Apr 17 2012

Do we rob God of blessing us with a clenched fist of disobedience?

Anne giving John Okina a computer from the Praise Fellowship Congergation.  Migori, Kenya
Last monday we had a time of giving during our worship and prayer time here at the YWAM base in Honolulu.  Here’s what happened… 

We finished up our time of worship and prayer and Maria one of our leaders told us we were going to have a time of giving.  She instructed us to ask the Lord if we were suppose to give something to someone.  

She gave us some time to pray and hear from the Lord.  We then were suppose to get whatever we were to give and come back.  If we felt like God was saying to give something to someone we were suppose to come to the front.  It was an awesome time of giving.  I’ll share one story from this time with you now and maybe another one later.  

Jess and I, being a married couple, can’t just give something away without talking to one another.  I like this fact, it’s instant accountability and confirmation in hearing the voice of God.  Jess thought she was suppose to give her computer away.  Even before we came out here we had felt God was going to ask us to do this.  

Jess didn’t have clarity on who she was suppose to give it to.  As we discussed it, I suggested that if God hadn’t made it clear than we should just wait.  

During this time of giving, Cortney another staff member give her computer to one of our students.  We instantly knew who we were suppose to give Jess’ computer to.  Cortney.  

Cortney told me this week, she told her parents this story of feeling led to give away her computer.  Her parents weren’t super excited about it at first, but were amazed that God INSTANTLY blessed her obedience.  

Is giving away computers crazy?  Yeah, a little.  But it’s an awesome way to walk in obedience.  It also serves as a gut check to see what is Lord in your life and shake down any idols.  

Lets just be honest.  If we’re unwilling to give something up it’s probably an idol.  

I’m not speaking down to you as I write this, I know exactly what the idols are in my life.  

Sometimes giving in obedience is a tangible step of saying I TRUST You God.  

If Cortney would not have been obedient and said I trust You God in giving away her computer, she would not have seen God’s blessing that was waiting for her at the other end of her step of faith and obedience.   

Everything God asks you to do or not to do is in your best interest.  

Are you missing out on something God has for you because you’re unwilling to let go of what you currently have?  

Engage:  What is your biggest hindrance in giving the way you feel like God might be asking?  Tell us in the comments.  

by Jim Baker

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Vivian HeathApril 18, 2012 - 9:11 pm

It is so cool to know more insides.  Yes!  Obedience is the key of entering His aboundance (It is not necessary what we expect!) It is a daily homework.Thanks for sharing.  Viv

Anneli JohnsonApril 19, 2012 - 5:37 pm

Definately something to think about! Thank you so much for being obedient (especially when it doesn’t make sense!). God is using you both in huge ways. Keep the good posts coming, they are always an encouragement to me!

Blessings,
Anneli

Jeff y.September 20, 2012 - 6:14 pm

This is a very good concept! Thanks for sharing. God has been moving on me a lot in this area. Your story helps bring clarity.

jimjessbakerSeptember 23, 2012 - 12:33 pm

thanks Jeff it comes down to obedience to what God is saying. That and TRUSTING Him and obeying. Such a simple concept huh? 😉
I’d love to hear what God is doing in your life in this area, shoot me an e-mail! jimjessbaker (at) gmail (dot) com

Apr 16 2012

Quick personal update | Sorry for no post on Friday

Mark Smith starting lecture at 10:30pm his time, 6:30pm our time.  He started his day at 3:30am his time to  fly to us.  
  
It is EASY to fall off the blogging wagon.  I apologize for no post on Friday.  Our schedule was PACKED last week.  Here is what we were up to…

Wait, You’re in Hawaii?  What are you doing out there?  Find out here.
STUDENTS are here!!!  We have 15 students from 9 nations, and for 11 of them English is their second language.  They are all here to study the Bible for 9 months!  

Mark Smith came and taught through the book of Acts.  He’s an archeologist and a historian.  His teaching was brillant. I am always amazed at people that can make history come ALIVE.  Jess and I both remember it being one of my favorite teachings from when we were in our School of Biblical Studies.  It was great to be able to hear it again.  

