Archive of "world" Category
A Principle In Transition: Social Change Agents
I am close to many people in transition and have been a part of several efforts to create a good enterprise in the emerging marketplace of social change. With in moments of encountering the people who I have ridden with in vans and cars in under resourced parts of the world, I recognize my own limitations to complete the task of changing the world. I thought I let go of this expectation and grand narrative that has haunted me since I was a boy. Listening to my father tell me stories of missionaries to the great lakes and out regions of Canada, or his urban ministry friends who were bi-vocational out of necessity. Nonetheless, here I sit in one of the greatest transition of my life as the observer and participant. Longing to hold onto the glimpses of good in the past for the full integration of my present future: a future that looks much more ordinary than extraordinary to the outside world. And in that moment I am reminded of this thought: “What if the point of this whole thing, meaning life and the interconnections and extension we create is about one thing?” The sacred/secular interplay of faith acted out in community: be it in business, family or friendships. This is my point: I am starting to think it is in the ordinary we begin to grasp the depth our own creation and the co-creation we continue to participate within.
We all have worldviews, which our shaped by our education, upbringing and experience. We all search for meaning; I would like to suggest that we are emerging into a space of creating meaning through the interconnected reality of the digital communication between individual and community. However, with out a local contextual expression of your “self” we can be lost and diluted by our own grand narratives at play in our subconscious and conscious mind. It is only in the communication between the other people we begin the sacred act of transformation. No longer can I just hold onto my particular worldview I become shaped in the transaction of ideas, empathy and relationship. This is my ultimate goal: that my simple, small being, would interact with the grand narrative of Creation through the interplay of a local and global intercultural community. The community I am passionate about lies in both the academic, social, and religious enterprise: along with the convergence of inter-cultural behavior and the creative act of communication for mutual benefit.
There is a growing concern for the social entrepreneur to leave the nest of security in celebrity or heroic behavior in order to act in mutually beneficial ways with the other. There is a need for an emergence of brands and enterprises, which can risk the bottom line enough to innovate new categories of communication and exchange of goods and services. The power structures at play with in our global social society are demanding us to give up control in order to gain informational insight into the picture of those who are not in power. This is an opportunity for growth and transformation of our world.
Open Hand Initiative: Lemonade
One of my visions for this blog is to create a space where people can tell stories of open hand initiatives through giving, living and creating. At a time when politics, religion and economics polarize people groups. My hope is that we will look around our community and your world and find the Open Hand Initiative near you. And if there isn’t one you would ask the question: “What is God doing and how can I be involved in this grand narrative of reconciliation?” It is time to promote stories that change our worldview.
Here is a website my friend Todd Hiestand developed for an organization called Lemonade International. If you want to be inspired check out both of these sites by clicking on their names in this post.
May this Monday be filled with hope and excittment.
A Possible Future
After reading this Time article I thought of conversations I have been having with teenagers, 20′s somethings and 30 somethings. Teenagers who are frustrated that they are not given a voice. College Grad’s and post grad’s who want to work and live in a way that is core to their ethic and values. Young families who are overwhelmed with a sense of anxiety and fear. The emergence of a reality we were taught growing up is rapidly slipping out of view. The ideology we were fed was the American dream.
Since it is clear that most of us will not see the American Dream I think it is time we take a look inward to find and develop a meaningful future of possibility and transformation.
The idea of transformation is a reality I have been living for the past year. This post will be my attempt to share some insights on how you might carve out a way of life for yourself that brings hope and meaning to others.
1. What is going on around you that represents your values?
2. How can you get involved?
3. Begin to pray about that specific area you discover.
4. Share it with someone who will support your way of life and worldview.
5. Live your future now, don’t wait for permission.
Recently, I spoke with an associate pastor in my town and I asked him, “do you want to do the work you are doing.” He told me, “I would like to do 50%-75% of the work I am doing now.”
I then took out a piece of paper and wrote:
1. Identify the work you want to do.
2. Pray about it with your support group of friends and family.
3. Meet with your leadership and ask them to free you up to work in that way.
The reality is this young leader was working a lot of hours, not being paid enough for his investment and sacrifice. It is my opinion that during this recession, people have a great opportunity to design a better future. This is possible because employers can not give raises or will not. They are taking the approach of cheep labor and pushing more and more work down channel.
Our economic system is broke. I do not want the American dream, I think it is a lie. I think it is a major part of the problem. I believe people want to live out their design and desire. We all have so much to give and our systems often do not ask us the right questions for real transformation and growth.
The possibility of a great awakening is now, it is all ready happening. I am living it with my wife, daughter and community. In order for the grassroots movement to continue we will have to join together, naming the voices of fear and the systems of power that so easily enslave. By naming these voices and systems we will awaken the deep spirit inside of all our souls, the part of us that was designed by a Creator who longs to see creation restored.
