Monday, March 31, 2008
Awards
The National Council for Staff, Program and Organizational Development (NCSPOD) awarded the 2007 Institutional Merit Award to the SLCC Professional Development Council for their five certificate programs –Leadership/Management, Classified Development, Adjunct Faculty, Essential Technology Skills and Office Productivity. I was a lead designer for three of these programs.
The fruit of my labor over the past couple of years (along with my very praiseworthy team) has been named a finalist in two categories of the Software & Information Industry Association's (SIIA) 23rd Annual Codie Awards competition- the awards honor outstanding achievement and vision in the software, digital content, and education technology industries. This is two years in a row it’s been nominated (sorry, no win last year)… Voting continues till April 25 and SIIA will announce the winners of the 2008 Codie Awards at a gala dinner in San Francisco on May 20, 2008.
Nominated for another award!
Educational technology links
Participation in an Online Learning Community- discusses the need for a pedagogical approach that relies heavily on social, collaborative and ethical aspects of learning as a starting point for the design of online learning communities.
More research supports the idea that the successful traits of a distance learner are similar to the successful traits of an adult learner in traditional educational settings.
Problem based Learning research.
Athabasca University Elluminate seminars:Case study in Problem Based Learning.
And Effective use of context in learning.
Research on Fostering equitable University access.
Applications to colleges are breaking records- The swelling population of 18-year-olds is not supposed to peak until 2009, when the largest group of high school seniors in the nation’s history, 3.2 million, are to graduate.
A Taste of Web 2.0- article
A good video on Web 2.0 differences from jutecht on YouTube-
Piano Lessons online-This was curiously interesting to see how they are doing it -
Google’s next conquest- Academic Research.
More research supports the idea that the successful traits of a distance learner are similar to the successful traits of an adult learner in traditional educational settings.
Problem based Learning research.
Athabasca University Elluminate seminars:Case study in Problem Based Learning.
And Effective use of context in learning.
Research on Fostering equitable University access.
Applications to colleges are breaking records- The swelling population of 18-year-olds is not supposed to peak until 2009, when the largest group of high school seniors in the nation’s history, 3.2 million, are to graduate.
A Taste of Web 2.0- article
A good video on Web 2.0 differences from jutecht on YouTube-
Piano Lessons online-This was curiously interesting to see how they are doing it -
Google’s next conquest- Academic Research.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Songs Discovered
A bunch-o-tunes turned up as I was transcribing some old tapes that predate my digital recorders I carry everywhere I go...some were unfinished so they will get a 2008 date.
I'll just post these as separate pages as there are almost twenty of them total...
New 2006 songs
New 2008 songs
Songs arise
Trust and Obey
When the world’s mountains I cannot scale
When I try my very best but still I fail
When doubts abide and fears assail
I will trust and obey, I will trust and obey, I will trust and obey.
Living in darkness in a hard cold place
I will dare boldly to seek God’s face
Dreaming to live where despair is erased
I will trust and obey, I will trust and obey, I will trust and obey.
When in death’s shadows I must sojourn
When justice and mercy are both overturned
When the fire that is falling is fire that must burn
I will trust and obey, I will trust and obey, I will trust and obey.
We honor our dead as we weep for the light
We persevere humbly as we lift our sights
I apprehend glory shining through this deep night
I will trust and obey, I will trust and obey, I will trust and obey.
Anthony Foster
March 25, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Target = new
I just looked out and now it is sunny and snowing...
This is my Easter Song...
Living Redeemer
Oh Living Redeemer you rose from the grave
Oh Sufficient Savior you are mighty to save
Oh Living Redeemer, you make us alive
Your will be done till your Kingdom comes
And you glory arrives.
Our ransom and refuge endures to the end
Our living Redeemer is our faithful friend
To us He’s the shelter, our Harbor and Home
The lost have been sought-And by His blood bought
He’s made us His Own.
Oh Living Redeemer you transform our minds
The visions of dreamers, cant compare to what we find
When we find your mercy, forgiveness so free,
Oh Living Redeemer-Come and redeem me.
I’ll take all life’s questions, the wherefores and why’s
There are no suggestions once a man dies
No hope of changing, and no way to try
For redemption’s price is your sacrifice
Now redemption draws nigh!
Our ransom and refuge the payment for sin
Is made at the cross and so it begins
Our savior redeems us His blood doth atone
Now we take our refuge in Christ alone.
Anthony Foster
March 22, 2008
Let them eat PEEPS!
