Design:
Claire McCardell (1905-1958)
Claire McCardell is someone I admire for her work in fashion. She has been identified as the first truly American Fashion designer. She was a forerunner for woman’s sportswear and had a vision for a new look when everyone else was focused on making an old one better. Her look was simple but fresh and met the need of a changing culture. She created casual but sophisticated clothes with a functional design, this reflected the lifestyles of an American women.
She was met by the challenge the effect the war had on design. There was no contact with France, the world leader of fashion, and the war effort demanded a rationing of fabrics. These setbacks did not affect McCardell, who already was steering clear of French influence and whose designs made frugal use of material.
Calling:
Abraham Lincoln (President, Abolitionist, Changed culture and society).
President Lincoln’s life has many obvious ……The thing that admire is that he lived his passions and convictions. He believed in freedom so much that he was willing to risk a country’s economic base and political security to gain it. He pushed though an large amount of obstacles in his personal life and brought our country though an amazingly tough time in history. I know there are lots of details, possible motives and cultural influenced about him I do not know. But I do know that he had the spirit of God to influence this country and the world.
Spiritual:
Julia Loren
Ok, so I don’t know a lot about Julia, and I use her as a representation of the collection of people I have just begun to admire. They are the spiritual forerunners that seem to be putting pressure on heaven and are blazing a trail of revelation for us….my generation. These people are concerned with title, pressures, progress and expectations. They are concerned with Gods calling on their life and how it relates to the body of Christ. I see people putting aside so much and then living in true Freedom.
Julia Loren specifically has articulated the real spiritual world. Divinely showing the revelation of how the supernatural works. Her writing brings freedom and equips to fight and live effectively.
Showing posts with label day four: sun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label day four: sun. Show all posts
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
World Changers
William Wilberforce: 1759-1833
“God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of morals.” At twenty-six years of age Wilberforce became an evangelical Christian, there changing his path forever. Becoming an anti-slave-trade activists Wilberforce acted out to end salve trade in his lifetime. There after he became one of the leading English abolitionists, and stared the largest abolitionists campaigns that we know today. Through trial and tribulation, in 1807 the Slave Trade Act was passed, ending all slave trade in Britten and its colonies. As slavery was still legal, Wilberforce set out to see that all slavery would end also. He worked his entire life fighting this; three days before his death, slavery became illegal. Known as Slavery Abolition Act of 1833. Talking about a man filling his dream, a man that was denied eleven times and got back up every time. William Wilberforce is a true hero of all of humanity, an anointed and determined man that changed the course of our history forever!
Albert Einstein: 1879-1955
His problem-solving ability declined as his knowledge increased. Einstein broke all the rules in what defines a genius. If we live in the knowing, all that is, is what someone else thought up. He takes knowledge out of the picture and puts intuition into everything. The simple idea if someone makes a “crazy” suggestion in a meeting, no one says, “Wow, that kind of original thinking may lead to a novel solution.” Instead, they roll their eyes and return to the discussion. Is where we went wrong, we have been taught to learn the rules and use the rules that society has put before us. The theory of relativity only came form breaking the rules. For the rules set before him would of only lead to a lifetime of ideas with no meaning. As a failed high school dropout and struggled with autism he was no disappointment to humanity. He quotes “The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education.” This states: that what we know is not of importance, but that intuition is everything. Not only did theory of relativity change the course of how we live today but for some, it was how he got to he theory that changed everything. Einstein quotes in his later years “The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.” That leads me to….
Ron Paul: 1935-Present
Republican United States Congressman, physician, bestselling author, and two-time presidential candidate and the only man that has been telling the truth and has not been shot. He is a constitutionalist, libertarian, advocate for ending the federal income tax, scaling back government spending, abolishing most federal agencies, and removing military bases and troops from foreign soil. Rob Paul is no puppet for our postmodernism ideologies; no amount of money will buy his actions. We must legalize freedom, not strip is all away like we are watching happen. Ron Paul quotes “The obligations of our representatives in Washington are to protect our liberty, not coddle the world, precipitating no-win wars, while bringing bankruptcy and economic turmoil to our people.” One World Order would be a shame to all of civilization; there is just simply no freedom in fascism.
