tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-121346482024-03-17T13:28:46.389-06:00The Generous Mind BlogMaking thoughts count.Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.comBlogger333125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-38985264932272345692024-03-09T14:22:00.003-07:002024-03-09T14:22:47.397-07:00Tell Me Your Story and Find Yourself in the Process<p style="text-align: center;"><i> "You can't know who you are unless you know how to tell your story." David Brooks</i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEh-ITQOyYYwFqHul72H85gf8X7txLJdzUKEy_5V0-aym0LT9Aje3OYtbow0uusjJ9ElM0S2KxiBvOJ1l8OooDRaToD0MMjciWO0EaLcPctgyq1cEsEgSJx_nbIknUCsGaIFd6hpJgVGbfYvQCy5gpvdS3Q4tROrFxnpwLj-QetNAIrfC5h6d/s640/mike-erskine-S_VbdMTsdiA-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEh-ITQOyYYwFqHul72H85gf8X7txLJdzUKEy_5V0-aym0LT9Aje3OYtbow0uusjJ9ElM0S2KxiBvOJ1l8OooDRaToD0MMjciWO0EaLcPctgyq1cEsEgSJx_nbIknUCsGaIFd6hpJgVGbfYvQCy5gpvdS3Q4tROrFxnpwLj-QetNAIrfC5h6d/w640-h428/mike-erskine-S_VbdMTsdiA-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@mikejerskine?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash" style="text-align: start;">Mike Erskine</a><span style="text-align: start;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/people-having-a-bonfire-S_VbdMTsdiA?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash" style="text-align: start;">Unsplash</a><span style="text-align: start;"></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Our humanity is not defined by a set of propositions that we hold. We are more than a sum of our beliefs or positions. While few would disagree with this, most act as if it were true. </p><p>We ask people what they think about a subject rather than how the topic has impacted their lives. We probe to understand the nuance of their beliefs, as if doing so will open their hearts up to us and allow us to know them deeply. Our beliefs are important and our positions represent our moral compass and the values we live by. But they don't lead to intimacy. </p><p>In David Brook's latest book, "How to Know a Person," he talks about this reality and a change he has made in how he talks with people, "I'm no longer content to ask, 'What do you think about X?' Instead, I ask, 'How did you come to believe X?' This is a framing that invites people to tell a story about what events led them to think the way they do. Similarly, I don't ask people to tell me about their values; I say, 'Tell me about the person who shaped your values most.' That prompts a story."</p><p>As I reflect on David's assertion, I am drawn to ask, "What are the skills I need to tell my story well?" I would like to propose a few skills that are critical to being able to tell your story . . . and thus know yourself in a deeper way. </p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Generosity: No one would tell personal details about themselves unless they fundamentally believe that it is an act of kindness to share your experiences freely with those who will listen. A generous spirit allows someone to share deep and personal things with a confidence that the benefit will outweigh any danger of betrayal, criticism or scorn. </li><li>Reflection: To tell your story, you need to be skilled in reflection. You have to sit with your life and ask yourself hard questions. You must be able to take the insights you gain and extract meaning from them that you can then pass to others. </li><li>Communication: The telling itself requires skills. Not everyone can simply share their story in a compelling, integrated and clear way. It takes practice and it takes learning how to engage an audience with the story in all its aspects. </li></ol><div>A generous person who is disciplined in reflection and equipped to communicate will be ready to tell their story when the moment is right. Are you building up the skills you need to bless others with your story and to find greater meaning and fulfillment in the telling of it? </div><p></p>Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-40958425910127725242024-02-11T13:14:00.000-07:002024-02-11T13:14:02.726-07:00Hope that Defeats Fear<p> </p><p><i>"Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! </i><i>His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning." - Lamentations 3:21-23, NLT</i></p><p>Over the past few years, I have occasionally written a prayer to guide me during the year. It's not that the prayer has to represent my expectations for the year or describe my situation as I look at the year ahead. Instead, it captures a discussion I'm having with God. </p><p>This year my prayer (seen below) is a wrestling with fear. I am becoming increasingly aware of the awful power of fear in my life and the lives of others that I love. Fear is insidious. It captures the imagination and diverts it away from hope in Christ towards the stagnate pool that is our own strength and abilities. </p><p>In the face of fear, what should be glorious opportunities to serve God become ominous unknowns that threaten overwhelm us. Fear isolates, hides, confuses and manipulates. Fear is the perversion of our imagination. It stifles what God is doing in us to the point where few would even know that God was active in us at all. </p><p>After all, fear is the emotional response to an absence of God. When we look away from God, we find fear staring us in the face. </p><p>So it makes sense that the antidote to fear is to open ourselves up to God's presence; joining Him on His mission. If we look to God for answers, hope naturally results. Hope is the expectation that God will work. While I don't always start the day expecting God to work, my desire is that this prayer will cause me to turn my head towards Him and trust. </p><p>What does it look like for you to abandon fear and hope in God as you begin this year? </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscWrM7lfJsi7UPnc7Bi7VjkIdCEgFCWAUbjKiMqL_0H_pKAEPKN_iUPGdMGI-3ryGm3TtEgktmA_lzKzsMN7qNQwyDh61YgS_EJgdspbuw_26A5Aj31rOZfucxioUefPgk4nrlQBibnUG2bV_FHG60YmgDIrcVszTJJ1CuESWh8NaqxF8_cUe/s839/Prayer%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="629" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscWrM7lfJsi7UPnc7Bi7VjkIdCEgFCWAUbjKiMqL_0H_pKAEPKN_iUPGdMGI-3ryGm3TtEgktmA_lzKzsMN7qNQwyDh61YgS_EJgdspbuw_26A5Aj31rOZfucxioUefPgk4nrlQBibnUG2bV_FHG60YmgDIrcVszTJJ1CuESWh8NaqxF8_cUe/w480-h640/Prayer%202024.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-45086331842994486232023-12-17T21:03:00.004-07:002023-12-28T05:25:31.886-07:0040 Quotes in 2023<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFwCQLZ9OfyoKicS0f5QivbUZmHPQTHWH3-prQnOv7hjZ-Xd_WjNPqf16DUdBXp5KPinI79k90U6ZJbmcJDjlytmozCakV1LZ_XcHf7nOukafRmRXQrmTy-iY09W8VbswgXNFkGUYD1dBM7ys2D0cWeNhYCo3IcjOoDG91W_Qfjiu4VD_Efc_/s640/dmitry-ratushny-wpi3sDUrSEk-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="640" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFwCQLZ9OfyoKicS0f5QivbUZmHPQTHWH3-prQnOv7hjZ-Xd_WjNPqf16DUdBXp5KPinI79k90U6ZJbmcJDjlytmozCakV1LZ_XcHf7nOukafRmRXQrmTy-iY09W8VbswgXNFkGUYD1dBM7ys2D0cWeNhYCo3IcjOoDG91W_Qfjiu4VD_Efc_/w640-h424/dmitry-ratushny-wpi3sDUrSEk-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@ratushny?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash" style="text-align: start;">Dmitry Ratushny</a><span style="text-align: start;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/black-text-reflect-on-eyeglasses-wpi3sDUrSEk?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash" style="text-align: start;">Unsplash</a><span style="text-align: start;"></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is impossible to discount the importance of what we learn from others. And while much of what we learn comes in the form of long lunches, good books or meaningful presentations, in the end what we remember tends to be key ideas . . . quotes. So these are some of the key ideas that jumped out at me in 2023. I hope they are a blessing to you as you launch into 2024. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While in a conversation, if you are intently listening for a pause, so that you can speak, then you are not really listening. – Vala Afshar</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="3" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"There are more than 7,000 languages in the world today and each of these languages is somebody's mother tongue. Each language matters, because all people matter." – Dr. Michel Kenmogne</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="4" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"If your doorstep is clean, then your city will be clean." – Greek Proverb</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="5" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I have found. I have found it is small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.” – J.R.R. Tolkien</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="6" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Our social skills are currently inadequate to the pluralistic societies we are living in.... Many of our big national problems arise from the fraying of our social fabric. If we want to begin repairing the big national ruptures, we have to learn to do the small things well." — David Brooks</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="7" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Strong relationships don't need agreement. They need alignment."</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Adam Grant</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="8" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Everything grows from the inside out.Nothing grows from the outside in." – Peter Scazzero</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="9" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Dissatisfaction is a torment , but it is also a teacher. It’s a cautionary of the life we think we want, and in that sense, it’s a grace.” – Sharon Hodde Miller</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="10" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Learn to listen. Opportunity sometimes knocks very softly." – H. Jackson Brown Jr.</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="11" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Old age needs the visions of youth; youth needs the dreams of old age." – E. Stanley Jones</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="12" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“To honor a value we need to be willing to incur costs and constraints. We must choose one direction at the expense of another, or stay mired and lost, unable to move forward.That’s why the change conversation needs to focus on what you value. Values are how an enterprise honors its mission.” – Greg Satell</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="13" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"There is no hospitality like understanding." – Vanna Bonta</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="14" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"The value of pure knowledge decreases; the importance of what is done with that knowledge rises." – Bipul Sinha </span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="15" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The nonmonstrous parts of ourselves, the parts we consider angelic, are parts that separate us from others; they make for distinction, not unity. These parts give us pride because they make us different, not because they unite us with the common lot of humankind. Our successes and our glories are not the stuff of community, but our sins and our failures are.” – Parker Palmer</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="16" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #111111; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #111111; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"It's hard to build momentum if you're dividing your attention." – James Clear</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #111111; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="17" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills." – Chinese Proverb, author unknown</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="18" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Keep in mind that imagination is at the heart of all innovation. Crush or constrain it and the fun will vanish.”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Albert-Laszlo Barabasi</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="19" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“If I’m going to get to know you, it’s not because I have the magical ability to peer into your soul; it’s because I have the skill of asking the sorts of questions that will give you a chance to tell me about who you are.” – David Brooks</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="20" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Fast learns, slow remembers. Fast proposes, slow disposes. Fast is discontinuous, slow is continuous. Fast and small instructs slow and big by accrued innovation and by occasional revolution. Slow and big controls small and fast by constraint and constancy. Fast gets all our attention, slow has all the power." – Stewart Brand</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="21" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” – Fred Rogers</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="22" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"There seemed to be endless obstacles preventing me from living with my eyes open, but as I gradually followed up clue after clue it seemed that the root cause of them all was fear." – Marion Milner</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="23" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #111111; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #111111; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Everything that's anything starts out as a little thing. It just needs a little time and room to grow." – Brad Paisley</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #111111; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="24" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"At all times, an old world is collapsing and a new world arising; we have better eyes for the collapse than the rise, for the old one is the world we know." – John Updike</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="25" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"If creativity is the idea of bringing a new perspective to anything and having it add value, innovation is the process of transforming that creativity into value...The distinction between creativity and innovation is important because one can’t exist without the other in any environment." – Carla Johnson</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="26" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“An idea without action is like a bow without an arrow.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="27" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your past is not your prison; your past is a predictor." – Dr. Henry Cloud</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="28" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"The only thing worse than starting something and failing...is not starting something." – Seth Godin</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="29" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Disneyland will never be completed, as long as there is imagination left in the world." – Walt Disney</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="30" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is Christmas? It is the tenderness of the past, the courage for the present and the hope for the future." – Agnes Pahro</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="31" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Gratitude is the ability to experience life as a gift. It liberates us from the prison of self-preoccupation." – John Ortberg</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="32" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Culture is observational not aspirational!" – Marc Randolph</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="33" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Disunity isn’t just ugly; it makes us dysfunctional. We cannot be the presence and force in this world that God intended if we’re actively jettisoning essential parts of our Body.” – Francis Chan</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="34" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"It's a proven fact that military might makes so little difference in the world and its also a proven fact that the greatest instrument of change is love. So I'm thinking that if we were busier loving people than we are killing them, then maybe the world would really change. But the problem is that love is a lot more of a risk and very few people want to take those kinds of risks..." – Rich Mullins</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="35" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Love and truth form a good leader; sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.” – King Solomon</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="36" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"The paradox of hospitality is that it wants to create an emptiness, not a fearful emptiness, but a friendly emptiness where strangers can enter and discover themselves as created free; free to sing their own songs, speak their own languages, dance their own dances; free also to leave and follow their own vocations. Hospitality is not a subtle invitation to adopt the lifestyle of the host, but the gift of a chance for the guest to find his own." – Henri Nouwen</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="37" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“No action will have lasting effects if it is inconsistent with reality.” – Parker Palmer </span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="38" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What a privilege to be able to look for the good in our neighbor!” – Mr. Rogers</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="39" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“This is the paradox of freedom and virtue. Virtue is a second nature. A second freedom…You submit yourself to the discipline of learning in order to freely practice it.” – NT Wright</span></p><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></li></ol><ol start="40" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Walking organizes the world around us; writing organizes our thoughts.” – Ferris Jabr</span></p></li></ol>Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-36791196765075975512023-12-09T09:23:00.000-07:002023-12-09T09:23:00.719-07:00A Christmas Message from Athens<p> </p><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="995" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYsbCm4mInnxtTXZu2SwDdpBvNW-ft8atSvb313A2DDqgfUG_U_cwatifgAE9Qih-gswWi-OlStw0OsUuaoG5B75ETAO_SbBCXW0mZOA-ttUM2QaLNha9nAWK0EFmYiHb0NiGDqpQlGQzgqYM9uqwIonM7V1VimkilxpBXon7Yhyphenhyphen9ehwNNFiOR/w640-h285/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-09%20at%2010.06.12%20AM.png" width="640" /></div><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-9b5da9d2-7fff-4944-1bc6-a740f6f86be1" style="text-align: start;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.56; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="color: #393939; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo: Studio Kominis</span></span></p></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span id="docs-internal-guid-0ab454d7-7fff-8216-720a-ebc0f6d74b6d"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Greece they have a Christmas tradition called </span><a href="https://www.marinersmuseum.org/2020/12/the-greek-maritime-holiday-tradition-of-karavakia/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Karavachia</span></a><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> where they decorate boats instead of trees. It is said that they do this in anticipation of the men returning from fishing ahead of Christmas. Some will even </span><a href="https://www.thisisathens.org/seasonal-guide/winter/christmas-holidays" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">decorate toy boats near the fireplace </span></a><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and point the bow towards the fire to indicate that the sailors should be on their way home. