Hugging Ourselves to Death?

In light of the recent media political brouhaha here in America, I repeat a blog posted on The Rubicon some time ago:

Merriam Webster Online Dictionary defines the word, “ism,” in two parts:

1 : a distinctive doctrine, cause, or theory

2 : an oppressive and especially discriminatory attitude or belief isms — Jocelyn Elders>

Peter Viereck cites the following example: “Formalism, by being an ‘ism,’ kills form by hugging it to death.” Another word for “hug” in this context is “smother.” Dogma is defined as “a set of beliefs.” Following this line of thinking: Dogmatism, by being an ‘ism,’ kills belief by smothering it to death.

“…ism” on the tail end of anything frightens me to death, be it conservatism, liberalism, capitalism, socialism, dogmatism, pragmatism, atheism, spiritualism, whatever, it always leads to schism. Pinpoint trouble spots in the world today and where there is schism you will generally find a prevailing, trailing “ism.”

Even as I write, the self-anointed voice of conservatism in this country, Rush Limbaugh, is speaking to the Conservative Political Action Committee, carried live nationally, commercial-free on Fox and CNN. In his speech, he denounces the supposed liberalism of the newly elected President, the one whom “he hopes will fail,” saying, “President Obama: Your agenda is not new, its not change, and its not hope… [Conservatism] is what it is and has been forever," he said. "It is not something you can bend or shape."

Wow! I rest my case, there it is right here in America: An unbending, oppressive, discriminatory “ism” creating schism. One savvy news reporter wrote, “The conservative talker with the self-professed ‘talent on loan from God’ spoke incessantly in the first person…one clear message emerged from the speech: ‘Le mouvement conservative, c'est moi.’"

“On loan from God.” Wait a minute, not my God! I’ve searched the New Testament through, and the “isms” are conspicuously missing from Christ’s Gospel. There is nothing oppressive or discriminating about it. Limbaugh professes to speak for the religious right, but I can say emphatically that his God is not my God! And I can also say just as forcefully that I love him (Limbaugh), unconditionally, no matter his trailing “isms.” Is there such a word as compassionism?

Salvationists reading this are already one step ahead of me: “Salvationism, by being an ‘ism,’ kills salvation by hugging it to death.”  The question begs itself, “Is The Salvation Army ever ‘discriminatory or oppressive in its attitudes or beliefs?’” Is an ever-growing tendency toward exclusiveness tantamount to hugging ourselves to death? Examples abound and I will not bore you with them once again; better you fill in the blanks anyway.

I will echo Jocelyn Elders sage advice however: “We all have got to come to grips with our isms.”

JN

If You Don't Change, You'll Lose Your Voice!

The Artist!

This film has creativity and innovation written all over it, hands down the most artistic film made in a long time, maybe ever. Its title, “The Artist,” not only describes the protagonist, but the producer, writer, director, composer, ad infinitum.

Best of all is the film’s message, summed up this way, Doris’ words: “If you don’t change, you’ll lose your voice.” Truer words were never spoken – silent film with a LOUD message.

When The Eternal Artist “moved into the neighborhood,” the religious hierarchy of the day lost its voice, an incarnational Voice proclaiming The Message LOUD and clear! Likewise with Luther, Booth and ______?

If you don’t change, you’ll lose your voice… and fade into oblivion!

JN

Vision Triumphs Culture!

Phil Cook (Jolt, Branding Your Faith), at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville this past week, hosted a discussion with Michael Hyatt - Chairman of Thomas Nelson Publishers - on "Changing the Culture of Your Organization."

Phil began the session by stating, “culture triumphs vision.” If you’re a serious contemporary leader in The Salvation Army, or any institutional organization today for that matter, understanding this reality is critical to the successful implementation of your vision. A deep-seated, inflexible culture is one of Satan’s most potent weapons because it “is largely invisible to those inside it.”

Without getting too specific, I’m personally in the midst of that battle right now where, for many, the culture is more important than the vision and, in some instances, where a foreign culture is being imposed upon an already entrenched local culture (more on that to come).

Coincidentally, Doris just posted the following on her Facebook page: “Just finished up a Bible Study on Romans. The 15th chapter was the last for discussion – an excellent message to the church. Sometimes we can become so comfortable in our church "culture" that we forget what God originally called us to do. Great reading: Ray C. Steadman's book, Reason to Rejoice."

