like a fire

I juts read an article over at Techcrunch that was about how Google has probably just acquired Gtalkr. I was just thinking about that and how it relates to the kingdom. Google has become notorious for buying up things that will help them do what they do - only better. They have built themselves from a great search engine to a great email, homepage, mapping, etc., web service. The do it through staying aware of what the user wants and adding those functions to their service. In this case, and probably others as well, they have probably hired the guys responsible for Gtalkr. This is a great strategy for building a team a great people to help the user. Google’s message is loud and clear. The user is number one.

Microsoft on the other hand, can’t keep from aborting the user. They build in all kinds of un-usefulness into everything they do. Ever tried to do something new in MS Office only to be asked to downlaod something new (usually when you don’t have an internet connection) or need the original install disks of the OS and program (usually when you don’t have them either). Microsoft’s answer to Google’s startegy is to see something someone else is doing that attracts the masses, do it in house without worrying about the user or quality, and build in some very un-useful hoops to jump through for the consumer. Microsoft’s number one goal seems to be - don’t let anyone steal what we can charge for. This is Microsoft’s new webservice called, what else, Microsoft Live.

Then there is God. What God does is, he sees the good that he created people to be. They are his kingdom images to multiply and rule the earth. He makes them useful. Then he develops their usefulness even more and they see the value of it as well. It is a great feeling being useful. God’s tagline is you are my creation of usefulness in my kingdom.

In youth ministry, we see a lot of things come and go. most of the formulaic stuff is dead. Teens are just too busy and too aware to put out superficial, canned messages and games that they would never play anywhere else. A new paradigm is developing - usefulness. Where are we teaching teens to be useful? How are we extending the kingdom through what we do and teach? Ofcourse, paradigm shifts cause all kinds of friction. Some teens and churches still want to hide behind the old rules of ministry. Maybe they are scared of being useful and therefore necessary and depended on. Maybe it is easier to just come and hang out. It’s definitely scary to be in a place that acknowledges that they need you and that you matter. That means you have to get outside yourself and into other people.

I think God’s way is better than Microsoft and similar to Google. He sees usefulness and grows it into something more. He creates in us the desire and need to be useful.

More on this later.

Warning: If you read this, you probably won’t like me.

Mother’s day is a funny day to me. Since I have had kids everyone always asks me what I am doing for my wife (catbird) for mother’s day. For some reason, I just don’t think that is right. I love my wife, she is truly great, but she’s not my mother. I want her mother’s day to be great, but not because I love her. I want it to be great because our children love her. Sure, I want to get them out and help them do something special for her, but I don’t think it means anything as a mother to get all that from your spouse.

On the other had, I wish that I could be a little kid and tell my wife as a child how much I love her. That would be great to see. Instead, I fall back to the position of spouse. I can say that she is a great mother. She is very patient (especially today), she loves her children and trains them well.

So here it is. Happy spouses day! I really think my wife is a great spouse. She cares about me, helps me with my problems and is a great companion. I love her thoughtfulness and grace. I love that she can’t lie for crap. I love her artists heart and the expression that comes out of it when she is bold. I love her. She is a great spouse.

OK, mushiness over. Go back to your mother’s day celebration.