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coming Near</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In my home country, the United States, we have this same idea of coming home that shows up throughout our Christmas songs and traditions. I immediately think of the 1943 song, “</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27ll_Be_Home_for_Christmas" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ll be home for Christmas</span></a><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,” which was written from the perspective of a World War II soldier longing for home. This sentiment resonates at Christmas because distance and nearness is embedded into the Gospel narrative. The original Christmas story is also full of comings and goings. Mary and Joseph are on the move, the wise men take their big trip and Jesus is whisked away to Egypt when Herod tries to kill him. But on a larger scale Christmas is all about God coming near to us as a baby born in Bethlehem. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This message of God drawing near has embedded itself into our traditions in the 2000 years since Jesus’ birth. Every effort to come close, be together and connect at the holidays is in part an artifact of God’s proactive effort to come near. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Near for What? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you ever stopped to question the narrative? Why did God come near? What is the purpose of us gathering together at Christmas? Why is proximity an important part of God’s plan? For insight, I went back to Greece for one of the most compelling Christmas messages in the Bible. This talk predates the Karavachia as it goes back to the first testimony of God’s nearness to the Greek seat of power . . . Athens. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It likely wasn’t given at the time we celebrate Christmas, but it is one of the most compelling cases for God drawing near that I can find in the Bible. Many of you know the story. Paul is shuttled out of Berea to avoid the angry crowds and is hidden in Athens. But Paul isn’t great at hiding! As he walks the streets, the lostness of the people burdens his soul and he must speak. He first goes to the Jews and then ends up speaking to a wider audience. Finally he is invited to speak to the leaders of Athens. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As he is speaking, he brings the Christmas message home in a way that Athenians could relate to and consider. He starts out by establishing who their Unknown God was and then he makes the true God’s case. Listen as he sets the record straight in Acts 17:24-29 as paraphrased by Eugene Peterson in The Message, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin: 0pt 27pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The God who made the world and everything in it, this Master of sky and land, doesn’t live in custom-made shrines or need the human race to run errands for him, as if he couldn’t take care of himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don’t make him. Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually </span><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">find</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> him. He doesn’t play hide-and-seek with us. He’s not remote; he’s </span><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">near</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. We live and move in him, can’t get away from him! One of your poets said it well: ‘We’re the God-created.’ Well, if we are the God-created, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to think we could hire a sculptor to chisel a god out of stone for </span><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">us</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, does it?”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paul eloquently explains that the God who made everything is near so that we will find Him and know Him. But God’s nearness is not terrifying or humiliating to His creation. Instead God, “...made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God…” God is near so that we will be restored to a relationship with Him. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Birth of an Idea</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Appealing to the thoughtful minds of the Athenians, he shared with them about a generous God who had drawn near and still given His creation plenty of room to learn, discuss, explore and ultimately find Truth. God didn’t come to stifle and limit their creativity. He came to fulfill and explore every true idea and thought to its ultimate completion in Him. To the people of Athens, their introduction to Jesus was not a baby in a manger but an idea birthed among the pillars and statues; then given room to be discussed and explored. But either way, God drew near that day. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>How is God drawing near to you this Christmas? </b></span></p><b><br /></b><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>What is he making room for you to consider? </b></span></p><b><br /></b><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>How will you respond to the idea hospitality that God extends to you as he comes close? </b></span></p></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-48469792076182838422023-11-13T18:33:00.003-07:002023-11-14T19:46:28.612-07:00Exploring AI and Faith with Your Church<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCZVD6ymBv1rRTyF-55UIqPxyzcStIwwQmc4UxsvfNchIGtTY7Ibi46rwM-BB4TZokSM-d5bYiMzzSrTDYAxSKvJ6pEcmT1l2b7eOCa0jqjFZKS8eW6oYtlFOt46lK-4cKNU3Mm7NyNCnzFLEjdKGC5OyfXgdWeJr_SBvYU_Pkh7l-NrjoJNo/s640/claudio-schwarz-k39RGHmLoV8-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCZVD6ymBv1rRTyF-55UIqPxyzcStIwwQmc4UxsvfNchIGtTY7Ibi46rwM-BB4TZokSM-d5bYiMzzSrTDYAxSKvJ6pEcmT1l2b7eOCa0jqjFZKS8eW6oYtlFOt46lK-4cKNU3Mm7NyNCnzFLEjdKGC5OyfXgdWeJr_SBvYU_Pkh7l-NrjoJNo/w640-h429/claudio-schwarz-k39RGHmLoV8-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@purzlbaum?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash" style="text-align: start;">Claudio Schwarz</a><span style="text-align: start;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/two-human-hands-painting-k39RGHmLoV8?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash" style="text-align: start;">Unsplash</a><span style="text-align: start;"></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>Some topics don't come up in church. It's not because they aren't important or because there aren't spiritual implications, but because it is hard to imagine how you would talk about it in a helpful way. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of those topics. The impact AI will have on our families, careers and our understanding of humanity will be significant, but how do you make the jump from your LinkedIn world to the pews (or folding chairs) of your church? <div><br /></div><div>Recently I collaborated with our pastor at <a href="https://lifebridge.church" target="_blank">LifeBridge Church</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-adams-5580408b/" target="_blank">John Adams</a>, and a technologist and fellow attendee of LifeBridge, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaydrogers/" target="_blank">Jay Rodgers</a>, to put on a half day workshop for anyone in the church to come and explore AI and Faith. Below I'm going to share how we did it and encourage you to consider hosting something like this for your local church. What we did is very low-key and easy to replicate with a bit of effort. </div><div><br /></div><div>First we met as a group with one other businessman from the church, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonhainstock/" target="_blank">John Hainstock</a>. We talked about AI, our experiences, the needs of our church and the depth we should go into the topic to be most helpful to our community. </div><div><br /></div><div>After that we began to collaborate on a shared document and put together an agenda with assignments for each presenter. We decided on a Saturday morning event from 8:30 to 12:00 including a donuts and coffee along with lunch. The schedule is below:</div><div><ul><li>8:30-9:15 Level Setting Panel - What is AI and Why Does it Matter to a Believer today </li><li>9:15 - 10:00 Table Discussions - AI Case Studies to Explore</li><li>10:00 - 10:15 Break</li><li>10:15 - 11:00 Kingdom Perspectives on AI</li><li>11:00 - 12:00 Foundational Principles and Virtues in a Changing World</li></ul><div>The panel was designed to personalize such a huge topic with a variety of opinions and insights. Then the table discussions allowed attendees to explore four different case studies and talk about how they would handle those situations. The case studies included topics like students cheating, AI as a friend, Bible study with AI and AI's impact on the workforce. After the break we followed up with two more workshop-style talks about perspectives and principles to help guide a Christian in their use of AI. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Once the content was well on its way, we began to engage the congregation. We used three key approaches:</div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>We created an invite graphic and began texting it to people in the church who might be interested to give this unique topic a personal touch. </li><li>John shared from the front about the event and was very intentional about explaining that it was not designed for techies. It was really important to highlight that the content was for anyone in the church because AI is going to impact all of us in one way or another. </li><li>Finally, we recorded a podcast episode several weeks out that explained what AI was, talked about why it was important for Christians to explore it and explained what the event would be like. You can <a href="https://share.transistor.fm/s/8010ecaa" target="_blank">listen to the podcast here</a>. </li></ol><div>Now to reflect on the event . . . I'll start with a few things I really liked and then I'll share some lessons learned. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>I was very pleased with the intergenerational group. There were digital natives and people who could remember when computers were just being introduced. I was also so pleased with the quality of the discussions around the tables and the questions during the workshop sessions. It was fun to see people applying their faith to this emerging area of society and stretching their minds to consider the implications of AI on what it means to represent Jesus in the world today. </div><div><br /></div><div>After it was all done, I reflected with John that we could have done even more level setting. There were people who had never used ChatGPT in the room and others who used it daily for their work. Some were well versed in the implications on their professions while others were thinking about the impacts for the first time. Doing more work to explain AI and some of the most basic ways it works would have been helpful. The group definitely had more men than women. We could have been much more intentional about personally inviting women so that they knew this would be a space where they were welcome and could benefit. We did some of that but we could have been more intentional. Ideally we would have had both men and women on the planning team for the event. </div><div><br /></div><div>As I listened to the discussions over lunch and the next day at our Sunday service, I was so excited to hear all the thoughtful comments and applications that people were exploring. It was clear that people had grabbed onto the key concepts and were beginning to think them through for themselves. That was a huge encouragement and an indicator of the impact the event had on people who attended. </div><div><br /></div><div>To download the presentations, view the panel questions and case studies, <a href="https://lifebridgechurch.notion.site/Biblical-Perspectives-on-AI-6f7a109ed7a54cf1804e30ee8a3694cc" target="_blank">click here</a> to engage with the content we created for this interactive morning session. To listen to the panel, and two workshop sessions click on the links below:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://share.transistor.fm/s/caf9f39e" target="_blank">AI Panel</a></li><li><a href="https://share.transistor.fm/s/0778495f" target="_blank">How Our Faith Informs Our Use of AI</a></li><li><a href="https://share.transistor.fm/s/afea4197" target="_blank">Foundational Principles and Virtues in a Changing World</a></li></ul></div><div>Once you have explored what we did, the question is now in your corner. What will you do to help your church wrestle with the intersection of Faith and AI? Let us know what you try and we look forward to celebrating with you. </div><div><br /></div>Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-66146809601980876472023-10-15T14:58:00.002-06:002023-10-15T14:58:58.423-06:00Bringing People Into the Story<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXjLxDRflX_isrPedbRmuIGQ4OsiLAFwNtq3PBzQ06jEWXL3_7QkIdlRQi9uvA41pPxjcTiIxPG0pWsRQB1b9Ko2WOX2ZdFrHdla4Wq3iLzsAcczeuAUE7YUeVkdZhnRWvDXDaP_ylePwaWCzZOfMgJZinMg2IowBu_xxO_pitmHOWz4z7jRw/s2938/eiffel%20tower%20up%20close.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2201" data-original-width="2938" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXjLxDRflX_isrPedbRmuIGQ4OsiLAFwNtq3PBzQ06jEWXL3_7QkIdlRQi9uvA41pPxjcTiIxPG0pWsRQB1b9Ko2WOX2ZdFrHdla4Wq3iLzsAcczeuAUE7YUeVkdZhnRWvDXDaP_ylePwaWCzZOfMgJZinMg2IowBu_xxO_pitmHOWz4z7jRw/w400-h300/eiffel%20tower%20up%20close.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Recently I spent a day at Disney's EPCOT Center in Orlando. But it wasn't a vacation day. A friend and fellow innovator, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/draley/" target="_blank">Dave Raley</a>, founder of <a href="https://www.imago.consulting" target="_blank">Imago Consulting</a>, organized a special day for innovators called "Prototyping the Future." We spent the day with two executives from <a href="https://www.plainjoestudios.com" target="_blank">Plain Joe</a>, a studio focused on helping organizations create powerful experiences that advance their mission. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/philtaylorxp/" target="_blank">Phil Taylor</a>, Executive Producer and an amateur Disney historian, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattfergusonmarketing/" target="_blank">Matt Ferguson</a>, Chief Innovation Officer and a former Disney staff member, and Dave Raley were our guides for the day. </p><p>The first thing to highlight from this day is the intentionality of Walt Disney and the company he created. The number of intricate details that bring you into a place or a theme and carry you along is amazing. Disney's experiences really do amaze, educate and help you to reimagine things you think you already know. Disney has billions to be intentional and most of us have only pennies in comparison. But it is important to remember that intentionality doesn't have to cost millions of dollars. Creating immersive experiences requires thoughtfulness and understanding of the journey you are striving to lead your audience through. Designing spaces makes a difference!</p><p>As an example, I hosted an event in Atlanta last week for innovators as part of the <a href="https://innovatl2023.com" target="_blank">InnovATL2023</a> month organized by the Atlanta Metro Chamber of Commerce. We picked the Atlanta Tech Village for our venue and it provided an environment that modeled the message of innovation and creativity that we were focused on highlighting. Simply the selection of the venue can make a big difference in creating an experience that will be remembered. </p><p>The second insight I want to focus on has to do with perspective. This was the first lesson that the team highlighted and it quickly became my main takeaway. I took the picture at the top of this post standing in Paris; part of the EPCOT World Showcase. The team talked about how Disney designed the size of the Eiffel Tower so that wherever you are on the streets of Paris in EPCOT, the tower will look like it is the right size and will fit in the scene. Disney actually didn't build the full tower. It sits on top of other buildings and there is only as much of it as is needed to bring you into the scene and help you experience Paris in the middle of Florida. </p><p>My takeaway from this insight is that anytime we are invited into a story in a dynamic way perspective is an important part of making that possible. The stories worth telling are rich, multi-layered and complicated. They offer nuance that requires us to use perspective wisely to create understanding. Perspective allows others to enter the story and make it their own. It is only when someone takes ownership of a story that it can actually be internalized and truly understood. </p><p>One example of this is the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. Jesus' head is tilted down and his arms are outstretched with open palms. From whatever angle you look, you see Jesus stretching out his arms as he looks down on the people of the city and you have a sense that Jesus is not far from that very place and every person within his gaze. The sculptors used perspective to create a powerful message that is a global icon; immediately recognizable. </p><p>Both of these insights highlight for me something that Kingdom workers need to hear. Many of our Christian traditions minimize presentation, experience and perspective. We want the words of Jesus to stand on their own without any distraction. We also want things to be contextual locally in ways that don't become out of reach for local budgets. Another concern is that experiential efforts will only distract from the real message and lead to entertainment over discipleship. But what if our attempts at simple and low cost experiences become a barrier in themselves? What if we have lost sight of the sense of wonder and imagination that leads us to God's throne in worship and transformation?</p><p>How might you design culturally sensitive, imaginative and on-message experiences as part of your Kingdom service? How can you think about those innovative approaches with your global partners so that they can be done on any budget but still bring people into the story of Jesus' love? </p>Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-66602937952568538292023-09-18T19:53:00.007-06:002023-09-19T04:36:24.038-06:00Is Your Data a Barrier or an Advantage?<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQp6TkyqQIibWvt-o52nXBUFvdxlZdtRkHElAJB-ntHSoS-BS0rY-axGsX5QeOiWQRvDTq6ca_rCxaqF0Uo8GebzWsPYTbXsrWVmfvhvmV735fPwpI45PdFRVNpjdqTTbHOpijXOsyCFezk4Wo7XV5tXr83GetgOM5dBCp7upxxsGRY8ieVfG8/s640/elisa-ventur-bmJAXAz6ads-unsplash-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQp6TkyqQIibWvt-o52nXBUFvdxlZdtRkHElAJB-ntHSoS-BS0rY-axGsX5QeOiWQRvDTq6ca_rCxaqF0Uo8GebzWsPYTbXsrWVmfvhvmV735fPwpI45PdFRVNpjdqTTbHOpijXOsyCFezk4Wo7XV5tXr83GetgOM5dBCp7upxxsGRY8ieVfG8/w400-h268/elisa-ventur-bmJAXAz6ads-unsplash-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@elisa_ventur?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="text-align: start;">Elisa Ventur</a><span style="text-align: start;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/bmJAXAz6ads?