This, now growing, series on 'The Runner' has been yielding some interesting reactions from readers. On FaceBook I've read comments ranging from; 'I'm lacing up my running shoes', to 'I'm ready to join the marathon', all in response to this series.
I admire sprinters in track and field events. With a tremendous blast of speed they're out of the starting block and down the track in a matter of seconds. But sprinters are not runners. While they too have a horizon, it is within eye sight and their goal quickly reached. Sprinters train to be sprinters - they do not train to be runners.
Those who run in marathons, or cross country have my respect as well. These runners do not do well in the sprint - they did not train for the blast of great speed and quick finish. They train more in the endurance of running - how to stay in it to the end. But as is for sprinters, marathon racers have a finish line, it is simply reached a bit later than the sprinter reaches hers.
To be the kind of Runner I've been writing about - Philip kind of Runners - is dependent on two specific functions; horizon and training to the horizon. Philip Runners have already seen what cannot be seen and by default pursue a different horizon than most.
Running in the Biblical context is not about finishing and it’s certainly not about competing with other runners – but it is about winning. At the end of his days, after 20 years of not hearing about Philip in the book of Acts we find him in his place of service now with four daughters all of whom were like their father - Runners. Philip ran with endurance. He possessed the ability to see and understand what he saw for his generation and passed his competency along to the next generation - he won!
For those of you who would be Runners of your generation, take note; you must train in such a way that focuses upon the horizon only. You must abandon the notions of competition and finish line. Neither exist.
The Philip Project is based upon a very certain but very unseen horizon.
Here's today's question; 'Are you ready to have a Runner's Horizon?'
Next? 'The Runner's Attitude'
Dan
A Runner
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
A Runner
I'm grateful for the many comments received from last week's posting; 'Are you the runner of your generation'. There are many of you who desire to be more and to have more from your followership of God.
You've come to that place, found in every relationship [whether its ever recognized or not]. That place where pursuits of absolute lead you to holy frustrations. You begin to say; 'There must be more.' You begin to dream big audacious dreams and you begin to see yourself as a solution to the corruption around you.
Can I encourage you, do not ignore, try to appease or calm the growing frustration in you. This is the place where greatness is conceived and the power of generational innovation is born.
In the Biblical Rescue Intensive I'm reminding attendees and would be Rescuers to 'slow the shutter speed down.' If you see too fast, you understand too little and your response is too shallow. You cannot solve the problems around you with the same speed in which those problems were created.
And so, if you will become a Runner in your generation you first need to slow yourself. Even expert marksmen will say; slow is smooth and smooth is fast. We see but don't understand because we see at the speed of life rather than the speed of God. Remember, He [God] ALWAYS moves slower than you and I.
For those of you paying attention and desire to be a Runner with understanding. This is lesson one; Slow the shutter speed down. Lesson two? Learn lesson one.
Please also get out your concordance, look up and read every reference in the New Testament on Philip. By doing so, you'll begin to understand why he could have been called upon by the Angel that day to run with understanding to the Ethiopian man.
Lastly, let me encourage you in this verse found in I Chronicles 12:32. It's one of my favorite verses on the topic of understanding.
"The sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command"
Did you read? They understood the times, they knew what to do and everyone else followed them. What else do you think God desires from you except to be the one in any situation who can be called upon to Run.
Dan
a runner
You've come to that place, found in every relationship [whether its ever recognized or not]. That place where pursuits of absolute lead you to holy frustrations. You begin to say; 'There must be more.' You begin to dream big audacious dreams and you begin to see yourself as a solution to the corruption around you.
Can I encourage you, do not ignore, try to appease or calm the growing frustration in you. This is the place where greatness is conceived and the power of generational innovation is born.
In the Biblical Rescue Intensive I'm reminding attendees and would be Rescuers to 'slow the shutter speed down.' If you see too fast, you understand too little and your response is too shallow. You cannot solve the problems around you with the same speed in which those problems were created.
And so, if you will become a Runner in your generation you first need to slow yourself. Even expert marksmen will say; slow is smooth and smooth is fast. We see but don't understand because we see at the speed of life rather than the speed of God. Remember, He [God] ALWAYS moves slower than you and I.
For those of you paying attention and desire to be a Runner with understanding. This is lesson one; Slow the shutter speed down. Lesson two? Learn lesson one.
Please also get out your concordance, look up and read every reference in the New Testament on Philip. By doing so, you'll begin to understand why he could have been called upon by the Angel that day to run with understanding to the Ethiopian man.
