Search Results for: Thinkers Feelers

Posted on

Jesus Calling: More Thinkers Needed in Today’s Culture

Feeler needs to thinkThe more the world changes from modern to postmodern the more thinkers (and thinking) are needed. In today’s culture it’s going to take more and more courage to stand against the feelings and experiences of other people. If we rely mainly on our own feelings and experiences to base our faith on, how will we have the courage to sacrifice? To go against the cultural flow? How can we grow as thinkers?

We find ourselves in a culture saturated with images–videos, games, selfies, Pinterest, movies, Instagram, TV, even notable quotes are embedded in pictures for heightened impact. And while images capture our attention, we don’t process them the same way we do words.

Posted on

Three Reasons Why Thinkers Should Feel more

thinker to feelerAre you a thinker or a feeler? If you’re a thinker like me, is growing into more of a feeler something you might want to be more intentional about? If you’re a feeler, how might you inspire a thinker to grow into more of a feeler? Or is that something we can change?

Before we go any further, what does it means to be a thinker? According to the Myers Briggs gold standard of personality testing…you know you’re a thinker if, when it comes to decision making,…

…you make decisions with your head and want to be fair.
…you like to find the basic truth or principle to be applied, regardless of the specific situation involved.
…you like to analyze pros and cons, and then be consistent and logical in deciding, not letting personal feelings get in the way.

You know you’re a feeler if…

Posted on

What to Give Your Introverted/Extroverted Valentine

My husband of forty+ years and I share a love for hospitality, reading and movies, of watching football, and serving God in his church. We are both thinkers more than feelers, strong personalities who enjoy Getting Things Done and closure. In other ways we are not so similar.

Jack loves details and data. I’m the big picture girl. Nowhere he’d rather relax than in the mountains—hunting fishing, hiking. Me, I love museums, conferences, the ballet. But the difference that makes the most difference: He is more the introvert while I am a tiny bit more extroverted. Here are some ways we’ve learned to give to each other across the great personality divide.

Posted on

Three Lessons from the First Obama/Romney Presidential Debate

...for Monday night and for us

Trump vs ClintonIf there is one thing we learned from the first presidential debate of 2012, it was that, in these postmodern times, even the “smartest guys in the room” agonize over how much to focus their message on empathy or reasoning. Likeability or a robust contention for facts and evidence. Should they approach their audience more as thinkers or feelers?

In his first debate with Mitt Romney, President Obama opted to forego answering Gov. Romney’s questions about his record. Postmodern conventional wisdom tells us that if we want to win today’s audience to our point of view we do it with empathy and likeability more than evidence and facts. If you argue the facts, if you forcefully appeal to reason, you can seem angry and unlikable. So appeal to emotions more than reason.

Just be nice.

The New York Times reported that in mock debates in 2012 with Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, “Mr. Kerry drew Mr. Obama into a series of intense exchanges, and Mr. Axelrod (his chief campaign strategist) determined that they were damaging to the president.” Obama pulled his punches and didn’t get into an exchange over the defense of his record.

So much for conventional wisdom. The disappointment and frustration of his supporters resounded from the debate hall to the Twitterverse. Reading the early reviews on his iPad on his way back to his hotel, Obama called Axelrod, “I guess the consensus is that we didn’t have a very good night.” “That is the consensus,” Axelrod replied.

Posted on

Celebrating Father’s Day with a Difficult Dad

DSC00303

I know my Dad loved me and always wanted the best for me. He never, ever abused me. But as I grew older, when it came to nurturing a heart to heart relationship, he just wasn’t that into me.

When I was still small enough to sit in his lap he would read to me. And he would swing me in a big swing he made for me. For a season he made up wonderful bedtime stories about Broussard the Dragon who, when Dad lost interest, died tragically in a cave in. When I was older he would play the chess-like board game Camelot with me. (And usually slaughter me.)

But pretty much every night after dinner my petroleum engineer dad preferred to spend his time tinkering in his electronics shop. I could go out and talk to him in the garage, and he would explain to me how his gadgets worked, but I was the one who needed to find my way into his world.

In his defense, my dad came from a family of thinkers, not feelers. He lost his dad when he was 13. For whatever reasons he didn’t seem to know how to find his way into my world. 

Culture Topics for a General Audience

While these messages acknowledge faith, they do not emphasize it as much as the messages for faith audiences. They have been presented in venues such as Rotary, Chamber of Commerce and political groups.

texting 3Take iControl:  Our screens suck us in. Opportunities to connect multiply while the richness of relationships thins out. How can we intentionally nurture healthy, caring relationships in today’s digital culture?

The secret is in the power of giving our presence as a gift to others. From my eBooklet Take iControl you’ll hear practical tips on how we might manage our entertainment and social networking so that it helps us give our presence to others, rather than take it away.

Trump vs Clinton

Cultural Lessons from the 2016 Campaign: Every four years our presidential elections offer us a unique snapshot of our radical and rapid transformation from a modern to a postmodern culture. Even before the results are final we can see several cultural trends that are profoundly impacting our institutions and our personal lives.

This message explains the difference in modern and postmodern worldviews. We’ll explore the impact of entertainment on a culture that is transforming from thinkers to feelers. And as feelings of anxiety over terrorism and the economy mount, we’ll probe how the rise of authoritarianism is impacting us. Why lies seem to matter less and cynicism grows. We’ll conclude with a look at how to move forward in such a deeply divided nation.