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="text-align: start;">Unsplash</a><span style="text-align: start;"></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>I don't know about you, but I'm done listening to the phrase, "Garbage in, garbage out," in discussions about artificial intelligence (AI). It comes up all the time. Why? Simple, the promise of AI is completely tied to the quality and quantity of your data. And we have to be honest with ourselves. In the nonprofit world we have some significant data challenges.</p><p>As the wave of hype crested late Spring 2023 after the advent of approachable AI, the world rolled up their sleeves and started to work on how they might apply these new capabilities. But as they did, people started coming to the realization that the early adopters had taken a shortcut. </p><p>They climbed the mountain of other people's data and planted the AI flag proudly. But on their victory lap down the mountain, they have faced an avalanche of legislation, law suites, and confusion from the very people that allowed them to climb the mountain in the first place; the people who generated the data needed to power AI. </p><p>The early winners in the AI race won't be affected by the fallout of these boulders for a while because there is so much demand for progress with these tools (and they have so many lawyers). But everyone behind them will have to play by a different set of rules. </p><p>And that is where most of us come in. To see the benefits of AI you have to invest significant amounts of money and time into your data. This means your data policies, technical infrastructure, security and data collection strategies have to be well developed. You also need to invest in the ethics of privacy, transparency, and equity. </p><p>Come to find out, it takes millions of dollars and many people to give the robots what they will need to do the jobs we now expect of them. </p><p>Are you feeling discouraged? I wrote the first half of this post to imitate the roller coaster we have been on over the past 11 months. The amazement, excitement, confusion and deer-in-the-headlights look have all been a feature of this incredible year. A year ago, few people would have imagined what we assume to be true today. And as far as the actions of the early adopters, I understand why their explorations led them where they did. Inventors don't always stop to dot the "i's" and cross the "t's." So while those "i's" and "t's" get worked out, don't be discouraged. But know that we have a big job ahead of us. </p><p>Now we must ask, "Where do we go from here?" Are you asking that question with your leadership, teams and colleagues? Let me suggest that our most immediate task is all about data. While our software development staff are experimenting and prototyping the integration of AI, most of us should be investing our time on the data side. </p><p>Few organizations know 1) what data they have, 2) the quality of that data, and 3) the accessibility of that data for today's purposes. I've spent a lot of time thinking about this. Back in the early 2000's, my job was to help the nonprofits charged with translating, distributing and licensing the Bible make a major jump in format (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Innovation-Mission-Insights-Practical-Innovations/dp/1932805761" target="_blank">for more on this read my chapter in a book I edited called Innovation in Mission</a>). Since then, I have invested hundreds of hours in helping nonprofits think through digital transformation and the data that they would need to power their future plans. My main takeaway from all that work, "Working on your data is not exciting, but without investing in your data, none of the exciting things can happen."</p><p>If you are reading this post and wondering about the status of your personal or organizational data, I suggest 3 efforts that will begin to prepare you for the demands on your data that AI will make. As Marissa Mayer, former CEO of Yahoo! said, "With data collection, 'the sooner the better' is always the best answer."</p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Digital IQ (DQ): </b>Invest in your own intelligence about data and do the same for those in the organization you serve. One of the organizations helping people think through DQ is the DQ Institute. <a href="https://www.dqinstitute.org/global-standards/" target="_blank">Their framework</a> is a great place to start as you think about how to raise the level of sophistication and understanding about data and digital life. Andy Crouch's book "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Life-Were-Looking-Relationship-Technological/dp/059323734X" target="_blank">The Life We're Looking For</a>" is a wonderful resource in thinking through how faith and digital life intersect.</li><li><b>Ethics:</b> Sure you have a privacy policy on your website, but how much work have you done thinking through the ethics of collecting data from your beneficiaries and the permissions you may need to do what AI will eventually make possible. Is is also important to consider that just because you can do something with AI doesn't mean you should. How will you decide? From a social sector perspective the <a href="https://ainowinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/AI-Now-2023-Landscape-Report-FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">latest AI Now report</a> is a helpful resource. From a Christian perspective, Jason Thacker's <a href="https://hc.edu/center-for-christianity-in-business/2023/01/17/ethics-in-the-age-of-ai/" target="_blank">thought leadership</a> provides a good starting place. In this <a href="https://aiandfaith.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/RIGHTEOUS-AI-THE-CHRISTIAN-VOICE-IN-THE-ETHICAL-AI-CONVERSATION.pdf" target="_blank">research</a> Gretchen Huizinga explores the way our worldview impacts our approach to AI ethics. Finally, Mark Graves dives into the impact that generative AI will have on <a href="https://aiandfaith.org/generative-ai-for-theology-and-science/" target="_blank">scientific and theological research</a>. </li><li><b>Data Inventory:</b> One of the most helpful exercises is to know what knowledge you are responsible for stewarding (I wrote a book about Knowledge Stewardship that is available by request). You can't even consider how to engage with AI unless you know what you have, where it is and what format it is in. Some people and organizations have done amazing jobs of managing their data and so this is a fairly straightforward activity. For others this will be a huge challenge and will take a significant amount of money and time. This <a href="https://www.datasharingtoolkit.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/CABI-Mod7-3-01-Checklist.pdf" target="_blank">Data Sharing Toolkit</a> walks you through how to do a data inventory.</li></ol><div>Finally, the most important investment you can make as a nonprofit is to hire, train and empower information workers in your organizations. These roles are so challenging to sustain because they are often hard to connect to the good you do in the world, but with AI the connection will be much easier to make. One of the best communities of information workers to support and amplify is <a href="https://www.globalcmiw.org/Welcome" target="_blank">CMIW</a> (Community of Mission Information Workers). For the faith-based mission world, this community is best situated to address the topics raised in this article. We would do well getting to know these mission information workers, giving them a platform and then acting on their work.</div><p></p>Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-34938381624882799172023-08-18T04:43:00.000-06:002023-08-18T04:43:31.907-06:00Hospitality Lesson #5 - INSIGHT<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiir8KThGDSOv4oitXb7PTWT03vqXNh-LA3KPj6iCP_qAS0z2NiGL7Bk8IuveoO3n8my2k9RszecIUrnh2FDazBp5APoxDqA6x07ERWjYj4mgs8O0XpUiYMpYiMUUQdecR67axmQPP9lBppYFGhfikNVaOogodP_w936s4Tr9upupIgBtGWLjZj/s4032/Insight_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiir8KThGDSOv4oitXb7PTWT03vqXNh-LA3KPj6iCP_qAS0z2NiGL7Bk8IuveoO3n8my2k9RszecIUrnh2FDazBp5APoxDqA6x07ERWjYj4mgs8O0XpUiYMpYiMUUQdecR67axmQPP9lBppYFGhfikNVaOogodP_w936s4Tr9upupIgBtGWLjZj/s320/Insight_1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>There is always more to hospitality than the physical kindnesses extended. Most hospitality also comes with an intellectual component. It might be a simple word of encouragement. Maybe it is a new perspective on something you thought you knew so well. Other times it might be a deep insight shared at the tail end of lengthy conversation. <p></p><p>Whatever form it takes, insight is an essential part of hospitality. New people and places are always a great combination that just might generate insight. </p><p>In many ways insight is a gift that requires the least material resources. You can share a new idea with a stranger without paying for a big meal, having a guest bedroom or throwing a party. You don't even need to have your own space. Someone can share an insight on a park bench with a stranger and welcome them into their thoughts and musings. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissCo_DHrmUB2BGicO6z5joS8603Bpa8JUFebWo8mgHGnUPJcwrTs_InrkAPTGm_utXkvPNEWs7Sgsf05sZcfPWIjQTNF40hHbO0sZnZwYHJmzWPCgy3zvnT1RUFAzdPcyDEZ7KSbp2JA4fWQN_3lqQCnE6YXKrRjB7Ep-VGVxN_CK3ebnERwS/s4032/Insight_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissCo_DHrmUB2BGicO6z5joS8603Bpa8JUFebWo8mgHGnUPJcwrTs_InrkAPTGm_utXkvPNEWs7Sgsf05sZcfPWIjQTNF40hHbO0sZnZwYHJmzWPCgy3zvnT1RUFAzdPcyDEZ7KSbp2JA4fWQN_3lqQCnE6YXKrRjB7Ep-VGVxN_CK3ebnERwS/w150-h200/Insight_2.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br />One small way that people along the Geneva Lake Shore Path showed hospitality through insight is the Little Free Libraries that two residents put up (If you don't know about this amazing nonprofit, look them up!). These small little houses each have two shelves full of books than anyone can take. By putting them up along the shore path, those residents are inviting walkers to stop and consider what they might learn as they take their walk. <p></p><p>They are also allowing walkers to share with others and extend their own hospitality. Anyone can leave a book in a Little Free Library for others to take. In a way these small buildings become outlets for hospitality as people give and take along the path. </p><p>"There is no hospitality like understanding." Vanna Bonta</p>Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-39474543258212466292023-08-17T06:18:00.000-06:002023-08-17T06:18:34.692-06:00Hospitality Lesson # 4 - BEAUTY<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHyyO1skB7Kw14RVZvFKLPM19cDpXGbvJbhfn9LVDVblGfEiJGxUlNUC8SLyapv_9hpOww-IrxkTxu79SpRqVaz903PGsxpAgh5J7TqQpIIrtjSruqrPp2RkAa1KG1ncJ3lrVYZ2RP4cqFv7rr7fHAJNYePckup4iLetL0qgfrjoQWyhBi5BV/s4032/Beauty_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHyyO1skB7Kw14RVZvFKLPM19cDpXGbvJbhfn9LVDVblGfEiJGxUlNUC8SLyapv_9hpOww-IrxkTxu79SpRqVaz903PGsxpAgh5J7TqQpIIrtjSruqrPp2RkAa1KG1ncJ3lrVYZ2RP4cqFv7rr7fHAJNYePckup4iLetL0qgfrjoQWyhBi5BV/w150-h200/Beauty_1.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>One of the joys of hospitality is surprise. Think of a time when you have been invited to someone's home, not knowing what to expect, and as you walk in you are blown away by Christmas decorations, the way the table is set, or the transformation of a home into a particular themed event. <p></p><p>Beauty is the icing on the cake, the glitter on the table, or the flowers in the vase. It is those small touches that the one extending hospitality invests in to make a point. </p><p>And that point is that, "my guests are worth this extra effort." Its not unlike a bouquet of flowers on a date that make an extra statement about how the suitor feels.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fnQQapDQitVYUTNL6V-kLoLrj2NAoCl3Z0v0pdjuziZEZPV7FipGbDfosA2z6v_igf1xh6ZGFTDqSapdsk3acxNcipLueJlKyL7QxeOs-9gQkyvf-d-z4-cGgnsR6MbEKeCyGrAmhP3BOUpHFKeNG6kiYAvW4_uevL88IuFQCbElFbpGg5mI/s4032/Beauty_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fnQQapDQitVYUTNL6V-kLoLrj2NAoCl3Z0v0pdjuziZEZPV7FipGbDfosA2z6v_igf1xh6ZGFTDqSapdsk3acxNcipLueJlKyL7QxeOs-9gQkyvf-d-z4-cGgnsR6MbEKeCyGrAmhP3BOUpHFKeNG6kiYAvW4_uevL88IuFQCbElFbpGg5mI/w150-h200/Beauty_3.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Along the Geneva Lake Shore Path, the owners of the homes have laid out a banquet of beauty in the flowers they have planted. All summer I have been amazed at the rows of red, orange, yellow, purple and white. <p></p><p>Sometimes the flowers are in perfect rows . . . almost like a choreographed firework display. Other times they are fields of flowers that seem to spread and sway like a herd of animals grazing in a prairie. </p><p>No matter their form, they present a unique aspect of hospitality. They are that exclamation point that says, "You are worth it." It invites you to imagine things in new ways and experience someone else's vision of beauty. It brings new perspective; which in the end, is one of the greatest gifts of all. </p><p>"True hospitality is marked by an open response to the dignity of each and every person." Kathleen Norris</p>Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-84683041672420905902023-08-16T04:24:00.000-06:002023-08-16T04:24:02.441-06:00Hospitality Lesson #3 - SPACE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVX4xIuyUZJKAK6BI9bDiVx9mi1fQIouk0A77kiDPwfO1oZrhbURbmrK3CfXHL4-ZPte6sTH0WjZQN3-bqpdtU_UT99HiSkGmRpXCVf7XllImpmB1NaMVVQF6sQEDMEAqLnKuTLxQufH3z4PnG9Sh4s4n5cq22MSX6EKQoyxzdsZjKdoLAilb/s4032/Space_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVX4xIuyUZJKAK6BI9bDiVx9mi1fQIouk0A77kiDPwfO1oZrhbURbmrK3CfXHL4-ZPte6sTH0WjZQN3-bqpdtU_UT99HiSkGmRpXCVf7XllImpmB1NaMVVQF6sQEDMEAqLnKuTLxQufH3z4PnG9Sh4s4n5cq22MSX6EKQoyxzdsZjKdoLAilb/w400-h300/Space_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We all take up space. It's simple science that highlights the atoms that form molecules and make up the cells that form our physical bodies. But many times the space we take up becomes a commodity and therefore a burden to someone. Think about your seat on an airplane. Another example is renting a hotel room, an apartment or buying a home. Many spaces are so valuable that we can only imagine what it must be like to stand in them. <div><br /></div><div>Sometimes the spaces we value most aren't physical but instead emotional or intellectual. Have you ever heard someone say something like, "I needed room to grieve"? These spaces of the mind can be just as hard to find as that perfect hotel room overlooking the beach. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNa5kB7TlKrd78Y9xVlfhRl7tFbOFdAa68VbNMo_k4bvcqtWnRRzAbbKC0kgIKa213h3IHWtYHQs3H3etkopoHUjuyvCQZ5r1WIuxX74BHKPVDlDlA4CPpNSZdkw2rauGXOOghj3g7iQW7JHMqISTiaMgI5jONsNb3yXHK3lyq8SUVe4zlbBZ/s4032/Space_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNa5kB7TlKrd78Y9xVlfhRl7tFbOFdAa68VbNMo_k4bvcqtWnRRzAbbKC0kgIKa213h3IHWtYHQs3H3etkopoHUjuyvCQZ5r1WIuxX74BHKPVDlDlA4CPpNSZdkw2rauGXOOghj3g7iQW7JHMqISTiaMgI5jONsNb3yXHK3lyq8SUVe4zlbBZ/s320/Space_2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>That is why I have been so impressed by the hospitality along Geneva Lake. Arguably some of the most sought after real estate in Wisconsin, the owners of these homes accept the 100-year-old tradition of giving space for walkers along their small bit of Geneva Lake. Something they pay significant money for is offered freely to people like me. </div><div><p>While there are plenty of signs saying "Keep on the path" and others reminding people of "Private Property," there is an understanding that the role of offering space goes both ways. The owner gives up their exclusive right to the space and the walker respects that not all the space is for the taking. </p><p>For me the Geneva Lake Shore Path has provided a space to think. I can enjoy the beauty, the open water, the families playing, the other walkers and I can think. To me there is no greater gift than giving me an inspired place to think. </p><p>"Hospitality means primarily the creation of free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to bring me and women over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines." Henri Nouwen</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-80324852812080301392023-08-15T17:55:00.002-06:002023-08-15T18:09:47.320-06:00Hospitality Lesson #2 - PROVISION<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KIYtljHHp2E9otMw2qduZFKv-X5_GXW1xYCb9K3iNY9w9X2dkrpVNKiYDOSTgXA4lSAqB3OxHuGFPLUw2mLlrzRmS6xIXAJHbPRS2QIWgsIJN8MwERi-olgrBLVKVo0fi0YNpXlHRUb5qG6UYvCip59pWrMxXqFluzYR4uoK-3HTQCfrG58H/s4032/IMG_5317.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KIYtljHHp2E9otMw2qduZFKv-X5_GXW1xYCb9K3iNY9w9X2dkrpVNKiYDOSTgXA4lSAqB3OxHuGFPLUw2mLlrzRmS6xIXAJHbPRS2QIWgsIJN8MwERi-olgrBLVKVo0fi0YNpXlHRUb5qG6UYvCip59pWrMxXqFluzYR4uoK-3HTQCfrG58H/w240-h320/IMG_5317.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>What would hospitality be without provision. We tend to think of provision as some kind of food or drink; which are essential for human survival. My mind immediately goes to Tolkien's Hobbit and Fellowship of the Rings. Throughout the tale he weaves a pattern of 1) setting out on an adventure 2) getting into a scrape 3) Being rescued just in time 4) Ending up accepting the hospitality of some new and unexpected stranger. <p></p><p>Hospitality feels very dramatic when it is provided by an elf or dwarf, but if you think about it, we show hospitality through provision all the time. Parents will bring snacks for their child's school, we welcome people into our homes for a meal or desert, and how many times has someone handed you a bottle of water at an event or in a part? </p><p>There is something about sharing food that allows us to show honor and kindness. Maybe it is the very urgency of provision that makes it such a wonderful aspect of hospitality. To not eat or drink is to die. So those who extend their hands with provisions act as a lifeline; extending life for the receiver. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM79nowIQJP7biiz3UY1JlrWncbTAE9xzJMlo7e_aAB7f01XmIwdvTs4ppQOvp7RBiJpR7o5aLK9c2Zb-ZGlyXkDC6awwha07H_4x0gpE01FDQRflpOpReZPKSBDJ_LGa9q9Y315LX_cz43UBjMsHRpd3LimSRttIDLSFAuNdZkx_r4fCEp693/s4032/IMG_5316.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM79nowIQJP7biiz3UY1JlrWncbTAE9xzJMlo7e_aAB7f01XmIwdvTs4ppQOvp7RBiJpR7o5aLK9c2Zb-ZGlyXkDC6awwha07H_4x0gpE01FDQRflpOpReZPKSBDJ_LGa9q9Y315LX_cz43UBjMsHRpd3LimSRttIDLSFAuNdZkx_r4fCEp693/s320/IMG_5316.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>As I explore hospitality along the Geneva Lake Shore Path, I have seen small examples of provision from those who open up their backyards to a hiker like me. The most helpful example if the family that installed a water fountain along the trail. Because there are only a few public facilities on the 21-mile shore path, water can run out with little opportunity to replenish it. Their water fountain is a dramatic recognition of the most desperate need that a walker may have along the path and a consistent way of meeting that need for anyone walking the path. </p><p>Another simple act of provision was a small table of snacks. The family put out an assortment of snacks and drinks and simply provided a can where people could leave a cash payment. This simple act of provision was not imposing or demanding, but simply offered food to those who might be hungry. <br /></p><p>"I think preparing food and feeding people brings nourishment not only to our bodies but to our spirits. Feeding people is a way of loving them, in the same way that feeding ourselves is a way of honoring our own creativeness and fragility." Shauna Niequist </p><p><br /></p>Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-29382311782619583262023-08-14T19:21:00.002-06:002023-08-15T18:05:18.554-06:00Hospitality Lesson #1 - REST<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_gvKQ9yZt0ovIiixoQTpy7HCUXxo8fG8EBAYklqw5n8sdID544BJZXrfgma2elJICfP8pEigNRUsfURMQPJUF_SujiowwiSq_-UYXQnDO4WyFow4mexwQrpxCOC6gxAT2LK047FiU4mROYdQbL1Uzm6Q0GNawoP44WqZUYR1jLUzbJlfqxbV/s2048/366744773_10159517745894327_563792218226249961_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_gvKQ9yZt0ovIiixoQTpy7HCUXxo8fG8EBAYklqw5n8sdID544BJZXrfgma2elJICfP8pEigNRUsfURMQPJUF_SujiowwiSq_-UYXQnDO4WyFow4mexwQrpxCOC6gxAT2LK047FiU4mROYdQbL1Uzm6Q0GNawoP44WqZUYR1jLUzbJlfqxbV/s320/366744773_10159517745894327_563792218226249961_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>On Friday I'll be walking 21 miles to celebrate hospitality along Geneva Lake and to raise awareness and funds for my work at SIL International advancing "linguistic hospitality."