VOICE

Contention: if we want to have reality about what we do: when it comes to 'influence': we need to diagnose what the *voices* are and act accordingly.

Eg, What matters more: a highly-researched, highly-accurate, highly-insightful theological treatise that is read by just a handful of people, or a best-selling Christian novel (eg, The Shack)? Answer: the novel will usually win hands-down. (Counter-example: when the treatise is read by people who have 'voice'.)

Some of the main voices that matter:

Peers
Friends (especially best friends)
Favourite music
Favourite news sources
Parents (at all ages)
One's pastor (or church leader)
Those one looks up to
Favourite blogs
Teachers
Favourite authors
Books one gets around to reading
Favourite preachers/speakers
Online communities one is active in (big for many)
One's mentor (major, if a person has one)
Youtube videos one watches
Facebook friends
Whatever's generally cool/popular

Sub-point: we are what goes into our heads, and what we choose to do with what goes into our heads.

Sub-contention: if you could accurately diagnose the voices in someone's life, could you generally diagnose who that person *is*; what that person might think about Issue X; what that person might do in Situation X?

Post a comment or email me.

This blog post dedicated to: reality (ie, what actually happens), as opposed to what we'd like to happen.