My 97 year old mother in law called out to me last night from her position on the sofa, "It's time to break that bunny's neck!" Which meant, of course, that it was time for a bit of Easter chocolate. We had a full supply of rainbow coloured Peeps and Bunnies as well.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Listen to the Call
With heart of humble service
A heart of deep concern
A heart that beats so humbly
And with compassion burns
Be a messenger and minister
To see the good news through
A good and faithful servant
The chosen and the few
Listen to the call
Going out to all
Going out to you
The only thing to do
Is to say amen, as on your knees you fall
God has raised up a deliverer
He will rescue you and set you apart
God is able to glorify His name in you
And He is lifting up each humble heart
Listen to the call
Going out to all
Going out to you
The only thing to do
Is to answer yes as on your knees you fall
Anthony Foster
March 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
U. S. Religious Landscape Survey by the Pew Forum
The PDF
Nothing too surprising, but we have our work cut out for us. Not a surprise to the Lord Most High either.
Question: if half of those of the Jewish faith are over fifty and 72 percent have no children under 18 living at home, what does this mean for the future of Judaism?
Nothing too surprising, but we have our work cut out for us. Not a surprise to the Lord Most High either.
Question: if half of those of the Jewish faith are over fifty and 72 percent have no children under 18 living at home, what does this mean for the future of Judaism?
Most important Relationships- a new Barna Poll
See the results here.
The people most likely to list God (as their most important connection) were 40 or older.
Political conservatives were almost three times as likely as political liberals to identify God as their most important relationship (33% vs. 12%, respectively).
People in the Midwest were only half as likely as residents of the West and Northeast to say their children are their most important relationship.
The only subgroup for which at least one-third said God was their most significant relationship was evangelicals, among whom 70% listed God.
Thirty percent of Protestants listed God as their most important connection. In contrast, just 9% of Catholics did so.
Blacks were about twice as likely as all other Americans to describe their bond with God as their most important relationship.
Women were nearly twice as likely as men to list their children as their most important relationship.
The people most likely to list God (as their most important connection) were 40 or older.
Political conservatives were almost three times as likely as political liberals to identify God as their most important relationship (33% vs. 12%, respectively).
People in the Midwest were only half as likely as residents of the West and Northeast to say their children are their most important relationship.
The only subgroup for which at least one-third said God was their most significant relationship was evangelicals, among whom 70% listed God.
Thirty percent of Protestants listed God as their most important connection. In contrast, just 9% of Catholics did so.
Blacks were about twice as likely as all other Americans to describe their bond with God as their most important relationship.
Women were nearly twice as likely as men to list their children as their most important relationship.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Barna notes
Read it here. With Americans pursuing a growing number of "church" options, some of the traditional measures of church health are being redefined.
Ummm- forgot to say - we went to the Louisville Kennel Club's dog show- it was amazing to see the great variety of breeds- from miniatures that didn't even look like dogs to ones big enough to ride!
Ummm- forgot to say - we went to the Louisville Kennel Club's dog show- it was amazing to see the great variety of breeds- from miniatures that didn't even look like dogs to ones big enough to ride!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Political Rhetoric
Some of it sounds like this....
Prince Charming:You! You can't lie! So tell me puppet... where... is... Shrek?
Pinocchio: Uh. Hmm, well, uh, I don't know where he's not
Prince Charming: You're telling me you don't know where Shrek is?
Pinocchio: It wouldn't be inaccurate to assume that I couldn't exactly not say that it is or isn't almost partially incorrect.
Prince Charming: So you do know where he is!
Pinocchio: On the contrary. I'm possibly more or less not definitely rejecting the idea that in no way with any amount of uncertainty that I undeniably
Prince Charming: Stop it!
Pinocchio: ...do or do not know where he shouldn't probably be, if that indeed wasn't where he isn't. Even if he wasn't at where I knew he was
[Pigs and Gingerbread Man begin singing]
Pinocchio: That'd mean I'd really have to know where he wasn't.
Arise
Arise, Shine
Come out of the darkness
Come into the radiance of His light
Flee from the shadows,
Flee from the shrouding of the night
Step into the glowing
Brightness of His holy face
This light is showing
Walk in it now by God’s good grace
Arise, shine, arise shine, arise shine for your Light has come!
Arise, shine, arise shine, arise shine for your Light has come!
Enter His presence
Come set your heart and mind ablaze
Enter with reverence
Fall on your knees or stand amazed!