<p></p><p>So each day this week I'll be sharing a post about a hospitality lesson I am learning as I walk the lake. Today's lesson is about REST. </p><p>When someone extends hospitality to you, they are usually offering rest in some form. Hospitality tends to include a safe place to stop, sit, and rejuvenate. </p><p>Rest is in short supply these days. Over 60% of those surveyed in <a href="https://www.singlecare.com/blog/news/sleep-statistics/#:~:text=Sleep%20statistics%20worldwide&text=62%25%20of%20adults%20around%20the,Global%20Sleep%20Survey%2C%202019)." target="_blank">a global study </a>said they don't get the sleep they need. We walk through life tired and stressed. So a hospitality that invites us into rest is needed indeed. </p><p>As I walked the lake I found multiple homes along the lake that made a place for hikers to stop and rest. This picture is my favorite. It's hard to tell from the photo but this oversized beach chair requires climbing up to and holds two people easily. I sat here and rested on a recent 9 mile stretch of walking. </p><p>What stood out to me about this one is that they took the time to not only make the chair available but also to put a simple message on the chair, "Staflein Family Lake House, Please Stay & Sit."</p><p>First, they named themselves. This chair became the property of the Staflein family . . . real people who desired to show hospitality. Second, they invited me to stop my walk. That shows a boldness in the asking. They could have simply let me walk by, but their sign caught my eye and their invitation stayed my gaze long enough to consider their offer. Finally, they made a fun and comfortable place to rest. </p><p>Real people who boldly asked and backed up their ask with real rest. There is a lot to learn from this simple chair along Geneva Lake! </p><p>"The ornament of the house is the friends who frequent it." Ralph Waldo Emerson </p>Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-18263217272449710722023-07-02T08:12:00.003-06:002023-07-02T08:12:54.031-06:00Channel Hospitality<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Y96CEPmL7WgITOJDm4Cqp2848fdbHXugT3VR9nN6uxzXNUJPPDEW9PZLZ07x3Pnb4M3fqto_GiTxu6cmBdxQd_3FkcmDXQChooT7nOXwtmlipbJXetQC52u3ie2WvOnmTwu8HJbLnRn59P37WDOFsQU7gzox6nWG6pzT65b8JpffSEo8XsXx/s760/16-reasons-why-social-media-is-important-to-your-company-616d3200e6dc6-sej-760x400.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="760" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Y96CEPmL7WgITOJDm4Cqp2848fdbHXugT3VR9nN6uxzXNUJPPDEW9PZLZ07x3Pnb4M3fqto_GiTxu6cmBdxQd_3FkcmDXQChooT7nOXwtmlipbJXetQC52u3ie2WvOnmTwu8HJbLnRn59P37WDOFsQU7gzox6nWG6pzT65b8JpffSEo8XsXx/w640-h336/16-reasons-why-social-media-is-important-to-your-company-616d3200e6dc6-sej-760x400.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/why-social-media-is-important/285809/</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Social media is, well, social. It is by its very design relational and crafted for connection. With each new social media site, we add another communications channel to the stable of connection options. </p><p>In response to the proliferation of channels, I've noticed a dramatic response by many people I come across, and even in myself. People gravitate to certain channels that fit their communication style, political views, social circles and favorite tech features. And when they pick their channels, we all tend to lock out the others. So if I reject facebook but love twitter, I don't simply stop using one and pick up the other; instead I actively push away the connections in one in favor of the connections in the other. </p><p>Beyond social media, this applies to other communications channels as well. Some only use FaceTime, Zoom or Skype for video calls, others send text messages but won't pick up the phone. Some will only respond when it comes through WhatsApp. The preferences and concoctions of channels is almost limitless. But we are surprisingly proud of our channel choices. If we are not on Instagram, we tend to feel morally superior to those who have fallen prey to its pull. Don't get people started talking about TikTok!</p><p>Channel preferences combined with channel pride lead to a new kind of disconnection. We self select out of certain relationships if they don't overlap with our channel choices. So, for instance, if a grandparent only uses email and a child or grandchild only text, they stop regular communication. Or if your friend is only on TikTok and you are only on Instagram, you loose all visibility into their lives (unless you see them in person). </p><p>So in light of channel segmentation, pride and siloing, what should a Generous Mind do? There are two big ideas that we need to wrestle with here:</p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>"All things to all people": In 1 Corinthians 9:22 Paul says these famous words. <a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/all-things-to-all-people.html" target="_blank">Got Questions</a> does a great job breaking down this famous verse. Essentially, this doesn't mean we have to submit to the world in order to love it, but it does mean that we have to sacrifice our own preferences in favor of the things that will put us in a position to be used by God. In relationship to our communications channel discussion, it means we should set aside our preferences for facebook, Twitter, texting, email, Zoom or LinkedIn. Instead we should look at the person God is calling us to connect with, see them for who they are and meet them in the space that speaks to them. </li><li>Digital boundaries: At the same time, we have to put in boundaries. You can't possibly be on every platform, using every tool, checking every form of communication. That isn't any way to live. You would spend every moment of every day toggling between channels and end up connecting with no-one. We need to be thoughtful about what channels we invest in. </li></ol><div>Both of these considerations are real and true. So what do you do? Here is my formula for living into channel hospitality: Submit, seek, serve: </div><div><br /></div><div>First, practice channel humility by submitting your own preferences and comfort levels to God. Ask Him to help you feel at home in the places where He wants you to be as you serve Him and love others. </div><div><br /></div><div>Second, seek out the people who God has put on your heart. Listen to them. See them for who they are. That will require you to enter into the channels that they use to communicate. As you do, affirm and encourage them. </div><div><br /></div><div>Third, serve others through your channels. That means responding to their efforts to communicate. Give them your platform when appropriate. Amplify their voice so that others can see them. And, above all, connect with them in ways that make them more human as they are seen and loved. </div><div><br /></div><div>Submission, seeking and service will result in a deep form of hospitality. Being hospitable in your presence on communications channels will lead to knowing people deeply and investing in them authentically. </div><div><br /></div><div>What channels is God asking you to be present on and show hospitality through today? </div><p></p>Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-12560103599173554082023-06-29T06:29:00.000-06:002023-06-29T06:29:05.675-06:00Idea Hospitality<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLRXzcQRvRNRRs-R96bb6Jv-1-kIbKX7zl4-n_hHgZMmb8PZ04Whs7O1H6mNwP-Pj2lpZdnJ9lbBQ5P9XxANu3sXQBo56D5BWZnQmQrYiIloyTdQKBxyfNw200qt0JxQm5Z4Urp1GE7XQYEF52MEBFtD7jQd-FpxNjpCSAtrn1dpPv1vfddnU/s1548/Lake%20Geneva%20Paths.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="1548" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLRXzcQRvRNRRs-R96bb6Jv-1-kIbKX7zl4-n_hHgZMmb8PZ04Whs7O1H6mNwP-Pj2lpZdnJ9lbBQ5P9XxANu3sXQBo56D5BWZnQmQrYiIloyTdQKBxyfNw200qt0JxQm5Z4Urp1GE7XQYEF52MEBFtD7jQd-FpxNjpCSAtrn1dpPv1vfddnU/w640-h150/Lake%20Geneva%20Paths.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;"><b> "There is no hospitality like understanding." Vanna Bonta</b></h3><p></p><p>Hospitality is the act of cheerful welcoming. We experience hospitality all the time from friends, family and those who serve us in formal establishments like a hotel or restaurant. But it is likely that the most memorable hospitality is what you receive during your travels. Why is that? </p><p>There are many reasons but one stands out. When traveling, you are in new surroundings and it is a great relief when you are welcomed into a safe place. If you and I were sitting together having this discussion, we could each share deeply meaningful acts of hospitality we have experienced as we journey. </p><p>Recently I experienced a unique act of hospitality. Lake Geneva is embedded into the Southern Wisconsin hills in the midst of farmland and forest. It is a beautiful lake and since the 1800's it has been a place where Chicago residents would escape the Summer heat and get away from the busyness of the city. </p><p>Usually lakefronts and beaches in the United States are very hard to access, beyond the public spaces set aside. But Lake Geneva is different. A culture of lakefront hospitality developed over the years. This takes the form of a path. Even though most of the lakefront is privately owned, there is a trail along the entire lake's edge. This means that a public path cuts through over 20 miles of private lakefront land. </p><p>What is even more unique is that each owner is responsible for their segment of the trail. The pictures in the collage above show only a few of the many pieces of the path. Some of the sections are manicured while others grow wild. But each small segment welcomes the lake traveler in its own way. And behind each of those paths is the owner of a home. </p><p>As I walked the Lake Geneva path recently, I began to think about another kind of hospitality that relates to being a Generous Mind. Just like the traveler who benefits from the generous hospitality of a friend or service worker on their trip, a thinker benefits from the generous hospitality of others as they develop their ideas. </p><p>Developing a new idea is much like a trip. You have to set out on a journey of thought and you end up in places you never imagined. In those new places that are unknown to you, hospitality is most welcomed. A traveler finishes up their day of driving, flying or hiking tired. Similarly, a Generous Mind finishes up their day of ideating tired and needing a welcoming place to set down their idea, rest and prepare to pick it up again the following day. </p><p>But unlike feeding someone a meal or opening your guest room to a friend who is traveling through, idea hospitality seems more etherial. What does it look like in practice? Here are three simple things you can do to show idea hospitality:</p><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Don't judge: Be willing to give hospitality to ideas without immediately judging them as good or bad, helpful or dangerous, sound or half-baked. An idea that is in process won't yet be ready for your judgement. But it will thrive in a welcoming environment.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Give the idea shelter and rest: When ideas are on a journey of discovery, they need a safe space to percolate as it is further developed. Many amazing ideas have starved and faded because there was no place to stop and rest. No idea can withstand the elements without respite. </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Assume the idea has been on a journey: Be curious about where the idea has been and where it is going. No idea that shows up at your doorstep is brand new. It has been percolating and processing to become what you see in front of you. It is also likely that the idea still has more traveling to do before it is ready to tell its story. </li></ul></h3><div>Are you willing to show hospitality to the ideas that the people in your life are working on? Will you provide that safe space on their thinking journey for them to feel safe, get rest and resupply for the next phase of their journey? </div><p></p>Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-23460347517334562442023-06-18T18:48:00.001-06:002023-06-18T18:48:12.745-06:00Growing like a Tree<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3gWu2Rdcn7sG-ceZdDLKsAqO249mPeTJU9vkR7agDTTaIotcUFFQkrhC_WpZOMIlte0x5nR-QQ3V9qUxsoYsXaAAnjMqXqs3g81XtXA56W-Cia2vJGeWEgv4OKXcf7J1cEMmMb00yJq5UuXbB8bWtsSACLUoVpBAOlDSdmNzJMfPYdX96g/s2048/Tree2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3gWu2Rdcn7sG-ceZdDLKsAqO249mPeTJU9vkR7agDTTaIotcUFFQkrhC_WpZOMIlte0x5nR-QQ3V9qUxsoYsXaAAnjMqXqs3g81XtXA56W-Cia2vJGeWEgv4OKXcf7J1cEMmMb00yJq5UuXbB8bWtsSACLUoVpBAOlDSdmNzJMfPYdX96g/w640-h480/Tree2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />We, like the trees, never grow straight. In the trees relentless search for light, its branches lurch left, right, up and down. Humans are no different. In our relentless search for truth, we pivot in every direction searching for what is real. <p></p><p>You could look at these crooked branches, or our crooked lives, and feel sad at all the twists and turns. Or you could recognize that every new direction is an effort to seek the light. Just like trees, we are always on the move. </p><p>Sometimes our efforts fail and the branch dies. But the tree is still full of life. So we start again and stretch towards the sky in a new direction. </p><p>We, like trees, often meet outside forces as well. We have to coexist with other people's priorities and expectations. Sometimes these outside forces shape us in ways we could never imagine. Sometimes for the better and sometimes for worse. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCv454Hh4nhcp4YAxQi7iJQdoRj-GJuvo3oSP7e1bBWKxDmudI4lw4J2_GbJBoq3-VWayQt9YzRiJK3vjUzmP8F-leAK_xFFOlcBqEpwr_U2YKXa50L3VOaFFIrzHm1QBMB_LA_URRBp12puFW-M1UVcgXpp6FQBiMuhSBIm66VOKr4O5Jw/s2048/tree%20and%20wires.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCv454Hh4nhcp4YAxQi7iJQdoRj-GJuvo3oSP7e1bBWKxDmudI4lw4J2_GbJBoq3-VWayQt9YzRiJK3vjUzmP8F-leAK_xFFOlcBqEpwr_U2YKXa50L3VOaFFIrzHm1QBMB_LA_URRBp12puFW-M1UVcgXpp6FQBiMuhSBIm66VOKr4O5Jw/w480-h640/tree%20and%20wires.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But even outside forces cannot keep us from growing. We adapt and reimagine our way. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Take a moment to think about what you might look like as a tree. How are you growing? What twists and turns have you taken? What obstacles have you overcome? </div><br /> <p></p>Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-73520098707181104232023-06-10T06:48:00.006-06:002023-06-10T07:43:34.737-06:00Progress and Innovation<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59wc1Qs2UWlYqKnjaJ9dd0JPXYaAc9c60QfcDHUPvnpijAFPecEvTNOJEF526IL8poE8w4HpGBSDJs7LrNMEddSwpWDt62Ya1_JtjRn5NQX2S4dFS4bhPKkUIvwssEUBu7e-5NnV6kUlob6VK2DChyS3uggAMPA5td4nx9pZR__4Fm0CSdg/s1005/Progress%20and%20Innovation-4.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="1005" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59wc1Qs2UWlYqKnjaJ9dd0JPXYaAc9c60QfcDHUPvnpijAFPecEvTNOJEF526IL8poE8w4HpGBSDJs7LrNMEddSwpWDt62Ya1_JtjRn5NQX2S4dFS4bhPKkUIvwssEUBu7e-5NnV6kUlob6VK2DChyS3uggAMPA5td4nx9pZR__4Fm0CSdg/w640-h306/Progress%20and%20Innovation-4.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: whitesmoke; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; text-align: left; white-space: nowrap;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@npi?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Pavel Neznanov</a><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: whitesmoke; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; text-align: left; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/w95Fb7EEcjE?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: whitesmoke; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; text-align: left; white-space: nowrap;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@mmmazitov?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Marat Mazitov</a><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: whitesmoke; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; text-align: left; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/WzStSnhZbfs?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There are times when change is a slow and the world has time to think. Other times, like the one we are living in now, bring frantic change that moves at a dizzying pace. In these days, words like progress and innovation are part of everyone's lexicon. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So no one would blame you for saying that progress and innovation are convenient synonyms to describe what we are experiencing all around us. But in fact they are worlds apart. Progress is moving forward. Innovation is creating value through new ideas. Sometimes progress results in innovation and other times innovation makes progress possible. But they are different for reasons that really matter. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In Walter Russell Mead's article "<a href="https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/destined-live-quiet-times-progress-walter-russell-mead-via-meadia?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Why+China+s+present+may+be+our+future&utm_campaign=06-05-23+Why+China+s+present+may+be+our+future%3A+A+reflection+on+apocalyptic+danger+and+transforming+hope" target="_blank">You Are Not Destined to Live in Quiet Times</a>," he walks through the triumphs and tragedies of progress era by era. (It's a long read but you will be glad you read it.) One of his summarizing statements at the end says it well, "While the ever-accelerating and ascending wave of human progress has brought us to peaks of achievement and affluence that our ancestors could scarcely imagine, it has both failed to keep us safe from the most dangerous predators of all and—to the degree that the rate of progress has become a major force of destabilization—progress itself may now be the greatest source of danger humans face." </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In the end progress requires us to sacrifice everything to its ultimate aim of forward motion. Progress serves no one but itself. Along the way, it can be of great help to people, but its primary objective is not to help but to keep forward momentum. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Innovation, on the other hand, is about creating value. And value is determined by the audience who is in search of a solution. Because of that innovation is at the service of the people it is designed to help. That is why concepts like empathy, listening and lean design are so foundational to the discipline of innovation. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Why does this matter? If this is simply a semantic exercise, then you will likely continue on with your day without bothering to think about the difference between progress and innovation. Let's consider the promise of both progress and innovation to better understand the difference.