The Shema Movement blog

hospitality of the other 90%

May 23, 2009
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I have a book called "design for the other 90%"

90 % refers to the 5.8 billion/90% of the world who have little or no access to most of the products and services that many of us take for granted. Nearly half do not have access to life sustaining food, water or shelter. This book tells of current collaborations of top engineers and others at the Smithsonian who have now shifted focus of their talents to help this 90% live well. I love the mission and the name of the book, because in my american privilege and power I forget that i am only a part. " To him who had been given much, much is required" , I long to never forget....

My brief stay among this 90% on a couple of missions trips, along with my ample reading of others whom have lived outside of the US have defined HOSPITALITY for me. In my opinion, the less afluent understand hospitality in a far deeper level than the wealthy. The hospitality of poverty is so beautiful that no longer do I see the entertaining that we call hospitality the real deal. How can I take the soul of the hospitality of poverty and to it my ability to give?

For the most part, no matter where you travel the world to be in the midst of other cultures, or work in missions, you will find a graciousness extended to all guests. The hospitality is so unexpected that we trained our american teams in this social expectation. We learn that although we come to serve we will be put into the finest beds, while the natives sleep on the floor- and that we must take when we have been given. One place we stayed at we ended up sleeping on cement roof tops as this is where the natives slept.

We were taught that we would be served the best "holiday" foods, and to refuse would be offensive, even if we see the hostess have no food left for herself for it is considered an honor to have so many guests that you dont have enough food for your self and are it becomes a joy to eat the scraps. We were taught that the natives give from a belief that to give graciously reaps so, and so we must receive with all gratefulness.

I read the following story:" Brenda was in the rural Lesotho village of south africa where she lived for 3 years. when she arrived, greeting her in her room was a drink and some pumpkin. Her landlord had said that it was a bad pumpkin harvest,more than half rotted, and that he has only 8 to make it through the winter. When Brenda his home after a month to serve elsewhere the landlord took the largest pumpkin and gave it to her. " you cannot give me more, this is all you have for your family! The landlord told her that this is the way they live, that they always share the best, and if one year they have none maybe another will share with them. Brenda took half of the pumpkin and shared it with a neighbor who had none, and lives this hospitality of poverty even as she has returned to the states."

There are countless stories such as this, the very fact that we find it to be a story proves its difference.

I suppose the removal of the things

loving leftovers

May 23, 2009
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I have lived in plenty and less so: about 2 years ago i became a " food pantry" user as a primary means of feeding a large family. This is a far different way of living than what is the norm in america, the way I have always known.

I learned to cook from my mother and grandmother, a treasure like no other. My mother is a gifted and passionate food person, cook and hospitable as well. If you told me today that 100 dignitaries were coming to my home, i could serve a fine and delicious meal with ease, no recipie to read. With mom i made pierogoes (yes, polish/ yum) hand rolled dough, golumpki (meat and rice stuffed cabbage in a tasty tomato based broth), baked goods finer than all bakeries, creamy mashed potatoes, all the how to's from folding batter to frying - which pans and oils are best.....i could go on and on and write books and books. My german grandma also grew some of her own herbs and veggies, hence my knowledge of fresh herbs and canning.

As a young married (20 yrs old), I steeped myself in additional know how that would please my new husband. The church women and pot lucks, the must have book: Joy of Cooking, some fancy tips from the chefs i worked with while waitressing us through school, added all the more to my cooking skills. Knowing that my heritage was not as healthy as others i taught myself how to take all that i knew and make it healthy for my family, never throw the baby out with the bathwater, you know. Having learned the most through the meal making for 16 years of married life, kids and many parties... I had a system like most women in america, a fine one, not here to talk anything down.

1.Plan specific meals for the week or so, meals that your family likes and is healthy. maybe read for new recipies.2. go out an find needed ingredients. 3.cook. nothing bad at all. truly. duh.

Here is what I want- go get it.

Life changes, lest we become barnacled to things that will inhibit our growth, and a couple years ago i began using and working in a food pantry that we now call a Food Share. I have yet learned a whole new way of cooking and living.

Here is what I have been given-what can i make of it?

The food share is "garbage" or leftovers-items that stores are going to throw away. We pick up bags of unsorted non sellable foods, one day away from expire date or damaged in some way. Good foods, meats-produce-dairy-breads-cereals. We sort through mushy bananas and throw away moldy and make due with mushy. It is amazing what we throw away here in the suburbs. Bruised fruit or dented boxes make items into garbage. High costs dont help, i dont suppose i would pay $4 for a smashed tiny container of berries.

