tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642146504035231631.post2728954723005391745..comments2023-05-22T23:08:31.979-06:00Comments on Mike Aleckson: SuperFriends - Part 1Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07021188517142388224noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642146504035231631.post-934688618252712072009-08-07T08:03:41.061-06:002009-08-07T08:03:41.061-06:00Excellent, Joel - thanks for the insight!
I think...Excellent, Joel - thanks for the insight!<br /><br />I think you're hitting on the issue of of strength and weakness. Of course, we all have both.<br /><br />The main thing with SuperFriends is that we refuse to deal with each other primarily on the basis of weakness. Rather, we insist on dealing with each other on the basis of our strengths.<br /><br />So, that means a few things. First, I refuse to manipulate my teammates with their weaknesses. I choose rather to engage them where they're strong.<br /><br />Now that requires critical self-analysis on both our parts, and a healthy dose of humility as well.<br /><br />Which leads to the second major point, which is this:<br /><br />It's sad, but not everyone is SuperFriends material.<br /><br />But that's not for the reasons most would think.<br /><br />You're not disqualified from the circle of SuperFriends because you have a weakness. Or even because you have several.<br /><br />If that were the case - none of us could play.<br /><br />What disqualifies a person from the circle is the inability or unwillingess to critically analyze themself, and the lack of humility that inevitably results.<br /><br />Imagine the following scenario:<br /><br />A crime ring is being managed by a few of the wealthiest people in the city.<br /><br />The SuperFriends discuss how to infiltrate the ring to determine who exactly is behind it. They decide to use their alter-egos as covers to gain more information before going in hard.<br /><br />It's decided that Batman will infiltrate the group as Bruce Wayne. Bruce is the right persona to gain access to this elite group.<br /><br />Imagine now that Spiderman refuses to realize that his alter-ego Peter Parker is just a college kid from a middle-class social status.<br /><br />What if Spidey freaks, stomps his feet and cries foul? Worse yet, what if he blows the op because of his foolishness?<br /><br />In that case, Spidey's issues include his lust for ultimate power, his inability to critically analyze his own strengths and weaknesses, and the resulting lack of humility.<br /><br />All these factors would weigh into the decision by the rest of the SuperFriends to suspend his SuperFriends membership until Spidey gets his head on straight.<br /><br />Ultimately, if Spidey refuses to self-analyze, to play on the basis of his strengths and ultimately to humble himself to his self-knowledge - well then - he's just not SuperFriends material.<br /><br />Some of us just aren't willing to do what it takes to play on a high-performance team. We either want ultimate power, or we are unwilling to analyze ourselves and then live with that knowledge as a basis for improvement.<br /><br />If that's true of me - I'm just not SuperFriends material...Mike Alecksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07336243968057299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642146504035231631.post-66521245373578075152009-08-05T09:34:04.411-06:002009-08-05T09:34:04.411-06:00The thoughts from a transitionary modernist mind.....The thoughts from a transitionary modernist mind...<br /><br />All right man, you've definitely shaken my "absolutely right" opinion on ministry with the concept of the super friends. Recently being in Taiwan, the first church that we attended I just about killed myself after 2 weeks when the Pastors took over all ministry within the church after being gone for a year... Luckily, we've found a different one. <br /><br />I still haven't worked everything through in my mind, though, with the super friends and here are two different problems, somewhat related, that I can't get through yet.<br /><br />A main under pinning that I think makes the idea of the super friends and the "post modern" generation work so efffectively is the idea that this generation wants to contribute to something. <br /><br />Contrast the thought processes of a 1950's farmer and the average information laden teenager. The then farmer knew that he didn't have a clue about all that religious stuff and left it in the hands of a preacher. <br /><br />But today anyone can, with a simple search on their blackberry, research any religious issue and can have a decent conversation over it.<br /> <br />So I see where you'd lose a postmoderner if you said that they'd have to sit in a pew for 10 years before they can get the "vision and know how" to "do" ministry. Honestly, I think there are times when a teenager has a better idea of whether or not what's happening in "church" is actually working or not. <br /><br />But my concern is when does a super friend have the know how of their own powers to not do harm when they are trying to do good?<br /><br />What if superman joined the superfriends when he was still developing and instead of helping out he accidently lazered off Batman's head because he hadn't learned yet how to control his powers?<br /><br />(2nd thought that's somewhat connected) Greg Koukl says when talking with someone about contradictory issues there are three essential qualities. There's a combination of knowledge (understanding 'x') wisdom (able to communicte 'x' effectively) and character (the ability to use your strengh but not ram it up someone's keester just because you can).