Take His revelation
Into the world as holy fire
Go to the nations
Teach them to burn with One desire
Arise, shine, arise shine, arise shine for your Light has come!
Arise, shine, arise shine, arise shine for your Light has come!
There is no other sight for blind men walking in the night!
No other light can shine so bright by the power of His might!
Arise, shine, arise shine, arise shine for your Light has come!
Arise, shine, arise shine, arise shine for your Light has come!
March 10, 2008
Anthony Foster
Come out of the darkness
Come into the radiance of His light
Flee from the shadows,
Flee from the shrouding of the night
Step into the glowing
Brightness of His holy face
This light is showing
Walk in it now by God’s good grace
Arise, shine, arise shine, arise shine for your Light has come!
Arise, shine, arise shine, arise shine for your Light has come!
Enter His presence
Come set your heart and mind ablaze
Enter with reverence
Fall on your knees or stand amazed!
Take His revelation
Into the world as holy fire
Go to the nations
Teach them to burn with One desire
Arise, shine, arise shine, arise shine for your Light has come!
Arise, shine, arise shine, arise shine for your Light has come!
There is no other sight for blind men walking in the night!
No other light can shine so bright by the power of His might!
Arise, shine, arise shine, arise shine for your Light has come!
Arise, shine, arise shine, arise shine for your Light has come!
March 10, 2008
Anthony Foster
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Probe Political Resources
Here we do not define politics as Kinky Friedman does.. polyticks (poly= many plus ticks= blood sucking parasites)...
Check out the Probe resources
Friday, March 7, 2008
Newsongs for March
Risen Again
Christ the Lord of all creation
The One who is I AM
Was crucified for our salvation
The stricken, holy lamb.
But now He is arisen
And as a fruitful seed
Full grown unto the harvest
He is risen now, indeed
The Lord of the beginning
The Lord unto the End
As in the resurrection
We too are risen again!
Anthony Foster
March 8, 2008
Relentless
You never fail to find
The heart that seeks your face
Our broken spirits bind
Draw us into your grace
Your holy hammer sings out
Beat by beat it rings out
You seek the lost-
You are relentless
You paid the cost-
You are relentless
The onslaught of your radiant fire
Drives out the darkness- you never tire
You never slumber, never sleep
And deep is calling unto deep
You are relentless.
You never cease to amaze
Your mercies never end
Our never-ending praise
Will rise to n'er relent.
Your holy hammer sings out
Beat by beat it rings out
You seek the lost-
You are relentless
You paid the cost-
You are relentless
The onslaught of your radiant fire
Drives out the darkness- you never tire
You never slumber, never sleep
And deep is calling unto deep
You are relentless.
Anthony Foster
March 8, 2008
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Transformative Learning
It is my contention that principles for fostering transformative learning can also be a vital feature of online learning from a Christian perspective. In transformative learning (Mezirow 1991) the most significant learning occurs in the communicative domain which “involves identifying problematic ideas, values, beliefs, and feelings, critically examining the assumptions upon which they are based, testing their justification through rational discourse and making decisions predicated upon the resulting consensus” (Mezirow 1995, 58.) The communication possibilities of the online learning environment provide an opportunity to maximize perspective transformation.
Transformative learning offers a theory of learning that in many ways reflects the biblical witness of how adults learn. It is more than a developmental process; it is “understood as the process of using a prior interpretation to construe a new or revised interpretation of the meaning of one's experience in order to guide future action" (Mezirow 1996, 162). It is grounded in the nature of human communication, which in turn is grounded in the imago Dei.