By the way, Phil Cook and his creative team have now become part of the SAVN team, and together we plan to reverse that adage and create a new reality: “Vision Triumphs Culture!”

Go to the following link and find out how Hyatt created a new reality within his entrenched institution:

http://michaelhyatt.com/changing-organizational-culture.html

JN

Screw It, Just Do It!

World for Christ!

Vision is a curious thing. Few possess it; most don’t. Vision is the art of seeing the invisible. Those who see the invisible can do the impossible. I’ve seen a bit of dialogue on Facebook arguing the benefits of “shared vision.” How can that be? From my experience, shared vision is a rare thing, because most people can never see what the visionary sees, no matter how you frame it.

Take Steve Jobs for instance. I’m told that he “loved Richard Branson's signature phrase: "Screw it, just do it." Greatness, for him, was not just thinking different, but getting things done differently.” Few leaders have the capacity to “think different” or ability to “get things done differently.” Those kinds of leaders are a rare breed, indeed.

I’m also told that, in the beginning, Jobs didn’t operate out of a “shared vision” philosophy. He had to make a believer out of them first, and did so autocratically. He forced his vision upon others. In many ways, he operated independently as a lone wolf. He had an air of arrogance about him. He has been labeled as a visionary genius, and there is a thin line between genius and insanity.

William Booth was a visionary. He never would have crassly said, “Screw it, just do it,” but, in essence, that’s what he did. No one would ever argue Booth as a democratic leader. His wasn’t a shared vision until he made believers out of those who followed. Nor would his children have argued his as a shared vision. But then again, they couldn’t see what he saw.

My own experience is that “shared vision,” in the beginning, is a pipe dream. I could write a book containing the reasons “Why it can’t be done!” coming from below and above. Visionary leadership requires risk taking, solitary decision-making, loneliness, and bit of an arrogant attitude: “Screw it, just do it!” Differently! Or words to that effect.

JN

C'MON!

Very Clever: Watch Soul Pancake Orchestra.

Even the title: Super Soul Sunday.

http://www.oprah.com/own-super-soul-sunday/SoulPancake-Air-Orchestra-Video

TSA should be leading the charge with this kind of contemporary street corner ministry – two fold: 1) On the street corner with 50-60 people. 2) Filmed and placed on the Cyberspace street corner with millions of participants. It’s in our DNA. Our ancestors, some of them literally giving their lives, claiming the street corners for Jesus, some also going to jail for it. It’s what made us unique. Or as Phil Cooke says in his book, Branding Faith, “Differentiate or Die!”

We’ve lost the privilege that so many fought for; we’ve given it away. Let’s get creative and reclaim it contemporarily. I witnessed a smidgen of this happening around the Christmas Kettles this year, a few of them filmed and taken viral. Let’s take it beyond fundraising to heaven raising. There are some bright, creative, energetic souls in our training colleges. Release and empower them to get out there and reclaim our birthright.

North Beach A La 1964 - Coffee & Confusion
Salvation (Fok) Singers - Hippie Era

That's me on the bass fiddle and Doris up front. Every Monday evening right from performing on the street corner, Columbus and Broadway, in front of The Condor Club - America's first topless nightclub. If we'd only had the Internet then.

You come up with the idea, organize it and SAVN.TV will film it and take it to the Cyberspace street corners. Oprah Winfrey (OWN) is claiming what TSA created. And she’s calling it “Spiritual Enlightenment.”

C’MON!

JN

Opening Salvo 2012!

Couldn't Resist It

The Salvation Army has issued an order: “Courageously Experiment!”

The Salvation Army has regulated you to: “Be willing to be dedicated to failure!” In other words, be willing to take a risk now and then.

Don’t take my word, read it for yourself:

...he will not only make use of the Army’s time-honored methods of evangelism, adapting them in the most effective way possible to the needs of the hour, but he will courageously experiment with new ways of making Jesus known as Savior of men. In other words, he will be willing to be dedicated to failure. In the divine economy this could be the way to God-glorifying success.  (pp 18) Orders and Regulations.

My opening salvo on the cusp of 2012.

JN

Slightly Irregular: CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER 2011!

Slightly Irregular: CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER 2011!: From joeNdoris December 24, 2011 Doris: Retirement has not slowed us down and as long as our health is good and our minds are clea...