Understanding the CULTURE the bible was written in makes interpreting the bible a LOT easier.  

He taught on the intertestamental period, the culture of the New Testament, a bit on Luke and then taught through the book of Acts.  
This is where some of the staff ate dinner with Mark Smith on Friday. 
Mark taught for 8 hours on Thursday, covering the first 2 missionary journeys of Paul and then in the evening taught on how we got the New Testament Canon.  Friday we had morning class covering the last missionary journey of Paul and wrapped up Acts.  That afternoon into the evening, some of the staff took Mark to a beach he wanted to visit and we ate dinner there.  Then that night, Mark did a Q/A session for anyone that wanted to come. Saturday morning, Jess and I took him to the airport.  

I MIGHT and most likely will post some of the things that really stood out to me in Mark’s teaching in future posts.  

Engage:  What is your favorite time period of History?  Who has been your favorite History or Bible Teacher?  Why?  Tell us in the comments.   

by Jim Baker

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Aaron ReinardApril 16, 2012 - 7:34 am

This is me commenting on your blog.  The top picture here looks like you guys are part of some government experiment.  You’re in some hidden bunker in the hills collecting data to launch the perfect strike.  The evil professor is checking his watch to make sure every part of the operation is synchronized.  

jimjessbakerApril 16, 2012 - 7:46 am

shhhhh i told you not to tell anyone 😉 

thecompositionofApril 16, 2012 - 9:08 am

My favorite time period of history would be the mid-twentieth century in America (1940s-1960s). Probably because I erroneously believe that everything was hunky dory back then. Well I know it wasn’t, but I really like the dress (1940s), I like the home design (1950s), and the 1960s were just an interesting and tumultuous time in America. My favorite history teacher would have to be my American History professor I had in college. I looked forward to that class every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. 

jimjessbakerApril 16, 2012 - 10:42 am

Have you seen Midnight in Paris?  You should watch it, I think you’ll love it.  

Apr 10 2012

Blogging about blogging. | Links to all

Jess meeting with one of our Chinese students | School of Biblical Studies Honolulu Hawaii 2012
Over the past couple of months I have been blogging about blogging.  Here are the links to my blog posts about blogging… 

What are we doing in Hawaii?  Find out here.  
I thought it would be beneficial to put all of my blog posts about blogging in one place in case you missed some or wanted to reference them, so here is that list!  I will still blog about blogging from time to time but I’m going to move on to a different theme now.  

the WHY of Blogging 

the HOW of Blogging

some TIPS for Blogging

Engage: Did you find this series of posts helpful?  Which blog post was your favorite?  Tell us in the comments!

by Jim Baker

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Hannah YoonApril 11, 2012 - 1:23 pm

this is great. so nicely organized

Apr 08 2012

Should I save a baby girl’s life or buy a new computer? Logic or delayed obedience?

This is my macbook pro being unboxed in 2008.  It’s a crazy story of how I got it, I’ll share it with you someday.  
My friend Anneli Johnson is in East Asia right now, serving long term as a missionary.  She is caring for orphans.  She put out this recent call to action: Will you consider being a part of saving a baby girl’s life in China? 

My ridiculous comfort zone: Re-prioritizing and recalibrating

As I read her blog post, it put me on the verge of tears.  I instantly wanted to give, and wanted to give big.  

Right before reading that blog post, I was looking at the apple store website.  I was dreaming of a shiny new computer.  I’m not even seriously looking to buy, but even if I was, suddenly a new macbook pro seems pretty insignificant.  

In the time I’ve had to “think” about this… I’ve talked myself out of giving with some pretty logical reasons.  

Well, there are other people, that have access to more resources that are willing to give… 

The money we would give, we’ve allotted for giving, and we already have plans for it… 

So my question is: Am I being logical by not responding to my initial impulse?  Or am I being disobedient?  

When I watch a documentary about being healthy, my impulse right after is to go and throw every ounce of junk food out of the house, and go get on the treadmill… but I talk myself out of that too.  So is there a difference between those two situations?  

