The Melheimian Sabbatiblog

Denominational Reproduction

Here's a thought for the day:

I don't know everything, but it appears that if you don't know how to reproduce, you don't have much of a future.

Or much fun.

Now, there are a number of methods of reproduction. Some plants send out shoots and spread over an area. Could your church do that?

Some toss seeds into the air currents. The seeds are equipped with all the DNA necessary to start a new plant. Are the seeds you send out equipped and ready to do that?

Some simple animals split into equal halves. Could your church do that?

Some have babies and nurse them until they are able to survive on their own. Does your church do that?

Those who have no plan or means to reproduce, have no future.

And no fun.

So, I ask you, what does your denomination have built into its DNA that is allowing it to reproduce?

If you are an average Lutheran only baptizing 1/2 an adult a year and burying as many old people as babies you baptize, what are you going to do about it?

It's time to start reproducing.

Rich

iPods, Rats Brains & Worship

I refer to the cover of Newsweek today and the series of articles on the cultural phenom of the iPod for today's blog entry.

The magic of the iPod, they say, is that people can carry their entire music collection around with them - everything they like in one place (total control) but that it can come to them in a random fashion (no control).

Jazz might be followed by Reggae, followed by pop, followed by Mozart, followed by the one surprise country western song by Johnny Cash that you always secretly liked but wouldn't admit to in a crowd.

So, the perimeters are set by you, but the surprise comes from the machine. The safety is set by you, but the risk comes in not knowing exactly what is coming or when. There is both safety and surprize.

This is good brain science. We crave the experience that this product provides, because it gives the brain what it needs - both safety and surprise.

Rats Brains & the Future of Worship

The brain, above all, strives to survive. It needs safety in order to function. The human brain, however, also loves the novel, the new, the shocking. It needs stimulation in order to learn, grow, branch out, and thrive. Rats in a toy-filled cage with lots of companions will grow 20% more brain mass than rats in an empty cage. Rats in nature, surrounded by the novel, the unexpected will grow even more. Rats in a crowded cage where everyone is pushing them around and fighting for a limited food supply will withdraw.

Too much surprise and we shut down. Too little and we don't grow.

So, what do the iPod's wide-spread acceptance and rats brains have to do with worship? With education? With the future?

The iPod has changed our options, which has changed our expectations, which has change what surprises us, which will change us.

Technology has already changed our delivery systems:
*From atoms which you can control (albums, tapes and cds on a store shelf) to bits which you can't control (MP3s downloaded from Napsters)
*From the huge wall-sized stereo component system and shelving units of albums to something you can now fit in your shirt pocket
*From the rich concept of the whole (listening to every song a band put on an album and getting to know the band better) to the rich concept of taking only what you want from them and moving on.

I pause and digress wondering what this concept alone will do to dating in the future. Maybe dating a whole lot of people at a time will one day be standard and accepted. Maybe it already has. (I'm old. I don't know)

What will it do to cafeteria Catholicism? Maybe accepting four things your church teaches while rejecting three will be kosher to everyone but the church leadership.

What will it do to the concept of church membership? Maybe attending five churches at once will be the norm: one for good preaching, one for good old-fashioned liturgy, one for good adult education, one for the kids.

What will it do to worship? Maybe worship that draws people will be a mosaic of sight and sound, smells and bells, high tech and high touch, private time and small group time, listening and sharing.

And what of the concept of a sermon? Maybe it won't be one album by the same artist week after week.

Maybe the entire worship experience will be the sermon, including an "album" of many "songs" with many textures and artists coming to you in a random, yet safe, order. Maybe the sermon will start with energy music one week, and chant the next, and a polka the next. Maybe it will start with someone other than the preacher sharing a faith story. Maybe a random skit that fits into the theme (but won't be explained) comes next. Maybe a team will enter to teach toward the text with some art, some movement, some questions, some Images & Analogies. Maybe a quick quiz will follow using key theme words so everyone from greatest to least will understand what you're talking about.

