2009/03/24/the-facebook-generation-vs-the-fortune-500/
Here are the twelve points:
Here are few questions I have:
1) How does this affect the church and her structures?
2) Leadership, Biblical leadership seems to fit this pattern more than traditional command and control structures. Do you agree or disagree?
3) If "authority trickles up", as Dr. Hamel put it, how does that also affect vision? Does vision come from the top - down, or does leadership serve the mission and organization by creating room for vision that comes from the bottom - up? What are the ramifications of this?
Thanks for reading and commenting....
Doug
For more information, please go to www.sterlingfoursquare.com where you can find events, information and more...
Here is the link: http://blogs.wsj.com/management/2009/03/24/the-facebook-generation-vs-the-fortune-500/
Here are the twelve points:
1. All ideas compete on an equal footing.
On the Web, every idea has the chance to gain a following—or not, and no one has the power to kill off a subversive idea or squelch an embarrassing debate. Ideas gain traction based on their perceived merits, rather than on the political power of their sponsors.
On the Web, every idea has the chance to gain a following—or not, and no one has the power to kill off a subversive idea or squelch an embarrassing debate. Ideas gain traction based on their perceived merits, rather than on the political power of their sponsors.
2. Contribution counts for more than credentials.
When you post a video to YouTube, no one asks you if you went to film school. When you write a blog, no one cares whether you have a journalism degree. Position, title, and academic degrees—none of the usual status differentiators carry much weight online. On the Web, what counts is not your resume, but what you can contribute.
When you post a video to YouTube, no one asks you if you went to film school. When you write a blog, no one cares whether you have a journalism degree. Position, title, and academic degrees—none of the usual status differentiators carry much weight online. On the Web, what counts is not your resume, but what you can contribute.
3. Hierarchies are natural, not prescribed.
In any Web forum there are some individuals who command more respect and attention than others—and have more influence as a consequence. Critically, though, these individuals haven’t been appointed by some superior authority. Instead, their clout reflects the freely given approbation of their peers. On the Web, authority trickles up, not down.
In any Web forum there are some individuals who command more respect and attention than others—and have more influence as a consequence. Critically, though, these individuals haven’t been appointed by some superior authority. Instead, their clout reflects the freely given approbation of their peers. On the Web, authority trickles up, not down.
4. Leaders serve rather than preside.
On the Web, every leader is a servant leader; no one has the power to command or sanction. Credible arguments, demonstrated expertise and selfless behavior are the only levers for getting things done through other people. Forget this online, and your followers will soon abandon you.
On the Web, every leader is a servant leader; no one has the power to command or sanction. Credible arguments, demonstrated expertise and selfless behavior are the only levers for getting things done through other people. Forget this online, and your followers will soon abandon you.
5. Tasks are chosen, not assigned.
The Web is an opt-in economy. Whether contributing to a blog, working on an open source project, or sharing advice in a forum, people choose to work on the things that interest them. Everyone is an independent contractor, and everyone scratches their own itch.
The Web is an opt-in economy. Whether contributing to a blog, working on an open source project, or sharing advice in a forum, people choose to work on the things that interest them. Everyone is an independent contractor, and everyone scratches their own itch.
6. Groups are self-defining and -organizing.
On the Web, you get to choose your compatriots. In any online community, you have the freedom to link up with some individuals and ignore the rest, to share deeply with some folks and not at all with others. Just as no one can assign you a boring task, no can force you to work with dim-witted colleagues.
On the Web, you get to choose your compatriots. In any online community, you have the freedom to link up with some individuals and ignore the rest, to share deeply with some folks and not at all with others. Just as no one can assign you a boring task, no can force you to work with dim-witted colleagues.
7. Resources get attracted, not allocated.
In large organizations, resources get allocated top-down, in a politicized, Soviet-style budget wrangle. On the Web, human effort flows towards ideas and projects that are attractive (and fun), and away from those that aren’t. In this sense, the Web is a market economy where millions of individuals get to decide, moment by moment, how to spend the precious currency of their time and attention.