We who use the food share have traded grocery shopping for 'donation picking'. We create from what has been given. We make use of what no one else wants, leftovers.

It breeds gratefulness-

It challenges creativity-

It is sustainable living-

It is adventurous-

It connects us with the way most of the world eats,

and maybe the way we were created to be-

It brings us back to a correct definition of food-

It brings us back to a correct definition of sharing & community-

It removes us from american marketing-

It relieves us from the excessive buffet of choices we must sort through

It teaches us what we DONT need

It make us learn to like new foods-

Is is not wasteful

It takes my mind from thought of wanting to having-

it is hard satisfying work-

It is simple.

I love my heritage, healthy foods, and yes, ill take the leftovers. ........

steeped

May 7, 2009
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steeped. to be immersed in something so that it is re-created.
green tea leaves steeped in water=my morning joy.

as a child i was steeped system during the school year, language and math
in the summer it was dreams as i played outside from dawn to dusk

as a new wife it was making him better and being the woman i should be

as a mom it was the boys. who are they ? and how to help them be all they are to be

in the suburbs it is: our home,where safety is the key.

when had less it was surviving, when i had more it was thriving.

when it is spiritual life it is sacrifice and service that is His key.

I love this world He has steeped me in, one where hope and life flows free, one where people act out as they seem to be made to be. where they focus on what to give, not to get. where they love without an agenda for a net. where help is given to one who is dying or in pain. one where emotions are as physical, both in need, both feel pain. there are so many causes and places in this world trying to steep it in love.

this is not a poem. there are causes and need based organizations by the million out there all lead by people with a passion for more to this life. you must look deeper. you must look beyond the norm. through the consumerism cloud.

to the way humans are made to be

Did i help you pack for Sunday?

Apr 26, 2009
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first i packed a hospital bag, ready for that day i would touch you.
then i packed your diaper bag: ready for anything a day would bring.
even placed in their things to help you grow, toys and books that sing.
then i packed your lunch bag with preschool treats and little notes to get you through the change.
then i packed your backpack, making sure you'd be okay- for an entire day. quarters for emergencys that need a cookie or some milk.
then we packed your sports gear, so that you wont get hurt. everything as the coach said, not less, not more.
we packed for vacations: some five star hotels, some tents in the woods.
i showed you to pack for the "unforseen" happenings, useful items like duct tape and safety pins, hold things together in a pinch.

we learned to pack our insides, too. our emotions and character needed to grow ready too.
we learned to pack for a big big life, where we have a part to give to. we learned that its far more than survival, although at times that seems the part.
we packed for sunday church, to learn about faith. we took our bible and our questions. we learned to give and to serve and we packed well, or so i thought?

a long way from the hospital bag, you are no longer "mine". one step into 18, and you belong to the world.
the back pack part was easy, you learned it all so well. a fine man living on your own.

now today is sunday. and i know how it goes. kids come home from college. mom says did you "go to church?" -most smurk "no"? they think "why would i do that?" just to please you? mom, did you go?

it happens with the most faith filled. in understanding the life of Jesus, they see no need for someone to preach at them about sex and greed.

Did I help you pack beyond sunday? did i let you know what to take:

the Holy Sprirt, remember, is God always with you, inside you, like your conscience, He will
guide. He will comfort + give wisdom.
But ASK- and you will find.

The bible, its a good plan, in there you too will find, not preaching, not boring words, not outdated-read between the lines. It is the beautiful story of life. Of creation and the people plan you are. Its timeless in values that you may not find in pews.

Did i tell you its really not all for sunday, even though we made it a huge deal?
Its a moment by moment walk with the Spirit, He is real.

Serving others proved a good pack, its impact is so great. while you helped another you learned empathy and you too, now are truly great.

Serving others isnt just a hobby? a special sunday? giving your old stuff away.
Did i tell you it is worship? and that worship is not just a band? this is so confusing.bait and switch, where did adults get that plan?