Well you’ve got to ease yourself into that lifestyle change.  There’s wisdom in that.  But what if, because I didn’t do anything extreme, I just keep living like I always have?  

What if wisdom and deception look surprisingly similar?  And what if faith and foolishness were even harder to tell apart?  

1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  Matt 6:1-3

What if my right hand needed to tell your right hand what it was doing so you could smack me if I’m buying a macbook pro before giving to save a life. 

I believe that faith and foolishness can look very similar.  

And I believe that God gave us a mind, and we’re to make decisions logically.  

But I also believe that obedience to the Father sometimes doesn’t look logical at all.  

 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.  John 12:3

Engage:  How do you make decisions that are borderline on the faith and foolish spectrum?  Share with us in the comments.  

by Jim Baker

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Megan McCormackApril 8, 2012 - 11:05 pm

So in the end did you give or did you talk yourself out of it for now?

Colleen CookApril 9, 2012 - 4:13 am

 I hear you, Jim.  I’ve had the same frustrating argument trying to discern God’s voice about giving on many occasions.  Good post!

jimjessbakerApril 9, 2012 - 6:58 am

I KNEW someone would ask this. We have not come to a decision yet. We will give I just do not know how much.

LempicsApril 9, 2012 - 7:04 am

LOVE this post Jim! Made me think!

jimjessbakerApril 9, 2012 - 10:57 am

We came to a decision.  If you want to know what we decided you can message me on facebook and I will tell you.  We had a time of giving this morning as a community, I thought it was the funny timing of God.  

Apr 05 2012

8 Leadership lessons I learned from saving a lady’s life | part 2

DC Metro | 2007 | Canon 20d
My back is still sore, about 5 days after this incident.  I’m hoping to be back, fully functioning by Monday…

This is part 2 of 2.  Read Part 1 here.
Nate, a fellow staff member and I were in the baggage claim area of the Honolulu airport.  We were talking to our student Patrick, who had just arrived from the Congo as we were waiting for his bags.

I saw an elderly lady, trying to take a large bag off of the conveyor belt.  The bag was too heavy for her and the conveyor was moving too fast.  I started walking towards her because I could see that she needed help.  

She let go of the bag and then tripped over her purse.  She stumbled backwards and I caught her as she fell, softening her blow.  As she laid in my arms with a complete startled look on her face, she looked up at me and said “Thank you for saving me.”

Nate came over and we helped the lady to her feet.  I asked her if she was okay.  Still startled, she replied, “I was just afraid because I’ve already had both hips replaced.”  During the fall, her carryon bag handle got bent and would not go back down.  

We got her large bag for her as it came around again on the conveyor belt and we sent her on her way.  

In hindsight, I realized this situation had some great leadership lessons:  Here are the last four of eight.  

5.  Follow up. 
This is one step that we didn’t do, but I wished we would have.  As we were driving out of the parking lot I was realizing my back was starting to hurt.  I wondered if the lady had suffered any injuries that were starting to hurt now, like mine did.  We asked her if she needed any further help, which she refused, but we should have helped her carry her bags to her vehicle anyway.  

Walk with people for a while after the conflict.  Sometimes even after the main incident is resolved there are still things that could come up that need to be dealt with or need further care. 

6.  Know that getting involved sometimes gets messy.  
My body must have been at a weird angle when I caught this lady.  My back started to hurt soon after the incident. I’ve been spending a lot of time in bed resting up.  

If this situation was to happen again I would have done it all over.  I’m sure that my injury will recover much quicker than hers would have, if I had not been there to help this woman when she fell.  

By getting involved you are putting yourself at some level of risk for potential pain, physical or emotional. It’s the nature of being present and involved in a problematic situation.  

7.  Build a culture that is safe, and minimizes potential danger.  
It’s a shame that no one was there watching this elderly lady get her bags off of the conveyor belt and offering her a hand.  She was surrounded by a full flight of people.   This woman should have also, known her limits, and known that it was safe to ask someone for help.  But someone also should have taken the initiative and offered to help her without her having to ask.