I have a worldview and context that promotes a view of a loving Creator, who represented itself in Jesus Christ life, death, resurrection. However, one of the greatest systems that keeps people from this kind of transformation from death into new life in the institution I love, the church. It is my hope to be an voice in the wilderness pointing to a third way. A way of possibility, where we can face our fears through the power of the resurrected Lord, remember our past and hold on hope to the future.
The Hardest Thing to Do is Try
For over a year now, I have been apart of One Village Coffee.
We are a group of people trying to help children through funding development in overlooked regions of the world.
We are a Coffee Roaster, providing sustainably certified coffee to the conscious customer.
We are an educator, storyteller and believer.
There is more to starting something than being good…
With out the common value of change, wrong choices and painful experiences we would not be here still alive and growing.
This past year has tested my beliefs, confidence and understanding. Almost every day I am in over my head. For the past month I have immersed myself in coffee equipment and brewing technique. It is my goal to create a program for people who love coffee and the way it can develop community.
I long for community…
Ever since I left vocational ministry to pursue the dream that is the Kingdom: the belief that God is involved in His creation and longs for the created to take part in,
The restoration of relationships
The acceptance of the un accepted
The empowering of the poor
The development of Freedom
The community of Faith.
I wake up with a small understanding of the mess of the Gospel:
Giving up the right to do what is best for me and only me.
To consider others that I see as less than me, better than me.
I can not be who I am created to be with out the constant reminder of how scary this is:
Life and the pursuit of happiness,
True success, in the upside down world
A capitalistic tool of business, marketing, and sales:
Providing a commodity produced in the under developed countries through the industry of Coffee.
Marketing our product to the customer who believes paying more is supporting more:
I sometimes struggle with the idea of capitalistic gain through the helping of the poor.
I sometimes struggle with the sale of an idea or dream.
Concepts that we are a people who are made to co create and begin to build a better world.
I am not sure what all of this means, but it is helpful to write it out.
Sorry it has been so long…
What $1000 did for Bala
This is a letter sent from the director of NIFES, Bala Usman.
I am posting this because I want people to understand how much we have been given, and how much a little will do. This is a dear friend of our family and the reason we set off to start a coffee company, One Village Coffee, in order to support Non-Profit. We are currently working on starting an umbrella non-profit, Open Hand Initiative (OHI) for all the over looked people doing this kind of work around the world.
Right now there is a partnership forming with the MAMA project and the Nigerian leaders through my father. The reason we want to start this non profit which will be funded through One Village Coffee, grants, personal donations and other business’s is due to the rising interest in the involvement our family has internationally.
We are the connectors to communities around the world and it is time to tell the story of these amazing people do so much with so little.
Here the words of Bala:
Dear Hackman,
Warm regards to you and your family.
Beloved, you are the blessing that God has blessed to see that our vision and dream of transforming Africa through the Nigeria.
This is to personally and formally thank you for the timely gift you sent to help with our Coffee farm development which is a basis of enhancing
thousands being enhanced and empowered to make impact and reduce the poverty level of our people. The said amount came to N116, 300:00 because they gave me some lower denominations for $900@N119 (N107, 100) and the $80 @N115 ( N9,200) and the balance of ($20) was charged
as commission for the transfer from the USA. I feel deeply concerned for and loved by your act of mercy and care for the unknown. May his Love overwhelm you.
This is the summary and briefs for the total sum sent:
The sum of N72, 500 earmarked for the bore hole due to its dept and materials and labor. The boreholes work has started and will be finished by tomorrow.
The sum of N24, 000 earmarked for the cow dung manure, which has been supplied, and
The sum of N12, 500 to pay the workers for the month of December -January 2008.
The sum of N3, 500 earmarked for the fuel towards the watering.
The balance of N1000 I used it to buy phone card for phone calls and 2,800 gas for my car and movement for supervision.
These are the things that we are able to do at the school.
I used the balance to purchase 16 bags of cement @ N1, 530 and used it to floor the 5 classes (N24, 480). We also did deposit N 25,500: for the roof Hedges to cover the open areas of the roof and then fixed the window louver glasses costing N14, 160 against the cold weather to protect the children. The chicken birds were sold and we used them to settle our children fees (N135, 000: 00)
I WILL LIKE to APPRECIATE and keep thanking you for your graciousness and kindness to make us have less tension and more relaxed mind. I am humbled by your thoughtfulness.
I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE THOUGHT OF MOBILISING A TEAM TO HELP BUILD TH OTHER PART OF THE SCHOOL. You talked about working to gather the materials for the building. Sir, Can I know what and what I should begin to gather and put together? We are deeply overwhelmed over your desire and discussion to have people mobilized to support and come build or help work on the building in the school
Grace and I are praying and planning to have some time spending part of my Rest in 2008. Love to your wife and the Children.