Transformative learning offers a theory of learning that in many ways reflects the biblical witness of how adults learn. It is more than a developmental process; it is “understood as the process of using a prior interpretation to construe a new or revised interpretation of the meaning of one's experience in order to guide future action" (Mezirow 1996, 162). It is grounded in the nature of human communication, which in turn is grounded in the imago Dei.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Thomas Homer-Dixon- The Ingenuity Gap
Can we solve the problems of the future? Thomas Homer-Dixon tackles this question in a groundbreaking study of a world becoming too complex and too fast-paced to manage.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Newest Newsy News
Recent research and news
• Elluminate Builds Bridge to Moodle-Collaborative technology developer Elluminate has brought its Live! virtual classroom software to the Moodle platform. The company released a piece of software Tuesday called Elluminate Bridge for Moodle, which is designed to integrate Live! into the open-source learning management system: http://www.thejournal.com/articles/22037
• Sloan-C Report: Five Years of Growth in Online Learning: >http://www.sloan-c.org/publications/survey/pdf/online_nation.pdf
• Community of Inquiry- >http://www.jite.org/documents/Vol6/JITEv6p153-168Lim258.pdf
• Second Life- >http://www.astd.org/TD/Archives/2008/Feb/Free/Feb2008.htm and
http://www.news.com/Universities%20register%20for%20virtual%20future/2100-1032_3-6157088.html?tag=nefd.lede
• Research on positive effects of hypertext on reading comprehension->http://www.editlib.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Reader.ViewAbstract&paper_id=21925 (contact Anthony for copy)
• Eduventures conducted research to better understand the views, attitudes, usage, and future demand/ownership of various technologies and brands among college students. The research, conducted via a Web survey, targeted 18- to 24-year-old students enrolled full-time at a four-year college or university. Among students responding to the question, which of the following devices do you currently own, 79 percent own a laptop compared to 49 percent who own a desktop; 30 percent own both. >http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2008/1/prweb658623.htm
• Today's business students have grown up with computer-based simulations. So it's only natural that business simulations are growing in popularity in business-school programs—and threatening the once unassailable dominance of the case study (BusinessWeek, 1/24/08). Online learning simulations are Internet-based games that allow students to perform tasks such as overseeing operations management of a virtual factory or serving as chief executive of a virtual business and networking with other executives. >http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/content/jan2008/bs20080128_035814.htm?chan=technology_technology+index+page_top+stories
• Adobe pushing Flash for Learning- Adobe emphasized a view of learning around Flash for video and an animated Web at their stand during Learning Technologies, a show at Olympia in London last week. Although the word "Acrobat" is still used to describe a software product there was almost no mention for the Portable Document Format (PDF) widely assumed to be still a significant proportion of current income. The implication is that Adobe anticipates a Web based less on text and learning environments based less on paper. >http://english.ohmynews.com/ArticleView/article_view.asp?menu=A11100&no=381717&rel_no=1&back_url=
• Elluminate Builds Bridge to Moodle-Collaborative technology developer Elluminate has brought its Live! virtual classroom software to the Moodle platform. The company released a piece of software Tuesday called Elluminate Bridge for Moodle, which is designed to integrate Live! into the open-source learning management system: http://www.thejournal.com/articles/22037
• Sloan-C Report: Five Years of Growth in Online Learning: >http://www.sloan-c.org/publications/survey/pdf/online_nation.pdf
• Community of Inquiry- >http://www.jite.org/documents/Vol6/JITEv6p153-168Lim258.pdf
• Second Life- >http://www.astd.org/TD/Archives/2008/Feb/Free/Feb2008.htm and
http://www.news.com/Universities%20register%20for%20virtual%20future/2100-1032_3-6157088.html?tag=nefd.lede
• Research on positive effects of hypertext on reading comprehension->http://www.editlib.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Reader.ViewAbstract&paper_id=21925 (contact Anthony for copy)
• Eduventures conducted research to better understand the views, attitudes, usage, and future demand/ownership of various technologies and brands among college students. The research, conducted via a Web survey, targeted 18- to 24-year-old students enrolled full-time at a four-year college or university. Among students responding to the question, which of the following devices do you currently own, 79 percent own a laptop compared to 49 percent who own a desktop; 30 percent own both. >http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2008/1/prweb658623.htm
• Today's business students have grown up with computer-based simulations. So it's only natural that business simulations are growing in popularity in business-school programs—and threatening the once unassailable dominance of the case study (BusinessWeek, 1/24/08). Online learning simulations are Internet-based games that allow students to perform tasks such as overseeing operations management of a virtual factory or serving as chief executive of a virtual business and networking with other executives. >http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/content/jan2008/bs20080128_035814.htm?chan=technology_technology+index+page_top+stories
• Adobe pushing Flash for Learning- Adobe emphasized a view of learning around Flash for video and an animated Web at their stand during Learning Technologies, a show at Olympia in London last week. Although the word "Acrobat" is still used to describe a software product there was almost no mention for the Portable Document Format (PDF) widely assumed to be still a significant proportion of current income. The implication is that Adobe anticipates a Web based less on text and learning environments based less on paper. >http://english.ohmynews.com/ArticleView/article_view.asp?menu=A11100&no=381717&rel_no=1&back_url=
Reviving Old Musical Interests
As I was giving the garage a much needed cleaning on our sixty degree anomaly yesterday, along with the birdsongs I ran across an old favorite tape and gave it a listen- here are the lyrics from a song that ministered to me long ago, and I was surprised to find it still does!