Does the community that you’re leading have a safe culture? Do people know they can ask for help, and are people readily looking for ways in which they can help one another?  

8.  Be a part of a team that will care for YOU.  
I’ve never felt so well taken care of from a community as I have here with our current staff at YWAM Honolulu. Many people have been sympathetic and have offered various medicines and advice.  One of our staff members, a former ICU nurse, even helped me get up off the ground one evening when I could not get up because of the pain.  During the earlier part of the week I was suppose to continue to do more airport runs but could obviously not help anyone with their bags.  A fellow staff member took over my duties.  When I thanked him for picking up my slack, he responded “No slack bro… can’t control unexpected circumstances.”
Are you a part of a team that will respond graciously when you cannot fulfill your duties?  Are you ready to respond graciously to your team when they are unable to do their jobs?  

Engage: Out of these 8 leadership lessons which ONE stuck out to you the most?  

by Jim Baker

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Julian LoiaconoApril 7, 2012 - 2:09 pm

id have to say number 8 stuck out the most. leadership can often be a lonely position, and it’s a lot easier when you know your subordinates care about you

Apr 03 2012

8 Leadership lessons I learned from saving a lady’s life | part 1

This is kind of like falling right? | 2008 Kailua Kona Hawaii | 20d

I asked Jess what the title of this blog post should be, and I shared with her a couple that I had been working with. She blurted out the title that we chose in a dramatic voice and said, “Mise well be dramatic, it’s the title, right?” Right indeed. 

Sunday night, Nate, a fellow staff member and I were in the baggage claim area of the Honolulu airport.  We were talking to our student Patrick, who had just arrived from the Congo as we were waiting for his bags.

I saw an elderly lady, trying to take a large bag off of the conveyor belt.  The bag was too heavy for her and the conveyor was moving too fast.  I started walking towards her because I could see that she needed help.  

She let go of the bag and then tripped over her purse.  She stumbled backwards and I caught her as she fell, softening her blow.  As she laid in my arms, with a startled look on her face, she looked up at me and said “Thank you for saving me.”

Nate came over and we helped the lady to her feet.  I asked her if she was okay.  Still startled, she replied, “I was just afraid because I’ve already had both hips replaced.”  During the fall, her carryon bag handle got bent and would not go back down.  

We got her large bag for her as it came around again on the conveyor belt and we sent her on her way.  

In hindsight, I realized this situation had some great leadership lessons:  Here are 4, I will share the other 4 on friday.  

1.  Be aware of what is happening around you.  
Even though I was having a conversation, I could see the lady struggling with her bag on conveyor belt.  

Be aware of what is going on in your organization.  Being observant could possibly help you stop problems before they start.

2.  Move towards potential problems.  
Since I saw that this woman struggling I moved in her direction to help.  

Simply moving towards a potential problem can help dissolve a situation before it becomes a much bigger problem.  Best case scenario: I would have been able to help this woman get her bag without her falling at all.  
If I would not have seen the potential problem, and starting moving towards her to help, I would not have been there to catch the lady when she fell. 

When you see a potential problem, be an initiator and walk towards the problem.  Proximity will help you be more effective than trying to deal with a problem from a distance.  

3.  Surround yourself with a team that is ready to jump in.  
Nate came over immediately as he saw me catching this falling woman.  We both helped her up.  

Having a team that is ready to jump in and help provide aide in any situation is always a blessing.  It lightens everyones load.  

4.  Fully resolve the situation.  
We asked her if she was okay.  As we talked with her, Nate tried to fix the broken handle on her carryon, and we got the heavy bag off of the conveyor belt for her.  

Ask if the all parties involved are okay, comfort, and resolve any further problems. 


Engage: Have you ever helped a stranger in public?  Share your story in the comments!

by Jim Baker

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Julian LoiaconoApril 4, 2012 - 1:14 am

i’ve given medical advice and helped some older ladies carry luggage, but I’ve never saved a woman like this. way to be alert, jim. looking forwards to the next post

Colleen CookApril 4, 2012 - 2:48 pm

Great post!  And great lessons on leadership.

