Not matter what your field—ministry, business, not for profit, or education—you always want to be on the lookout for new ideas. The question is, “Are innovative ideas more likely to come from established participants or from novices?” According to professor Amir Goldberg at Stanford University, we should focus on the fringes for breakthrough ideas. In his research, Goldberg found that prescient thinking—the creation of novel ideas that prove productive-- was more likely to emerge from the fringes of a field. In business, prescient ideas were eight times more likely to emerge from the smallest companies than the largest. “We’re not saying innovation always comes from the periphery, only that it’s more likely,” Goldberg notes. As investors and business leaders seek the next big idea, Goldberg says “Openness to outsiders and welcoming a diversity of voices is a good place to start.” For churches and denominations, this means that we should listen to the newcomer and those on the m
He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). -- John 20:15-16, NIV Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. T hen the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” -- John 21:4-7a, NIV John’s Gospel provides the reader with several post resurrection appearances of Jesus, and these have been interpreted in many ways. These two stood out for me today. First, Mary does no