Did i help you pack for sunday? or was it all too confused? was church a true picture of the way of Jesus lived out in each breath?
was there too much hype to see how we should be? was there too much noise about how many, how big?
was there too much focus on fun? was there any on how we are "to be one"?
did we help to ask questions? or just shove answers? and not show how?
now you drown in "truth" how are you to know?
did i pack discernment? oh my. where will this go?

did i pack love? its the one thing you will want.
not love like in silly songs, or billboards, or sex, or almost anyone?

love with out agenda, thats what real love is. it has no selfish motive. it is from you- to them. something you give. it is not usually easy. it is though, easily seen, its can even be felt by both giver and receiver the same.
its not a pushy, proud or loud. its not better than, sometimes it doesnt say amen.
it not a word filled way. its action. a true way.
it takes some respect and listening, patience and grace and time.
to keep it simple remember this: see people as made by God, and you will act from that fine.

if you can, hear my apology. i didnt help you pack for sunday. and sunday is today.

can I see your ETHOS?

Apr 18, 2009
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My 3rd son was our first to join a mental sport, not football but robotics. While I was happy of course for he and his friends to have all the gifts that being part of a sport brings to ones character, I met -more- at my first standing in their midst.

Who_gracious

I was instantly overcome by the feeling, vibe or ETHOS in the room. I had never felt or seen anything like it in a competition based group setting. As a disclaimer I will say that I directed youth groups and camps for years and am no stranger to the world of kids, teams and to the "how to compete" discussion.

Instantly while standing in the room of robotics students, I was aware of JOY.calm joy. not zany add chaotic kids vying for attention. CREATIVITY. not wacky emo stuff where kids strive to be different and yet are just like the all dressed black purple haired kids they hang with. The kids dressed with creative self expression, non-emotionally expressive engineer types did the macarena, they named their own teams: exploding bacon, thunder chickens , chipenguineers, cheesy poofs and the like. INTELLIGENT ACTION. For fun in down minutes they discussed bionary code, speed of light and how they could make garbage into energy. no mention of low thought bodily actions. All this from a room of engineers,left brainers- where technically precise perfection makes a world winning robot. The goal is out held out there- this team is world wide #1 as i write. It was instantly quite refreshing and very attractive.

My next glance at a group always goes to one place: LEVEL OF INCLUSION. Are the people in cliques? are some people left out when they dont want to be? Is anyone being disrespected and put down, or are they pushed positively? Is this a faux, control led situation?, which can be quickly detected.

This is where i become overwhelmed. I couldnt find it. No one left in the corner, no one cliqued out, no one down talking, no one behaving out of unhealthy fear but respect....in fact, they cheer on other teams? say i love you to people, and do chicken dances and penguin dances with such teams. Even the kids who are more of a sideline worker are happy and belong. The number 2 kids give praise to the number ones and the number ones humbly help number 2's advance. The kids are entrusted to high tech expensive donated time in Motorolas lab. dang.

While I know that there are a number a factors that go into "ETHOS" , I know that there is at least one big catalyst in this, Im gonna find it. First i talk to a few kids and complement them on how well people are treated "oh, thats GRACIOUS PROFESSIONALISM" and COOPERTION". next i hear of an award for such behavior, and then I notice a mentor man. He is cleary well known and well loved. I watch him interact with a "random" kid. He has long grey hair in a pony tail. He has THE DEMEANOR: calm, intelligent, safe, empowering and humble. next i find out that the mans name is the same name as the award for gracious professionalism. I found the big catalyst. His name is Woody Flowers. intrigued, i googled him and found this:

"Dr. Woodie Flowers, FIRST robotics National Advisor and Pappalardo Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, coined the term "Gracious Professionalism."

Gracious Professionalism is part of the ethos of FIRSTrobotics. It's a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community.

With Gracious Professionalism, fierce competition and mutual gain are not separate notions. Gracious professionals learn and compete like crazy, but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process. They avoid treating anyone like losers. No chest thumping tough talk, but no sticky-sweet platitudes either. Knowledge, competition, and empathy are comfortably blended.

In the long run, Gracious Professionalism is part of pursuing a meaningful life. One can add to society and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing one has acted with integrity and sensitivity.

>>So, whats my point? to tell you how great i think woody and my kids team is. ? NO.

TO START TO TALK ETHOS in any area of life where MAKING A DIFFERENCE is the goal.

I think that there is serious take away value in places where knowledge, competition and empathy are blended. (rather that either element avoided)

There is more to the simple statement that acting with INTEGRITY and SENSITIVITY/empathy adds to society

That fierce competition and mutual gain mutual and not exclusive. (this is a redefining of competition, a humane one)

That Ethos is the wordless soil that produces growth.

That an Ethos of respect is a soil that touches and grows healthy humaness, and eventually eliminate unhealthy behavior.

