I went for a walk this evening for about an hour and a half. My pace was slow and thoughtful. For the most part I had a smile on my face and said hello to ever person who crossed my path. Most people were cool with my greeting while a few were taken aback. That didn’t stop me, I wanted people to feel a moment of personal warmth as we past on the first cool evening in over a month. On the walk I thought a lot about my personal ethos, I was kind of taking some internal inventory. I feel good about where I am in life right now and I want that to be reflected in who I am when I connect with people even if it is in passing.
About ten minutes down the path I heard what sounded like a garage band jamming as the sun started to set. I slowed down and listened in and I liked what I heard. The music was fun and the band sounded like they knew what they were doing. Now I was smiling for two reasons, I felt good internally and the music made me feel even better. Good combo! I thought to myself “good for them” and continued on my way.
Forty-five minutes later as I approached the same house on my way home, I found myself hoping to hear the band still playing. I could see a light at the backdoor but no music. As the house came into full view I heard voices and and saw a group of guys gathered around a car talking. Without thinking about it I walked right up to them on what was now a dark evening and asked if they were the guys that were jamming the first time I passed. I could see a worried look in their eyes (they were probably thinking I was some mad neighbor) as they affirmed that they had been playing. Immediately I told them that I liked their music, I also told them I thought it sounded fun. ”Really? You like our music?” They were shocked that someone they did not know and had never seen would take the risk to tell them on this dark night, “I like your stuff.”
As I walked away the whole group of guys were smiling and felt encouraged, so did I. I started the walk thinking about who I was on the inside, when I got home the person I had been on the walk had made someones day. And that’s the point of “Electric Ethos” when you get your batteries charged it feels good and who you are can make others feel better about themselves, even in passing.
Some might think that this is a story about me, but it’s not. It’s about the One who charges my batteries. He gets all the credit. Live Electric!
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The following definitions are helping to shape my thoughts about ethos.
· Aristotle’s term for the perceived character of the speaker, i.e. credibility.
· The distinctive spirit of a culture or era; “the Greek ethos”
· The character or fundamental values of a person, people, culture, or movement.
· The distinguishing character, beliefs or moral nature of a person, group, or institution.
· The code of conduct of a business and the way in which it treats its staff, customers, environment and legal responsibilities.
· Characteristic manner or spirit, either of a community, or individual.
· The values that pervade the atmosphere of a social group.
What is your definition of ethos?
- Ethos – The character at the core of a person or group
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On May 1st, 2007 I started walking for my health. I was in the first chapter of a book I stumbled across titled “The Power of Full Engagement” and it hit me, “I need to go for a walk.” So I did. I walked a mile out stopped at a local store purchased some pumpkin seeds (for energy) and headed for home. When I got home I felt more alive than when I had left an hour earlier. Who knew 2 miles could do so much for you. Over the next several months I didn’t miss a day. Some nights I walked in the silence of my thoughts and others I took my ipod along as my friend. In that season I lost thirty pounds (now only 20) which made me feel great about myself.
Last night I took another walk but this time I was with about 30 young students I love. I took the walk as an exercise to help my friends understand how faith can intersect with daily living. Here was my premis. If you are a person of faith then faith should come up as a topic of conversation, naturally as part of your daily journey. So we set out for an hour that would lead us through a park, a playground, a soccer field, some trails, a parking lot and a crosswalk stopping every few minutes to talk about faith. I wanted them to practice the message more than me just speaking the message. My faith in Jesus Christ should intertwine with the rest of my life. Everyday life presents us with opportunities to live out the faith like Jesus. Jesus talked about faith in the synagogue, but also along the shore, at a meal, in a boat, in a garden, with people of faith and with people searching for faith.
I think that if you walk long enough with me you will find out what is at the core of who I am. Or at least you should be able to. Ethos has been defined in many ways but one definition is ”character at the core; who we are at the deepest part that others cannot escape.” I am working on building the inner part of my life, the core of who I am and at the core I want to be like Jesus.
I am pretty sure that Jesus had an “Electric Ethos”
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Paul Owen
Ethos can be positive and life giving personally or as part of a tribal community. Ethos can also be negative and draining if the core characteristics of a tribe are focused on personal preservation above passion for what could be.
I have lived in tribes driven by both positive and negative ethos. The corresponding effects of both of these environments on the people of these tribes were often easily identified even from a distance. Several years ago a friend of mine told me that he was disappointed with who I had become. The tribe I was part of was negative and mean spirited and so was I. At the core I had developed a negative ethos. My friend Jon told me that it was time to get out and after a gut check and a conversation with my wife I did. As it turns out that was a pretty good move.
Since then, over the past several years the core of who I am has been re-worked and re-wired for the better. I have formed new friendships and been invited into a new tribe. Not a perfect tribe but a tribe whose ethos is electric, a tribe whose ethos is life giving.
Our model is Jesus Christ and our mission is to be like Him. ElectricEthos.com is committed to studying Scripture, Church history, current trends and more for transferable principles that will build life giving ethos in people of faith, faith communities (tribes) and the greater movement known as the Church of Jesus Christ.
Dr. Bob & Nancy Stone
My mentor Bob Stone has an electric ethos. The core of who he is has given me new life (as he points me to Jesus) and he has challenged me to pass on what I have received so that others may know new life.
Our desire is to be part of a chain of faith that starts with Jesus and ends with the transformation of our hearts and our tribes for His glory.
That is Electric Ethos.
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
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