Lord Of The Past
Every harsh word spoken
Every promise ever broken to me
Total recall of data in the memory
Every tear that has washed my face
Every moment of disgrace that I have known
Every time I've ever felt alone
Lord of the here and now
Lord of the come what may
I want to believe somehow
That you can heal these wounds of yesterday
(You can redeem these things so far away)
So now I'm asking you
To do what you want to do
Be the Lord of the Past
(Be the Lord of my Past)
Oh how I want you to
Be the Lord of the Past
All the chances I let slip by
All the dreams that I let die in vain
Afraid of failure and afraid of pain
Every tear that has washed my face
Every moment of disgrace that I have known
Every time I've ever felt alone
Well I picked up all these pieces
And I built a strong deception
And I locked myself inside of it
For my own protection
And I sit alone inside myself
And curse my company
For this thing that has kept me alive for so long
Is now killing me.
And as sure as the sin rose this morning,
The man in the moon hides his face tonight.
And I lay myself down on my bed
And I pray this prayer inside my head
Lord of the here and now
Lord of the come what may
I want to believe somehow
That you can heal these wounds of yesterday
So now I'm asking you
To do what you want to do
Be the Lord of my Past
You can do anything
Be the Lord of the Past
I know that you can find a way
To heal every yesterday of my life
Be the Lord of the Past
Lord Of The Past
Every harsh word spoken
Every promise ever broken to me
Total recall of data in the memory
Every tear that has washed my face
Every moment of disgrace that I have known
Every time I've ever felt alone
Lord of the here and now
Lord of the come what may
I want to believe somehow
That you can heal these wounds of yesterday
(You can redeem these things so far away)
So now I'm asking you
To do what you want to do
Be the Lord of the Past
(Be the Lord of my Past)
Oh how I want you to
Be the Lord of the Past
All the chances I let slip by
All the dreams that I let die in vain
Afraid of failure and afraid of pain
Every tear that has washed my face
Every moment of disgrace that I have known
Every time I've ever felt alone
Well I picked up all these pieces
And I built a strong deception
And I locked myself inside of it
For my own protection
And I sit alone inside myself
And curse my company
For this thing that has kept me alive for so long
Is now killing me.
And as sure as the sin rose this morning,
The man in the moon hides his face tonight.
And I lay myself down on my bed
And I pray this prayer inside my head
Lord of the here and now
Lord of the come what may
I want to believe somehow
That you can heal these wounds of yesterday
So now I'm asking you
To do what you want to do
Be the Lord of my Past
You can do anything
Be the Lord of the Past
I know that you can find a way
To heal every yesterday of my life
Be the Lord of the Past
Thursday, February 28, 2008
On the DVR
Just saw the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival- so many of my favorites- Jorma Kaukonen, Earl Scruggs, Del McCoury, and a lot of new faces i was unfamiliar with...
Now American Masters has Pete Seeger- what a banner night!
Now American Masters has Pete Seeger- what a banner night!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Newsongs
Paradoxology
In accustomed amazement- unified harmony
With expected atonishment from slaves who are free
With familiar surprise- and unexpected certainty
Fools and clowns who are wise
Shall see…With unfathomable clarity.
In our satisfying hunger-And in shocking expectation
And a disciplined freedom See the hidden revelation
In diversity unified In a difficult delight
And intoxicating soberness made right
We live in the light of this unseen sight.
It is both a departure and a return
Both a fire to build and to burn
A resolution and a second verse
Now the blessing is found in the curse.
Because the Worthy One owned poverty
He died like a thief so this thief could go free.
It both a great journey and a dear destination
Where the mourners rejoice in the poor’s exaltation
Now the weak are made strong, made rich as we give
In this life where we die and this death where we live.
In this life where we die and this death where we live.
In this life where we die and this death where we live.
Anthony Foster
Inspired by G. M. Prince "The Paradox of Creativity"
February 26, 2008
Hold on Tight
We need to hold on tight right now
With all our might right now
And know the Father is holding you
And none can break His grip- we know it's true
Hold on to God in this circumstance
Hold on to God in a daily dance
And let Him call the holy tune
As we dance by the light of the moon.
Righteous romance
A delightful dance
Step by step and turn by turn
Kept in the arms for which we yearn…
And then when the dancing is done
We shall rest in the arms of our beloved One
There to weep with rejoicing and dry with delight
To be drawn to his side as He holds us so tight.
