Faith Like a Mustard Seed
Recently, There is so much going on in my life that I find it difficult to differentiate when am I acting from a place of "Faith" or place of "striving/control". The bible makes it clear that faith comes from the Spirit, and the fruit of the Spirit is: joy, peace, patience, understanding (see Ephesians 5). From this, I know that many times I'm not 'in the Spirit', and I can see that I'm not acting out of faith. - this is my concern. I want to be a man of faith. Have you considered the size of a mustard seed? It's tiny, unassuming, yet packed with flavor!
A very brief idea: Faith is simple. Once I complicate something, a situation, a relationship, a project, typically, faith is thrown out the window. Mustard Seed Faith calls attention to 'letting go', acting courageously to move through whatever resistance or conflict presents itself. Jesus himself said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches." Think of how simple, unassuming, faith can transform your life today!
So never lose an opportunity of urging a practical beginning, however small, for it is wonderful how often in such matters the mustard-seed germinates and roots itself.
-anon
Labels: faith, kingdom of heaven, mustard seed
My Top Powerful Women: Power, Inversion and the context...
Recently, I heard this NPR program, The business. It is an interview with the Editor of the Hollywood Reporter talking about the most powerful women in the entertainment business. Two things stood out to me. Those in power "grabbed it" - that is that they had to be "power hungry/controling/out of balance". Also, The interview is a fascinating expose on the state of women in powerful positions and the entertainment industry (the back biting, positioning, clammering for exposure).
These to observations shouldn't take away the fact that 1.) I don't know these individuals 2.) I believe the must be very skilled and respectable. For me these observations point to something deeper, it gets to the one of humans basic natures - a desire for control. Notice I didn't say "a need..." - this is because, I believe it is a perceived "need", aka, a Desire. The title of this blog is, Dunami. This comes from the Greek root word - meaning "power from without - or above". This is why Nobel named Dynamite after this word, because as he lite the fuse - the explosion came from "without", it was hidden, so to speak. Two elements came together, and miraculously, caused another affect. In the New Testament there are many places that it talks about "the power of God" that transformes thinking, hearts, and communities. Also, It is this kind of power is spoken of in and through the life of Jesus.
This power is a power of inversion - an idea that wasn't new to me, but I was recently reminded of through the writing of Peter Block (creating an alternative future demands an inversion of the way things are - that is seeing new possibilities...ect,). It's apparant to me that Jesus epotomizes this "inversion". He gave up power to be subject to others, he worked with the "blue collar" workers of his day when he didn't need to, he associated with the minorities and outcasts, he included the poor in places where they were "put out", he gave authority to women in a time when it wasn't allowed... Call it inversion or reversal - He did both. There was an order that he reversed in the social class of his day. He challenged the beliefs of others by inverting their thinking ("the last shall be first", "don't go one mile, but two"). He challenged the use of money - He inverted the socio-economic practices, especially see the book of Luke (6:20,24, ; 8:14, 12:13-34, 14:33, 16:9, 18:24-25). And it should be noted that those who heed his words with care have a desire to "imitate" his ways (Ephsians 5:1), because he "inverted" love by giving it freely away.
For me there are some very powerful women in my life; I could name my mom, those in the work that I do, others in my Masters program at Pepperdine, but I'd like to highlight a couple of women who are growing examples of "Power from Without" or "power from on high". These two women are in high school, both come from a low income 'social status', don't hold any great "position of power", yet they continue to impress me with their ability to "invert", and "reverse". Against the odds, they are training for the LA Marathon. Gabby and Chanel, (who often don't like their picture taken, but who can't relate to that!;), both, have their flaws. But it is their desire to work hard, receive correction, and encourage others - even when they don't feel great (imagine what you'd feel like after 13+ miles!), that exemplifies them being "women of power". I look forward to being inspired by them!
Along the way, I've tried to practice some of the principles of inverted power that Jesus inspires me with. Lastly, I've found in Margaret Wheatley's book, Leadership and the New Sciences' some similar ideas. I think you'll notice in this quote the "inverted" nature of her description of leadership.
"The art of leadership is the ability to release the potential of those within the organization. The start of this process is to value people and to express confidence in their ability to be all that they are capable of being. Such confidence will be reflected in the confidence people will have in themselves. Leadership has more to do with being than doing. We erroneously see greatness in leadership with what those leaders do rather than what they are and allow others to be."
pg 144-5 Wheatley, Leadership and the New Science
- Click here for the NPR radio program -
- Click here for the Top 100 Powerful Women List -
Do you have any examples of inverted power or leadership? please share.
Labels: ephesians, leadership and the new sciences, magaret wheatley, npr, peter block, power, power of God, the business
The Soil of my heart...
In the parable of the Farmer who scatters seed in Mark 4:10-20, Matthew 13:10-23 and Luke 8:4-15, Jesus lists three kinds of Soil upon which the Seed, representing the "message of the Kingdom (Mt 13:19)" or "God's word to others (Mk 4:14)" fell on:
1. The Footpath - which lacks any impact whatsoever
2. Rocky Soil - those hear the message with joy - but lack any roots, so it doesn't grow
3. Among Thorns - the message is heard, but it's choked out by the worries of the world
4. Good soil - the message is heard, understand, and acted upon.
Many things could be said about this parable. For instance, how our words don't seem to be 'heard' when we share something of importance. Have you noticed that in different situations, people respond differently to the same message that you may have said multiple times? I've found that the soil of people's 'receptivity' is different, no matter the message. Interestingly, this parable is talking about a specific message; the message of God's kingdom, God's word to others.
This makes me think of my brother. He has been in the hospital for almost three weeks. He has had a respirator on and can't talk. Only until recently was he cognitive! (This picture shows him on a rotating bed that he was on last week) .
Immediately, I think of how difficult situations; humbling situations; softens the soil of hearts - that is, that in truly personal dilemmas, I'm much more apt to listen. This is the case with my brother - yesterday, a good friend, Bryndon Preston, came by to read to my brother. My brother has been a good listener - but much more of a 'doer' - even some of my fondest moments have been when we're doing something together (snow skiing and hiking comes to mind). So not to say that he doesn't listen, but I can't remember a time when he listen to someone read to him - and this wasn't just any reading - Bryndon was reading from a Max Lucado book, Facing Your Giants. This is a message about faith, a message about God's kingdom. Bryndon kept asking if my brother wanted him to keep reading, and he just kept nodding - I guess this went on for a couple of hours!
Interestingly, that same day, the my brother was taken off the respirator! As if this soil; listened, took root, and action! I was on the phone with my dad at the time, I could hardly believe it!
I'm finding myself asking questions of:
- How do I listen to God's message?
- What does the soil of my heart look like?
- Does it lead to action and change?
- What are the "giants" in my life?
- What "messages" am I listening to about those "giants"? What would faith look like for me in those situations?
Labels: brian, brother, faith, God's word, kingdom message