That through Ethos we teach, communicate, give and love. because there we are introduced to our humaness.

that "where we have not respectful love, we have nothing"

to ask the question to what extent can what christians call "the gospel" be communicated without words?

to truly look at what it will take to make a real change in our world.

more blogs on group ethos to come.......

Frc_champ2

and, nice job to the 501c3 FIRST ROBOTICS.

can I see your ETHOS?

Apr 18, 2009
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Who_gracious

My 3rd son was our first to join a mental sport, not football but robotics. While I was happy for he and his friends to have all the gifts that being part of a sport brings to ones character, I met -more, at my first standing in the midst of the robotics teams.

I was instantly overcome by the feeling, vibe or ETHOS in the room. I had never felt or seen anything like it in a competition based group setting. As a disclaimer I will say that I directed youth groups and camps for years and am no stranger to the world of kids, teams and to the "to compete or not" discussion.

Instantly while standing in the room of robotics students, I was aware of JOY. calm joy. not zany add chaotic kids vying for attention. CREATIVITY. not wacky emo stuff where kids strive to be different and yet are just like the all dressed black purple haired kids they hang with. The kids dressed with creative self expression. non-emotionally expressive engineer types did the macarena. kids named their own teams: exploding bacon, thunder chickens , chipenguineers, cheesy poofs and the like. INTELLIGENT ACTION. For fun in down time they discussed bionary code, speed of light and how they could make garbage into energy. no mention of low thought bodily actions. All this from a room of engineers, left brainers- where technically precise perfection makes a world winning robot. The goal to win is clearly out there- this team is world wide #1 as i write. It was instantly quite refreshing and very attractive and rare.

My next glance at a group always goes to one place: LEVEL OF INCLUSION. Are the people in cliques? are some people left out when they dont want to be? Is anyone being disrespected and put down, or are they pushed positively? Is this a faux, control led situation?, which can be quickly detected.

This is where i become overwhelmed. I couldnt find it. No one left in the corner, no one cliqued out, no one down talking, no one behaving out of unhealthy fear but respect....in fact, they cheer on other teams? say i love you to people, and do chicken dances and penguin dances with such teams. Even the kids who are more of a sideline worker are happy and belong. The number 2 kids give praise to the number ones and the number ones humbly help number 2's advance. The kids are entrusted to high tech expensive donated time in Motorolas lab. dang.

While I know that there are a number a factors that go into "ETHOS" , I know that there is at least one big catalyst in this, Im gonna find it. First i talk to a few kids and complement them on how well people are treated "oh, thats GRACIOUS PROFESSIONALISM" and COOPERTION". next i hear of an award for such behavior, and then I notice a mentor man. He is cleary well known and well loved. I watch him interact with a "random" kid. He has grey hair in a pony tail. He has THE DEMEANOR: calm, intelligent, safe, empowering and humble. next i find out that the mans name is the same name as the award for gracious professionalism. I found the big catalyst. His name is Woody Flowers. intrigued, i googled him and found this:

"Dr. Woodie Flowers, FIRST robotics National Advisor and Pappalardo Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, coined the term "Gracious Professionalism."

Gracious Professionalism is part of the ethos of FIRSTrobotics. It's a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community.

With Gracious Professionalism, fierce competition and mutual gain are not separate notions. Gracious professionals learn and compete like crazy, but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process. They avoid treating anyone like losers. No chest thumping tough talk, but no sticky-sweet platitudes either. Knowledge, competition, and empathy are comfortably blended.

In the long run, Gracious Professionalism is part of pursuing a meaningful life. One can add to society and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing one has acted with integrity and sensitivity.

>>So, whats my point? to tell you how great i think woody and my kid's team is. ? NO.

TO START TO TALK ETHOS in any area of life where MAKING A DIFFERENCE is the goal.

I think that there is serious take away value in places where knowledge, competition and empathy are blended. (rather that either element avoided or masked over)

There is more to the simple statement that acting with INTEGRITY and SENSITIVITY/empathy adds to society

That fierce competition and mutual gain mutual and not exclusive. (this is essentially a societal redefining of competition, a humane one)

That Ethos is the wordless soil that produces growth.

That an Ethos of respect is a soil that touches and grows healthy humaness, and eventually eliminate unhealthy behavior.

