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Open to Speaking in Seattle and San Francisco

I am going to be in Seattle around June 1-2 for an Emergence Event and in San Francisco area for another meeting around June 10-11ish. I am looking to add speaking gigs into the schedule. So if anyone is interested in my "services" those dates let me know.

Robert Webber has died

As part of a regular email update I received this today:

Dear friends,

Bob Webber died Friday at 6:10 PM (Eastern time) in his wife, Joanne's arms, after his 8 month battle with pancreatic cancer.
A public memorial service in the Chicago-area is being planned, details will be posted on Northern Seminary's website: www.seminary.edu.

Please keep Joanne and the family in your prayers.

"Depart, O Christian soul, out of this world; in the name of God the Father Almighty who created you; in the name of Jesus Christ who redeemed you; in the name of the Holy Spirit who sanctifies you.  May your rest be this day in peace, and your dwelling place in the Paradise of God.  Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Bob.  Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming.  Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light.  Amen."

We love you, Bob.  Go in the peace and joy of the Lord.

Prayers and blessing be with Joanne and the entire family.

You have new Picture Mail!

Rugby - the Emergent Game

My daughter Michon is a rugby player. She is a junior in high school and this is her first year. Yesterday I went to my first rugby game. Michon has been explaining the game to me and it really was as much fun as she said.

Michon is tenatious, so she is good at it.

As I was watching the match I thought that if the Emerging Church effort was to have an official game it would ought to be rugby. (And if you have followed earlier posts, it would be played by the Geico Cavemen).

Here is my thinking.
First, rugby is not football, but it is kind of like football. You run with a ball and tackle. You form clusters of people, but not to talk about what you are going to but to actually do it.
And it is not soccer. The field is like soccer, and you do kick the ball, but it is not the same game. I like the idea that rugby is similar, but not the same as the games more familiar – to the people I know at least.

Second, the rules are kept to a minimum. But an important one is that you cannot do something to intentionally hurt another player. Like in Michon’s game a girl was called for “Not wrapping” (Oh, the rules also have descriptive names not code words, this alone should be enough – so it is “not wrapping” as opposed to clipping). This meant that the tackler used her shoulder to knock the girl down instead of her arms. In other words you can’t launch into the air to hit someone. Other than that the rules are a minimum. There are agreements on how to play but the game goes with very little referee interruption.

Third, there is a custom in rugby to play really hard, and to go all out. In this people do get hurt but it is not on purpose. Even with the game being extremely intense the game ends with cheers for the other team.
In the game I watch yesterday Michon’s team lost bad but after the last whistle the other team circled up and started a series of cheers. For their coach, for the Referee (might be a different word) and for the other team. The cheers went something like, Three cheers for Edina hip, hip hurray, hip, hip hurray, hip, hip hurray.

Fourth, there is a custom that the home team provides a meal for both teams. Not only do they cheer for their opponents but they eat with them.

If baseball is America’s game, and Soccer/Football is the worlds game, Rugby is Emergent’s game.

You have new Picture Mail!

You have new Picture Mail!

You have new Picture Mail!

Soul Graffiti

Mark Scandrette's book Soul Graffiti: Making A Life In The Way Of Jesus, is now published.

This is a must have book.
You ought to order it from Amazon as soon as you can afford it.

Mark did his first reading in Pennsylvania last night.
It was great. He is going to have audio versions of his poetry which is a great part of the book on his website.

Here are some pictures of the reading.

You have new Picture Mail!

Emergent Board meeting.
I am not part of the group, but it did seem to be living up to its name at least for the moment I was in the room.

You have new Picture Mail!