Touched Twice United

Sandman Continues...

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:59:44 GMT

The power I see in the sandman is that he is able to gather strength from many individual grains.

"5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another."Romans chapter 12:5

My daughter just asked, "How can God be everwhere at the same time?". With the sandman metaphore I see how small, broken chips of rock could be formed together if they had the same origin. Same DNA if you will.

Each indiviual grain on its own would have very limmited power to affect change. In the body of Christ there is no coercion. Each member is free to act on his or her own understanding. It is only when the head speaks to the body collectively that you can see the body emerge. Yet its possible that until Jesus returns the majority of the sand in the sand pit remains just sand.

Synergy is released when we can celebrate the uniqueness of each grain. Sandman is only possible after the DNA of Jesus was released through the Holy Spirit. A Spirit absent of the body is lifeless. The Spirit of Jesus was released throughout the body so that we who are many may become one.

Sandman and the Body of Christ

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:32:21 GMT

One of the core principles of TTU is the commitment that we DO NOT want to create another bureaucratic agency. We believe in the grass roots, autonomous, local, church community. In this clip of the movie Spiderman 3 we can see the formation of the evil character Sandman.

If you watch this clip you can see how each individual grain of sand is required to come together forming the Sandman's body. As you see him rise and fall the sand first is drawn together and when released spreads out over the entire pit. Its only when he sees the locket with his daughters picture does he muster enough passion to fully form.

Unlike the Sandman, the Body Of Christ is not evil nor fantasy. It is for now still forming in our collective imagination.

Never in our time has there been such a need for the entire body of Christ. People from outside the faith and from within are awakening to a sirens like call. To form into a body of compassion. A body designed in advance to meet this overwhelming need.

After this specific need has been met, the sandman is free to spread back out over the entire area like leaven. We see a Body that gathers when it is needed in a more complete form, dissipate to continue to cover the ever broadening area.

Smaller local needs are met in accordance to the local pool of resource. Community norms and direct relationships are the conduits for accountability and distribution. The larger more overwhelming needs are met through a unified commitment to serving people in need. As Mother Teresa said, "All of us can do small things with great love" or in my words, I can't but we can.

TTU Language

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:33:00 GMT

Since 1996 I have had a difficult time talking to people about the methodology or philosophy that Touched Twice United is organized around. I am recommending the book, Starfish and the Spider; The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations. This book has given me a language that describes our system. It is a system that doesn't require a heavy, top down controlling bureaucracy. This system instead requires release and trust to allow it to grow. It is easily duplicated and is extremely resilient. The authors contrast and compare the creatures starfish and spiders. At fist glance they look similar. However if you cut the head off a spider it dies, cut a starfish and you tend to get another starfish.

It seems that the current health care system needs a refresher and our country can no longer afford to sustain the current escalating costs. Without some major change in thinking things look bleak. Either costs will continue to rise or people will be cut off from care.

I believe that this starfish way of organizing offers the hope we all are looking for. Helping more people at less costs while continuing the progressive research and development America is know for. Over the next several blogs, I will see if I can effectively convey this idea using the language of The Starfish and Spider. This is a collaborative work in progress and it will require your help. I can not succeed, but we can.

Perry's Vision

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:33:48 GMT

A short video explaining why TTU exists, from founder Perry Polnaszek.