“God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of morals.” At twenty-six years of age Wilberforce became an evangelical Christian, there changing his path forever. Becoming an anti-slave-trade activists Wilberforce acted out to end salve trade in his lifetime. There after he became one of the leading English abolitionists, and stared the largest abolitionists campaigns that we know today. Through trial and tribulation, in 1807 the Slave Trade Act was passed, ending all slave trade in Britten and its colonies. As slavery was still legal, Wilberforce set out to see that all slavery would end also. He worked his entire life fighting this; three days before his death, slavery became illegal. Known as Slavery Abolition Act of 1833. Talking about a man filling his dream, a man that was denied eleven times and got back up every time. William Wilberforce is a true hero of all of humanity, an anointed and determined man that changed the course of our history forever!
Albert Einstein: 1879-1955
His problem-solving ability declined as his knowledge increased. Einstein broke all the rules in what defines a genius. If we live in the knowing, all that is, is what someone else thought up. He takes knowledge out of the picture and puts intuition into everything. The simple idea if someone makes a “crazy” suggestion in a meeting, no one says, “Wow, that kind of original thinking may lead to a novel solution.” Instead, they roll their eyes and return to the discussion. Is where we went wrong, we have been taught to learn the rules and use the rules that society has put before us. The theory of relativity only came form breaking the rules. For the rules set before him would of only lead to a lifetime of ideas with no meaning. As a failed high school dropout and struggled with autism he was no disappointment to humanity. He quotes “The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education.” This states: that what we know is not of importance, but that intuition is everything. Not only did theory of relativity change the course of how we live today but for some, it was how he got to he theory that changed everything. Einstein quotes in his later years “The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.” That leads me to….
Ron Paul: 1935-Present
Republican United States Congressman, physician, bestselling author, and two-time presidential candidate and the only man that has been telling the truth and has not been shot. He is a constitutionalist, libertarian, advocate for ending the federal income tax, scaling back government spending, abolishing most federal agencies, and removing military bases and troops from foreign soil. Rob Paul is no puppet for our postmodernism ideologies; no amount of money will buy his actions. We must legalize freedom, not strip is all away like we are watching happen. Ron Paul quotes “The obligations of our representatives in Washington are to protect our liberty, not coddle the world, precipitating no-win wars, while bringing bankruptcy and economic turmoil to our people.” One World Order would be a shame to all of civilization; there is just simply no freedom in fascism.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
A Miller & an Elf walked into a bar—the Iconographer ducked.
This is supposed to be about someone who has done what I’m attempting—create poetry [verbal AND visual] to reflect Truth. I didn’t find a historical or cultural figure who did precisely that, so I’m combining a couple different aspects of folks who’ve inspired me. This is not to say that I’m the first person in the history of the universe to create in the way I hope to; my research was not exhaustive and, like any creative process, I just rearrange existing elements to form a unique whole.
Iconography—the depiction of God or saints—was deemed a “vocation” in the historic church. Just like you could receive a vocation to be a priest or a nun, God could call you to full-time service as His artist. Iconographers did not even attempt to start an image until they felt that God had inspired them with vision to do it as He desired. Iconography is still considered a “vocation” in some branches of the church—a holy art.
I want to be iconographic in that I want the images that fall onto my paper to be instigated by the Holy Spirit.
Calvin Miller grew up poor and fatherless in a dusty Oklahoma town. He somehow made it to college, into ministry, and through higher education. At a point when he was dealing with stagnation and depression, he felt God challenging him to lead a deeper inner life and express to the world a vibrant, robust portrayal of Christ through literature. He awoke one night at 2am with the first line of what would become a poetic trilogy. It was about Jesus. It sprang from focusing on Jesus. And it touched thousands of people.
I want to be like Calvin Miller in his exquisite skill with words and his capacity to cloak eternal concepts in earthly language.