Apr 01 2012

What I learned in one month of consistent blogging.

Jess crossing the finish line of the 2011 Erie marathon.  
In the month of March I set out to blog consistently.  And I can very proudly say I did exactly that.  Here is what I learned along the way… 

Blogging is hard work.  
Hard work is relative of course, I would much rather be sitting here typing into a screen than carrying bricks up a hill or running a marathon.  In the past two months I’ve written about the why and the how of blogging.  But for it to actually take off, it has to be met with some hard work to get it going and keep it going.

But that hard work pays off.  According to Blogger stats:

In January of 2012 I posted 0 blog posts and had 127 pageviews. 
In February I posted 4 blog posts and had 810 pageviews. 
In March I posted 14 blog posts and had 1677 pageviews.  

I guess the real test will be to see if April’s page views are much higher than March or not.  Here’s to more consistent blogging!  

Engage:  What is stopping you from starting a blog?  Or what is stopping you from blogging consistently?  Let us know in the comments!

by Jim Baker

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Zach LaValleyApril 2, 2012 - 3:14 pm

Sometimes my posts feel mediocre. I don’t like feeling like I’m wasting people’s time with my posts. I’d like to get to the point where every time I blog, people would read and enjoy and be better off for reading. You know. Like people would actively seek to read the blog and be like, “wow”.

But I’ve been having a lot of “meh” days. I don’t think I’ve posted in a week or so. Maybe tonight.

jimjessbakerApril 3, 2012 - 8:51 pm

Zach,

After you commented I spent some time reading through your blog. You’ve got A LOT of good things to say! You’ve got a voice that needs to be heard.
I don’t think every post we write can be gold, but being consistent, gives people an opportunity to be continually invited to hear what you have to say. Do you ever go to a blog because of one thing and spend a while clicking on other blog posts that they have written because you were interested in what they had to say? Thats how I look at blogging, each post is an invitation to dig deeper.
Plus when we blog consistently we’re practicing and honing our craft of communication, pushing us closer to the “wow” factor.
Check out my post on blogging reinforcing your message that I wrote a week or so ago –> http://bit.ly/H23uKa

Zach LaValleyApril 4, 2012 - 2:19 am

True true.

Actually, your post kicked me into gear after a week of not blogging and I posted a new one last night. I need to get a network of people around me that will yell at me when I don’t blog. I’ll start with you.

jimjessbakerApril 4, 2012 - 12:04 pm

haha, sweet man, I hope these posts have served as a kick in the rear for some people… I know I’m going to need someone to return the favor someday down the road :)

Mar 30 2012

How blogging helps REINFORCE your message.

Camp Mission Meadows | 20d | 2008 

I’ve heard it said that you have to hear an idea 7 times before comprehending it, much less accepting it.  I’m realizing how true this is…

I experienced this first hand not to long ago.  When I lived in Maryland I would walk with my friend Mike in the mornings.  I shared with him, early on in our decision process, about the possibility of us moving out here to Hawaii.  We talked about it more than a few times.    Mike came and heard us share one evening about us moving to Hawaii with a bigger group of people.  Jess shared with the group, the same thing I had been sharing, the what and the why of Hawaii. When the meeting finished Mike told Jess that when she shared, it really clicked and made sense.  


Was it because Jess communicated this message so much more clearly than I did?  That might be a possibility.  But I think it has more to do with the fact that the same idea had to be communicated multiple times for someone to understand and accept it.    


I’ve been writing a lot lately about blogging.  I’m sharing with you practical tips on how to blog, and reasons why. My main idea?  YOU SHOULD START A BLOG!  Here’s how.  


Blogging is a great way to communicate the same idea, share your vision multiple times in a variety of ways and will help reinforce your message.  