<br /><br />In my limited experience in this model (it's still very revolutionary to most Christians that I know) some young "friends" join the team but they lack the "character" element that Koukl describes. They readily share their dissent with the current church model, but struggle with the answer. Yes they can show someone the final picture of what a revolutionized church would look like, but how do you get someone just to take the next step? <br /><br />I think many people can be turned off to this model because they need time to work through the issues and they need someone who has worked through the issues to help guide them through. <br /><br />So I think there are times when a young "superfriend" hurts the concept.<br /><br />Like with your pagan co-workers. As soon as they find out that you're a Christian they're watching your every move to find something you do that contradicts what you believe. Not that it anyway changes reality, but it gives them an excuse to continue living with their head in the sand. <br /><br />Modernist are looking not only at the message but the messenger so they can have an excuse to not deal with the issue. <br /><br />Okay enough with my ramblings. <br /> <br /><br /><br />Obviously there's a learning curve and the budding superfriend would do his share of the work that is appropriate for him/her. (This is where, like you said, the superfriends know their strengths and their weaknesses and can look to the stronger friends for help).Joelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00879900381583837677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642146504035231631.post-81511137331784765822009-07-20T08:09:58.888-06:002009-07-20T08:09:58.888-06:00Tucker,
You bring up an interesting point. The G...Tucker,<br /><br />You bring up an interesting point. The GenX version of the Justice League paints the superheroes as all fundamentally flawed in some way - yet still with their superpowers. <br /><br />The X-Men, the Fantastic Four, all of these... Flawed - sometimes tragically so.<br /><br />This is the philosophical result of deconstructionism - the postmodern breaking-down of controlling stories like the superhero.<br /><br />Interesting!Mike Alecksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07336243968057299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642146504035231631.post-33281395283078744732009-07-20T01:34:48.008-06:002009-07-20T01:34:48.008-06:00Super Friends!!!
Yes this is great. I have to agr...Super Friends!!!<br /><br />Yes this is great. I have to agree with Dustin on this one. The whole campy version of the DC Comic Book Pantheon wasn't the generation x version of these guys that i'm used too. <br /><br />When these guys faced the undead brute Solomon Grundy. Or the Megalomaniac Lex Luthor it was these guys team work that saved the innocents. Sure Superman can tear apart steel like a paper shredder, but how do you do that and not hurt innocent bystanders. Thats where the team work paid off. <br /><br />It would be interesting to look at today's version of these heroes. Things have grown quite a bit darker in the last thirty years.<br /><br />Speedy-Green Arrow's side kick was a junky.<br /><br />Jason Todd, or Robin died from several blows to the head from a crow bar wielding Joker.<br /><br />Superman died once, but resurrected Hallelujah <br /><br />Batman is currently dead.<br /><br />Martian Manhunter died.<br /><br />Aquaman has disapeared as well.<br /><br />Currently in Gotham City theres a Lesbian whose become Batwoman<br /><br />One of the Green Lanterns Kyle Rayner's girlfriend was brutally murdered and found in his refidgerator.<br /><br />Marvel Comics is a mess too by the way. Marvel has guys like, Iron Man, Spider Man, Wolverine, Captain America...R.I.P.<br /><br /><br />The list goes on and on. Not to take away from the beautiful example of the Super Friends. I wish it was still like that though. Wonder Woman landing in her Invisible Jet to arrive at the Hall of Justice.tucker932https://www.blogger.com/profile/03562591200336167465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642146504035231631.post-79015740294322504772009-07-19T10:20:08.389-06:002009-07-19T10:20:08.389-06:00So the bridge is open now? Is the center pillar o...So the bridge is open now? Is the center pillar open? If so - it's game-on for the fall!<br /><br />And yes, Dustin - isn't it cool how your horizons have expanded? Excellent!Mike Alecksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07336243968057299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8642146504035231631.post-74525185351664750982009-07-19T09:01:44.582-06:002009-07-19T09:01:44.582-06:00Mike,
I didnt really grow up watching the show; it...Mike,<br />I didnt really grow up watching the show; it was out there, but I preferred the Batman cartoon by himself (he looked cooler in his own cartoon then with the superfriends). But, I certainly appreciate this approach and I appreciate that others who have mentored me have also valued this approach. Things could have turned out different for me if they had not. <br /><br />By the way, Heather and I have been rock climbing twice at the Bridge and it is creating some opportunities to make some friends. I have also had the opportunity to use my computer skills to make friends. It is amazing how these things were not available to me just months ago. I am glad that I have started to expand my risk tolerance, it gives God more options to use me!Dustinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04064688583960843216noreply@blogger.com