I hope that, in my concoctions of words and images, I somehow express the divine. In The Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien’s elves state “…we put the thought of all that we love into all that we make.” I guess that’s my heart’s desire and my inspiration to live up to the words of 1 Peter 4:10-11: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
Iconography—the depiction of God or saints—was deemed a “vocation” in the historic church. Just like you could receive a vocation to be a priest or a nun, God could call you to full-time service as His artist. Iconographers did not even attempt to start an image until they felt that God had inspired them with vision to do it as He desired. Iconography is still considered a “vocation” in some branches of the church—a holy art.
I want to be iconographic in that I want the images that fall onto my paper to be instigated by the Holy Spirit.
Calvin Miller grew up poor and fatherless in a dusty Oklahoma town. He somehow made it to college, into ministry, and through higher education. At a point when he was dealing with stagnation and depression, he felt God challenging him to lead a deeper inner life and express to the world a vibrant, robust portrayal of Christ through literature. He awoke one night at 2am with the first line of what would become a poetic trilogy. It was about Jesus. It sprang from focusing on Jesus. And it touched thousands of people.
I want to be like Calvin Miller in his exquisite skill with words and his capacity to cloak eternal concepts in earthly language.
I hope that, in my concoctions of words and images, I somehow express the divine. In The Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien’s elves state “…we put the thought of all that we love into all that we make.” I guess that’s my heart’s desire and my inspiration to live up to the words of 1 Peter 4:10-11: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Admired Leader by Mary
Aarron Feuerstein was the CEO, of Malden Mills, a textile mill in Malden Massachusetts. His leadership as a CEO exemplified having a heart for people that went way beyond money. Feuerstein was third generation to run this textile mill, which produced polartec. The mill was a significant source of employment for many families in the town of Lawrence and the surrounding community.
On December 11th, 1995, two weeks before Christmas, a fire devastated the mills by burning it to the ground. This was the largest fire, Massachusetts had seen in centuries. In an interview with 60 minutes, Feurstein is quoted as saying, “I was proud of the family business and I wanted to keep that alive, and I wanted that to survive. But I also felt the responsibility for all my employees, to take care of them, to give them jobs.” Art Bouly, is quoted in his news letter for Quality Monitor Newsletter, as saying, ‘Feurerstein had a conviction that the employees were the most critical asset and lived by it.’
I think for myself, I see that Feurerstein never allowed money to become the motivating factor in running his business, but always saw people as his priority. It was a love for God and people that motivated him in doing the right thing in a difficult time.
In the days following the fire, Feuerstein made a choice to take care of his employees and pay ideal employees, who were literally of no profit to him at this time, there full salary for the next three months. In all he paid out 25 million dollars in salary to his employees. When asked by 60 minutes if this ‘great moral gesture, was a wise business move’, his response was, “I think it was a wise business decision, but that isn’t why I did it. I did it because it was the right thing to do.” When asked why he did not take the $300 million in insurance money and retire, Feurstein’s response was immedietly, ‘And what would I do with eat more, buy another suit, retire and die. No that did not enter my mind. It was not an option. Not for a second.’
In the end I would love to say that the mill turned, profits increased and they were able to recover from their loss. However ultimately, in 2001 and 2003, they filed for chapter 11. Feuerstein is now 82 and owns 5% of the company. In 1996, Feurerstein is quoted as saying to Parade Magazine, "I have a responsibility to the worker both blue-collar and white-collar. I have an equal responsibility to the community. It would have been unconscionable to put 3000 people on the streets and deliver a deathblow to the cities of Lawrence and Methuen. Maybe on paper our company is worthless to Wall Street, but I can tell you it's worth more."
In Aarron Feuerstein's inheritance to his children may not be handing them down a fortune 500 company, however he is passing to them an inheritance of love for people and integrity that will be passed down through generations to come and in eternity the only thing that lasts forever is love.
On December 11th, 1995, two weeks before Christmas, a fire devastated the mills by burning it to the ground. This was the largest fire, Massachusetts had seen in centuries. In an interview with 60 minutes, Feurstein is quoted as saying, “I was proud of the family business and I wanted to keep that alive, and I wanted that to survive. But I also felt the responsibility for all my employees, to take care of them, to give them jobs.” Art Bouly, is quoted in his news letter for Quality Monitor Newsletter, as saying, ‘Feurerstein had a conviction that the employees were the most critical asset and lived by it.’