Lastly, let me encourage you in this verse found in I Chronicles 12:32. It's one of my favorite verses on the topic of understanding.
"The sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command"
Did you read? They understood the times, they knew what to do and everyone else followed them. What else do you think God desires from you except to be the one in any situation who can be called upon to Run.
Dan
a runner
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Are you the runner of your generation?
It's great imagery.
Philip, a disciple of Christ having received instruction from an Angel of the Lord ran to catch up to a man of Ethiopia traveling in a chariot, who was a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians.
This man had traveled to Jerusalem to worship and was returning to his country when Philip got the 'call' to run.
As Philip ran along side the chariot he observed the man reading Isaiah the prophet and said, 'Do you understand what you are reading?' The man's reply? 'How can I, unless someone guides me?' and he asked Philip to come up to his chariot and join him.
In the conversation, Philip preached Jesus to him which ended up in the man being baptized.
This example of a 'run along beside' ministry can be found in your Bible in the book of Acts, chapter 8.
We are living in a world where more and more people fit the description of the Ethiopian man. People who see but have no understanding.
Many people see the need to serve meals to the hungry,
Many people see that pregnancies are out of control among our youth,
Many people see there is a need to house the unhoused,
Many people see the importance of reaching parents,
Many people see the incarceration rates among African American men is astonishingly higher than any other demographic,
Many people see the recidivism rate of incarceration and addiction moves like a merry-go-round,
Many people see that the median age of the unhoused is getting younger each year,
Many people see the church is AWOL in areas of justice,
Many people see the church is still the most powerful certainty on this planet,
Many people see that unaccompanied youth in our society is a growing concern on our streets,
Many people see we need change at every level of all sectors of our communities.
Many people see - but not many people truly possess an understanding of what they're seeing.
It is this lack of understanding that is creating, and in many cases exasperating the already existing problems within our communities, homes and churches. For example, because we don't understand the fundamentals of poverty, we think just because we can see where poverty exists we know enough of what to do - but do we?
Here's today's example question; "Since the impoverished of our communities continue to receive the same treatment year after year which amounts to hand outs of everything from backpacks and school supplies in the fall to block parties in the spring and summer, what has changed?
Are the impoverished no longer impoverished, or are we instead seeing new generations of poverty; the sons and daughters of those we have 'served' year after year.
The outcome and perspective regarding the work and service being conducted in our communities should tell us that we see, but do not understand.
Are you the runner of your generation?
Can you be called upon to run?
It's runners we need - those who not only see, but understand.
Now, more than ever we need the development and release of the 'run along beside' function of following God. It's time to add to our seeing the ability and function of understanding.
This year, I'll be participating in and releasing along with other key leaders; 'The Philip Project'. Our attempt is to identify and recruit men and women of all ages who see, but desire more - they desire to run. I'll keep updating this initiative as it unfolds. If you desire to know more, drop me a line; danrogers@cherrystreetmission.org.
How will they understand if there is no one to guide them?
Dan
a runner
Philip, a disciple of Christ having received instruction from an Angel of the Lord ran to catch up to a man of Ethiopia traveling in a chariot, who was a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians.
This man had traveled to Jerusalem to worship and was returning to his country when Philip got the 'call' to run.
As Philip ran along side the chariot he observed the man reading Isaiah the prophet and said, 'Do you understand what you are reading?' The man's reply? 'How can I, unless someone guides me?' and he asked Philip to come up to his chariot and join him.
In the conversation, Philip preached Jesus to him which ended up in the man being baptized.
This example of a 'run along beside' ministry can be found in your Bible in the book of Acts, chapter 8.
We are living in a world where more and more people fit the description of the Ethiopian man. People who see but have no understanding.
Many people see the need to serve meals to the hungry,
Many people see that pregnancies are out of control among our youth,
Many people see there is a need to house the unhoused,
Many people see the importance of reaching parents,
Many people see the incarceration rates among African American men is astonishingly higher than any other demographic,
Many people see the recidivism rate of incarceration and addiction moves like a merry-go-round,
Many people see that the median age of the unhoused is getting younger each year,
Many people see the church is AWOL in areas of justice,
Many people see the church is still the most powerful certainty on this planet,
Many people see that unaccompanied youth in our society is a growing concern on our streets,
Many people see we need change at every level of all sectors of our communities.
Many people see - but not many people truly possess an understanding of what they're seeing.
It is this lack of understanding that is creating, and in many cases exasperating the already existing problems within our communities, homes and churches. For example, because we don't understand the fundamentals of poverty, we think just because we can see where poverty exists we know enough of what to do - but do we?