That through Ethos we teach, communicate, give and love; because there we are introduced to our humaness.

that "where we have not love, we have nothing"

to ask the question to what extent can what christians call "the gospel" be communicated without words?

to truly look at what it will take to make a real change in our world. a change for our kids. a quick but sure change.

more blogs on group ethos to come.......

and, nice job "doing good " as we call it here at Shema, to the 501c3 FIRST ROBOTICS. --first.org

Frc_champ2

CQ-community quotient

Mar 22, 2009
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I LOVE I.Q. tests, I love the information on emotional intelligences E.Q., I think about integrity quotient I.Q.; I love to study people, groups, interdependence, interaction, culture, birth orders, temperaments, learning styles and the like.

As i have progressed from being a staff ministry leader in an organized church setting, to its structurally opposite: organic community, I have discovered that there is indeed a "COMMUNITY QUOTIENT".

A community quotient is a measure of ability to live in community.

Taken from the simple observation of folks who have learned to live in community along with me I can look back and assess Community Quotient Characters:

1. Humility-understanding oneself as an vital part of a whole. Humility ultimately leads to all of the proceeding C.Q's. Humility naturally kills competition and consumption mindsets, replacing them with collaboration and giving. A community mindset is the antithesis of a consumption mindset-the 2 cannot coexist. It is the soil in which another can grow along side you as is vital to your life.

2. Purpose- Life, Community, family and individual must have a guiding purpose and en-companying values as foundation to pivot all action from. Purpose naturally kills apathy, laziness and depression,= burdens on community that lead to eventual burn out of the stronger community. It is the soil form which joy in work grows and the important trait of adaptability.

3. Empathy- at some point empathy/ understanding the other parts of the whole is the same as understanding oneself in a community mindset, both informing all actions. Empathy kills individualism, destructive-competition and careless pain. Strong intrinsic and external empathetic decisions force the creation of group health through natural accountability. As one wise teen said " community is like rehab for everyone, everyone has something to change and you cant hide it there". Entering one another's storms make us all stronger, much like the tree that must have wind bend it to near death in order to strengthen its roots.

4. Grace- empathy is the soil from which grace emerges, but yet must be chosen. Grace is the space in which all growth, healing for pain and problems, strength to become who one was made to be, lay. Grace keeps the cycle of these 4 characters moving, deeper each time around, hence the growth for the individuals in and the community in sync.Grace keeps it all from falling apart while making it strong.

5*. Service- I think that a community must place as one purpose- service, in order for it to be best which means truly live as far as I am concerned. I think that the above 4 qualities can maintain a healthy community for a long time but unless a community lives for something outside of its own self, it eventually becomes ingrown past the point of return without major surgery and usually death. Service naturally kills selfishness and forces the community to be wholly strong enough to expel energies for service. Service of course enhances the quotients of purpose,empathy and grace therefore cycling vitality back into the strength of the community.

I am very blessed to have a core community with whom i have learned these things first hand, have grown far more, far quicker , on more fronts than any other time of my life. Most of my community at the "shema " house in the chicago area, are still young adults/teens at this end of our organization to organic morph. One of the best decisions we shema adults have made is to connect our lives with youth, who are to some seem a " burden" in certain areas. As I have learned that this is a false image that we adults have, I do think that this must be true for the elderly. We have values of inclusion and service and so this is easy for us. We will next try to invest more into the lifes of the elderly. I read that in Japan there is a honor given to those who are elderly and specifically 97 or more. To be able to care for one that is 97 is a privilege and gives life back to the helper they say, as is being 80 or more years old something of high stature. I think we miss something by sticking age groups into boxes here in this good country we live.

I

CPC --canned peas church

Feb 23, 2009
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I was at my parent's home for a recent holiday. My parent's parents were immigrants and so my parents earned all they have the good old hard workin' way. They LOVE to tell stories of the past as much as i love for my children to hear them. People who work hard for their things often value them more than their actual market value; creating what we fondly call 'pack rats'. Their basement will be the worlds greatest estate sale some day complete with old post cards, cubs beer cans, kirby vacuum parts,cigar boxes, wooden toys that were too good to play with, tools and old magazines that look like newspapers.

Seated around the fireplace, my kids and I were reading some of these old newspaper/magazines. WOW. so funny. The women wore aprons, pantyhose, pumps and pearls at home; cigarettes were cool for men, women were about the home and 'it's man', and all the ads were about items that made the woman's job easier-hence "to make the mans castle shine!. EASY. More convenient. Iron easier. Vacuum easier. Clean windows easier. Care for your hair and skin easier, care for your kids and man easier and life will be better! Cooking was all about convenient. Convenience reigned over healthy. Canned peas were on every other page. Easy canned peas......

My 3 sons and I soaked in the history lesson. 3 things came to mind:

1. good times for grandpa that the woman was all about the man!