I think for myself, I see that Feurerstein never allowed money to become the motivating factor in running his business, but always saw people as his priority. It was a love for God and people that motivated him in doing the right thing in a difficult time.
In the days following the fire, Feuerstein made a choice to take care of his employees and pay ideal employees, who were literally of no profit to him at this time, there full salary for the next three months. In all he paid out 25 million dollars in salary to his employees. When asked by 60 minutes if this ‘great moral gesture, was a wise business move’, his response was, “I think it was a wise business decision, but that isn’t why I did it. I did it because it was the right thing to do.” When asked why he did not take the $300 million in insurance money and retire, Feurstein’s response was immedietly, ‘And what would I do with eat more, buy another suit, retire and die. No that did not enter my mind. It was not an option. Not for a second.’
In the end I would love to say that the mill turned, profits increased and they were able to recover from their loss. However ultimately, in 2001 and 2003, they filed for chapter 11. Feuerstein is now 82 and owns 5% of the company. In 1996, Feurerstein is quoted as saying to Parade Magazine, "I have a responsibility to the worker both blue-collar and white-collar. I have an equal responsibility to the community. It would have been unconscionable to put 3000 people on the streets and deliver a deathblow to the cities of Lawrence and Methuen. Maybe on paper our company is worthless to Wall Street, but I can tell you it's worth more."
In Aarron Feuerstein's inheritance to his children may not be handing them down a fortune 500 company, however he is passing to them an inheritance of love for people and integrity that will be passed down through generations to come and in eternity the only thing that lasts forever is love.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Admired Leader...Joseph Mohr, Author of "Silent Night, Holy Night" - JP
A leader that I greatly admire in history is Joseph Mohr, the author of the famous Christmas Carol, "Silent Night, Holy Night".
Joseph grew up in a mountain Alpine town (think Sound of Music type of town), and thier family was incredibly poor. The priest of the town recognized Josephs giftings for music and passion for God at a young age and offered to give Joseph a scholarship for schooling. During that time he was trained in the word and music. Joseph journaled often and enjoyed writing poetry.
During his service in the Alpine village, Joseph produced a poem, "Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!".
Due to poor health, he was sent to Salzburg for hospitalization and when he recovered, was assigned to St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf (1817). It was there that the assistant pastor met and became friends with the Arnsdorf schoolmaster and church verger, Franz Xaver Gruber, who also served as organist at St. Nicholas. On December 24, 1818, Fr. Joseph Mohr, took a 20 minute walk to Arnsdorf and changed the tenor of Christmas musical celebrations forever.
On Christmas Eve of 1818, the unfortunate situation happened...the church organ would not play. The reason for this was unkown, but in a Catholic Church, the church organ is the main instrument of accompanyment. Upon hearing the grave news, Father Joseph Mohr took his little acoustic guitar over to the house of Franz Xaver Gruber and together they added music to the beloved poem.
That evening, as families from all over the town gathered for evening mass, the first public performance of "Silent Night, Holy Night" was made...
It took a few years for the popularity to grow, but as we all know, it grew and grew and grew. A few years later, Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber were assigned to various parishes, faithfully serving in ministry. Thier friendship is said to have continued through the years. Joseph spent all he had in time, energy, and resources, pouring into the youth of his region, just as one man poured into him as a young child.
I admire Joseph Mohr for his lifelong dedication to the Lord, his humility in collaborating with Franz Gruber, for his church planting heart and for his committment to raising up the next generation.
Joseph grew up in a mountain Alpine town (think Sound of Music type of town), and thier family was incredibly poor. The priest of the town recognized Josephs giftings for music and passion for God at a young age and offered to give Joseph a scholarship for schooling. During that time he was trained in the word and music. Joseph journaled often and enjoyed writing poetry.
During his service in the Alpine village, Joseph produced a poem, "Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!".
Due to poor health, he was sent to Salzburg for hospitalization and when he recovered, was assigned to St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf (1817). It was there that the assistant pastor met and became friends with the Arnsdorf schoolmaster and church verger, Franz Xaver Gruber, who also served as organist at St. Nicholas. On December 24, 1818, Fr. Joseph Mohr, took a 20 minute walk to Arnsdorf and changed the tenor of Christmas musical celebrations forever.