Here's today's example question; "Since the impoverished of our communities continue to receive the same treatment year after year which amounts to hand outs of everything from backpacks and school supplies in the fall to block parties in the spring and summer, what has changed?
Are the impoverished no longer impoverished, or are we instead seeing new generations of poverty; the sons and daughters of those we have 'served' year after year.
The outcome and perspective regarding the work and service being conducted in our communities should tell us that we see, but do not understand.
Are you the runner of your generation?
Can you be called upon to run?
It's runners we need - those who not only see, but understand.
Now, more than ever we need the development and release of the 'run along beside' function of following God. It's time to add to our seeing the ability and function of understanding.
This year, I'll be participating in and releasing along with other key leaders; 'The Philip Project'. Our attempt is to identify and recruit men and women of all ages who see, but desire more - they desire to run. I'll keep updating this initiative as it unfolds. If you desire to know more, drop me a line; danrogers@cherrystreetmission.org.
How will they understand if there is no one to guide them?
Dan
a runner
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Reject Sameness!
There is an article in today's Toledo Blade [Sunday April 5] with the headline; 'Charity cuts ties to food distributor'. If you read the article you know the charity is Cherry Street Mission Ministries and the food distributor is the Toledo Northwest Ohio Food Bank [TNWFB].
The headline should have read; Food distributor cuts ties with Charity.
Cherry Street has had a very long relationship with the TNWFB - well relationship may be putting too fine a point on it; they sell food and we buy food. However, in the past two years the leadership of the food bank has engaged in direct mail marketing that is misleading to what the food bank actually does - sell food.
The direct mail campaigns they've conducted suggest that if you send them a certain amount of money, they will be able to provide families who are hungry, a certain amount of meals. This is a lot like a grocery store suggesting they serve meals.
Do they? Does a grocery store serve meals to families? NO!
Grocery stores do however provide the community a place to shop for food. The community then goes to their places of residence and makes meals from the food the grocery store sold them.
After numerous attempts to reach the leadership of TNWFB to discuss my concerns, and having received no return contact I instructed our Food Service to cease providing the numbers of meals we were serving.
On March 24th our Food Service department was told by TNWFB that we would no longer be able to purchase food from them until they received our meal counts. That being the proverbial straw, we officially severed ties to the food bank.
Even though there may be trouble for taking a stand, what trouble may come is dwarfed by the slow and steady erosion of hope summed up in; 'same old, same old. If we are to be a challenge to this darkness, then we will need to possess the virtue of indifference toward those who promote sameness in our community.
It's time to reject sameness!
Allow me to suggest, that if the world around you seems to be the same, day after day - you may be a candidate to take a stand for something. Rather than wait for the world to change, you change the world. Each of us have within us the ability to be nation and generation changers.
In a world where integrity is at a premium, right will often be at a premium as well.
Dan
The headline should have read; Food distributor cuts ties with Charity.
Cherry Street has had a very long relationship with the TNWFB - well relationship may be putting too fine a point on it; they sell food and we buy food. However, in the past two years the leadership of the food bank has engaged in direct mail marketing that is misleading to what the food bank actually does - sell food.
The direct mail campaigns they've conducted suggest that if you send them a certain amount of money, they will be able to provide families who are hungry, a certain amount of meals. This is a lot like a grocery store suggesting they serve meals.
Do they? Does a grocery store serve meals to families? NO!
Grocery stores do however provide the community a place to shop for food. The community then goes to their places of residence and makes meals from the food the grocery store sold them.
After numerous attempts to reach the leadership of TNWFB to discuss my concerns, and having received no return contact I instructed our Food Service to cease providing the numbers of meals we were serving.
On March 24th our Food Service department was told by TNWFB that we would no longer be able to purchase food from them until they received our meal counts. That being the proverbial straw, we officially severed ties to the food bank.
Even though there may be trouble for taking a stand, what trouble may come is dwarfed by the slow and steady erosion of hope summed up in; 'same old, same old. If we are to be a challenge to this darkness, then we will need to possess the virtue of indifference toward those who promote sameness in our community.
It's time to reject sameness!
Allow me to suggest, that if the world around you seems to be the same, day after day - you may be a candidate to take a stand for something. Rather than wait for the world to change, you change the world. Each of us have within us the ability to be nation and generation changers.
In a world where integrity is at a premium, right will often be at a premium as well.
Dan
Monday, March 30, 2009
30.8%
A point in time survey is like taking a picture of a demographic or specific population to determine aggregate numbers - which becomes a data picture.