Maybe then the Bible will be opened and highlighted, taught, discussed. This might be the only "song" the preacher sings on this album. All the other "songs" are sung by someone else.

And maybe the job of the preacher changes from singing all the songs, to gathering an ensemble of artists to provide the surprises and delights, provides safety and novelty, and sends you on the way with an MP3 of the service to add to your collection.

I'd enjoy feedback and insights from the iPod addicts out there on how you think the iPod phenom has already changed you.

Rich

A Few Photos

I've dropped a few photos from this weekend in the photo gallery on the side. Included are:
*Photos of progress on the Nordhagen Cabin under construction near Salida, CO, in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains
*Mesa Verde
*Rafting on the Arkansas River
*Yesterday's Snoball Fight

A Little Brain Tip

Music & the Brain

Here’s a little something to think about from this weekend’s light reading while on the way to Mesa Verde: “What Makes You Tick: The Brain in Plain English.”

“Your brain craves patterns and searches for them endlessly. In the absence of adequate sensory input, it will even make its own.” - Thomas B. Czerner, M.D.,

If you have ever see a person doodle patterns and shapes while you are lecturing, you’ll know the statement above is true. If your listeners aren’t finding any relevance with what you are saying – if they see no patterns or connections in your talk to their real life – they’ll make their own patterns. Literally.

All the greater reason to use music as the main memory tool in your teaching.

Why does music work? Why, according to Plato, is “music – the most potent tool for education?”

Because it feeds the brain what it craves. Patterns.

The rhythm is a pattern. The melody is a pattern. The chords are full of patterns. The rhymes of the words contain patterns. If you add movement – sign language, stomp or dance – you’ll add even more patterns.

When our new Bible Sunday School comes out, it will not only create a 3rd – 6th grade FINK curriculum, it will force us to refocus on how we teach everything.

Music (Bible verses and catechism verbatim) will become more and more at the core of the learning experience?

Why?

Because it works.

Because it teaches the way the brain learns.

Because it will turn everyone into participants in their active learning environment and end the mindless doodling.

GIFT Ramblings

This just in from our newest FINK virtual staffer, Debbie Streicher, out in Burke, VA:

I have begun thinking about re-introducing GIFT in a way that I've been hearing people talk about. Everytime I mention edu-worship and begin to describe it to people, there is an instant interest. It differs slightly from the model we describe in the materials, but keeps the same format. I have been working on a write-up about it.

What about.........Our mission/goal is "Every night in every home."............Our tool is "Every week in every church." In order for the home devotion to happen , there needs to be an opportunity to equip.

Thanks for the reminder!
Debbie

Rethinking Priorities

Most pastors are too swamped by big picture demands to notice anything (or anyone) under three feet tall.

The average pastor only visits the Sunday School a handful of times a year. Family ministry, if it exists, is done by someone else. In most churches, Children's Ministry is a lay person's domain not to be touched by the seminary trained. If it seems to be chugging along without any major complaints, red flags or law suits, it doesn't get any significant time or attention from the top.

Yet, the latest research shows that pastors would do better handing off 90% of their daily work to associates and immersing themselves in shepherding parents to inkubate faith.

Basically, what our children believe at 12, they take to the grave. And when do mailine pastors start spending time with kids?

13.

Stupid.

Here's a little note and link from our west coast FINK, the Rev. Dana Hanson of 1st in Northridge, on the fact that you'd better rethink your schedule today, tomorrow, and until you get your gold watch.

Guys-
I know you know Barna, but I don't know if you have seen this research piece. It directly relates to the overall FINK strategy and the importance of an "apologetics"-type focus in senior high.

http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=153

It was over 100 degrees yesterday. Where is Stillwater when you need it?

Blessings-
Dana

Outside My Office Window

Here's what's greeting me right now as I write.

The Sabbatical Begins

Well, we're back in Colorado after the Renaissance conference, minus Kathryn. She opted to stay with friends for the next two weeks until our confirmation girls all come out together. The concert on the river (see photo) was the highlight, along with some wonderful young people, a great set of prototypes for Sr. High Apologetics from Rev. Dana Hanson, a fun talk by first-time FINK Mary Bossel, and lot's of laughing and learning.