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yann Martel, the Canadian author who wrote the award-winning book <i>Life of Pi</i>, gives voice to the message of the modern era, "Progress is unstoppable. It is a drumbeat to which we must all march. Technology helps and good ideas spread - these are two lows of nature. If you don't let technology help you, if you resist good ideas, you condemn yourself to dinosaurhood!" </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In Martel's words we see the fundamental flaw in progress' promise. For progress to work it requires the fear of missing out. This fear is so commonplace in our society that we have shortened it simply to FOMO. Progress is the ultimate example of pragmatism. It is about any kinds of forward motion; achieved by any means. Fear is simply one of the most powerful ways to keep the wheels of progress turning. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Instead of starting with pragmatism, innovation begins with people's values. For innovation to work it requires knowing your audience intimately and developing a solution to their need based on the values they espouse. Satya Nadella, Microsoft's CEO, captures it well when he says, "Innovation is empathy turned into action." Because innovation requires having deep audience intimacy, the new ideas that result have at least a chance of being more human, not less. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In the end, the wheels of progress will keep turning. Some will benefit and others will suffer. The only real winner of progress' demanding pace is the narrative itself. Simply put, progress is inevitable but it should be no one's goal. But innovation takes the momentum of progress and redeems it through responsiveness and practical solutions that align with people's values. Innovation is a worthy goal because it seeks to serve rather than be served. It may not always succeed, but it requires a posture of humility to submit your creativity to the needs of others. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What will your legacy be? Will you be a cog in the wheels of progress or an innovator seeking solutions that bring value to those you serve? </div>Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-80632088673676248352023-05-24T05:25:00.000-06:002023-05-24T05:25:25.887-06:00Words for the Soul<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhout15xyWTu8EYj6LPCzbuX9Th74Pl5yJh38QH6PcUUnzQxndalVQGsrCsHarQCJc7VDnt52bRqZ5q6KYPg59DUJNY9Org_j_xuNedTjOe6LEeq7edcDEwjlxHPQ0Ga0R2smh7uk_mdTt-yV-KJ4N67m1QGoIQylAvXIYIK8b27uQRXykQrQ/s590/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-24%20at%206.09.36%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="249" data-original-width="590" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhout15xyWTu8EYj6LPCzbuX9Th74Pl5yJh38QH6PcUUnzQxndalVQGsrCsHarQCJc7VDnt52bRqZ5q6KYPg59DUJNY9Org_j_xuNedTjOe6LEeq7edcDEwjlxHPQ0Ga0R2smh7uk_mdTt-yV-KJ4N67m1QGoIQylAvXIYIK8b27uQRXykQrQ/w400-h169/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-24%20at%206.09.36%20AM.png" width="400" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: center;">Book Announcement</h2><div>Once in a while a book comes out that touches the human spirit in a way that surprises. Jeff Crosby's book is one of those. It is a richly written journey through ten longings that God put in each of us. As you read the book, you can place yourself in those desires and Jeff gives you permission to explore them, enjoy them and learn about what God might be doing through them in your life. </div><div><br /></div><div>But more than an enjoyable afternoon read, I see Jeff's book as a launching pad for deeper exploration into our souls. We don't often take time for that anymore. Instead we fill our days with things that drain us and wonder why we are so depleted when we prepare for bed every evening. This book will give you permission to explore the longings of your heart and to imagine what life could look like as God meets you there and transforms you into the person He sees when He looks at you. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you haven't purchased your copy yet, please take a moment to buy it <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Language-Soul-Meeting-Longings-Hearts/dp/1506480543" target="_blank">here</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>But there is another reason I love this book. Jeff is an amazing example of a Generous Mind. I can't think of a time I have met with him where he did not recommend a book, album or poem for me to consider. He is constantly curating resources and sharing them with others. His new book is no exception. In the back of the book, he has a suggested reading list for each chapter. And with his permission, I'm sharing that list with all you Generous Minds out there who are always looking for unique books lists. Take a moment to <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AZFtujTdRRX-FKrLxmP3-ilgwYQSClk5/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">see Jeff's recommended readings</a> for each chapter and consider which books might be helpful in your work. </div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYN4czjSS4E6FDSqMT08PAc1VrsOLgbe8aPiPzZ_2160Nh-u297wi-p_hXigbY8MRjT2zRKIlI7DmAWPncIKtRT9Ky1zjmQCOrUTwhqQFr8jANL7GIvTTM2g8BeeO3upjGDO9OiZALXhPCAGBv2v1szz3y3hUV-YykuigOiXI5mAXyYGfxw/s1080/Jon%20Hirst%20Graphic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYN4czjSS4E6FDSqMT08PAc1VrsOLgbe8aPiPzZ_2160Nh-u297wi-p_hXigbY8MRjT2zRKIlI7DmAWPncIKtRT9Ky1zjmQCOrUTwhqQFr8jANL7GIvTTM2g8BeeO3upjGDO9OiZALXhPCAGBv2v1szz3y3hUV-YykuigOiXI5mAXyYGfxw/w400-h400/Jon%20Hirst%20Graphic.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p>Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-90980060436569726452023-05-18T07:24:00.005-06:002023-05-19T09:06:12.487-06:00A Courageous Response<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nyLLFDXoZVV2sVGgtxrwAbkX655iYjkGJKejJgVypwieFEtSn6GHdr_Z3ZzyL_uQm3ZRtR6LQMjPk-smnzt1IKgb22owuilUeREAJ6TFvv3JForMNcCOZsMfrsCb5X1ogtVfvLTYitmW77zoRsJOdDw7fp4z8aBf_e7s2_5uF2C3lx-QLA/s461/Praying%20Hands.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="461" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nyLLFDXoZVV2sVGgtxrwAbkX655iYjkGJKejJgVypwieFEtSn6GHdr_Z3ZzyL_uQm3ZRtR6LQMjPk-smnzt1IKgb22owuilUeREAJ6TFvv3JForMNcCOZsMfrsCb5X1ogtVfvLTYitmW77zoRsJOdDw7fp4z8aBf_e7s2_5uF2C3lx-QLA/w640-h520/Praying%20Hands.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: whitesmoke; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@chrisliverani?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Chris Liverani</a><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: whitesmoke; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/YBR-AWm1HQ4?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>There is an emerging new force at work in our world today. What was the stuff of sci-fi movies or futurist presentations is becoming a staple of news and conversation. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now a part of everyday life. And what strikes me most about it as I listen to the experts is a fascinating mix of excitement, confusion and fear. You see, there was a key moment when the inventors of what we call AI today moved from using rules-based thinking (which is fairly easy for us to plan for and predict) to using neural network thinking (which has seemingly infinite ways of linking and learning). That moment the game changed and we began a journey to where we are today. <div><br /></div><div>Data scientists and engineers are daily discovering powerful ways to use AI. The ways it can help us be more productive and effective continue to surprise us. But these same experts are also still learning how their invention really works. We are in a time of experimentation and testing. There is a lot of fear about the unknown and debate about "sentience" but that is not what I'm talking about here. </div><div><br /></div><div>The fact is that the smartest people in the room are still developing AI, understanding how it works and testing its potential. Those who love new things are brimming with excitement with each new announcement; while those who are more skeptical are struggling to see the good AI can do and trust those doing the inventing and testing with such a potentially disruptive new technology. It is in our nature to both love and fear things we don't understand. </div><div><br /></div><div>At the end of the day, no matter how amazing the power of AI is, the real issue will come back to whether we trust the people who designing, deploying, and integrating it. And we have all seen the research showing how low trust levels are across the globe. </div><div><br /></div><div>Whatever the outcome of this moment, one thing is for sure: the resulting changes across most areas of life will be hard to predict. The ensuing disruptions will bring both amazing opportunities and real danger. So how should a person of faith respond in the face of such unpredictable power? </div><div><br /></div><div>My thoughts turn to a God-follower who was faced with an unrivaled and unpredictable power. Daniel was brought to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzer after the defeat of Judah and the beginning of the exile. His life is one of the most instructive corollaries to what we are going through today that I have found. </div><div><br /></div><div>In Daniel chapter 2, a young and powerful king flexes his muscle in a way that sends his whole court into chaos. Riding high after his military successes and his new-found power as king, he has a dream that rocks him to the core. You can imagine how Nebuchadnezzar's combination of unbridled power and sudden unease might have brought about a dangerous concoction. He responded by wielding his power in a very dramatic and unpredictable way. He demands that his wisemen and seers not only interpret his dream, which was fairly standard fair, but also tell him what he dreamed! The wisemen were astonished and terrified. No one could predict what this new king would do. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is at this moment that Daniel enters into the picture. It would be easy to breeze over Daniel's response but when you consider what had just happened in the King's court, Daniel's response one of the most dramatic examples of principled courage in Scripture. Part of what makes his response remarkable is the great humility that Daniel demonstrates. The wisemen in a king's court received great honor and deference if they were seen to have the power of the gods. Throughout Daniel's response he is careful to give God all of the glory for the insights and understanding he shares. This backdrop of humility and dependence on God make the response I will describe below even more compelling.</div><div><br /></div><div>Daniel does three things in his moment that I believe are a blueprint for how we should respond to this AI Moment. </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>First, he sought to understand. He asked the commander of the King's guard, Arioch, to help him understand what was going on. And with that understanding, he went one step further and went to the King himself. </li><li>Second, he went to his closest friends and fellow God followers and asked them to join him in prayer. I can imagine that they spent time praying together and then on their own as they went to bed that night. I can imagine that the prayers were both urgent and confident.</li><li>Finally, when Daniel received insight from God, he obediently took the interpretation of the dream to the King. And as he shared it, he faithfully interpreted the dream framed within the world that God created and the kingdom he reigns over. In verse 44 Daniel highlights a key part of the dream that brings the king to the bigger picture, "In the time of those kinds, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people..."</li></ul><div>Today we are faced with a powerful and unpredictable force in the AI revolution. It has the potential to do a lot of good or harm. If you tune into the news or log onto social media, the world is buzzing with excitement and worry . . . much like the halls of King Nebuchadnezzar's palace after his confrontation with his wisemen. But as people of faith, we should not allow ourselves to get carried away by the excitement or the worry. Both are misplaced if our primary trust and confidence isn't in God and his power. </div><div><br /></div><div>So let's take note of Daniel's response and imitate his faithful courage. What might that look like? </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>First, take time to learn how AI works and how it is impacting society, your profession and those around you. Seek to understand this powerful new tool that humans have created. There are so many amazing ways it can help to advance God's will and ways; not unlike how God used Nebuchadnezzar and worked in his life. </li><li>Second, go to God in community and on your own with an urgency and a dependency that is commensurate with the seriousness of the moment. This AI Moment requires more than a passing prayer.</li><li>Third, as God gives us insight into what He is up to in the world, He will expect us to respond courageously. God may ask us to take bold action that can only be done with the Spirit's guidance and God's strength. It may require great personal sacrifice to act in obedience in a world being guided and driven without a moral framework.</li></ul><div>When Daniel received the interpretation of the king's dream, the book of Daniel records the prayer he prayed. This prayer is one that is appropriate for this AI Moment. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;</div><div style="text-align: center;">wisdom and power are his.</div><div style="text-align: center;">He changes times and seasons;</div><div style="text-align: center;">he deposes kings and raises up others.</div><div style="text-align: center;">He gives wisdom to the wise</div><div style="text-align: center;">and knowledge to the discerning.</div><div style="text-align: center;">He reveals deep and hidden things;</div><div style="text-align: center;">he knows what lies in the darkness,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and light dwells with him.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I thank you and praise you, God of my ancestors:</div><div style="text-align: center;">You have given me wisdom and power,</div><div style="text-align: center;">you have made known to me what we asked of you,</div><div style="text-align: center;">you have made known to us the dream of the king."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Daniel 2:20-23</i></div>Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-55603781854583623102023-05-16T20:00:00.006-06:002023-05-24T19:09:42.231-06:00The Sweetness Test<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjPfVe4NWXQhY1vPwtxCisUdz81BpbABvXh9wILNEu2j6kBoY0pBFVYNEqN9QfkDo-V2MSGmAwbYzzA2GlDWWdP7BeSIrvwW2ZChfOEx15tlxrIrAEbyu9iPEzQQcCPS-jXFz7A-KbaaLfAyGLVubHYq8dtVvuntlZW9Fm8vz2x7GqXXzUg/s1920/maxwell-nelson-DzgMaHtUi8I-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1598" data-original-width="1920" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjPfVe4NWXQhY1vPwtxCisUdz81BpbABvXh9wILNEu2j6kBoY0pBFVYNEqN9QfkDo-V2MSGmAwbYzzA2GlDWWdP7BeSIrvwW2ZChfOEx15tlxrIrAEbyu9iPEzQQcCPS-jXFz7A-KbaaLfAyGLVubHYq8dtVvuntlZW9Fm8vz2x7GqXXzUg/w640-h532/maxwell-nelson-DzgMaHtUi8I-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><figure class="mt6 relative" style="background: var(--artdeco-reset-base-background-transparent); border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); display: var(--artdeco-reset-base-display-block); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); position: relative; text-align: start; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><figcaption class="reader-cover-image__caption" itemprop="caption" style="background: var(--artdeco-reset-base-background-transparent); border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--color-text-low-emphasis); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: var(--spacing-one-x); max-width: 720px; padding: 0 var(--spacing-two-x); text-align: center; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Maxwell Nelson on Unsplash</span></figcaption></figure><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="text-align: start;" /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The New York Times ended its recent <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/01/technology/ai-google-chatbot-engineer-quits-hinton.html?unlocked_article_code=ypsmmOxx7cssoU6wvReH6U7ZyRTg18xyG4_1JZ7Ma7_MkHDpNIKgRTllwPyr-wjoPHG3nlGfZtjw9SXepQDEMvFfSf5BFhU_SXPFi3bQ3kz1IidjUbWErbQdn4M7zcaaJPKHHnVEoQqNWV3EgYrItOWfYDLXiYSu_hTGBzmR8n0NOD4i6X3yw6P34Y-Lhy7ZFL2G0mr1nYSGobddL5VOryRQnQqVZxE5OA2PfghOVfK-yGc2nrbHYeNKSPM3ZbdgR3JR_h8F3524xSHf0aAjb1CP5qwUurmccn7IRKCOmFijQbBETY4a3r7fvhkRYvYCor-Kk0L4WIIXja6q_ZJ85tazodleYxRQVyPvEcfdIlC4XKPg&smid=url-share&fbclid=IwAR0GAAATp5jkMpDRVc23HKgGDqObpoiVDz4QKzwADeRri3XNZCTwsh8R33c" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><b>article</b></span></a> on Geoffrey Hinton's resignation from Google's AI (artificial intelligence) Team, with a Robert Oppenheimer quote that Hinton would often use to defend technology advances. Oppenheimer, known most famously for his work on the atomic bomb, is famous for saying, "When you see something that is technically sweet, you go ahead and do it."</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The "Sweetness Test" is a common one in a world driven by <span>innovation</span> and technical progress. Isaac Asimov, the author of the 1950 sci-fi novel <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/I-Robot"><span style="color: #dca10d;"><b>I-Robot</b></span></a> once said, “If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.” </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The underlying message aligns with the sweetness test. As we learn and explore, we need to let our minds follow what intrigues them and solve the problems created by our exploration with the very things we have created.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The same year I Robot came out, Alan Turing released his Turing Test (or the Imitation Game) and began the race towards today's "AI Moment." His test was simple. He said, "if a computer acts, reacts, and interacts like a sentient being, then call it sentient." (<a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/Turing-test"><span style="color: #dca10d;"><b>Encyclopedia Britannica</b></span></a>)</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Arguably, all the progress we have seen since 1950 (personal computers, the Internet, social media, mobile technology, etc.) has been tied to modern human's drive to create ever more capable machines while wrestling with and increasing crisis of definition. Mainly, who am I and what is my purpose? Unfortunately, our questioning has not led to clarity but is becoming less and less predictable as people give up on shared truth (a common moral framework). The lack of a common moral platform on which we can stand means that our response to advances in AI tends to be purely pragmatic (the ends justify the means). And this is compounded by the democratization of data, open source resources and expanding Internet access which is putting huge amounts of data and increasingly powerful tools in the hands of anyone with an interest <a href="https://www.semianalysis.com/p/google-we-have-no-moat-and-neither"><span style="color: #dca10d;"><b>(highlighted by a recently leaked internal Google memo)</b></span></a>.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 2px;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 2px;">The moral crisis we are experiencing has made our technical advances unable to consistently turn the "sweetness" we taste into the common good we long for. Without an understanding of who we are and our greater purpose, our decisions about which innovations to pursue are as subjective as our ability to describe whether a chocolate bar is bitter or sweet.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I would like to propose the two discussions I believe everyone needs to be having right now:</p>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Menlo; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Who are we and what is our purpose? - Moral Framework</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Menlo; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>How should we then live? - Discernment</li>