In a recent point in time survey, a 'picture' was taken at intake, of Lucas County inmates in regional jails or prisons. The survey netted the following information:
Age at first arrest 16
Age at first conviction 19
Age of first violent offence arrest 19
Percentage of those on probation or parole at time of arrest 42.8%
Percentage of those surveyed who had a juvenile record 64.5%
The survey goes on to point out that 75.4% are single, 46.6% do not have a High School Diploma, 51.9% are unemployed, 15.0% experienced physical or sexual abuse as a child, 57.2% have received no substance abuse treatment, 29.4% were high on drugs, alcohol or both at the time of their arrest.
And for those of you who are interested, 58.7% of the inmates surveyed at intake, were African American and 87.0% were males.
For a few years now, I've been talking along with many esteemed and concerned people in our communities about the need to reach parents - above all else. Whether we like it or not, parents are the headwaters of the stream flowing through the tributaries of our neighborhoods.
This stream now flows red from the dashed hopes and futures of two generations.
Here's today's question: If you were a chopper, not a hacker [ 3.13.09] and your intended goal was to effect change in the above percentages or ages - where would you start?
By the way, the average age of the person surveyed at the time of intake was 32. When asked where they were living at the time of their arrest - 30.8% were at home living with their parents.
It's not complicated, it's just complex,
Dan
Friday, March 27, 2009
You're Invited!
Renewing Minds
This is our theme for the 2009 Banquet for Cherry Street Mission Ministries. If you haven't yet received your invitation in the mail, please accept my personal invitation to join the hundreds of folks around the area who will be in attendance this year.
This is Cherry Street's premier event of the year, where we celebrate the work of God in the hearts and lives of men, women and families of Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.
The Renewing Minds Banquet is underwritten by our generous sponsors so that we may invite you free of charge.
Here are the particulars:
You'll want to get your reservations in early, as this is an RSVP event by emailing Amy Ambrose at aambrose@cherrystreetmission.org or Ashley Shaffer at ashaffer@cherrystreetmission.org.
You may also call Amy or Ashley at 419-242-5141.
For you folks on Facebook, you can also respond by finding an invitation on our Facebook wall.
I'll look forward to seeing you there,
Dan
This is our theme for the 2009 Banquet for Cherry Street Mission Ministries. If you haven't yet received your invitation in the mail, please accept my personal invitation to join the hundreds of folks around the area who will be in attendance this year.
This is Cherry Street's premier event of the year, where we celebrate the work of God in the hearts and lives of men, women and families of Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.
The Renewing Minds Banquet is underwritten by our generous sponsors so that we may invite you free of charge.
Here are the particulars:
Thursday, April 23rd
6:30 - 8:30
Gladieux Meadows
4480 Heatherdowns Blvd.
Toledo
You'll want to get your reservations in early, as this is an RSVP event by emailing Amy Ambrose at aambrose@cherrystreetmission.org or Ashley Shaffer at ashaffer@cherrystreetmission.org.
You may also call Amy or Ashley at 419-242-5141.
For you folks on Facebook, you can also respond by finding an invitation on our Facebook wall.
I'll look forward to seeing you there,
Dan
Friday, March 20, 2009
Food For Thought
Props to Don Schiewer and his team at Food For Thought for making a difference in the Greater Toledo Area.
Yesterday, Food For Thought was awarded $40,000 from a collaborative funding pool including United Way, Toledo Community Foundation and Lucas County.
The dollars will provide needed assistance to Food For Thought in its continuing collaborative work within the Care Team to make food available to citizens in various towns of Lucas County. Next month, for example, they will be in Holland.
Hats off to the fine folks of Food For Thought whom have, for nearly two years given tirelessly and sacrificially in extending friendship to people in our city and region through food.
If you would like to see Food For Thought in action, join them this Saturday and every Saturday downtown at the Toledo Public Library at 10:00 a.m. You'll be amazed - trust me.
Congratulations Don and Team - well done!
Dan
Yesterday, Food For Thought was awarded $40,000 from a collaborative funding pool including United Way, Toledo Community Foundation and Lucas County.
The dollars will provide needed assistance to Food For Thought in its continuing collaborative work within the Care Team to make food available to citizens in various towns of Lucas County. Next month, for example, they will be in Holland.
Hats off to the fine folks of Food For Thought whom have, for nearly two years given tirelessly and sacrificially in extending friendship to people in our city and region through food.
If you would like to see Food For Thought in action, join them this Saturday and every Saturday downtown at the Toledo Public Library at 10:00 a.m. You'll be amazed - trust me.
Congratulations Don and Team - well done!
Dan
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