On Christmas Eve of 1818, the unfortunate situation happened...the church organ would not play. The reason for this was unkown, but in a Catholic Church, the church organ is the main instrument of accompanyment. Upon hearing the grave news, Father Joseph Mohr took his little acoustic guitar over to the house of Franz Xaver Gruber and together they added music to the beloved poem.
That evening, as families from all over the town gathered for evening mass, the first public performance of "Silent Night, Holy Night" was made...
It took a few years for the popularity to grow, but as we all know, it grew and grew and grew. A few years later, Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber were assigned to various parishes, faithfully serving in ministry. Thier friendship is said to have continued through the years. Joseph spent all he had in time, energy, and resources, pouring into the youth of his region, just as one man poured into him as a young child.
I admire Joseph Mohr for his lifelong dedication to the Lord, his humility in collaborating with Franz Gruber, for his church planting heart and for his committment to raising up the next generation.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Leadership-Phil Vischer
Phil Vischer was the co-creator of a very well known and successful children's video brand - Veggietales. When he and his partner began they didn't necessarily have all their ducks in a row. They just knew had some fun, crazy ideas about creating computer animated vegetables that taught children biblical values. As they took each step forward God provided the exactly what they needed, even if they didn't know they needed it. They didn't really do any market testing or research (which isn't necessarily the best approach) but went with their idea anyways. It was bold and risky but it paid off! Veggietales became a huge success - at one point being #1 in video sales for all videos (not just christian). Along the way Phil got distracted by things that were not his gifting - managing a large company, payroll, etc. He made some bad management hiring choices which ultimately drove the company into bankruptcy. Fortunately the company was bought an outside investor who would run the company and hire Phil and his partner on to be in charge of the writing and creative aspects for future videos. This allowed Phil to once again focus on what his giftings were which he realized is where he'd find God's grace to accomplish what he was called to do. I can relate to him not only because of the mistakes he's made trying to be good at everything and learning how to live by grace but I can relate to having silly, crazy ideas and not knowing what God could possibly use them for. I love Phil's story because he was bold enough to run with his ideas whether other people believed in them or not.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Leader
Warren Buffett is an American investor, businessman and philanthropist. He is one of the world's most successful investors, and the largest shareholder and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.
Buffett is noted for his adherence to the value investing philosophy and for his personal frugality despite his immense wealth. He lives in the same house in the central Dundee neighborhood of Omaha that he bought in 1958 for $31,500, today valued at around $700,000.
Buffett is also a notable philanthropist. In 2006, he announced a plan to give away his fortune to charity, with 83% of it going to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Inspirational Leaders
There are many entrepreneurs whom I admire, including Russell Simmons, named “Top 25 Most Influential People of the Past 20 Years,” by USA Today.
In 1984, Simmons launched "Def Jam Recordings" creating a cultural revolution with hip-hop.
Russell "Rush" Simmons has a familiar story of growing up in a middle class neighborhood, spending many years as a street hustler in Queens, New York.
Deciding to take a different turn in his life, he enrolled at CCNY-Harlem, and began using his spare time to promote early hip-hop block parties and club shows around Harlem and Queens.
In his book: "Life and Def: Sex, Drugs, Money, and God" he talks candidly about being a promoter in the mid-1970's, his groundbreaking work with Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys, and his wild partying in the Caribbean with celebs like Naomi Campbell and Robert De Niro.
He described his life as full "of decisions and danger with deep moral and emotional consequences."
Russell Simmons has truly brought hip-hop culture to the mainstream with successful ventures such as: Phat Farm, Argyle Culture, Atman clothing, and HBO's Def Comedy Jam and Def Poetry Jam.
I admire his business and entrepreneurial mindset by continuously branching out and finding other sources of revenue to generate a true empire. Even though his highly promoted
web venture "360 Degrees Hip Hop.com" failed, it didn't stop him from moving forward.
