Done reading "Sub-merge"

I just finished reading Sub-merge by John B. Hayes.  Wow!  This was an eye-opening book, with many intense descriptions of incarnational ministry.  It definitely challenges everything I think I know about ministry.  As a next step, I'll take a crack at writing a book report for this book in the form required by BGU.  I'll post it as soon as it's ready (although it will definitely be the rough draft version... I won't be turning anything in until after the trip to Seattle in January).

I had started reading the Lexus and the Olive Tree, so now I need to jump back into that one.  Is it OK for me to jump around between books as I move through the program, or should I focus on one at a time?  I guess time will tell what works best.

LAMP at North Way Oakland

Yesterday LAMP held a group mentoring event at North Way Oakland.  The kids had a great time, and so did the mentors.  So far this school year this is the third time these mentors have spent time with this particular group of kids.  My hope is that by the end of this school year there will have been some strong rapport developed.  The kids seem to love coming to the church for events.  We kicked everything off with relay races called Indoor Sledding, where the kids had to push a partner on a sled past some cones.  During the next relay race, the kids had to try on huge men's clothing, run with it on, and then give it to the next person in line once they got to the other cone.  The kids went crazy!  It reminded me of my Young Life club days.  After the relay races the kids ate pizza, then they went right into the mentoring stations that we had set up.  These included the Nintendo Wii, XBox, chess, inflatable basketball, miniature golf, puzzles, board games, crafts, games, and movies playing on the big screen in the auditorium and downstairs in the VIP room for seventh and eighth graders.  I love that these kids had a blast at the church.  On the way out, one of the seventh grade girls told me, "This was the most fun I've ever had!"  What more could we ask for!  This was kind of an intense studying and working week, so this was a great event for me to personally see how it is all worth it!  I got to relax and just enjoy mentoring , which is the point I think.

Christians and Globalization

I attended the Pittsburgh Servant Leaders breakfast yesterday, and the topic was very applicable to what I've been reading.  The speaker, Dave Frengel from Penn United, discussed the economic crisis and the impact of globalization on American politics and economics.  

He started the discussion with a brief history of how western cultures (politics, economics, etc.) are based on the values of Christendom.  When America was formed, it was dubbed the "Great Experiment."  At the time, many people thought it would never work because people can't handle political and economic freedom and free markets.  Obviously the experiment ended up working out, and Mr. Frengel attributed that to the values of Christendom that had been established over the centuries.  Biblical values shaped the systems and laws which were established for the American great experiment.

He then described globalization as this era's "Great Experiment."  He defines globalization in two distinctly different ways:  globalization with a little "g" and globalization with a big "G."  The little g represents healthy progress as the world makes advances through communication and transportation systems.  People are now more interconnected, which should have a more positive impact on economics, politics, and culture in general.  Then, Frengel described the Globalization as a radical religion, with leaders pushing this global agenda in the media, universities, politics, and economics.  They are all intertwined, and the globalists (who used to be marginalized as "weird" people) that are pushing this agenda are leading the charge.  These globalists desire a one world government, one world economic system, and a New World Order.  These are people like Strobe Talbot.  Frengel then said that the current economic crisis is directly related to the harm that Globalization has caused.  He said that as the American "Great Experiment" was guided by biblical values, the Globalization "Great Experiment" has no moral compass or accountability.  So... when a foreign country intentionally drives down American currency, or when American companies can't compete with foreign companies over the same products because those foreign companies are cheating or manipulating the economic systems, this all ultimately leads to the breakdown of America's prosperity, national security, or society in general.

Maybe the most controversial statement that Frengel made was that all American systems (politics, economics, academia, and the media) are currently being led by big "G" globalists, including the last three US presidents and the current president elect.  Furthermore, there is a revolving door of globalists through these systems... meaning that CEO's get powerful jobs in politics or academia, and vice versa.  These leaders desire to see Globalization implemented, and this can only be accomplished if there is no one world superpower.  So, America must be brought down in order for the new world global order to rise.

Frengel concluded with a challenge to the Christian leaders in attendance.  He said that Christian leaders must seek to understand what is going on, and they must engage culture.  Much discernment is required because many of the big "G" globalists claim to be Christians, but they are not implementing biblical values in their leadership decisions.  For instance, whether or not President Bush meant to cause harm intentionally as a part of a globalist conspiracy, or if the harm was caused unintentionally, the economic crisis still happened and many people were harmed.  Christian leaders must understand what is going on so that they can be a part of the solutions moving forward (fundamental change instead of bailouts or stimulus packages, etc.)  Christian leaders need to engage culture and be savvy. 

I'm not saying I agree with everything he said, but as you can tell his presentation stirred up a lot of interesting things to think about and discuss.  What is my role as a Christian leader as it relates to globalization (g and G).  How can I personally engage culture more effectively?  What will I be learning about globalization at BGU?  How does this impact my ministry context here in Pittsburgh?

The economic crisis and Friedman's book

Well, I've progressed just a little way through the Lexus and the Olive Tree book, and I'm really glued to it.  The premise of the book thus far is a description of how the globalization system replaced the Cold War system, and the ramifications that have happened internationally as a result.

One interesting thing I've noticed is that Friedman published this book in 1999, but already almost ten years later a lot of his main points have come to fruition.  One example of that is the current economic crisis.  It is a global, complex issue... which is much different than when these types of things have happened in years past (such as the Great Depression).  Bailouts for automakers are all over the news right now, and I found an interesting quote in this book that directly applies to that situation.  Friedman wrote, "... dramatic, industry-transforming innovations are taking place today faster and faster.  Thanks to these technological breakthroughs, the speed by which your latest invention can be made obsolete or turned into a commodity is now lighting quick.  Therefore, only the paranoid, only those who are constantly looking over their shoulders to see who is creating something new that will destroy them and then staying just one step ahead of them, will survive.  Those countries that are most willing to let capitalism quickly destroy inefficient companies, so that money can be freed up and directed to more innovative ones, will thrive in the era of globalization.  Those which rely on their governments to protect them from such creative destruction will fall behind in this era."  I know that this is a very heated and controversial subject in America right now, but it does appear that many companies that are not keeping up are lining up for government help.

Up First: The Lexus and the Olive Tree

The first book I'm reading is The Lexus and the Olive Tree by Thomas Friedman.  From what I can tell so far it will be about globalization, and the economic and cultural impact this system is having on the world.  Friedman seems to be a pretty popular author, so if anyone has read this book already I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.

I'm in... and ready to go!

I found out a couple days ago that I've officially been admitted to BGU's Doctor of Ministry in Transformational Leadership for the Global City program.  I'm so fired up!  I really think these next few years will be life changing, and I can't wait to get started.  My first class is Overture 1 in Seattle, a course which begins with an introduction to the program and planning for the classes I'll be focusing on.  I need to read over 2,000 pages before the trip to Seattle from January 12-23.

If anyone's interested in learning more about Bakke Graduate University and the DMin program, just go check out www.bgu.edu.  My hope is that others will be able to learn along with me as I take this journey.

Getting Closer

I haven't heard back from BGU about if I've been accepted into the program or not.  I'm really looking forward to registering for Overture I in January, and starting on all of the books (which are neatly stacked by my desk... kind of like a Christmas present sitting under the tree that I can't open until Christmas Day).  I should find out at some point this week.  I guess there's plenty to keep my mind occupied between the election today, plus family life and work.  I hope my next post will be good news.