2. We have learned that -easy- had taken away health and now we are have been raised with "natural" "organic" and "whole foods", green and natural chemical free cleaners.

3. the culture of convenience invades a much larger part of life than canned peas and window spray......

Even Church and consequently Christianity.

Now, for my disclaimer: I am a solid Jesus follower and love the church. I worked in the official church and will always work as a part of the church. Which is why I dont think we should blink at taking a little inventory. I recently took a 'jesus growth' inventory with my local community. Together we had done such inventory both while in an attractional church, and then local community where we replaced the sunday service show with an entire day of serving and studying together. I hope to teach them to be focused, wise and discerning; fearlessly so in the graceful love of God.

I asked the young adults what the differences between the 2 forms of discipleship were. They said-

1. slower way at first to see market change

2. far more growth in God at a far faster rate in due time

3. smaller resources of people and systems

4. not as marketable or glamorous

5. more work for all taking part

6. more neighborhood people served

7. far less money going to overhead

8. easier for non believers to come into

9. non believers look upon a harder, more focused faith.

While that last inventory was a pleasure to hear, I did realize that 20 years prior I had at times marketed church and therefore Jesus "easy like canned peas. All of those methods caused

We read stories about persecuted Christians this quote comes from believers in North and South Vietnam:

"My dad was an unofficial church pastor. When such pastors get caught they either to prison or sometimes are sent to work in official churches in the North. I spent my childhood years in the official church where the pastors are paid and controlled and we are taught a safe and mild Christianity. I was very good and very involved in youth activity. Therefore, my faith was not born until i found myself in the south married to a pastor of an unofficial church in a home. I raise my kids this way even though they have seen much persecution even in their own life. If kids speak of belonging to an official church they are left alone, if they speak of belonging to an unofficial church-much trouble comes their way. Even in our beatings God protects us because we are truly His, truly worshipping HIm and not a small self made part as they feed people in the North"

christian leapfroggers

Jan 5, 2009
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Image that you drive an ambulance. You are on the way to the hospital and blocking your path in the street are 2 men in suits fighting. They are so embroiled that they do not hear your ambulance. You get out assuming that this will be easy...maybe the men are deaf and you just need to shoo them off of the street.

Not the case. The men continue to bicker and do not move. You do not see how you can go around. You have a person in serious need in your care. You take a breath and decided to attempt to enter the argument in order to create timely peace for all. You discover that the men are each CEOs of competing fortune 500 companies. They are arguing about which is better: the 8 track or the cassette tape! At that point you decide to get back into your ambulance and find your way around, even if it means a little backtrack.

I bet that this is the way most of the people under the age of 30 and millions more view the "discussion" that goes on within the christian church leadership world.

I am speaking of that which we endlessly and emotionally "discuss" over and over again in meetings, conferences, blogs, etc. Things like: which model is better: the mega church or the smaller missional church? Mulit gen stuff or niche stuff? This preaching or that? This worship guy or that? This time slot or that?

I have listened to countless good, raised going to church 20 year olds; many of them serious/real Jesus disciples. I especially listen to young people because half of the people in the world today are under the age of 30. While they are are very respectful of their elders attempts to save their church attendance, they know the answer is not found in that discussion. i wholeheartedly agree.

Sometimes we christians get downright mean with each other. Somehow its deemed ok?: to call someone with a Godly track record doing good a heretic because he does not completely agree with you on an interpretation of a Jesus told kingdom parable. Do we not see our own hypocrisy?

I have listened to countless non christian people for whom this is their view of christianity. Their take away: who needs to be part of that? I dont blame them at all.

I think that most of what is being discussed has now become a foolish dispute; where it has birthed more criticalness than loving action. Other people hear it too: George Barna tried telling us 20 years ago that the next generation was not going to look like the current generation as far as sunday mega church. The facts reveal reality. Is it not obvious? There is not one right way to do church. Why is it that if we find a right way that we think it must never change? Why do we think that if we just change the worship music it'll all be ok?

What happens to all of those under 30 Jesus followers, or not for that matter, that are just going to drive around the endless chatter to save someone?

They leapfrog.

They jump right over a decade or two of incremental change into the current stream of life. Although leapfrogging has its difficulties, it becomes the way survive and thrive for a people group in danger. Cell phones, wireless internet and solar lighting are examples of leapfrogging in 3rd world countries.

What does leapfrogged church look like?.

Its been happening you know.........(another blog)!

Id love to know what you see......