His former wife, Kimora Lee Simmons, has also been an inspiration to me due to her success, vision, and never giving up. Having a black father, and Japanese/Korean mother, Kimora has faced her own identity issues of being 100% American, yet of a mixed racial heritage, which I can not only relate to and identify with, but like her, struggled though the insecure years of adolescence.
Kimora described her being called her "chinky giraffe"because of her height and Asian ancestry, since she was 5'8 by the time she was ten years old. With no Asian population in her community, she had difficulty fitting in with the mostly black student body who shunned her because of her Asian ancestry. After her mother enrolled her into a modeling class, she was scouted, and quickly found success due to her height and unique looks. At the age of thirteen, Kimora was offered a contract with Chanel.
I remember seeing Kimora in the mid 1990's, while I was entering into my teenage years as a kid model. The modeling agency I signed with as a child stopped sending me jobs due to my height; race was always a factor with booking modeling jobs, which as a child, made me greatly aware of my "ethnic looks" yet I was frustrated with being viewed as "different" since I was just as American as anyone else.
Kimora's persona is over the top, cutting edge, and at times outrageous; yet her ability to overcome and achieve success through branding her image is inspiring.
Currently, her reality TV show airs on E! TV and the Style network. Russell Simmons can be seen on MTV's "Run's House" staring his brother, "Rev.Run" and their family.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Historic Inspirational Leaders
Martin Luther King Jr.
Born January 15th 1929. To me Martin Luther King Jr. is the closest thing we have had in modern times to an Old Testament type prophet, a Moses if you will. King inspires me because he was a reluctant leader who bridged, as if a delineator did not exist, the secular and the sacred. He was a fire starter the ignited a cultural revolution, not for personal power or glory, but for and on behalf of others. He utilized the spoken word, the written word, and the new media of his time, T.V. His “Letter From a Birmingham Jail” is, what I believe, a prophetic manifesto of his revolution. It was written in response to an advertisement that was taken out in the newspaper after a Birmingham rally where King was arrested. The advertisement was taken out by eight fellow clergymen from King’s home state criticizing the demonstrations as extremism. King had no paper to compose his letter on, so he began the letter in his cell in the margins of the very advertisement that was invoking the response. He continued the letter on scraps of paper supplied by a friend, then later finished on a pad that was allowed to be supplied by his attorney. He wrote this letter with only the resource of his heart to draw from and nothing else. He drew from the deep waters of his soul and showed a visible manifestation of the investment and sacrifice that he had made prior to that moment. One cannot call upon something that is within himself that is not there. He was a man who fulfilled his call wholly. He did not play it safe. He did not try to protect his reputation or preserve his power. He put others first. He is the only civilian with a bust in the Capitol Building. King’s footprint forever made a mark on the way this world is because he loved God, loved people and did something about it.
Ernesto “Che” Guevara
Born June 14th 1928. Died October 9th 1967. Died April 4th 1968. Che had an upper middle class upbringing and went to college to become a doctor. Right around graduation Che went, with a friend, on a motorcycle trip around South America. What he saw on that trip forever changed the coarse of his life and that of countless others. He saw “his people”, a revolutionary thought as South Americans saw themselves in the light of their own individual countrymen, suffering from over bearing dictators or capitalist occupiers. Upon completion of his motorcycle tour he could not go back to his comfortable life that he had been building. He wanted to help unify “his people” to throw off oppression. He joined Fidel Castro in his revolution to oust the U.S. puppet president of his nation, Cuba. The Cuban revolution was one of the only revolutions that worked. Albeit it was the wrong answer, at least it was an answer and action to a problem. What inspires me about Che is that he was moved with compassion, an idealist to the end, he couldn’t go back to his life after seeing others suffering. Unfortunately his answer was Communism instead of God. After the Cuban revolution and occupying the number two spot in that government he saw the suffering of others and left to help revolutions in the Congo and others in South America, where he died in the field fighting for other’s countries, his was Argentina. His vision in the end was to start thirteen different “Vietnam Wars” in South America to overthrow oppression and unite the continent.