Anthony Foster
February 25, 2008
Become the Light
Sitting in darkness and see the great light
In this deathly shadowland
Dawn breaks upon our sight
Repent for the Kingdom is at hand
Repent, repent
Salvation is heaven sent
He will dispel the darkest night
When we become the light
Repent, repent,
The darkness will relent
The blind will gain their sight
When we become the light
You are the shining city of God
Set on a hill for all to see
You are the light of the world
Christ in us shines from eternity
Oh the light drives the darkness out
The light shines on our sin and doubt
So open up your eyes to see
The sun of righteousness arise in you and me.
Anthony Foster
February 25,2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
Shopping for the Supernatural
A quote from Moving On Moving Forward by Anthony and Boersma:
"Watching what other churches are doing is a popular activity for contemporary ministry leaders today. After all, why waste your energy trying to gain a new vision for your ministry if you can easily replicate one that's working in a nearby neighborhood?" (77)
Regardless of ministry, how much looking around at other institutions/ministries does your institution/ministry do to gain new ideas?
What harm or gain results from this type of behavior by the church? Seminary? Textbook publisher?
What does one need to do to guard against looking around instead of looking to the Lord and at his/her own ministry setting?
We can learn from what others before us have done, and we stand on the shoulders of giants, as Newton said. A general awareness of what is going on in the world around you is important, but not for the reason of lifting someone else’s paradigm to tattoo it on the Body. That’s one reason why we do research- to see what works and to gain wisdom that is applicable in our situation. To take an agricultural metaphor, you can’t go harvest someone else’s planting, but you can learn what works in general terms. Then you apply it in your field, plowing around your own particular stumps, hoeing your weeds, irrigating properly, or whatever technique has been shown to aid in producing the results you seek.
Organizational structures, programs and approaches are tools to use to till in the vineyard, not an end in themselves. He makes all things new. We should be willing and anticipatory that God will do something marvelous in our calling if we lay it on the altar. Wherever we work, as we do it as unto the Lord, he will supernaturally empower and form our ministry. This is the kind of service that is pleasing to God, living sacrifices grow ministries from within and up from the soils God has watered with living water. So you can use the tools of programs to till the soil, but that is about all. It is all of grace of Him and through Him and to Him.
So can something be gained by seeing what works in other contexts? Sure, as long as you remember that pretexts are born out of a lack of context. We can and should look to the Scriptures to derive principles, but our models are something best sculpted with hammer and chisel and fire. The individuals God calls out as the local church will be the artists he fills with the Spirit of Wisdom and Skill. The idea that we can import other peoples’ models in toto presumes that it is the model itself that brings change, success in ministry, and efficacy our organization.
One cannot clone a living, breathing work of the Lord. There is a supernatural element that is distinctive of this work. That’s what we all want to be a part of, not some programmatic approach to success. Ministry is first ministry unto the Lord. It is born out of a fire in our bones, not out of shopping a smorgasbord of ideas that are on the market. The idea that “easy replication” of another person’s vision is possible is not aligned with the realities we face in this world. Vision is Spirit-imparted from within, not imposed from without. One cannot annex it or import it anymore than you can truly preach someone else’s sermon.
New ideas are a synergistic outpouring of new wine that only God can grace us with, but they are born in the fires of Holy passion and koinonia, the intersection of our situation’s great need and our great desire. We join with our Creator in partnership to effect this kind of new work as agents of redemption and change in this sojourn we call life. New ideas are a natural outflow of a walk in the deep grace of our Jesus; however, ideas can be nurtured just as soil can be tilled.
A call from God to labor in whatever vineyard you are planted in must first and foremost be accompanied by the understanding that it is He that gives the increase. If we believe that we are unique and that our calling is specific to a people, place and time, than we must seek the face of God in humble Spirit and contrite heart. If we let God form the ministry it will always be different and better than anything we could presuppose or import from another work. If we dare to try something that has never been tried, by His Spirit’s leading, he will provide for the blessing and breaking of ourselves, to be poured out and distributed as wine and bread and fruit to nourish others.
"Watching what other churches are doing is a popular activity for contemporary ministry leaders today. After all, why waste your energy trying to gain a new vision for your ministry if you can easily replicate one that's working in a nearby neighborhood?" (77)
Regardless of ministry, how much looking around at other institutions/ministries does your institution/ministry do to gain new ideas?
