Incessant Rambling

Idealism, Naivety and Child-like Faith

// April 12th, 2010 // Comments Off // Featured

I wonder often–what would happen if we’d just get out of the way? – Tim Stevens

I’ve been asking this question for days, weeks, months, years. Honestly, what could/would happen? It has been a topic I’ve prayed about, studied, written and spoken about. It has rooted itself very deep in my life. So much so that my testimony is wrapped completely around this philosophy.

So, without lengthening this post with my entire life story, I’ll just state that it has mostly to do with my realization that Christianity is (read: should be) simple. If we truly believe what the Bible says, and surrender wholly to the Holy Spirit, then everything else becomes secondary. We don’t really have to work that hard. I get it, that’s an idealist view. As I’ve written here before, I’m an idealist through and through. Every time I’m challenged on this, I convince myself that I’m just being naive and stray towards cynical. Until I read God’s word and am reminded about having a child-like faith. And then, the world seems right again. For me, at least.

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 18:1-4

Last week, I ran across a link to a TED Talk by Adora Svitak, a child prodigy who shares my thinking (how comfortable am I in using a child as a reference? See above). Here’s part of her bio from the TED site.

Child prodigy Adora Svitak says the world needs “childish” thinking: bold ideas, wild creativity and especially optimism. Kids’ big dreams deserve high expectations, she says, starting with grownups’ willingness to learn from children as much as to teach.

Then, this morning, I see Tim Stevens, one of my ministry muses right now, ask the following in a post on his blog:

I wonder often–what would happen if we’d just get out of the way?

There is so much I can relate this to right now: My role on the Leadership Team at our church; My role as husband and father; My desire to attend seminary; My feeling that God is calling me something so much bigger than I could ever dream and having no clue what it looks like; Something God has placed on my heart for this Fall. What has my answer looked like recently? Plan the heck out of it. Make it comfortable for me and those around me. Take God’s vision and implement it myself. Let me speak from experience when I say – THIS DOESN’T WORK!

We do so much to protect ourselves from ourselves (does this sound familiar to the 2 or 3 that read this blog?) that we try to box God in, understand Him and make His plan “work” in our small view of the world.

Stay tuned for my continued ramblings on this from the standpoint of love, unity, faith and culture. Hopefully we can learn from each other how God has really made things relatively simple for us.

As Tim asks, what would happen if we just got out of the way?

Complete the Meme

// January 29th, 2010 // 4 Comments » // Featured

So I’ve got this idea to inspire more regular posting and synchronize some of my various feeds (Twitter, Facebook, etc). Here’s what I have so far. I need to fill in the obvious gap.

• Music Monday – New/Old Music recommendations, reviews
• Tantrum Tuesday – My opportunity to get out my aggression
• Wisdom Wednesday – What I’m reading/learning from the Bible
• ? Thursday – Needs work
• Foto Friday – Not necessarily one I took

I need recommendations for Thursday. Maybe Theremin Thursday?

Filtering out the noise

// January 8th, 2010 // Comments Off // Featured

I currently subscribe to 204 RSS feeds. I need to cut that down to about 25. Now, there may be some leeway involved for feeds that I view solely for inspiration purposes and do receive value from but aren’t huge timewasters, such as design galleries, etc.

However, all that said, I want some input from the community on this one. Regardless of topic (I have mine grouped by things like “photography”, “web”, “church”, “news”, etc), what are your top 5 blogs/feeds you read on a daily basis and provide real value. If you include Digg or some other massive feed, do you filter it by category prior to subscribing (such as only Tech, etc)?

Help me, please.

It really should be that simple

// November 4th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Featured

Inside every cynical person, there is a frustrated idealist. – George Carlin

I’m an idealist (read: naive). Well, I guess that makes me a cynic. A short time ago, I hit a period where I was up against a brick wall at work, fighting a force much stronger than I. My idealistic viewpoints were being met with cynicism. Refusing to succumb to the pressure only to become cynical myself, I moved on to another role. It was a very tough decision, but it was my only alternative to stay sane in such a cynical world.

Modern Christianity leans toward the cynical as well. Think about it. If you’re too lazy to think, pick up unChristian by David Kinnaman. In it, he tells us exactly why we’re cynical. Those who don’t share our beliefs look at us as hypocritical, antihomosexual, sheltered, too political, etc. How do I translate each and every single point he makes? We’re cynical.

We put forth so much effort protecting ourselves from the scary world around us by staying safely inside our Christian bubble, boycotting and avoiding terrifying things like alcohol and R-rated movies that we don’t have any energy left to do the things we’re called to do like love.

