I saw the quote/pic above whilst trawling through my google reader :: Thanks to ameliatorode.typepad.com for her inspiration :: and it has hit a chord with me and made me think.
I like the idea of open source software... you take it to point (a) then someone takes what you've made and takes in to point (b)... the software evolves... adapts... grows. So too an idea.
No one is truly original... we all have influences... we all have our inspirations. I am inspired by music, photography and product design; Scripture, ideas, writing, t-shirts, writing on t-shirts, blogs etc etc etc... the list goes on.
In terms of the quote/pic above... I have authentic ideas but I don't have original ideas. Its not that I am ripping anyone deliberately... its just that their ideas are part of me... and come out in a similar manner to open source software building. They are flavoured by me... seasoned you could say... to make them authentically mine... albeit... I can never truly own an idea.
I see it as an important part of my journey of faith and purpose... albeit... focussing on the best, not the worst...
Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.Philippians 4: 8-9 (The Message)
Soaking up the best ideas... see where they can be developed... integrated... infused with grace... and then passed on... for others to take and run with.
Well that's how I see it... what do you think?
2 comments:
My friend, you have no idea how much I needed to see this today.
We're at the spot where very soon I will need to make the decision to keep church planting (which I love and have never felt God's pleasure so much as when I'm doing it) at the expense of a "normal" salary. One of the options is for me to start pursuing writing (or other creative outlet) to bring in the money we need to live. This simple picture gave me confirmation that it could be possible.
Thanks for letting God use you in a (probably) unintentional and unexpected way :-).
My brother... it is possible... in fact I would stress it is mandatory!!!
We need to be "in the world" but not driven by the forces that drive it.
We are all ministers... its just that some people have namebadges and admin to do in that role. We need to follow Paul's example and make tents... in doing so we keep "in the world". Not in a "one foot in / one foot out" kind of dualistic way but in an incarnational manner.
Don't consider it soley as the provider of the money you need to live... God will supply that... consider it an enlargement of your mission field, a means to demonstrate your authenticity & humanity (ie your struggles at work etc) and a means to keep "with it" in the world.
I hope this makes sense? See it as an essential part of who you are for Him and not as an added extra or a nuisance.
God needs Business Analysts who write blogs & plant churches afterall (that's me)
Peace and love
Thomas
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