In large organizations, resources get allocated top-down, in a politicized, Soviet-style budget wrangle. On the Web, human effort flows towards ideas and projects that are attractive (and fun), and away from those that aren’t. In this sense, the Web is a market economy where millions of individuals get to decide, moment by moment, how to spend the precious currency of their time and attention.
8. Power comes from sharing information, not hoarding it.
The Web is also a gift economy. To gain influence and status, you have to give away your expertise and content. And you must do it quickly; if you don’t, someone else will beat you to the punch—and garner the credit that might have been yours. Online, there are a lot of incentives to share, and few incentives to hoard.
The Web is also a gift economy. To gain influence and status, you have to give away your expertise and content. And you must do it quickly; if you don’t, someone else will beat you to the punch—and garner the credit that might have been yours. Online, there are a lot of incentives to share, and few incentives to hoard.
9. Opinions compound and decisions are peer-reviewed.
On the Internet, truly smart ideas rapidly gain a following no matter how disruptive they may be. The Web is a near-perfect medium for aggregating the wisdom of the crowd—whether in formally organized opinion markets or in casual discussion groups. And once aggregated, the voice of the masses can be used as a battering ram to challenge the entrenched interests of institutions in the offline world.
On the Internet, truly smart ideas rapidly gain a following no matter how disruptive they may be. The Web is a near-perfect medium for aggregating the wisdom of the crowd—whether in formally organized opinion markets or in casual discussion groups. And once aggregated, the voice of the masses can be used as a battering ram to challenge the entrenched interests of institutions in the offline world.
10. Users can veto most policy decisions.
As many Internet moguls have learned to their sorrow, online users are opinionated and vociferous—and will quickly attack any decision or policy change that seems contrary to the community’s interests. The only way to keep users loyal is to give them a substantial say in key decisions. You may have built the community, but the users really own it.
As many Internet moguls have learned to their sorrow, online users are opinionated and vociferous—and will quickly attack any decision or policy change that seems contrary to the community’s interests. The only way to keep users loyal is to give them a substantial say in key decisions. You may have built the community, but the users really own it.
11. Intrinsic rewards matter most.
The web is a testament to the power of intrinsic rewards. Think of all the articles contributed to Wikipedia, all the open source software created, all the advice freely given—add up the hours of volunteer time and it’s obvious that human beings will give generously of themselves when they’re given the chance to contribute to something they actually care about. Money’s great, but so is recognition and the joy of accomplishment.
The web is a testament to the power of intrinsic rewards. Think of all the articles contributed to Wikipedia, all the open source software created, all the advice freely given—add up the hours of volunteer time and it’s obvious that human beings will give generously of themselves when they’re given the chance to contribute to something they actually care about. Money’s great, but so is recognition and the joy of accomplishment.
12. Hackers are heroes.
Large organizations tend to make life uncomfortable for activists and rabble-rousers—however constructive they may be. In contrast, online communities frequently embrace those with strong anti-authoritarian views. On the Web, muckraking malcontents are frequently celebrated as champions of the Internet’s democratic values—particularly if they’ve managed to hack a piece of code that has been interfering with what others regard as their inalienable digital rights.
Large organizations tend to make life uncomfortable for activists and rabble-rousers—however constructive they may be. In contrast, online communities frequently embrace those with strong anti-authoritarian views. On the Web, muckraking malcontents are frequently celebrated as champions of the Internet’s democratic values—particularly if they’ve managed to hack a piece of code that has been interfering with what others regard as their inalienable digital rights.
Here are few questions I have:
1) How does this affect the church and her structures?
2) Leadership, Biblical leadership seems to fit this pattern more than traditional command and control structures. Do you agree or disagree?
3) If "authority trickles up", as Dr. Hamel put it, how does that also affect vision? Does vision come from the top - down, or does leadership serve the mission and organization by creating room for vision that comes from the bottom - up? What are the ramifications of this?
Thanks for reading and commenting....
Doug
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