ARRRRRGH! matey

A couple of photo highlights from Son Treasure Island.


Props to all who got their Pirate on.

From Lord to Label: how consumerism undermines our faith

Ok. This post is only for people who really want to think. Read THIS whole article if you dare! Below are some highlights (maybe too many, but I couldn't help it).

"The problem is not consuming to live, but rather living to consume."

"We assign value to ourselves and others based on the goods we purchase. One’s identity is now constructed by the clothes you wear, the vehicle you drive, and the music on your iPod. In short, you are what you consume."

"This explains why shopping is the number one leisure activity of Americans. It occupies a role in society that once belonged only to religion—the power to give meaning and construct identity."

"When we approach Christianity as consumers rather than seeing it as a comprehensive way of life, an interpretive set of beliefs and values, Christianity becomes just one more brand we consume along with Gap, Apple, and Starbucks to express identity. And the demotion of Jesus Christ from Lord to label means to live as a Christian no longer carries an expectation of obedience and good works, but rather the perpetual consumption of Christian merchandise and experiences—music, books, t-shirts, conferences, and jewelry."

"ministry in the U.S. is modeled primarily on capitalism with pastors functioning as a church’s sales force, and evangelism as its marketing strategy."

"As a result, choosing a church today isn’t merely about finding a community to learn and live out the Christian faith. It’s about “church shopping” to find the congregation that best expresses my identity. This drives Christian leaders to differentiate their church by providing more of the features and services people want. After all, in a consumer culture the customer, not Christ, is king."

Falling George

Thanks to Nate for helping me find THIS. Hours of fun. Use your mouse to grab him and throw him around. No offence to the Pres. I don't even know who designed this. I wonder if there is a way to insert other people's faces to help release frustration!

What is RE-MO-RUN?

First of all its what we're calling our meeting time from 7-8pm each Tuesday in June, July, and August. It's a chance for Servant/Leader development, Ministry Evaluation, and planning for the next year. Who's invited?: Volunteers, Parents, and Students hoping to help build a better REVOLUTION. Here's how its working:
REvision: We are spending lots of time refocusing on God's dream for TSM by thinking andrewritingg our vision and purpose statement because from that perspective is where all of our activities will come.
MOmentum: Soon we will begin to evaluate programs and events we have done in the past, draw from their momentum as we look to the next year. We want to ask the question, what has power and energy behind it, and is moving in the direction of the vision. What needs to be redirected?
RUNning: And finally we will do some actual planning of programs and events, improving what we do, changing what we must to come alongside God's mission for us, and cutting out what doesn't move us toward that goal.
Leadership Development is also being included, from the book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, by John Maxwell.
We'd love for you to be a part of RE-MO-RUN!