</ul>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 2px;"><b>Moral Framework</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The reason why there is so much anxiety about the role of AI is that we are filled with anxiety about who we are. <b>Our inventiveness has outpaced the confidence we have in our moral framework.</b> So when we are faced with a question about whether a machine should do this or that, we aren't able to confidently draw from who we are and then imagine what a machine should be able to do in support of that identity. As a Jesus follower, I believe that instead of drawing our morals from the one who created us, we are surrendering our moral boundaries to the very things we create and asking them to do the job we are unwilling to do. Because the machines we create have no soul, they are unable to replace God in our lives, no matter how much we want them to.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A well known 20th Century author, Francis Shaeffer said this about humanities' response to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23&version=NIV"><span style="color: #dca10d;"><b>Psalm 23</b></span></a> that begins "The Lord is my shepherd..." In his book How Shall We Then Live, Francis said, “As my son Frankie put it, Humanism has changed the Twenty-third Psalm: They began - I am my shepherd. Then - Sheep are my shepherd. Then - Everything is my shepherd. Finally - Nothing is my shepherd.” </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In this AI Moment, I would append Shaeffer's quote to end with "... - AI is my shepherd."</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 2px;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 2px;"><b>Discernment</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The next few years will require a maturity in our discernment that can only come if we are building our lives within a solid moral framework. There are two fundamental areas of concern that will require discernment. The <b><i>first</i></b> is what Geoffrey Hinton is focused on; the potential for AI to destroy life as we know it (which he describes in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6Sgp7y178k&feature=youtu.be"><span style="color: #dca10d;"><b>this interview</b></span></a>). The <b><i>second</i></b>, and more immediate concern is what <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoVJKj8lcNQ"><span style="color: #dca10d;"><b>Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin</b></span></a> discuss as the ability of AI to generate misinformation, deep fake images and fake voices among other things. When we turn on the news, answer the phone, receive a direct message or watch a video, we will have to discern whether the content is real or fake.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The <b><i>second</i></b> will require us to be aware of our surroundings, in tune with the people in our lives and up to speed on what is really happening in the broader world. The <b><i>first</i></b> will require those involved in designing, marketing and regulating the technology to be highly attuned to what will help people flourish rather than lead to their demise. In short, the level of sophisticated discernment required of us far outstrips what we have been accustomed to and trained for. <b>Our future requires a level of self-awareness, critical thinking and situational insight that I believe will only be possible with God's help and our intentional preparation.</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 2px;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 2px;"><b>A New Sweetness Test</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">With these two discussions in play, I would now like to propose a new sweetness test to replace the one Oppenheimer coined so many years ago and Hinton used to justify his advancements:</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 2px;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 2px;"><b>"When you see something that is humanly sweet (things that are aligned with a shared moral framework and strong commitment to discerning in community), you go ahead and do it."</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Here are some questions you can ask yourself:</p>
<ol>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Does this advance affirm and strengthen my unique status as a human created by God?</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">If I build this thing, will it help people live out a shared moral framework and treat each other with love and respect?</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Will this innovation lead to people flourishing or floundering?</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Do we have shared agreement on how to use this new invention for good?</li>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Do we have the structures in place to defend the helpless from evil uses?</li>
</ol>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/sal_khan_the_amazing_ai_super_tutor_for_students_and_teachers/c/transcript?subtitle=en"><span style="color: #dca10d;"><b>a recent TED Talk</b></span></a>, Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, shared their latest work to give every student who wants one a personal tutor. The potential to help students is clear and the power of the technology is amazing. Towards the end of this talk he addressed the issue in this article. He challenged the audience this way, "...obviously there's many potential positive use cases, but perhaps the most powerful use case and perhaps the most poetic use case is if AI, artificial intelligence, can be used to enhance HI, human intelligence, human potential and human purpose."</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Khan eloquently describes the second part of my modified "Sweetness Test," but I'm afraid that without addressing the first part, our moral framework, no amount of focus on human purpose will lead to the flourishing lives we all desire.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Read the next article on AI, <a href="https://generousmind.blogspot.com/2023/05/a-courageous-response.html" target="_blank">"A Courageous Response."</a></p>Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-7549717252757738002023-05-08T19:08:00.001-06:002023-05-09T04:12:49.751-06:00Experimenting with Granola<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKiEbVAUeUJTWQwK4rIqSaRVV3rlK9UODd2j9XJeSKudo6Jwnl__eOV2OLSTFGKI29xVUUKQzkmBywj8UKXfj1Xnp4HQ4B5VuH6Tdj2kjZCgqojdNyYap0wLtBjQxPfK-9k0mBpdJtUynE85lJY6bSF8hTQDJZnfukRofiviL8tTcCGG4hw/s640/fallon-michael-h2UH2674Bg4-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKiEbVAUeUJTWQwK4rIqSaRVV3rlK9UODd2j9XJeSKudo6Jwnl__eOV2OLSTFGKI29xVUUKQzkmBywj8UKXfj1Xnp4HQ4B5VuH6Tdj2kjZCgqojdNyYap0wLtBjQxPfK-9k0mBpdJtUynE85lJY6bSF8hTQDJZnfukRofiviL8tTcCGG4hw/w640-h426/fallon-michael-h2UH2674Bg4-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: whitesmoke; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@fallonmichaeltx?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Fallon Michael</a><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: whitesmoke; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/h2UH2674Bg4?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>In the lands of long cold winters there is a time-honored tradition: the winter project. The rules are simple. You work indoors, the project takes enough time to pass the long cold nights, and you can talk about it in the spring when you emerge from hibernation! In a strange way the winter project becomes that thing you look forward to in the summer just as you are looking forward to summer hikes in the woods during the winter. After all, humans love what's next. <br /><br />As I am emerging from a Wisconsin Winter to the joys of Spring, I'm ready to share about my winter project. For the past four months, I have been experimenting with how to make the holy grail of granola! "What is this holy grail," you ask? The trifecta of granola is a tasty, healthy and inexpensive recipe. <br /><br />Because I work in the field of innovation, I decided that my winter project would apply the many lessons I'm learning about how to run good innovation experiments. My hope was also to model what good experimentation looks like because so many people get tripped up in the process. This article is a real life (and a yummy) example of how anyone can run an experiment.<br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Step 1</h3>I picked a starter recipe and an initial hypothesis. I started with the goal of making good tasting granola. This was an important step because my only interaction with granola making was picking a box off the shelf at a store! I also picked the criteria I would measure throughout: ingredients, calories and cost. <i>TIP: When experimenting you have to pick how you will measure whether you are proving or disproving your hypothesis. Don't worry if the criteria are perfect or comprehensive.</i><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Step 2</h3>I created a way to track my experiment. For me it was a simple excel sheet . . . yes I tracked my recipe in Excel :). For each experiment I wrote down the hypothesis I was testing, the recipe specifics and the lessons I learned from the experiment. For example, in my second experiment I reduced the sugars but not the salt. The recipe came out way too salty! <i>TIP: Don't assume you will remember what you tested or learned. Take the time to write it down in whatever way is easy for you (Excel is not required!).</i><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Step 3</h3>I then spent the next few months running over 10 experiments. I tested ingredients, temperature, pricing and a variety of permutations. Each time I would have a slightly different question I was trying to answer and I would then identify what I learned. What surprised me was how natural it is to iterate like this when you give yourself permission. We are wired to ask questions, try things and learn. The challenge is our world pushes us to produce results quickly and act like we have it figured out. <i>TIP: Don't be in a hurry. Give yourself permission to be creative. Be disciplined in documenting what you are learning throughout the process. </i><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Step 4</h3>Usually when you do experiments designed to solve problems that people have, you start by gaining empathy for the customer by walking in their shoes through talks, observation, data, etc. In the case of this experiment, I was the customer, so my empathy process involved asking some questions of myself. "What did I mean by tasty?" "What is a reasonable price to pay for granola?" "What criteria would I use to define healthy?" But I realized in the process that my own perspectives on these questions might be very limited. So at the end of my experimentation process, I recruited a Testing Team! I asked each one to make the recipe and then answer these questions:<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Did you try it? Did you like it? (why/why not)</li><li>Do you feel it meats the criteria of being healthy (subjective, simply give your perspective)?</li><li>Do you feel that the 16 oz box price is reasonable based on the quality and healthiness?</li><li>Would you suggest any improvements?</li></ul>The input I received was excellent! And it led to me making several further adjustments to get a better result. One person found a cheaper price for the coconut shavings. Another person recommended reducing the amount of coconut oil. Someone else recommended a different type of nuts. Someone else tried to add egg whites to increase the crunch. I loved how my experimenting encouraged my testing group to do their own. <i>TIP: Never assume you know all the questions to ask or what your customer wants. Always ask.</i><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Step 5</h3>The final step is the most critical. An experiment is only as good as the learning and sharing that you do. You could try a thousand iterations of something, but if it doesn't lead to learning and ultimately to sharing that learning, then innovation will never happen. So here are a few of the lessons I learned through the process:<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Crunchy healthy granola requires lower temperatures and longer time. </li><li>Don't mess with your recipe half way through the process (i.e. the salty granola debacle!). </li><li>I didn't know there were so many kinds of oil and that there are different opinions about which ones are healthy.</li><li>The good stuff costs a lot more . . . no wonder inexpensive granola has so few extras.</li><li>The "crunch" seems to be the most desirable quality in a good granola.</li></ul><div><i>TIP: Write down the lessons you learn. It makes a big difference when you try and articulate them in a list.</i></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Big Reveal</h3>Like I said above, experimentation and innovation only make the world a better place when you share what you have learned and make the world a better place with your new product, service or idea. So I'd like to share my recipe with you. <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vkwK9fXL1o-vRgweF9DMEkjrQA3YCXipjkfKVc4SLfo/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Feel free to click on this link and view the recipe.</a> Then I would encourage you to try it and share your thoughts in the comments. If you are feeling especially inspired, would you consider doing some of your own experimenting and share the results of your work? I hope you enjoy the results of my Winter project!<br /><br />Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-32669399778823272642023-04-23T17:21:00.000-06:002023-04-23T17:21:20.640-06:00On Endorsing Books<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2M1jZxig5ftmiO9MHb_xxL2q15sr33b7y_8kigrfhFxOODeC0v0xVLuVZU-FNxEPvVFANkDdxy3k49EseOW4CniOnJFARotZEqU8btlUywCWe89dX8BdPx-mdkw2QMVh64miWSFFpKoPhHc4S6YuhLZT8a4F4YNuZsO24hVcVOECqdugQmw/s4032/book%20endorsement%20photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2M1jZxig5ftmiO9MHb_xxL2q15sr33b7y_8kigrfhFxOODeC0v0xVLuVZU-FNxEPvVFANkDdxy3k49EseOW4CniOnJFARotZEqU8btlUywCWe89dX8BdPx-mdkw2QMVh64miWSFFpKoPhHc4S6YuhLZT8a4F4YNuZsO24hVcVOECqdugQmw/w640-h480/book%20endorsement%20photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I'm asked to endorse a book, I'm looking for 3 things: 1) How much I know about the author and their character 2) My assessment of the book itself 3) The effort the author is making to be a Generous Mind. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I just endorsed my latest book, Jeff Crosby's <i>The Language of the Soul</i>, and that got me wondering how many books I have endorsed over the years. (FYI you will be hearing more about Jeff's book as it gets closer to being released in May.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I keep a shelf of all the books that I have been a part of writing, working on, supporting, brainstorming, and publishing. As I looked through the shelf, I found these 5 that I had the privilege to endorse. So below you will find my endorsement for each along with a link to purchase their book. Each is worth your time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Language-Soul-Meeting-Longings-Hearts/dp/1506480543" target="_blank">The Language of the Soul, Jeff Crosby</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"In a world always striving for more, I tend to see my longings through a consumer lens of discontent. The Language of the Soul gave me a word to describe longings that come from a very different place: the ones not compromised by selfishness or ego. The richness of these ten longings provides me new ways to imagine the part I get to play in the Kingdom." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Family-Business-Parable-about-Stepping-ebook/dp/B09MZKBY9V/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PALNVL4S107S&keywords=the+family+business+geoff+peters&qid=1682291671&s=books&sprefix=the+family+business+geoff+peter%2Cstripbooks%2C121&sr=1-1" target="_blank">The Family Business, Geoff Peters</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"We all know that we are called to be on mission with God, but most of the time we can't imagine what that looks like. If you need to be shown rather than told, then this story is for you!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Though-I-Run-Through-Valley/dp/1788931602/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2NJSUDC3XB1PW&keywords=Though+I+Run+Through+the+Valley%2C+Pamela+Johnson&qid=1682291766&s=books&sprefix=though+i+run+through+the+valley%2C+pamela+johnson%2Cstripbooks%2C224&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Though I Run Through the Valley, Pamela Johnson</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"What a gripping and well-researched story. This children's outreach in Myanmar is a story of faithful service and courage that will encourage your faith as you serve Christ today."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Retirement-Reformation-Finding-Freedom-Experience/dp/197366173X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1NW09J1I6FXZ1&keywords=retirement+reformation&qid=1682291876&s=books&sprefix=retirement+reformation%2Cstripbooks%2C127&sr=1-1" target="_blank">The Retirement Reformation, Bruce Bruinsma</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"The Retirement Reformation takes an expansive look at how Christians should live in retirement. But it doesn't stay at 30,000 feet. Instead Bruce Bruinsma dives into key areas of life that are deeply practical and provides helpful insight to navigate this significant portion of 21st Century life."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pressure-Points-Twelve-Global-Shaping/dp/1418550744/ref=sr_1_1?crid=SLK1QVC80UE4&keywords=pressure+points+jd+payne&qid=1682291980&s=books&sprefix=pressure+points+jd+payn%2Cstripbooks%2C131&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Pressure Points, J.D. Payne</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Global Christians face constant pressures as we serve in the Kingdom, but we often fail to understand the sources of these pressures clearly. J.D. Payne's book powerfully illustrates some of today's most urgent pressure points and challenges us to act boldly as we respond biblically." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-59127027748865762432023-04-15T19:12:00.001-06:002023-04-16T06:44:45.119-06:00A Legacy of Sharing Books: George Verwer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbQJ7K0T9vNnQJDGZ4y9tEBeoJYx3_hMuBZFRhNVH2RkZKMttvVUzXDsKAvcBdFiOZJEfPjayqoMoywyvCxJjpi9KggXemPmPaNjxsdHdsh8Ki4XYgev96az3D98WT6TuZ-dq4GKx1pYpGUSgGbDLCy6auAIxZ3u-WIDnyLms_iW5XWz7iw/s1249/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-15%20at%208.10.25%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="1249" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbQJ7K0T9vNnQJDGZ4y9tEBeoJYx3_hMuBZFRhNVH2RkZKMttvVUzXDsKAvcBdFiOZJEfPjayqoMoywyvCxJjpi9KggXemPmPaNjxsdHdsh8Ki4XYgev96az3D98WT6TuZ-dq4GKx1pYpGUSgGbDLCy6auAIxZ3u-WIDnyLms_iW5XWz7iw/w640-h194/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-15%20at%208.10.25%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><p>On April 14, 2023 George Verwer, founder of Operation Mobilization (OM), passed away. George's ministry is hard to describe because it spans so many decades, approaches and influences. <a href="https://www.omusa.org/george/" target="_blank">Read a summary of his life and ministry here. </a></p><p>But one thing is clear. George loved books. He read them, shared them and believed that they could make a difference in people's lives. My first book, <i>Innovation in Mission</i>, was published by Authentic, part of the OM's publishing efforts. </p><p>In <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94-s6RAZbV4" target="_blank">George's last video blog</a>, he shared, big surprise, a book! On the list of what he shared as his "hoped for" legacy was for people to interact with his book "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Messiology-George-Verwer/dp/0802414850/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=messiology+george+verwer&qid=1681603426&sprefix=messiolo%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Messiology</a>." As I listened to his final video this morning, I realized I had a copy of his book but had never had a chance to read it. So in honor of George, I sat down this morning and read it (it isn't long). </p><p>I learned one big thing about George from reading his book. George is an amazing Generous Mind! In his small book, he referred people to 40 other books. His books is a gateway to a rich reading list. So I decided to create that booklist in this blog post as a tribute to George. Would you consider taking the challenge and reading through this list in the coming years? </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rebuilding-Broken-World-Gordon-MacDonald/dp/0785261206/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=rebuilding+your+broken+world&qid=1681603943&sprefix=rebuilding+your+%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Rebuilding Your Broken World</a>, Gordon MacDonald, pg. 14</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/New-Man-Missionary-Journeys-American-ebook/dp/B01D8RE9TY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3N9MAOVUD3T8D&keywords=a+new+man+hoise+birks&qid=1681604084&sprefix=a+new+man+hoise+birks%2Caps%2C95&sr=8-1" target="_blank">A New Man</a>, Hoise Birks, pg. 24</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Basic-Christianity-John-Stott/dp/0802875513/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=basic+christianity+john+stott+paperback&qid=1681604186&sprefix=basic+christianity%2Caps%2C124&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Basic Christianity</a>, John Stott, pg. 37</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Leading-Love-Alexander-Strauch/dp/0936083212/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PL1IZ0POYFG3&keywords=Leading+with+Love%2C+Alex+Strauch&qid=1681604309&sprefix=leading+with+love%2C+alex+strauch%2Caps%2C124&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Leading with Love</a>, Alex Strauch, pg. 38</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/You-Bite-Devour-One-Another/dp/093608331X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1S986239IGVGE&keywords=If+you+Bite+and+Devour+One+Another%2C+Alex+Strauch%2C+pg.+38&qid=1681604336&sprefix=if+you+bite+and+devour+one+another%2C+alex+strauch%2C+pg.+38%2Caps%2C86&sr=8-1" target="_blank">If you Bite and Devour One Another</a>, Alex Strauch, pg. 38</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Calvary-Road-Roy-Hession/dp/1444455664/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3VODVNM9E6DDA&keywords=calvary+road+robert+hession&qid=1681604383&sprefix=calvary+road+robert+hession%2Caps%2C102&sr=8-2" target="_blank">The Calvary Road</a>, Robert Hession, pg. 38</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Love-Answer-Back-Bible-Broadcast/dp/B0007FZ2BA/ref=sr_1_1?crid=SFOYL1JXVPSK&keywords=Love+is+the+Answer%2C+Theodore+Epp&qid=1681604469&sprefix=love+is+the+answer%2C+theodore+epp%2Caps%2C86&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Love is the Answer,</a> Theodore Erpp, pg. 38</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Righteousness-Tom-Hovestol/dp/1850787611/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3OGYJF4MN38XY&keywords=Extreme+Righteousness%2C+Tom+Hovestol&qid=1681604561&sprefix=extreme+righteousness%2C+tom+hovestol%2Caps%2C104&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Extreme Righteousness</a>, Tom Hovestol, pg. 41</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Awakening-Believing-Thing-Another-ebook/dp/B007V96SXG/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1681604619&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Grace Awakening</a>, Charles Swindle, pg. 41</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/True-Discipleship-William-MacDonald/dp/1882701917/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1FML3PDL6O040&keywords=True+Discipleship%2C+William+MacDonald&qid=1681604701&sprefix=true+discipleship%2C+william+macdonald%2Caps%2C106&sr=8-1" target="_blank">True Discipleship</a>, William MacDonald, pg. 48</li><li><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-passion-for-souls/37564443/item/56061043/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=low_vol_f%2fm%2fs_standard_shopping&utm_adgroup=&utm_term=&utm_content=603452145786&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlumhBhClARIsABO6p-zOqM0iTiKaYAcZSGoDYc8c1P21lSEWZVNYcsTg-no7ugOdWX34gnUaAtzvEALw_wcB#idiq=56061043&edition=65519440" target="_blank">Passion for Souls</a>, Oswald Smith, pg. 64</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Through-Gates-Splendor-Elisabeth-Elliot/dp/0842371516/ref=sr_1_1?crid=WVQ0J0N9U9D2&keywords=Through+the+Gates+of+Splendor%2C+Elizabeth+Elliot&qid=1681604905&sprefix=through+the+gates+of+splendor%2C+elizabeth+elliot%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Through the Gates of Splendor</a>, Elizabeth Elliot, pg. 64</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/7-Deadly-Sins-Billy-Graham/dp/B0006AUGTE/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1WYH9D7LOV0I6&keywords=Seven+Deadly+Sins%2C+Billy+Graham&qid=1681605048&sprefix=seven+deadly+sins%2C+billy+graham%2Caps%2C107&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Seven Deadly Sins</a>, Billy Graham, pg. 68</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Peace-God-Happiness-Billy-Graham/dp/0718088123/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1PRQZWRD29NOK&keywords=Peace+with+God%2C+Billy+Graham&qid=1681605081&sprefix=peace+with+god%2C+billy+graham%2Caps%2C88&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Peace with God</a>, Billy Graham, pg. 68</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Happiness-Billy-Graham/dp/0849943817/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+secret+of+happiness+billy+graham&qid=1681605126&sprefix=The+Secret+of+happiness+billy%2Caps%2C109&sr=8-1" target="_blank">The Secret of Happiness</a>, Billy Graham, pg. 68</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Whats-So-Amazing-About-Grace/dp/0310245656/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=whats+so+amazing+about+grace&qid=1681605201&sprefix=whats+so+ama%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-1" target="_blank">What's So Amazing About Grace</a>, Philip Yancey, pg. 72</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ragamuffin-Gospel-Bedraggled-Beat-Up-Burnt/dp/1590525027/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=ragamuffin+gospel+brennan+manning&qid=1681605230&sprefix=ragamuf%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Ragamuffin Gospel</a>, Brennan Manning, pg. 72</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Second-Choice-Embracing-life-as-ebook/dp/B07JF4QHR5/ref=sr_1_1?crid=14W27AE0S4ZMW&keywords=Second+Choice%2C+Viv+Thomas&qid=1681605296&sprefix=second+choice%2C+viv+thomas%2Caps%2C88&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Second Choice,</a> Viv Thomas, pg. 75</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ordering-Private-World-Gordon-MacDonald/dp/071808800X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=ordering+your+private+world+by+gordon+macdonald&qid=1681605358&sprefix=ordering+your+pri%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Ordering Your Private World</a>, Gordon MacDonald, pg. 78</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Leadership-Principles-Excellence-Believer/dp/0802416705/ref=sr_1_1?crid=TGU3CLF9O5D1&keywords=Spiritual+Leadership%2C+J.+Oswald+Sanders&qid=1681605451&sprefix=spiritual+leadership%2C+j.+oswald+sanders%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Spiritual Leadership</a>, J. Oswald Sanders, pg. 83</li><li><a href="https://mm.cru.org.sg/growing-leaders.html" target="_blank">Servant Leadership</a>, Chua Wee Hain, pg. 83</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Servant-Leadership-Learners-David-Lundy/dp/1850784426/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?crid=208J96ZMRQMSV&keywords=Servant+Leadership+for+Slow+Learners%2C+David+Lundy%2C+pg.+84&qid=1681605668&sprefix=servant+leadership+for+slow+learners%2C+david+lundy%2C+pg.+84%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-2-fkmr0" target="_blank">Servant Leadership for Slow Learners,</a> David Lundy, pg. 84</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/John-Stott-portrait-his-friends/dp/1844745163/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2258DH3MVMZOQ&keywords=John+Stott%3A+A+Portrait+by+His+Friends&qid=1681605814&sprefix=john+stott+a+portrait+by+his+friends%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-1" target="_blank">John Stott: A Portrait by His Friends</a>, edited by Christopher Wright, pg. 87</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Logos-Story-Extraordinary-Ministry-Named/dp/0963090844" target="_blank">The Logos Story</a>, Elaine Rhoton, pg. 88</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Doulos-Story-Elaine-Rhoton-ebook/dp/B00KRXM4CM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2JAOHLX13K887&keywords=The+Doulos+Story&qid=1681605970&sprefix=the+doulos+story+%2Caps%2C186&sr=8-1" target="_blank">The Doulos Story</a>, Elaine Rhoton, pg. 88</li><li><a href="https://biblestore.com/products/the-voyage-of-the-logos-hope-from-port-to-port-bringing-knowledge-help-and-hope?_pos=2&_sid=0fd5be61c&_ss=r" target="_blank">The Voyage of the Logos Hope</a>, Rodney Hui and George Simpson, pg. 88</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Total-Abandon-Gary-Witherall/dp/0842388990/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?crid=2W662N0DIBG7U&keywords=Total+Abandon%2C+Gary+Witherall%2C+pg.+96&qid=1681606251&sprefix=total+abandon%2C+gary+witherall%2C+pg.+96%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-1-fkmr0" target="_blank">Total Abandon</a>, Gary Witherall, pg. 96</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Total-Forgiveness-R-T-Kendall/dp/1599791765/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3DOM21WEFZLZA&keywords=Total+Forgiveness%2C+R.T.+Kendall&qid=1681606290&sprefix=total+forgiveness%2C+r.t.+kendall%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Total Forgiveness</a>, R.T. Kendall, pg. 96</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Garland-Ashes-Holocaust-Survivors-Forgiveness-ebook/dp/B00E02IYU2/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1681606368&sr=8-1" target="_blank">A Garland for Ashes</a>, Hanna Miley, pg. 101</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tough-Minded-Optimist-Norman-Vincent-Peale/dp/074323488X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+tough+minded+optimist&qid=1681606426&sprefix=tough+minded+optimi%2Caps%2C115&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Tough Minded Optimist</a>, Norman Vincent Peale, pg. 102</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pharisectomy-Joyfully-Pharisee-Religiously-Transmitted/dp/1936699443/ref=sr_1_1?crid=E25JXLVBXXQU&keywords=pharisectomy&qid=1681606488&sprefix=pharisect%2Caps%2C111&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Pharisectomy</a>, Peter Haas, pg. 103</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dalit-Freedom-Forever-Joseph-Dsouza/dp/B000I8A9LE/ref=sr_1_1?crid=31OEM48YNLOTQ&keywords=Dalit+Freedom+Now+and+Forever%2C+Joseph+D%27souza&qid=1681606647&sprefix=dalit+freedom+now+and+forever%2C+joseph+d%27souza%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Dalit Freedom Now and Forever,</a> Joseph D'souza, pg. 108</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Aids-Action-Dr-Patrick-Dixon/dp/B004LCZQN4/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1QLDL4DE9WJUE&keywords=AIDS+Action%2C+Patrick+Dixon&qid=1681606734&sprefix=aids+action%2C+patrick+dixon%2Caps%2C103&sr=8-3" target="_blank">AIDS Action</a>, Patrick Dixon, pg. 109</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Why-Pro-Life-Caring-Unborn-Mothers-ebook/dp/B09Y6B7DPD/ref=sr_1_1?crid=QSHBPCI4KD8V&keywords=Why+Pro-Life%3F%2C+Randy+Alcorn&qid=1681606772&sprefix=why+pro-life+%2C+randy+alcorn%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Why Pro-Life?</a>, Randy Alcorn, pg. 109</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/God-Mute-Engaging-Silence-Unanswered/dp/0310114632/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2H7N0WNC41946&keywords=god+on+mute%2C+pete+greig&qid=1681606835&sprefix=god+on+mute%2C+pete+grieg%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1" target="_blank">God on Mute</a>, Pete Grieg, pg. 111</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Revolution-Story-Operation-Mobilization/dp/1850787662/ref=sr_1_1?crid=33AG78H8B4MP7&keywords=Spiritual+Revolution%2C+Ian+Randall&qid=1681606932&sprefix=spiritual+revolution%2C+ian+randall%2Caps%2C103&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Spiritual Revolution</a>, Ian Randall, pg. 120</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Psalms-Sea-Deborah-Meroff-ebook/dp/B0088QF9JU/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10S88J7QNVY9Y&keywords=Psalms+from+the+Sea%2C+Deborah+Meroff&qid=1681606970&sprefix=psalms+from+the+sea%2C+deborah+meroff%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Psalms from the Sea,</a> Deborah Meroff, pg. 120</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Patrons-John-Rinehart/dp/1496115473/ref=sr_1_1?crid=I6BOXH5TN3WR&keywords=Gospel+Patrons%2C+John+Rinehart&qid=1681607035&sprefix=gospel+patrons%2C+john+rinehart%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-1">Gospel Patrons</a>, John Rinehart, pg. 122</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Funding-Family-Business-Handbook-Personal/dp/0955332001/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3OW9CCOZW2ZUX&keywords=Funding+the+Family+Business%2C+Myles+Wilson&qid=1681607127&sprefix=funding+the+family+business%2C+myles+wilson%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Funding the Family Business</a>, Myles Wilson, pg. 127</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Friend-Raising-Building-Missionary-Support/dp/1576582833/ref=sr_1_1?crid=LAELT1JIMKOK&keywords=Friendraising%2C+Betty+Barnett&qid=1681607161&sprefix=friendraising%2C+betty+barnett%2Caps%2C83&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Friendraising</a>, Betty Barnett, pg. 127</li></ul><p></p>Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-73538269265575948132023-04-08T08:02:00.008-06:002023-05-24T19:08:04.081-06:00Obedience in this AI Moment<span id="docs-internal-guid-9f855631-7fff-9d57-f345-749ae9ae75b3"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVYTkzCH78eVVUhQphEfWTvcWYkap3yhJDGSAYe99V_Pj88E6jy21iOLsJPHYmLpm-MLdOPeO4RrOXaX5IIqZLdj5vvmsDKn_80qbzHEuzgAD-Z4UQi6vxvX0yByLMH85OiiVw1963_i-GkyX-eNWVSCCTI5yGKEPmBmB0uRjlpkjBemmwQ/s1031/phone_ancient_wall.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="1031" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVYTkzCH78eVVUhQphEfWTvcWYkap3yhJDGSAYe99V_Pj88E6jy21iOLsJPHYmLpm-MLdOPeO4RrOXaX5IIqZLdj5vvmsDKn_80qbzHEuzgAD-Z4UQi6vxvX0yByLMH85OiiVw1963_i-GkyX-eNWVSCCTI5yGKEPmBmB0uRjlpkjBemmwQ/w640-h294/phone_ancient_wall.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During college I interned in the marketing department of the magazine, </span><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christianity Today</span><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Each day that summer, I rode with a friend of mine at the university who was working in the relatively new interactive office of CT. It was in a different building than I worked in and I remember walking over there after work in awe as I watched the beginnings of the Internet take off in the form of AOL chat rooms and simple hyperlinked pages. I was too young to really think through the fact that, as with any new technology, some might be mourning the loss of in-person interaction or the beginnings of 24/7 connectivity.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, I feel a similar sense of awe as I sit in demos with our <a href="https://ai.sil.org" target="_blank">Artificial Intelligence (AI) teams in SIL International</a> (where I serve as the Chief Innovation Officer); but unlike in those early days, I better understand the concern that naturally comes with a technological breakthrough of this magnitude. As we watch the rapid changes that are happening as foundation models, multilingual datasets, Natural Language Processing (NLP) functionality and generative AI tools take off, there is a sense that much about how we engage with the world is about to change. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The way we navigate the rollout of AI-enabled products and services will be one of this generation’s major contributions. The impacts will be pervasive and long-lasting. They will also be very unpredictable. I could never have imagined a smart phone with an app like TikTok when I was sitting in the Christianity Today office watching staff interact with readers in an AOL chat room. The same will be true of this significant revolution. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zhzw4m3rO6uVJx1Pfeh6YMv619oKun5GzMg5u2hj5Ym3ywYQ79qdHm0P27BmLJQSsXJbRZ9YhL0LRuZzgtlcKcG6KaZrA_vo23vzJVVzmSjCDfSZkAPF4Xh4gxzshEliUdgnUcj8YzDmyQnHivLdwhdbOCzla4Y1sA7YveRgBuY4e-wSwA/s960/AI_article_quote-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="960" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zhzw4m3rO6uVJx1Pfeh6YMv619oKun5GzMg5u2hj5Ym3ywYQ79qdHm0P27BmLJQSsXJbRZ9YhL0LRuZzgtlcKcG6KaZrA_vo23vzJVVzmSjCDfSZkAPF4Xh4gxzshEliUdgnUcj8YzDmyQnHivLdwhdbOCzla4Y1sA7YveRgBuY4e-wSwA/w400-h113/AI_article_quote-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While we lean into a new day, we also need to guard against the hype machine and the vaporware solutions. The world is realizing the huge impact these tools will have and is asking hard questions (as seen in this petition to </span><a href="https://futureoflife.org/open-letter/pause-giant-ai-experiments/?fbclid=IwAR2gDEV-PnaYRC0melrkcd_bTlT_75Ub4mDgvBllsi28yQA7LIVs0Lmyij4" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pause Giant AI Experiments</span></a><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, this petition for an </span><a href="https://www.change.org/p/sign-the-ethics-integrity-charter-for-llm-based-ai-e-g-chatgpt-google-bard-etc?utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=custom_url&recruited_by_id=b3637040-1f73-11ea-9930-73ca87ae9a6d" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ethics and Integrity Charter</span></a><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and this call from </span><a href="https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/artificial-intelligence-unesco-calls-all-governments-implement-global-ethical-framework-without" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">UNESCO</span></a><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for a global ethical framework). The questions will only increase as we approach </span><a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.12712" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Artificial General Intelligence</span></a><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_general_intelligence" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">defined here</span></a><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). We need to be thoughtful as we explore the possibilities, collaborate with our partners and innovate towards solutions that make a difference in people’s lives.