Born January 15th 1929. To me Martin Luther King Jr. is the closest thing we have had in modern times to an Old Testament type prophet, a Moses if you will. King inspires me because he was a reluctant leader who bridged, as if a delineator did not exist, the secular and the sacred. He was a fire starter the ignited a cultural revolution, not for personal power or glory, but for and on behalf of others. He utilized the spoken word, the written word, and the new media of his time, T.V. His “Letter From a Birmingham Jail” is, what I believe, a prophetic manifesto of his revolution. It was written in response to an advertisement that was taken out in the newspaper after a Birmingham rally where King was arrested. The advertisement was taken out by eight fellow clergymen from King’s home state criticizing the demonstrations as extremism. King had no paper to compose his letter on, so he began the letter in his cell in the margins of the very advertisement that was invoking the response. He continued the letter on scraps of paper supplied by a friend, then later finished on a pad that was allowed to be supplied by his attorney. He wrote this letter with only the resource of his heart to draw from and nothing else. He drew from the deep waters of his soul and showed a visible manifestation of the investment and sacrifice that he had made prior to that moment. One cannot call upon something that is within himself that is not there. He was a man who fulfilled his call wholly. He did not play it safe. He did not try to protect his reputation or preserve his power. He put others first. He is the only civilian with a bust in the Capitol Building. King’s footprint forever made a mark on the way this world is because he loved God, loved people and did something about it.
Ernesto “Che” Guevara
Born June 14th 1928. Died October 9th 1967. Died April 4th 1968. Che had an upper middle class upbringing and went to college to become a doctor. Right around graduation Che went, with a friend, on a motorcycle trip around South America. What he saw on that trip forever changed the coarse of his life and that of countless others. He saw “his people”, a revolutionary thought as South Americans saw themselves in the light of their own individual countrymen, suffering from over bearing dictators or capitalist occupiers. Upon completion of his motorcycle tour he could not go back to his comfortable life that he had been building. He wanted to help unify “his people” to throw off oppression. He joined Fidel Castro in his revolution to oust the U.S. puppet president of his nation, Cuba. The Cuban revolution was one of the only revolutions that worked. Albeit it was the wrong answer, at least it was an answer and action to a problem. What inspires me about Che is that he was moved with compassion, an idealist to the end, he couldn’t go back to his life after seeing others suffering. Unfortunately his answer was Communism instead of God. After the Cuban revolution and occupying the number two spot in that government he saw the suffering of others and left to help revolutions in the Congo and others in South America, where he died in the field fighting for other’s countries, his was Argentina. His vision in the end was to start thirteen different “Vietnam Wars” in South America to overthrow oppression and unite the continent.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
day three...
the three leaders i chose are donny johnson, creator of the non-profit gallery "art/not terminal" in downtown seattle, the group who started the all-ages venue/art center "vera project", and pastor phil pringle. out of these three leaders relevant to my field, i picked pastor phil pringle as the leader who most inspired me. his vision is to build a growing church and a movement of churches that are relevant to today's world, through bringing salvation to lost people and teaching people how to be disciples of Christ. pastor phil pringle inspired pastor judah smith to start painting seriously. he has inspired a generation of Christians in australia to embrace the arts. their artistic efforts are inspiring a world of Christians. i want to be a leader like that.
pastor phil pringle attended the ilam school of fine art in christchurch, new zealand, in the seventies. he has painted for over 30 years, and actively exhibited in the past eight years. his art is consistently in demand in australia and overseas. currently, paintings by phil pringle are held in collections in australia, usa, china, singapore, new zealand, papua new guinea, saudi arabia, philippines, europe, and the uk. he speaks at a varitey of conferences and churches around the world, mostly on:
pastor phil pringle attended the ilam school of fine art in christchurch, new zealand, in the seventies. he has painted for over 30 years, and actively exhibited in the past eight years. his art is consistently in demand in australia and overseas. currently, paintings by phil pringle are held in collections in australia, usa, china, singapore, new zealand, papua new guinea, saudi arabia, philippines, europe, and the uk. he speaks at a varitey of conferences and churches around the world, mostly on:
- faith
- leadership
- the ministry of the Holy Spirit
- church building
- you the leader
- leadership files
- faith
- financial excellence
- leadership excellence
- school of ministry
- school of creative arts (including dance, drama, music, song writing, singing, visual arts, film, video)
- school of pastoral care management
Monday, October 13, 2008
Day Three: Earth
A leader that embodies a part of my vision is Millard Fuller "I see life as both a gift and a responsibility. My responsibility is to use what God has given me to help His people in need."