What harm or gain results from this type of behavior by the church? Seminary? Textbook publisher?
What does one need to do to guard against looking around instead of looking to the Lord and at his/her own ministry setting?
We can learn from what others before us have done, and we stand on the shoulders of giants, as Newton said. A general awareness of what is going on in the world around you is important, but not for the reason of lifting someone else’s paradigm to tattoo it on the Body. That’s one reason why we do research- to see what works and to gain wisdom that is applicable in our situation. To take an agricultural metaphor, you can’t go harvest someone else’s planting, but you can learn what works in general terms. Then you apply it in your field, plowing around your own particular stumps, hoeing your weeds, irrigating properly, or whatever technique has been shown to aid in producing the results you seek.
Organizational structures, programs and approaches are tools to use to till in the vineyard, not an end in themselves. He makes all things new. We should be willing and anticipatory that God will do something marvelous in our calling if we lay it on the altar. Wherever we work, as we do it as unto the Lord, he will supernaturally empower and form our ministry. This is the kind of service that is pleasing to God, living sacrifices grow ministries from within and up from the soils God has watered with living water. So you can use the tools of programs to till the soil, but that is about all. It is all of grace of Him and through Him and to Him.
So can something be gained by seeing what works in other contexts? Sure, as long as you remember that pretexts are born out of a lack of context. We can and should look to the Scriptures to derive principles, but our models are something best sculpted with hammer and chisel and fire. The individuals God calls out as the local church will be the artists he fills with the Spirit of Wisdom and Skill. The idea that we can import other peoples’ models in toto presumes that it is the model itself that brings change, success in ministry, and efficacy our organization.
One cannot clone a living, breathing work of the Lord. There is a supernatural element that is distinctive of this work. That’s what we all want to be a part of, not some programmatic approach to success. Ministry is first ministry unto the Lord. It is born out of a fire in our bones, not out of shopping a smorgasbord of ideas that are on the market. The idea that “easy replication” of another person’s vision is possible is not aligned with the realities we face in this world. Vision is Spirit-imparted from within, not imposed from without. One cannot annex it or import it anymore than you can truly preach someone else’s sermon.
New ideas are a synergistic outpouring of new wine that only God can grace us with, but they are born in the fires of Holy passion and koinonia, the intersection of our situation’s great need and our great desire. We join with our Creator in partnership to effect this kind of new work as agents of redemption and change in this sojourn we call life. New ideas are a natural outflow of a walk in the deep grace of our Jesus; however, ideas can be nurtured just as soil can be tilled.
A call from God to labor in whatever vineyard you are planted in must first and foremost be accompanied by the understanding that it is He that gives the increase. If we believe that we are unique and that our calling is specific to a people, place and time, than we must seek the face of God in humble Spirit and contrite heart. If we let God form the ministry it will always be different and better than anything we could presuppose or import from another work. If we dare to try something that has never been tried, by His Spirit’s leading, he will provide for the blessing and breaking of ourselves, to be poured out and distributed as wine and bread and fruit to nourish others.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Holy Devotion
Set us apart at your pleasure
Set us apart for you alone
Set us apart as your treasure
Reserve our hearts as your home
Righteous and upright
Draw us up from our knees
Our souls will take flight
When we do as You please
In holy devotion we come
In your holy presence undone
Take our broken spirits
Take our contrite hearts
And make us one, make us one.
You are the path to salvation
The journey and the journey’s end
You are our one destination
And strong is the heart you defend.
In holy devotion we come
In your holy presence undone
Take our broken spirits
Take our contrite hearts
And make us one, make us one.
Anthony Foster
February 21, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
New Question
Random Question:
Compose the lyrics to a new national anthem that features an animal sound at least once.
So that's a question?
Compose the lyrics to a new national anthem that features an animal sound at least once.
So that's a question?
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Top Down Leadership
DISCUSSIONS - 12:04am Feb 18, 2008 EST -
Question: Who gets to lead in a team environment? Not to be short, but “The greatest among you will be your servant” (Matt. 23:11). I know that's a loaded answer.
Luke 22:25-26 fills it out more.
[25] Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. [26] But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.
So I would say that "taking" the lead is more about "receiving" the lead on the basis of our willingness to serve deeply. Along the same lines, no leader in the church can efffectively lead without first being a devoted follower.
I had a question in regard to this as follows: "Therefore, in short here is what I understand Anthony to be communicating; Jesus' motive and even reason for being in a place of leadership was solely restricted to the need to serve his team/organizational purpose. Anthony, is this a correct analysis?"
