Weblog

Wednesday, 20 October 2010

  • Back in the USA

    Hello All,

    It's been a while and I guess it's going to be a while longer if you'd like to hear some of my meanderings. . . But if you're interested in a updated visual tour check out this album:

    http://tdwhetstone.xanga.com/albums/1661a720373825/

    And come visit us at:

    http://tdwhetstone.blogspot.com

     

    Until next time. . .

     

Wednesday, 17 March 2010

  • Currently
    A Disciples Guide to Choose the Life: Exploring a Faith that Embraces Discipleship
    By Bill Hull, Paul Mascarella
    see related

    It's been a while Xanga

    So, almost a year later and a lot has happened. In fact too much to even blog about. But here's a glimpse. . .

    I worked for Focus Singapore in the office and then as a lecture. . . . I then went full time lecturing and teaching as a Family Life Educator... My wife went to work for Focus Singapore... She's just now finishing her final couple days with the organization... We're expecting our third child... and who knows where we'll be living come the next couple months. I guess we're just a vagabond family temporarily living, working, and growing a family in Singapore...

    Now, I'd like to throw out some questions that I've been contemplating a lot, especially since I am now back involved heavily in helping equip and develop emerging leaders.

    So:

    What's leadership when separated from relationship?

    Can you have leadership within a community without trust or does this just become something else entirely?

    Can there truly be a "servant-leadership" or is it that their is first servanthood and than new kind of leadership is birthed from serving first?

    Could it be that leadership is not born but developed out of a calling, and developed as an art form? If so, just possibly our world has been spitting out some really horrific art while at the same time a few exceptional pieces here and there too.

    If in it's most basic definition - Leadership is Influence, than I guess any sort of leadership is possible. But it's not necessarily going to be good leadership or produce quality leaders. So, what needs to be in place for quality leaders to be developed?

    I understand that I may or may not get a single comment on this post, and that's alright. But here's a final quote to think about:

    "Leadership is the art of the future. A leader is one whom the future shines through in support of the present in spite of the past. . . Leaders are neither born nor made. Leaders are summoned. They are called into existence by circumstances. Those who rise to the occasion are leaders. Everyone is 'called' by God for some kind of mission. But sometimes the 'called' are 'called out' for leadership. How you manifest your mission will change throughout the course of your life. But the mission remains constant. When how you do your mission and how you make your way into the world coincide, you are living the dream life. True, some people are born leaders. It just comes with their psychological territory. But these are few and far between. Ask any kindergarten teacher. You want to know if you're a leader? Look in the back of you. Anybody following? We're all 'players' in life. Yet sometimes life summons 'players' to be 'leaders'." - Leonard Sweet
     
    Could it be we need to start asking some more kindergarten teachers who are going to be the future leaders or should we start trying to help people be prepared to lead when summoned or called?

    Anyway... life is full of changes and challenges. . .  So, I guess I just thought about sharing some thoughts on how we as a larger community might start helping to nurture some better art a.k.a leaders!

    Cheers from Singapore

Monday, 23 March 2009

  • Currently
    Full Service: Moving from Self-Serve Christianity to Total Servanthood
    By Siang-Yang Tan
    see related

    My first from the Far East . . . belonging to "no world"

    It's taken me a while but I'm back on Xanga since we've moved to Singapore. For those who read these ramblings I want to thank you and for those who just happened upon this site and/or visited after a long hiatus... please join me again as I journey through high's and low's of living over seas once again. . . And please, keep me (and my family) in your thoughts.

    So, here's a little something I read the other day. It seems, strangely enough that my Father tends to bring words of all sorts that either bug the crap out of me because I know their definitely corrective for my life or at other times just to stir my brain and heart... Of course these are not the only two reasons, juts two broad ones which seem to occur quite often. In any case, here's what I read;

    "Fully immersed in this world, Christians belong to no world. Instead, while teased by each hope and every vision, they know them to be only hints of the new heaven and the new earth rooted in divine promises. And our yearning to become lost in God only intensify our tears over the thought of leaving this life. Christian existence is a joyful nonsense. In a culture of self-realization, the Christian's call is to renounce self; in the face of noise, silence is the preference; in a world of competition, the Christian's declaration is that the winners will be losers and the losers winners; in a culture whose economy is intent on consumption, the Christian insists on simplicity; in a culture structured by possessions, the Christian insists upon a high standard of life; and at every point, the Christian exposes the emptiness of fullness for the sake of the gospel's fullness of emptiness." - W. Paul Jones

    WOW! Chew on that... Here I am dealing with a new culture- people- whom at the core, are just like all other cultures preferring "self" first... Of course I am speaking from a huge generalization stand point and not taking into consideration religious faith actually altering one's habitual cultural actions. In any case, this quote seems to cut to    the chase...
     
    We believers have been called to a 180 degree different lifestyle, one that does alter our "habitual cultural actions" to in turn, create a "counterculture lifestyle". One that stands in the face of the "culture" (ie the worlds way of living) at large. We truly have been given a calling to a world view that begins and ends with the Almighty. The One who "was, is, and is to come". The One who in the beginning, was the Word! Strangely this Word now wants us to be fully immersed in this world that we live in, yet not "belong to it"! What a challenge.