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The reality is that new technologies are used in ways we could never imagine and have unintended consequences. The cartoon below is a silly example but highlights that so clearly:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 167px; overflow: hidden; width: 316px;"><img height="167" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/v3ojEfAmuqxQqcV8kQxcpwupo9NFlqf3NaugYFsoeY3Qd6AcbtCrqCtybNKqfSCL9zPxhEn4Par3uzg7zY3kUkLU20iZyL6HI2aaDGBzKIvGW88lCVwEeNOG34N0tn_qHchAxmUfqEalGRxvV9SlPOY" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="316" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is also an urgency in this moment that global nonprofits feel even more acutely than others. This major technological shift has the potential to be of great help and benefit to marginalized people who have struggled to equitably access products, services, and information. They will more easily engage with the world as AI makes ubiquitous things that once were very costly to make available; for example information in local languages. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are ethical and access issues around large language models (LLM’s). Just look at this chart below that shows where machine learning datasets were used between 2015 - 2020. While there would be a bit more usage in other countries today, this chart likely would look very similar today. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 349px; overflow: hidden; width: 554px;"><img height="349" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/zEiaVooRPG7GSm4qPO6WIFO8CQG4LRdGY9aSpRPmCtdD1bJcSMmfFAEZlNyNK1Mp73tMz4a_25v_XeBiClvHphYChJPATay6uWkmJKLSZb3RutzmsPxDRmCmXczoyP4c6jKpItNUYd-w_aX4UWHlJGc" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="554" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The innovations coming out of this round of tech breakthroughs will not only create new opportunities but will also have significant impacts on the work that many of our staff do each day. One </span><a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">recent study </span></a><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">expects 80% of employees to have 10% of their work impacted and almost 20% of employees to have at least 50% of their work impacted. AI will also likely affect </span><a href="https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/2303/2303.01157.pdf" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">certain industries and jobs</span></a><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> more directly than others; some of which overlap with activities that are core to nonprofit activities. We should expect significant impacts to the way work is done even though our overall vision and mission statements will remain unchanged. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I have been wrestling with the significance of this moment, the hype and the urgency, I have struggled to know where to go with my thoughts. One place God has taken me is the book of Ezra. I truly enjoy the story about the people’s faithfulness to rebuild the temple. I don’t know about you but the obedience and courage of Ezra and Nehemiah have always been of great comfort to me. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I read chapter 3 and got to verse 10, I watched along with God’s people as the foundation was put in place. I observed their excitement as a new era in their national and faith story was being written. But as I watched and observed, I read on to verse 12 where those who remembered the temple that Solomon built wept. But the crying and the shouting all mixed together in one great noise. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What a perplexing moment. To understand it we have to go to the two prophets Zechariah and Haggai. In Zechariah 4 verse 6 he gives Zerubbabel the famous words “‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Then in the beginning of verse 10 he goes on to affirm Zerubbabel’s work and say “Who dares despise the day of small things,”. While Zechariah’s contemporary, Haggai, said in chapter 2 verse 3 and 4 of his book, “‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? But now be strong, Zerubbabel.’ declares the Lord . . . ‘For I am with you.’ declares the Lord Almighty.” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With any major moment, like we are experiencing now, there will be mixed emotions. There will be the cheers of joy as we uncover new opportunities and imagine a new future. There will also be weeping as an era and a way of life disappears from view. The people returned from Babylon to a new reality that required a new response to God. The same had happened when Noah built the altar after emerging from the Ark, when Abraham made his sacrifice in the Promised Land, when the Tabernacle was constructed in the desert, and Solomon built the first Temple and when the people of Israel laid the foundation of the second and most recent Temple. Each of these moments was filled with both joy and sorrow . . . looking forward and looking back. And as with the Israelites both sounds become mixed into one giant moment of emotion that humanity raises to the sky as they come to grips with a change this monumental. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I read these passages, I have come to the conclusion that they weren’t being chastised for weeping or for shouting with joy. They were being challenged to wrestle with their emotions and trust that God has a plan; even if the future will look much different than the past. I think this is what God is asking us to do today. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Much of what we have experienced will change in the coming years and much that we could never imagine (both good and bad) will be realized. But in all of it God is not surprised. In fact as the prophet Isaiah said in his prophecy in chapter 43 verses 18 and 19 before Israel was carried off to Babylon in anticipation of their return, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEity9SUCqAMm0yAeoU1hEsQaD_zJSfBNOH7bdwLe58oTxiQVqK-pGYHQia1KEA0WCPcRpcrOjF_smkuucPHRrxGItVy_vB-W7bQG2pfRmng-FJVMCG6MQTa5meIdvBI3JhKmVdPvNgybYg_-ltBrB_Fv8bMR_qXyh2t1GxsO1xDPOa6H7jWUA/s953/AI_article_list-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="121" data-original-width="953" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEity9SUCqAMm0yAeoU1hEsQaD_zJSfBNOH7bdwLe58oTxiQVqK-pGYHQia1KEA0WCPcRpcrOjF_smkuucPHRrxGItVy_vB-W7bQG2pfRmng-FJVMCG6MQTa5meIdvBI3JhKmVdPvNgybYg_-ltBrB_Fv8bMR_qXyh2t1GxsO1xDPOa6H7jWUA/w640-h82/AI_article_list-2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So how can we live out this trust in God in a time of change? Here are four postures to consider: </span></p><br /><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Humility:</b></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> None of us know where an AI-driven world will take us or what it will look like to be fully human in a time when many of the efforts that have defined us get taken up by machines. We need to submit our will and our ways to God daily and ask Him for patience and grace. As we turn to God for comfort in navigating the unknown, we can recognize that there is both joy and excitement along with fear and loss. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Learning Together:</b></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> God embedded in us a curiosity that breeds empathy and human connection. We are made for learning in community! We want to learn from each other and grow as God’s children. As machines chip away at some of what we have labeled “our identity,” we, who know how God made us, are in the best position to learn how to function in a world transformed. Our task becomes to discover our true selves and what it means to be humans made in God’s image. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Grace:</b></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> This level of transformation will be intrusive and confusing. As we seek to pursue opportunities and safeguard against risks, we will naturally misunderstand each other, step on toes and struggle to anticipate how our actions will affect others. It is our job to assume the very best from our colleagues and partners as we extend grace. When the changes create disequilibrium and uncertainty, we can choose to respond through discussion, listening, and open-minded engagement. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Obedience:</b></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> God’s Word maps out what it means to be God’s children and followers of Jesus in a time where the new Kingdom is not yet fully seen or honored. The coming years will require hard choices from us as we seek to know when to say “yes” and when to say “no” to the new opportunities that will present themselves. What will it mean to stay faithful to God’s direction? </span></p></li></ol><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So as you start each day, expect the unexpected, be ready to show an extra measure of love and kindness, look for the little lessons and ask God for the strength to be courageous in the face of the unknown. Together we can learn to navigate a dramatically different world, encourage those around us and honor God in our obedience. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blessings as you innovate!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.666667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">To read Jon Hirst's next article on AI, please go to <a href="https://generousmind.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-sweetness-test.html" target="_blank">"The Sweetness Test."</a></span></p></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-74921204160561939582023-03-04T06:15:00.003-07:002023-03-04T06:15:48.963-07:00A Lyrical Columnist: A Generous Mind Spotlight<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZmUk1jJP1OQ4X9ecTauCiPqMXPWxk1aEZspCMhoiiCc0y3Zq5jMQZistIzDJOgslSRJLfHpS-KrwckMDqoJZH5nJBGGCNTbTCIqK8UoHq63OmKaQhfz3AOM9uiiyRGdMd1IW_0hqd2DqX62I_J487oWRimCl825cDCC5ghjZJ6_oDyVRhQ/s1099/Screen%20Shot%202023-03-04%20at%207.12.26%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="1099" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZmUk1jJP1OQ4X9ecTauCiPqMXPWxk1aEZspCMhoiiCc0y3Zq5jMQZistIzDJOgslSRJLfHpS-KrwckMDqoJZH5nJBGGCNTbTCIqK8UoHq63OmKaQhfz3AOM9uiiyRGdMd1IW_0hqd2DqX62I_J487oWRimCl825cDCC5ghjZJ6_oDyVRhQ/w640-h294/Screen%20Shot%202023-03-04%20at%207.12.26%20AM.png" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Photo from <a href="https://www.bradpaisley.com/">https://www.bradpaisley.com/</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;">Music presents unique opportunities to be a Generous Mind. Many of our lives have a soundtrack and the songs on that track define the moments in our lives that are most memorable. And because we are all so unique, the music that makes up those soundtracks is equally diverse and distinct. Music gives us the chance to put our hopes, dreams, fears, tragedies and everyday thoughts into a portable form that can be so easily shared with the world. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The soundtrack of our life has a lot of Country music in it. We have loved Country music since college. The catchy melodies, simple lyrics and dramatic stories captivated us and because the background to many of our memories. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">One of our favorite Country artists is Brad Paisley. You could describe him as a lyrical columnist. More than most, he creates and performs music with big ideas and analysis that isn't that common in any genre. In the process he shares his mind and heart in memorable ways that stay in the conscience of every listener. Now he has plenty of songs that wouldn't fit in this description as well. There is a fair share of drinking and girl-chasing songs that aren't our favorite. But let's focus on an example of one that dives deep. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">His latest single, "<a href="https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/bradpaisley/samehere.html" target="_blank">Same Here</a>" (co-written with Lee Thomas Miller), is an excellent example of a lyrical column. The song was released on the 1 year anniversary of the war in Ukraine. In the song Brad makes the case for why we are not that different than those suffering through the war in Ukraine. The song is designed to help people realize that they have more in common with those who they perceive are different than they imagine. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In the first verse, Brad challenges his audience to realize how much like someone from the West Coast (California specifically) they really are. This is an effort to bridge the divisions between Red and Blue States in the United States. Many Country music listeners (but not all by any means) struggle to relate to people on either coast in the US. Brad paints the picture of a group of friends gathering at a bar to connect and "solve all the worlds problems," and challenges his audience to realize that the same thing happens in a California town as happens in a town in Nebraska, Minnesota or Tennessee. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The second verse tackles another significant point of disconnect in the United States, our neighbors to the South. Many people in the United States look at people from Mexico, Central America or South America through the lens of the issue of immigration. Brad highlights how people in the United States and Mexico are very similar through the story of a wedding on a beach. His words highlight a common human emotion, "Though I didn't know the language, I recognize the tears people cry within they're happy..." By connecting us a that level, Brad highlights that no matter the divisions and struggles we have, we all cry tears of joy at a wedding. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Finally he builds to his main point in the third verse. He introduces someone in a country far away who's "...got his own kind of football team that lets him down every year." That someone is Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine. Brad makes the case that while there are many different cultural and circumstantial differences between people in the United States and Ukraine there are also many similarities. At the end of this verse President Zelenskyy comes on in a taped interview with Brad. Powerfully, Zelenskyy translates the name of the song, "Same Here," into Ukrainian (<a href="https://translate.google.com/?sl=en&tl=uk&text=same%20here&op=translate">те ж саме</a>) and speaks passionately about the hopes and dreams of the people of Ukraine and how they are not so different from the hopes and dreams of others. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(44, 44, 44);"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reflecting on the song in an <a href="https://apnews.com/article/brad-paisley-zelenskyy-ukraine-war-song-same-here-0e2da26dbcd9a20d201f4f953478e6d3" target="_blank">interview</a>, Brad describes why he wanted to write such deep songs, “I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I didn’t sort of swing for the fence with things like this,” Paisley said. “For me, I’m happiest dealing with stuff as a songwriter that’s very true and very, very passionate. And sometimes I don’t know if you’d call it risky, but it’s more like it’s bigger than me.”</span></span></p>Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12134648.post-35460748052915671832023-02-15T16:56:00.001-07:002023-02-15T16:56:27.171-07:00Asking the Future Questions<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEW9f2xA0cipZmn9iD6Jfc-kgEcSKKAPt6zQ6phbllS1D-2EXdp5he5Efz-0ifzjZ0oymcrvaBVmH0w6MrXWBC2kBqmXg6HtNdL1QLYdU2SicI_hcxhV1fzdbXmezqyofj-kaHZWvq8M0D-byOOe2pZ9wWZn8c9I6rtg9OjTyvN85oz4XWA/s824/Screen%20Shot%202023-01-16%20at%204.17.03%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="824" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEW9f2xA0cipZmn9iD6Jfc-kgEcSKKAPt6zQ6phbllS1D-2EXdp5he5Efz-0ifzjZ0oymcrvaBVmH0w6MrXWBC2kBqmXg6HtNdL1QLYdU2SicI_hcxhV1fzdbXmezqyofj-kaHZWvq8M0D-byOOe2pZ9wWZn8c9I6rtg9OjTyvN85oz4XWA/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-01-16%20at%204.17.03%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Why do you ask questions? Some ask questions because they are looking for answers. Others simply love the questioning and aren't so intent on getting to the answer. Still others ask to provoke and challenge. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In our day it can seem like questions are all we have. There are few answers. And so we approach 2023 full of questions to ask but unsure of what's next when they have been uttered. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In Matthew Niermann's Lausanne Movement article entitled "<a href="https://lausanne.org/about/blog/ten-questions-that-will-shape-2050" target="_blank">Ten Questions That Will Shape 2050</a>," he uses questions to challenge the reader to think into the future rather than predictions. In the past I've created annual prediction resources highlighting trends. These are good for presenting a possible future and then asking people to consider what the world might look like if it comes about. But by focusing on questions there is a different affect. Instead of providing a specific future, a question challenges each reader to speak into that future in their answers. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As you work through Matthew's questions, you will wrestle with identity, sustainability, truth, trust, and so much more. But I think the question that encapsulates all the rest in his article is this one, <b><i>"Will the church be prepared to speak to the fullness of a life in Christ when the Fourth Industrial Revolution allows for a seemingly fully customizable life at every turn?"</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The reality is that the 21st Century is putting together a package of life solutions based on the latest cultural, technological and philosophical frameworks. That package (I'll call it the Ultimate Self) offers every person the ability to define their life on their own terms. Conversely, we as the Church are offering a package of solutions based on life in Christ. We are asking people to define their life on God's terms. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">That has always been the tension, but never has an individual's ability to customize their life down to the biological level made the tension so stark. What were shades of intention are now chasms of difference. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Matthew's article provides us with a helpful blueprint to explore where the Ultimate Self will lead and where God is directing His Kingdom. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I'd encourage you to read his article and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBulqGMblpM" target="_blank">watch the video interview</a> I recently did with Matthew about the 10 Questions. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBulqGMblpM" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="687" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8L4nTmVhTp7gELftfjARW9ccC8CZErUKKYHe1GQ2yUtu8MBiViEJZoov_j1vBTYGFbeEHZbJjkhhiKdl-_B3fXUXQUEBaj9PHXtnJlKWOm-2LPbZPJT1ndDIywnvNcWgjLNW-2MI4mDR5Ry-s3hn7svfiyuh4cdZssw3-kC9XZDxy0RKvw/w616-h200/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-15%20at%205.54.54%20PM.png" width="616" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Jon and Mindy Hirsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285995024127376431noreply@blogger.com0