Engage:  Have you experienced needing to hear an idea more than a few times for it to make sense?  In what ways was it communicated?  Share with us in the comments!

by Jim Baker

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Zach LaValleyApril 4, 2012 - 2:27 am

I don’t know what you’ve blogged about in the past, but do you feel like blogging about blogging is kind of like your thing now? Seems like it. Which is cool. There are a lot of people that need that extra push to start a blog. Actually, the new post I mentioned in my other comment talks about blogging a little.

Also, you’re in Hawaii? I always thought you lived in Western New York. Why did I think that?

jimjessbakerApril 4, 2012 - 12:03 pm

I’m blogging about blogging right now because its relevant to me and its helping me externally process. I talked a bit about what I hope this blog will be here –> http://bit.ly/GDeRaU
I’m loosely blogging on different themes, like this past theme obviously was blogging, I’m not sure what I’ll do next, I’ve got some ideas, but I’m allowing myself to throw in whatever God is showing me at the moment too.
I DID live in WNY, I’ll tweet you more details because i’m wondering why we never met in person since we were in the same network of people.

Mar 27 2012

Changing Education Paradigms [VIDEO]

RSA Animate – Changing Education Paradigms from The RSA on Vimeo.




Joseph Avakian was with us this week and was sharing and challenging us with how we could better communicate and educate in our school of biblical studies.  He showed us this video in one of his sessions… 





Hawaii 2012: the details YOU want to know.

I’m excited to be a part of an organization that is thinking outside of the box as far as how we educate.  Realizing that we have a classroom full of individuals means we have a responsibility to serve the individuals we are leading.  



My public education was less than enjoyable, in fact I hated middle and high school.  




From 2005-2008 I worked with at risk kids in a public high school.  I learned a ton, but saw there needed to be some serious changes made.  I did my best in my tiny corner of the school but I felt like I was having a very minimal impact.  



Engage:  What is your reaction to this video?  As an educator what PRACTICAL changes can/should we be making?  Share with us in the comments!   

by Jim Baker

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Relb49March 28, 2012 - 11:17 am

I
haven’t seen this, but have heard most of the ideas before. He’s not
talking about a paradigm shift– but a total destruction of the current
education system from top to bottom. It’s a reasonably good expression
of the problems but pretty weak on the
plan to make the changes. We have definitely made education painful
compared to distractions of a modern world. At one time education was
an important way to put interest into your life. That motivation is
gone. One paradigm shift implied here is that many (maybe most)
students aren’t cut out for traditional education at all. The
philosophy for awhile now has been that everyone needs a standard
education and everyone can be educated as we have known it. Maybe not.
So how do we give the rest a new kind of education, and what do we
train them to do?  There
was an interesting email that came across my desk the other day in
which a professor offered the idea that not only do we have to teach
material, and how to learn, but now we should teach how to focus
(listen). People are so used to multitasking
that they can’t focus on just one thing at a time. I guess your video
maker would make the point that we should instead adapt the learning
environment to accommodate the new student. Again, I can’t envision
just what that would look like. The current system works for those that
can adapt. Or those that are determined to get educated as we know it
now. Can we re-define what it means to be educated? Can we redefine
the skills we need in the workplace? What about those that flourish
under the present system? With they be the new group that fails in a
new system? More questions than answers. 

KeithMarch 28, 2012 - 11:19 am

Hi Jim…..I think the video is very interesting.  Some good valid points in my opinion.  

In teaching martial arts over the years, there are so many things that I have learned about educating people, especially children.   I will briefly touch on a couple here since you asked me to share.  First of all, I think one of the important things to remember is that people learn differently.  There are visual learners who learn by seeing something, auditory learners who learn by hearing something and kinesthetic learners who learn by actual doing the activity they are being taught.  To teach a good group class, you must make sure that your teaching method encompasses all 3 learning styles.