    I was pushing my son in the stroller the other day and as I began to cross the street, with all the legal right to, a car pulling backwards out of a parking spot took no time to look before actually reversing the car, hit our stroller. I even reached out over the stroller and banged on the car trunk to indicate that we were there, but he continued to back up... I was furious and all I wanted to do was, make his wrong doing evident to the world, especially because I was pushing my infant son. However, I held my tongue, and actions (even though inside my head I played out the amazingly huge Hollywood scene). It was extremely hard for me to not say anything, especially since the driver did not even roll down his window and apologize, he just continued on his way.  For those reading this and wondering if Jeremiah or I were alright- we were and are!

    So, at times I wish for the culture like the one I grew up in that would actually give way to pedestrians or at least apologize to ones. But then I realized- it's not a wordily culture that recognizes "the other before oneself", it's the "ones" that have been called out of "culture" and into His way of living with a new world-view, a Kingdom world-view where we serve one another, grace one another, bless one another, love one another. Because simply, "they will know that we are His disciples by how well we love one another".

    Maybe I should of said something, or maybe not... But in the end, I hope my actions were of His world view even though maybe my mind ran away from me for a few?!

Saturday, 03 January 2009

  • Currently
    Running on Empty: Contemplative Spirituality for Overachievers
    By Fil Anderson
    see related

    Walking forward. (Or is that leaping?)

    The new year has begun and we had a great Xmas time as well new year's. Despite that fact that between Christmas day and the day after we drove for nearly 24 hours across country, we still had a great time. We're in the midst of our final transition out of the US to Singapore and we've been hanging out with my family. However, it's been yet again hijacked with sickness. I'm not sure why, but it seems that my family get's sick every time we come to visit?!

    Well, we depart two weeks from today and I've been doing my best to find rest within busyness. My prayer truly      is that even in the midst of transition and preparation for the future, that I would live with my eyes and heart wide open to what's happening within the present. I want to be present with my wife, my kids, my family, my friends, and even (or should I say especially) with the strangers that I encounter.  I won't make this long and before I leave with some words to ponder, I want to say that I am looking forward to this new year in Hope. Not because it's hope is something, some good idea, some great optimism, or even in people that are supporting us. It's all because, the Hope I am resting in, relying on, and holding as tightly to as possible is in a person, and not just some person, but it is my  Lord, Jesus Christ. He brought hope, because He is the Hope!

    Now in the midst of all our busyness think about these words, and then hopefully, go and find rest in the only one who can supply it - the Hope!


    We've learned how to make a living, but not a life;
    we've added years to life, not life to years.
    We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.
    We've split the atom, but not our prejudice.
    We plan more, but accomplish less.
    We've learned to rush, but not to wait.
    These are the days of quick trips, disposable diapers,
    throw-away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies,
    and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.
    It is a time when where there is much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom.
    -Unknown

    Hmm, can it be that we need a Hope who give us Peace and Rest?

    Ciao

Wednesday, 10 December 2008

  • Currently
    There Is a Season: Authentic, Innovative Ministry in Popular Culture
    By Chuck Jr Smith
    see related

    Batching it in KC...

    So, I'm alone in KC. Just after we celebrated Natalie's 2 year birthday, D took the kids to see their grandparents and aunt in Placerville, CA. Simply, I miss them a ton. It may be quieter. . . I may be able to read more. . . watch more movies. . .and even blog more, but it's just not the same. I'm not one for keeping things the same, which is plainly evident in the number of times I've moved in my life. But since being a husband and father, I like to take the journeys of life as a family.

    D and the kids get back in less than a week, and I'm ready. But until then, you might be hearing from me a bit  more these next couple days as I have am on a reading  retreat. So here's my first thought. . . 

    "The ship is safest when it is in port. But that's not what ships were made for."- Paulo Coelho.

    So, how many of us are not being what we were created to be? Or living lives which we feel as if we weren't created to live? What do you think it would be like to truly have a "peace that passes understanding" or live "life to the fullest" while one and at the same time, enthusiastically journeying in a life filled with ambiguity, certainties, and well just about everything else that life throws us? Could a life like this even be possible?

    I think, just like the ship that leaves port. We too need to embark on a life that may not be the safest, but one which we most definitely were created for. In turn, we just might face storms, high tides, and much peril. But we'll also see amazing star gazing nights, incredible seas and lands, as well as much joy and fulfillment. Right?!

    Happy Holidays everyone.


tdwhetstone

  • Visit tdwhetstone's Xanga Site
    • Name: Tim
    • Birthday: 11/27/1973
    • Gender: Male
    • Member Since: 9/17/2005

About Me

  • I am a young pilgrim. . . on a journey as a husband, father, friend, and I hope compassionate loving human being . . . And if you'd like to know about my family and our ministry please visit our blog The Whetstone Chronicles

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Chatboard (1)

  • leenie35
    Hi, I dont know Tim personally--maybe someday we will meet. The Canada Atlantic District, continue to pray for Tim and family and up-date others on what they are doing. Love, Leenie
  • tdwhetstone
    Where: Mobile, Alabama When: 2006 Natalie Danielle Whetstone born at Providence Hospital in Mobile, Alabama. She was 5 lbs, 7 ounces, and 20 inches long-- Oh yeah, and of course the most BEAUTIFUL little girl EVER! (imported from memories)