My rejoinder: It depends on a correct assessment of his "team/organizational purpose" as well as an understanding that man's perceptions of Jesus' leadership are not in alignment with His purposes. "Top Down" takes on a curious meaning in the light of being lifted up on a cross. John 3 points to the Nehustan as being a picture of this- the symbol of suffering. The cross comes before the crown.
We are not Jesus, yet we can draw principles from His servanthood, and apply them by the indwelling Spirit. His finished work was done by One uniquely qualified to accomplish it. Being a "leader" in worldly terms was not on his mind at all. Cf. his response to Pilate regarding "if my kingdom were of this world..." I don't believe the biblical witness to be that he suffered pre-eminently for the sake of his disciples. They (and we) certainly gain corollary blessed salvation from his obedience of faith when we believe and receive it, but his primary purpose was doing the Father's will.
In short, I believe the song "Above All" to be theologically flawed. (He thought of me above all?)
The organizational purpose of the church is the same as that of Jesus- to exalt and glorify God. Jesus' motive was absolute obedience even to death on a cross, thus He is the ultimate servant. On the basis of this, he was exalted to the Glory of the Father. See Phil 2, and Heb 12:2 : who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. "So I would say that "taking" the lead is more about "receiving" the lead on the basis of our willingness to serve deeply."
Distributed Leadership
Most of the leadership theory we read centers on one person as THE leader.
There are other theories such as Ken Blanchard’s situational leadership approach that in my mind describes reality pretty well. Roles are critical to this type of model. When setting up such a situation it is probably necessary to have external authority as well to guide the potential chaos that could ensue while the right leadership mix is attained. It was Harry Truman said “the buck stops here.” Makes one wonder why the buck was being passed in the first place. It should have stopped sooner.
The self managed team model relies on using several leaders in tandem or sequentially in a group. There are four basic kinds of leadership in view- envisioning leadership which focuses on creativity and overall vision; spanning leadership, which is focused on acquiring and stewarding resources external to the group’s social leadership, which centers on interpersonal relationships within the group, and organizing leadership, which focuses on developing task structures and maintenance of the control systems that are related to the group.
In many churches you see this taken on in the form of various staff to meet the organizational needs. Hierarchies need not attain, necessarily. But there is one thing I can say about this – a “bossless” group needs MORE leadership not less- it’s just that it is distributed. More gifts are exercised in the process. Formal authority must be there or things tend to degrade into power struggles and politics. However this authority ned not be centralized in one person in the group. It derives from the ONE who is the head over all, though He be not present physically.
Unity is the keyword. If we all sink or swim together, if we have a corporate covenantal view of the blessed bride, distributed leadership can make a lot of sense and actually accomplish marvelous things. Developing heterogenous leadership styles within the same group increases the possibility of serious conflicts, but this requires that they be exercised at different times- to every thing there is a season and a time for every purpose… when you are hitting on all cylinders, a breakthrough can be expected.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Creative Team Building
So what are the challenges involved in managing creative teams? I'd say the greatest difficulty of the model is building the team and keeping it firing on all cylinders- sustainability. So the internal relationships come to mind first. Human nature would require that each sacrifice for the good of the others on the team, so maturity is required. The issue that arises from time to time is that if one individual has a morale problem, it can affect the whole team and yield gridlock quickly. Remediation for that type of team member can take incredible time and emotional energy to accomplish.
Next issue would be how the team deals with change- what happens when redirection is necessary- who takes the lead on refocusing the team after setbacks? Flip side of this is how do you foster innovation and keep from becoming stagnant? How does the team deal with change of the landscape that comes with growth or dimunition?
The other problem is when you finally have to take someone off the bus after they will not go quietly into that good night. This can be personally painful, especially if you have invested love and energy into their success.
I've been at all levels of the team oriented model and have had the attitude of meeting whatever needs came to my attention- that of completer; the completer cannot do what someone else can lest he impinge upon the others' area of responsibility. Completers keep the team functioning and have to be able to wear many (and sometimes unseen) hats. My best contribution probably would be that of discerning the outcomes and anticipating potential problems of decisions before they happen.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
After Five Years, This Blog is Moving...
To make for a more satisfying blog experience, I am hiking over to blogspot. I'll be redirecting traffic here from anthonyfoster.com .... You can find songs written prior to 2008 at http://www.anthonyfoster.com/charter/psalm/psalm.htm
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