I also think that teaching using influence instead of authority makes for a better and more enjoyable learning experience for people.  Developing rapport with the students really helps with this.  Each class we try to make sure that we make eye contact with each student, use their name and some kind of appropriate physical contact (hand shake, high five, pat on the back, etc.).  Depending on the size of the class, we try to make sure to do this 3 times with each student in a 45-60 minute class.  When we need to correct an action, we use the Praise-correct-praise model.  This means that we find something they are doing right and praise them for it.  Then we correct the action we want changed and when they make the change we praise them for it.  This sets up a very positive learning experience.  Another thing that sets up a positive experience is we use “Public Praise and Private Reprimand”.  This means when a student does something great, we “shout from the rooftops” about the student but if we need to reprimand a student, we pull them off to the side and do it privately.

To keep classes interesting we make sure that we disguise repetition when we need to practice basic skills over and over.  We also make sure that there is “Zero Downtime” which means that we never leave the class without something to do while we prepare for the next part of class, etc. 

To incorporate most of these educational tools requires extensive planning by the teacher.  So I believe if you see an educator using a lot of these types of tools, they are a very good teacher.  They have had to put a lot of effort and planning into running a good class.

There are many more tools but I hope this gives you some thoughts on ways that we try to teach great and effective classes.  If more classes were taught in the public schools in this manner, I think kids would like school a whole lot more!

Hope this helps.

Your friend,
Keith

Cherylbaker_8_18March 28, 2012 - 11:36 am

 I have very mixed thoughts on this article.  I work with Kindergarten children with ADD, ADHD and special needs.  I’m not sure that you can just say that kids are being made to be Zombies if they are medicated.  Some children cannot sit still or concentrate without medication.    Even sitting can be a great stimulation for a child without meds.  It’s just as easy for people to say don’t give the medicine as it is to say medicate. Yes Kindergarten children do have more thoughts on what things are used for because it is just the beginning of their introduction into the world of electronics.  As they grow they are exposed to more and more mindless activities. Changing the education structure won’t change the fact that children have every type of electronic toy and there are more to come.

Colleen CookMarch 30, 2012 - 2:17 pm

“If you think of it, the arts are victims of this mentality.  The arts especially address the idea of aesthetic experience… when your senses are operating at their peak… we’re getting our children through education by anesthetizing them.”

This is brilliance.  I am fired up by this and am eager to share it with my friends.  I have witnessed exactly these behaviors and considered the same things being said in this video myself, but this is such an outstanding illustration of these MAJOR issues!

To be honest, I don’t know what I could add to what he’s saying beyond the fact that the way that our schools are set up now does not allow for change in the system.  Unions, politics, state bureaucracy, standardized testing get in the way of change. So, if we want to see practical changes to the education system, then we have to change the minds of parents (voters) first, teachers second, politicians third. 

I need to simmer on this a bit.  I’m a fan.

Ross ConnellyApril 3, 2012 - 1:04 pm

First, I would just like to point out that this is a very visually engaging videos.  I love the illustrations and the way they are woven with the key words and the reoccurring DNA motif.

I really connect with a lot of the issues that the speaker addresses.  Yes, I think we over-medicate the kids.  Yes, I think that a lot of the educational procedures, traditions, and structures are dated. Relb49 touched on a great point.  Tthe video is weak on solutions.  The speaker has obviously read up on the challenges facing modern educators.  He also understands what needs to be changed.  Unfortunately, he doesn’t offer any notion of a solution.  I guess the first step to reform is recognition of the issues at hand, but that alone cannot solve the problems.  I think it is time to start seeking the solutions.  Bucking the system is difficult. As an educator, I see the systems in place and I’m required to use/follow them.  With my responsibilities as a teacher (which Jim knows can be overwhelming) it is difficult to find the time to rearrange the process and make it better.  I guess you could say that I am part of the problem.

I’m not sure how to proceed.  It is late and I’m tired… and I have to teach tomorrow.  I’ll keep doing my best and waiting for the next big educational renaissance.

LindseystumMay 16, 2012 - 3:55 pm

I really love the points he’s made and I still think a lot of what it boils down to is 1) know your students individually and know them well and 2) teach them in reaction to what you know. This applies to their interests, learning styles, environmental preferences, etc. all across the spectrum. The problem is is that I will likely teach in the traditional public school setting (currently going for my teaching certificate for secondary education for Spanish), which, like he said, is not conducive to this. But I think that just challenges me all the more to be the best teacher I can be and to work within the system to try to change it.