We display our cynicism in regard to not only distrust of the world around us, but ourselves. We add all sorts of extra-biblical ideals to further our protection level. Don’t dance. Don’t drink. Don’t set foot on the other side of town, even if that’s where God needs us most.

May I remind you (and me) about a very important aspect of Christianity known as the Holy Spirit. When we make a decision to become a Christ follower, so begins a journey led by the Holy Spirit. With His involvement in our lives, and our daily reliance on His power, everything else becomes secondary. We don’t have to make up rules for ourselves because he guides us, teaches us and protects us. He knows if we can drink without becoming drunk and will provide us with the proper self control to do so. Does that sound familiar? Isn’t one of the fruits of the Spirit self control?

Now for what I’m not saying. The Bible has some very clear, black-and-white, guidelines for us. We need to be extremely careful when exercising our freedom in Christ and reliance on the Holy Spirit that we are truly relying on the Spirit and the Word of God. My rant is on adding to the Bible, not taking away. If, at any point, we find ourselves doing anything that assumes the Bible is “not good enough” and apply our own rules on top of it, we’re treading shaky ground. Yes, there is much open to interpretation and the Bible was penned (not written) by men and translated by men. We’re prone to screw it up. But in those areas where the Bible is clear, we must trust the word and Spirit.

So why the title of this post? If we’re truly doing our job of relying on the Spirit, we shouldn’t worry. We shouldn’t shelter ourselves. We shouldn’t need to boycott. We just plain shouldn’t need to try so hard. The Spirit, frankly, makes our jobs pretty simple. Rely on Him daily and love others. In my ideal (albeit naive) world I live in, at least.

Why do we rely more on our own “wisdom” and not fully on He who is our greatest comforter and protector, the Holy Spirit? There is so much more to this conversation. Please comment and let me know your thoughts. I left a lot unsaid and you’ll probably call me on it. Let’s talk.

Scriptures pertaining to my rant

• Galations 5:16-25
• John 14:16-17
• 1 Corinthians 2:6-16
• Acts 16:6-10
• Philippians 4:13

Pink For October

// September 30th, 2009 // Comments Off // Featured

Since I’m heading out on a boat for a week, I thought I’d stick this up early. It isn’t exactly pink, but I’ve been too busy to do my own theme, so why would I think I could tweak this one to be a real pink?

Anyway, why is it pink? October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast Cancer has affected both my wife and my families. My sister is currently undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer (I should have gone teal for September, sorry).

To see who else is participating, see http://pinkforoctober.org/

Job Posting: Decision Maker

// August 19th, 2009 // Comments Off // Featured

We are currently hiring for the role of Decision Maker. This individual will make all of our personal decisions that require significant processing. An example would be “where do we go on vacation?” An example would not be “what should I wear today?” Future growth opportunities may include the latter example depending on job performance.

Detailed Job Description

Lance Leonard’s Decision Maker will be required to make all significant decisions regarding family, business, etc. All information required to make said decisions will be provided as necessary. Applicants must possess excellent analytical skills, be self motivated (but not selfishly motivated) and share similar values and beliefs to that of the employer. Adequate experience in personal decision making is preferred. Applicants must provide examples of good and bad decisions made on their own or on the behalf of others.

This position is a short term contract with the right to hire upon completion. Salary is negotiable but competitive.

If you are interested in this position, please submit a resume and 3 personal references to lance.leonard AT solarfrog DOT com.

Applicants must also possess a since of humor.

Stalling

// August 12th, 2009 // Comments Off // Featured

I know I need to do something here. I’m hoping life will settle down soon to a point where I can dedicate some time to this. Since this is a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad representation of my life on the web, feel free to peruse my portfolio at http://evermindmedia.com/portfolio

Feeling neglected

// May 1st, 2009 // Comments Off // Featured

It’s been way too long, Internets. There once was a time when we were pretty tight, no? It doesn’t seem that long ago at all that we would tell each other everything, spend ridiculous amounts of time together, laugh at people falling down and cry at chick flicks.

Yes, Internets, I’ve missed you sorely. Let’s try to get together soon, please. My first order of business will be to revive the site on which I’m writing now. I’ve been silent for so long now that there is much to say. The starting point, I guess, should be putting a voice to the thoughts in my noggin. At some point, though, you seriously could use some polish. Seriously? You’re letting me, a designer, use a (cough) theme!? There is clearly something wrong with this picture.

Test Post to Facebook

// January 2nd, 2009 // Comments Off // Featured

Did this make it to Facebook?

The Great Basement Flood of 2008

// March 18th, 2008 // 2 Comments » // Featured

I’ll keep this short and let the pictures speak for themselves. See more at Flickr.