There is a great quote over at an association of associations* blog, Acronym, that is from Ben Martin over at Certified Association Executive.

“And the conversation isn’t all about your blog: If you write a blog but don’t read others’ blogs, comment on them and link out to them, what you have is antisocial media. My mom taught me that God gave us two ears and one mouth so that we could listen twice as much as we speak. Unfortunately, many seem to believe that God gave them ten fingers and two eyes so that they can type five times as much as they read.“

This touches back to my A Conversation for Everyone post, and the fact that we need to be seeking an ongoing dialogue instead of one-way rhetoric.  If there is no conversation there is no change, and if there is no change then there is no point to our conversation.** I am currently attempting to stay on top of 83 blogs in my Google Reader. It isn’t always easy, and I don’t get to thoroughly read every post that I want to (many are starred for return), but it keeps me involved in the many conversations that are happening under the umbrella of the emerging/ missional conversation.

This is true for Christ-followers, Association Execs, and anyone else who dares to put their ideas, thoughts, and struggles in the blogosphere for all to see!

Peace.

* This may seem redundant, but it is not.  It truly is an association of associations; and it gets really confusing when you begin to talk about their gatherings and how they associate their associations with the association of association, as well as the synergy of one association with another association within the association of associations (gotta love In Good Company).   

** While Yoda-esque in its wording, this is not as circular in definition as it may appear.  It is merely a sign of the abundance of caffeine in my system, as are these footnotes that didn’t really need to be here.

(HT: my lovely wife, Dana) 

Most days I feel a great freedom in my identity, as I seek a better way to follow Christ and shepherd a faith community towards a missional, holistic existence.  

Then there are days like today. I spent the evening in a committee meeting talking about a new financial campaign to pay for the attractional efforts of the church I am currently serving.  I tried to move the group from a message of “you will be blessed by God when you are obedient in giving,” to a message of the church’s missional identity — inviting them to accept God’s invitation to be a part of His mission of restoration in the world.  Being the blessing if you will. 

I have not given up, but I must say that I feel defeated & drained.  These are the nights when I feel like Cypher in the Matrix.  I remember when he was having dinner with Agent Smith, and sealing the deal to betray the others in exchange for being plugged back into the Matrix with his memory erased.  

He said, “You know, I know this steak doesn’t exist. I know that when I put it in my mouth, the Matrix is telling my brain… that it is juicy… and delicious. After nine years, you know what I realize? Ignorance is bliss.”

No matter how beat down I feel, I will never surrender to blissful ignorance.  Turning the attractional church of propositions from the Believe + Behave = Belong, to the outwardly focussed, incarnational Belong + Believe = Become is the ministry that God has called me to.  

No matter how hard things get, I know there is nothing else that I could do.