Jon Koresko
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Jon Koresko commented on What do you believe? on March 28, 2009, 11:22 AM
Sorry I didn't proof read my previous response. It's riddled with small spelling and grammatical mistakes. Story of my life :)
Jon Koresko commented on What do you believe? on March 28, 2009, 11:19 AM
I'm not entirely certain what you are referencing when you say the "three great Abrahamic religions". I would generally agree with your statement that evangelism is not of top importance to the Jewish religion. I did however go to a Synagogue recently and wrote about my experience. This Synagogue was a part of the Conservative Movement as I mentioned above. On there website the is information on how to join them. I compare this to a group like the Masons, that you must be invited into by a member, having commercials on TV. Also, in the Old Testament there was specific ways the Israelites were to proselytize non-Jews into their assembly. Throughout the Old Testament Israel is a light to their Surrounding Nations. If you look where God places they as they leave Egypt, the promised land is amongst several different people groups. The highway that runs along the Mediterranean is also next to them. In the book of Jonah, this prophet goes to a empire (Assyria) that the Israelites (and him specifically) hate. He task is to preach so that they might repent and God would relent from bringing calamity. I don't know if you have much interest in the Bible but I only mention this because any part of Judaism (race, religion) affirms this as their Holy Scriptures. In my first post I tried to guess why Mr. Emanuel goes to Synagogue (friends and interesting conversation). You may be also right, that he was born Jewish. I would imagine that just like other religions though, not all Jews actively participate in Synagogue. One final thing to give an insight on Christianity. Some have made such an emphasis on evangelism that outsiders might get the impression that its all about getting people saved. Honestly this is also an emphasis of a lot of our Sunday services. It is also one of the negative results of Revivalism (Charles Finney, Billy Sunday, etc.). A current phrase that churches are using and being defined by is, "come as you are". A paradigm shift that is also occurring is that church is less about a building and more about a people. So church is happening outside the building and often times with people who hold to different beliefs. So I would say in Christianity and in the church, belief is not a qualifying requirement for inclusion. This is happening slow and you will surly find an abundance of churches that will not even try to understand this thought. And so, they get stuck in their old models that are often less-Biblical. I hope something in my response helped. Sorry if you felt like I was jumping to conclusions.
I once heard it said that knowledge matched with zeal will create maximum impact. Zeal is passion for a purpose. It is a passionate pursuit of a desired goal. In leadership this is the enthusiasm that ignites your followers; the driving force of them following. Though essential, a leader must not be satiated with enthusiasm and charisma. Even when the communicated goal is clear, when the team is rallied, a lack of knowledge produces a meager return. Knowledge produces depth of meaning in your mission. It programs and is highly practical at times. If zeal gets you a following, knowledge unleashes them with the ability to achieve. These characteristics connected in leadership will create a cause for change. So I ask you, in which category are you wanting. What does maximum impact look like for you in leadership? Do you need a shot to the heart or to hit the books? … Read More
March 26, 2009 | In Business & Economics
Jon Koresko commented on Dacher Keltner Reveals the Happiness Paradox on March 24, 2009, 6:22 AM
Keltner’s concern for our culture is the risk of defining happiness in three respects: sensory pleasures, exercise, and personal gratification. He explains the social dimension of happiness by defining it by emotions. This is in contrast to a more materialistic understanding of happiness that can be routed in material gain. These different emotions cause you to bring out the good in others. They range from compassion to laughter and have the ability to tell us when we are living a meaningful life. Reflect on times when you have unselfishly given to someone. Reflect on the proverbs that say “it is better to give than to receive.” They both point us to the experiential effects of happiness which are “greater purpose and a deep well-being.” I recently spent a weekend in Baltimore working at a place I’ve never been to before. At the end of the day I was weary from laboring yet my sense of accomplishment and happiness to give to others were abundantly clear. While the pursuit of happiness can sound selfish, done right it also brings happiness to others.
Jon Koresko commented on What do you believe? on April 8, 2009, 8:42 PM
Richard I'm a little confused about what you are referring to when you say that I have contradicted myself. Maybe you can explain. I personally know quite a few people who have ongoing friendships with atheists. They are engaging their friends in conversation about their beliefs and vice versa. I don't know if this is happening in a service but what I was trying to explain above (by describing the paradigm shift) is that people are the church .. not the building. Finally, I think you would be comfortable with me saying that everyone has and exhibits beliefs.