Tomorrow the sabbatical officially kicks into gear. I will be back in Stillwater once at the end of August for our Faith Stepping Stone University, then the staff will be out here in October for our annual Partner Retreat. The outfit is running under the wonderful leadership of our new CEO Patrick Patterson and a wonderful and motivated staff.

Other than that, each day in lovely Franktown, CO, will include:

1st Quarter (July - Aug - Sept)
2 Hours Reading (For fun I've packed the 20 most important business, marketing, systems, educational, brain books that have influenced me in the last 10 years for a reread)

2 Hours Writing (I'm limiting myself to my first two hours in the morning, outlining "The Fifth Church" first, then filling in the gaps two hours a day)

4 Hours Cartooning (The new Bible Song Sunday School that we'll unveil to our partners in October will include an 8 panel cartoon story for each of the 120 Bible verses. Dr. He Qi will do the serious cover art, I'll do the comic relief. If done write, kids will hear the Bible story, then start drawing it with their own interpretations and styles, based on the overview they get from He Qi and RAM)

2nd Quarter (Oct - Nov - Dec)
2 Hours Reading
2 Hours Cartooning
4 Hours Writing

3rd Quarter (Jan - Feb - Mar)
2 Hours Reading
2 Hours Cartooning (If the Bible Song cartoons are done, I'll let myself do some new children's books)
4 Hours Writing

4th Quarter (April - May - June)
2 Hours Reading
2 Hours Cartooning (4 new Children's books, including "Vivian Who Smashed Things Into Oblivion")
4 Hours Writing (If "Fifth Church" is done, I'll let myself do the sequel to "Unfinished Business")

So, the regemin begins tomorrow.

I'll keep you posted.

Here's a closing thought from the unseen outline of Fifth Church. It's a closing thought for post-modern worship:

"If liturgy is the work of the people, then you've got a lot of liturgy to do out there behind those walls this week. If worship is the ship - the vehicle - that brings God worth, then you've got a lot of worship waiting out there this week. Brin God the glory. Bring God the worth. Bring God the praise in all you do and all you say, in who you are and whose you are this day, and the next, and the next...

Rich

Cabin Days

I must be getting old.

Dad always takes a nap in the afternoon. It was such a beautiful day Friday that we headed to the cabin. The sun was shining, the fields were a dense green. The air was crisp and cool as we pulled up the log structure that lowers my blood pressure 15 points whenever I approach it down the tree-covered road.
We walked in and unpacked, placing more food thatn the three Melheim men could possibly eat in a weekend into the cupboards and fridge.

Then Joseph sat down with his Gameboy. Dad went upstairs to take a nap. I thought I'd lay down for 20 minutes.

Five hours later I woke up.

We enjoyed "I Robot" and a dinner at our favorite Mankato Mexican Village in the evening. We frittered Saturday away with a trip to Menards - pricing a new deck for the one that's about to fall apart - at Cabellas looking at large dead animals, and in the cool of the cabin, watching the sun sparkle on the lake. And then, just to make it a film festival weekend, hit Shrek 2.

I got to preach this morning at St. Paul's on German Lake, the place where I'll be buried. (Preferrably not after preaching). I enjoyed talking about the need for MORE Marthas in the mainline. Then lunch and Skidoing on Francis lake with Melanie Nelson, a great friend from our first parish in Owatonna. We stopped by the Frank & Sophie Anderson cabin, the place where I'd take a week of cont. ed each year for a decade before we built our cabin.

I'd arrive there each May with the juiciest steaks, hottest picante sause, the best wines and cases of Mt. Dew, lock my watch in the glove box, and not turn a tv or radio on for a week. Write when I was awake, sleep when tired, eat when hungry, and basically get in touch with my biological rhythms. By the end of the week I'd emerge with a new book or a two-act musical comedy play.

Aaahh, the good old prolific days.