A Life Changed by God
From humble beginnings in Alabama, Millard Fuller rose to become a young, self-made millionaire. A graduate of Auburn University in Auburn, Ala., and the University of Alabama Law School at Tuscaloosa, he and a college friend began a marketing firm while still in school. Fuller’s business expertise and entrepreneurial drive made him a millionaire at age 29. But as the business prospered, his health, integrity and marriage suffered.
These crises prompted Fuller to re-evaluate his values and direction. One weekend his friend took him and his family to Koinonia Farm, a Christian community located near Americus, Ga., where people were looking for practical ways to apply Christ’s teachings. His soul-searching led to reconciliation with his wife and to a renewal of his Christian commitment. The Fullers then took a drastic step: They decided to sell all of their possessions, give the money to the poor and begin searching for a new focus for their lives.
The Seed is Planted
Working from a passage in the Bible that says someone lending money to the poor should not act as a creditor and should not charge interest (Exodus 22:25)
With Koinonia founder Clarence Jordan and a few others, the Fullers initiated several partnership enterprises, including a ministry in housing. They built modest houses on a no-profit, no-interest basis, thus making homes affordable to families with low incomes. Homeowner families were expected to invest their own labor into the building of their home and the houses of other families. This reduced the cost of the house, increased the pride of ownership and fostered the development of positive relationships. Money for building was placed into a revolving fund, enabling the building of even more homes.
Testing the Model
In 1973, Fuller moved to Africa with his wife and four children to test their housing model. As missionaries with Disciples of Christ, their housing project, which they began in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), was a success in that developing nation. Fuller became convinced that this model could be expanded and applied all over the world.
Upon his return to the United States in 1976, he met with a group of close associates. Started off as Partnership Housing they expanded into a larger scale housing ministry called Habitat for Humanity International.
My other two leaders are Apostle Paul and Mother Teresa. I chose these 3 leaders because they all gave of themselves for the betterment of others.
A Life Changed by God
From humble beginnings in Alabama, Millard Fuller rose to become a young, self-made millionaire. A graduate of Auburn University in Auburn, Ala., and the University of Alabama Law School at Tuscaloosa, he and a college friend began a marketing firm while still in school. Fuller’s business expertise and entrepreneurial drive made him a millionaire at age 29. But as the business prospered, his health, integrity and marriage suffered.
These crises prompted Fuller to re-evaluate his values and direction. One weekend his friend took him and his family to Koinonia Farm, a Christian community located near Americus, Ga., where people were looking for practical ways to apply Christ’s teachings. His soul-searching led to reconciliation with his wife and to a renewal of his Christian commitment. The Fullers then took a drastic step: They decided to sell all of their possessions, give the money to the poor and begin searching for a new focus for their lives.
The Seed is Planted
Working from a passage in the Bible that says someone lending money to the poor should not act as a creditor and should not charge interest (Exodus 22:25)
With Koinonia founder Clarence Jordan and a few others, the Fullers initiated several partnership enterprises, including a ministry in housing. They built modest houses on a no-profit, no-interest basis, thus making homes affordable to families with low incomes. Homeowner families were expected to invest their own labor into the building of their home and the houses of other families. This reduced the cost of the house, increased the pride of ownership and fostered the development of positive relationships. Money for building was placed into a revolving fund, enabling the building of even more homes.
Testing the Model
In 1973, Fuller moved to Africa with his wife and four children to test their housing model. As missionaries with Disciples of Christ, their housing project, which they began in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), was a success in that developing nation. Fuller became convinced that this model could be expanded and applied all over the world.
Upon his return to the United States in 1976, he met with a group of close associates. Started off as Partnership Housing they expanded into a larger scale housing ministry called Habitat for Humanity International.
My other two leaders are Apostle Paul and Mother Teresa. I chose these 3 leaders because they all gave of themselves for the betterment of others.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