Beach Boys SummerDaysandSummerNights.album.cover

Beach Boy Brian Wilson and the Quest for Cool: Set in the cultural revolution of the 60’s, these music and video-rich presentations show the unfolding American story of worldviews, Modern to Eastern to Postmodern, through the life of Brian Wilson, founder of the Beach Boys. Many life applications are also woven into this fascinating story of one of America’s  greatest composers: the destructive potential of drugs; how, more than good feelings or good performance, good relationships are the key to a successful life;  and even grown children need their parents’ blessing. Can include a showing and discussion of the 2015 biopic of Brian’s life, Love and Mercy.

Van Gogh Starry NightStarry Nights: Vincent Van Gogh Shows Us How To See: We tend to tag people in our group: this one talks too much…that one always overdresses…that one cannot get her head out of her phone. This presentation helps you consider how we  might look at someone, especially those at the margins, and see their true worth. You’ll  discover what it means to push back against all our “tagging” and digital distraction and give your presence as a gift.

Pairing Van Gogh’s images with Don McLean’s Starry, Starry Night* song, we’ll also explore how Van Gogh looked at people. How he could see the eternal in the every day and pour it into paint on a canvas. This message helps us move beyond the “us vs. them” mentality and see the image of God in each face.

Mom Natalie 2Who Stole My Kids (Grandkids)?: This presentation begins with a slide/picture presentation of how everything in our culture is changing–hairstyles, clothing, furniture, architecture, politics–everything. And how these changes flow from a change in worldviews. You’ll discover what recent research tells us about the values of the under 40’s. How their authenticity, empathy, tolerance/openness, autonomy etc. shape what style of communication engages them. You’ll find strategies to equip you to connect with your kids and grandkids and reach the hearts and minds of the next generation.

Photo of business people hands applauding at conference

Connecting with the Hearts of Today’s Audience: We are living in the midst of a revolution of worldviews. Our neighbors, co-workers and family members increasingly hold different perspectives on truth, virtue, justice, meaning and hope. “Post-modernism is the air we breathe.”

This most requested message offers an easily understood summary of how our culture is changing from modern to postmodern and what that means for communicating our message. It constructs a worldview profile of today’s market/audience and offers practical strategies to connect our message in a winsome and compelling way to their needs and cultural sensibilities.

Return to Speaking Page

Posted on

One big cultural reason for Trump’s success and what it means for our future

There’s this scene at the end of the movie of The Truman Show where Jim Carrey, who plays the unwitting star of a reality show about his life, finally figures out that none of it is real. Like the voice of God speaking out of the “sky,” The Truman Show producer tries to persuade him to stay, “You were real,”…that’s what made you so good to watch.”

Truman/Carrey pauses at the foot of a stair case leading up and out of the giant dome of his set, then takes his final bow and makes his exit. The millions who have watched him since he was a toddler explode into cheers, hi-fives and laughter. In the control room the order is given, “Cease transmission.” All the TV sets go to crackling “snow.”

Two security guys eating pizza look at each other. “What else is on?” asks one.
“Yeah let’s see what else is on.”
“Where’s the TV Guide?”
And the credits roll.

Because the show is over. Transmission has ceased. Time to change the channel. Those of us who have followed the 2016 Great Republican Presidential Race Reality Show find ourselves in the same place. Some breathless with the thrill of victory. Others incredulous over sixteen defeats. Millions of us a bit deflated that the primary “show” is over.

Many of us are trying to parse how such a promising field with so many good candidates has ended with the choice shaping up before us.

Posted on

Between Rubio and Cruz, Vote Shrewd: A Tale of Two Rallies

Why I've decided to vote for...

You can feel the difference between Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz simply by walking into their rallies. In spite of the 35° raw drizzle, about 900 people are chanting, cheering and waving signs to the upbeat music, waiting for Rubio’s bus to roll in.

Rubio Cruz graphic 2

We can see our breath in the three-walled party barn.  Sleek, long-haired college interns in galoshes mix it up with all ages in the suburban Lexington venue.  The advance team has set up the stage in the round with bleachers on the two sides facing the bank of cameras in back.

The bus pulls up and Rubio bounds down the short walkway with US Representative Trey Gowdy (of the Benghazi hearings) and US Senator Tim Scott.

Posted on

Life Is Becoming Entertainment: The 2016 Great Race Survivor Reality Show

If you locked all the Hollywood reality TV writers in a room until they came up with a script that would compare to our nightly news episodes they’d never be seen again. Each evening we tune in to discover what our crazy cast of characters has been up to today. And we are not disappointed.

P1000468

Just in the last few days…over at the Values Voter Summit the billionaire with the uniquely crafted hair was waving his Bible in the air. Back in July, when asked whether he has ever asked God for forgiveness for his actions, Mr. Trump responded, “…if I do something wrong, I just try and make it right. I don’t bring God into that picture. I don’t.”

But on Saturday he was all about reading the inscription in his “favorite book” and in his closing remarks held it aloft once more, reminding the evangelical voters, “This is the key.” Except maybe for the forgiveness part?

In New Hampshire a 74-year old socialist, Bernie Sanders, leads Democratic front runner Hillary Clinton 46% to 30%. One of two very smart women in the Great Race made some very curious decisions to take her government email off the grid and wipe her server. (Inquiring minds will be lining up at the October Benghazi hearings to find out why.)

Meanwhile the other very smart woman, Carly Fiorina, was bombarded with condoms at an Iowa tailgate party by supporters of Planned Parenthood. (Really, you could not make this stuff up. But wait, there’s more!)