I'd highly recommend for those of you who get some cont. ed to spend at least half of it each year completely alone. No phones. No lectures. No cafeteria food. Nothing but the books and articles you didn't have time to read each year, the best tasting unhealthy food you enjoy, and a blank legal pad or notebook computer.

It's amazing what your mind can do three-days in to a media boycott.

Try it.

Blessings,

Rich

PS - Something from my friend Angie in Iowa: Sounds like your week was a great one. Sorry I had to miss it. I am heading to Carthage, Illinois in the next couple of hours to lead a H2H workshop all day tomorrow and am very much looking forward to it. Then next weekend, there's an H2H in O'Neill, Nebraska--an all-day Sunday event. Two great weekends! Cool.

I'm preaching Sunday morning (am skipping the usual Saturday night gig 'cuz I'll be H2H'n it) on Mary/Martha and would agree with you that we need more Marthas in the world. Log on to www.plymouthchurch.com and check out my sermon from July 4 to get my take on that one. I'm not preaching that take, though, because I was Mary this week and had the opportunity to meet Jesus. I was so glad that I didn't feel like I had to knock myself out to entertain NAME WITHELD (Jesus), because she's dying (aren't we all?) and only has about 4-6 weeks left. 53 years old. Pancreatic cancer. Just found out two weeks ago. Started attending Saturday worship at Plymouth about 6 months ago and never felt up until that time that she was unconditionally loved (long story). Anyway, she wanted to tell me how important God is and how important a church family/community is--she'd always known it but put off getting involved in any church until she thought she had enough time to share. Now that she's got more time and a burning desire to get active and make a difference, she can't. She doesn’t, actually, have the time. She wanted to share that "one important thing" with me--that there is no replacement for God in our lives. Don't put off being with God another day. I have spent most of this week both laughing and crying.

That's a big ramble to say: thanks for all the work you are doing that connects us with the Martha and Marys of the world and enables us to connect with Jesus every now and then. I'm having way too much fun.

Take care, friend, and have fun at the cabin with your dad.

Ang

Renaissance & Fishing

We had a marvelous week with Rev. Dana Hanson from 1st Lutheran in Northridge keynoting our Renaissance conference. Dana is a buddy from waaaaaaaaaay back. He hosted one of the first west coast trainings I did during my first "hit the road in a Winnepago" tours back in 1993-94. I've been invading his home, mooching off him, sleeping on his futon in the guest room and generally annoying him once a year for the last decade whenever I'm in California. Dana's most interesting factoid from the conference is the revelation that the universe is made up of 96% dark matter and dark energy, and only 4% atoms (matter) that you can see.

A lot goes on that you can't see. In fact, most of what there is, is invisible.

Weird, huh?

Dana presented the four morning themes, kicking off our "Why God?" senior high curriculum for a test drive. The four themes "Big Bang of the Universe, Life, the Brain & the Soul" gave the small crowd lots of ammunition to take home. Thanks Dana!

The second highlight of the week was our Faith Inkubators Endowment Fund kick-off concert on the river in downtown Stillwater. Lauren Redpath won the first crystal penguin and was backed up by our adults in the music guild, who put a fantastic band together on the fly.

Al Dungan grilled steaks on the deck for the fundraising dinner for our new board (there are still some in the fridge if you want to stop by). The weather was perfect, the music fantastic, and all the helpers made it run smoothly. The crowd was twice the size I expected and, with the buzz we generated, we should be able to grow this into a substantial concert every summer if we can swing it.

Dad came down on the all-night train from Moorhead. Joseph and I are taking him to the cabin for a couple days. He hasn't been there in ten years, so it should be a fun weekend.

I'm preaching at St. Paul's Lutheran on German Lake Sunday. The text is Mary and Martha. I might suggest that the Mainline Church needs more Marthas.... people who actually do something rather than sitting around. That's a flip-flop on the text, thanks to my friend Dana.

Have a great weekend. We'll be fishing within a couple hours. Photos of the invisible fish to follow.

Rich