Mar 26 2012

5 tips to transitioning well with new leadership.

Prayer and Worship Night in Maryland | Iphone3gs
Have you experienced a transition in leadership?  What was that like for you?  Our ministry is going through a transition in leadership right now… 

Since we are now in Hawaii we have handed over the day to day leadership of our ministry in Maryland to two very capable people.  Whenever there is a shift in leadership, there is natural transition period.  This can sometimes be an awkward time.  Here are 5 things I shared with our new leaders before we left.  (Probably much more clearly articulated here than when I was praying for them at our prayer meeting.) 

1.  Continue to do things based on VISION and MISSION.
As a new leader, can you say that what you are doing is fulfilling the purpose of the vision and mission of the organization?  Can you show others why what you are doing achieves the fulfillment of those things?  

At times during a shift in leadership, people will see this as their opportunity to get things to go how they’ve always wanted them to go.  By pointing them back to the vision and mission of the organization you can take the pressure off of personal decision and preference and back to the larger goal of the community.  Reminding people often of why we do what we do will help reinforce the vision and mission of your organization.  

2.  Continue to ENCOURAGE one another.  
Encouragement is so HUGE.  During this time of people stepping up into new leadership positions, fears and insecurities might arise.  Encouraging the group to be supportive, honoring and encouraging of the new leaders and of one another brings unity.  Having your leadership team take time to be intentional about encouraging one another and the ones they are leading will be time well spent.  

Encouragement changes the atmosphere of a group.  Speaking out praise of one another, building one another up, showing appreciation for one another builds community.  It develops trust, and deepens and fosters relationships.  It also focuses on peoples strengths instead of their weaknesses.

3.  Continue to ASSUME THE BEST of one another.
Choosing to believe the best of one another is crucial in any community.  The devil loves to try and make us believe the worst about someone, which causes us to judge their motives.  When this happens, we become suspicious.  Then simple comments, which meant nothing, become deeply offensive.  

Choosing to believe the best of one another will stop you from making mountains out of molehills and keep you from wasting your time and emotional energy jumping at shadows.  

4.  Continue to be THANKFUL.  
Before we left Maryland, God was leading us to make thankfulness a part of our culture.  

Being thankful for what God is doing in your life, puts the goodness of God on display and it breaks off any bitterness that is trying to creep in.  

Being authentically thankful for what God is doing in other people’s lives is powerful as well.  Doing this breaks any spirit of jealousy or comparison.  We serve a generous God!  When God does something amazing in one persons life, we can thank Him because He can and most likely WANTS to do that very same thing in other people’s lives as well.  

5.  Continue to be INTENTIONAL.  
The first part of our mission statement is “intentional community.”  To be intentional about community requires a commitment which practically manifests by showing up to meetings on a regular basis and making it a priority. 

During the time of transition is important to be intentional about everything.  Being intentional about the above things and being proactive to make these things a priority will help bring people to ease about the changes that are being made.  

Getting a good strong START during this transition will help build a better foundation to build upon.  

Engage:  What have you found valuable during times of transition in leadership?  Let us know in the comments!

by Jim Baker

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KerryJune 25, 2013 - 5:29 am

My ministry is in a transition stage right now as well. As a former leader handing the responsibility on to new leaders, I’m realizing a need for over-communication in some areas. We can’t assume they’ll just know all the details we put into a year of ministry, so our training has to be very thorough and we have to leave enough time for questions to arise that we wouldn’t have thought of at first. It’s also important to connect the new leaders to resources and people you’ve networked with, so they’ll be equipped with the same things you had.

jimjessbakerJune 25, 2013 - 8:13 am

awesome thoughts! thanks Kerry! What I’m working on now is to put together a written manual of responsibilities and daily tasks, sometimes putting things in writing is a HUGE help and then once your gone people can still refer to it.