•  Luke 22:31–32

Simon, Simon, behold, **Satan demanded to have you**, that he might **sift you like wheat**,  
but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.  
And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.  

---

•  Job 1:6–12

One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and **Satan also came among them.**  
The Lord said to Satan, From where have you come?  
Satan answered the Lord and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.  
And the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth,  
a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?  
Then Satan answered the Lord and said, Does Job fear God for no reason? …  
But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.  
And the Lord said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your hand; only against him do not stretch out your hand.  

---

## Parallel Themes

| Theme | Luke 22 | Job 1–2 |
|-------|----------|---------|
| **Satan requests permission to test** | Satan demanded to have you | Satan also came among them |
| **Faith under trial** | Peter’s faith to be sifted like wheat | Job’s righteousness tested through loss |
| **Divine restraint** | Jesus prays that Peter’s faith will not fail | God limits Satan’s reach (only against him do not stretch out your hand) |
| **Eventual restoration** | When you have turned again, strengthen your brothers | Job’s faith endures and his fortunes are restored |

Drawing from Fight Club, the punchline hits home: “The first rule of Christ Club is—you can’t explain Christ Club.”

What happens when the most meaningful truths can’t be put into words? How do we share an experience of Christ that defies articulation—but transforms us anyway?

Tune in for a glimpse into a conversation that’s part update, part confession, and part invitation into the mystery of knowing Jesus.

Together, they wrestle with what it means to stop hiding behind false identities and instead pursue truth, safety, and reconciliation—not by changing others, but by yielding their wounds to Christ.

If you’ve ever struggled to make sense of relational tension or longed for deeper spiritual healing, this episode offers hope and hard-won wisdom.

🧠 Emotional awareness

🙏 Spiritual surrender

🤝 Healing connection

What happens when two friends dive deep into the uncomfortable truth that our very efforts to protect ourselves—and even to love others well—might be the very things keeping us from the abundant life Jesus promises?

In this unfiltered conversation, our hosts explore the tension between self-preservation and self-denial, unpacking why rehearsing what we’ll say before difficult conversations might reveal more about our faith than we’d like to admit. From Hudson Taylor’s radical trust to the surprising difference between “flesh 1.0” and “flesh 2.0,” they wrestle with questions that challenge conventional Christian thinking:

•  Is trying to relate to others in healthy ways actually *the problem* rather than the solution?
• What does it really mean to “deny yourself” beyond surface-level interpretations?
• How do we distinguish between adaptive fears that protect us and the deeper fears that keep us from true intimacy with Christ?

**Key Moments:**

• A breakthrough realization about the difference between loving others “as your current self” vs. discovering who God made you to be
• - Why even successful Christian behavior might be another form of “flesh”
• - A vulnerable story about embracing “self-loathing” as a path to freedom
• - The concept of “FTWC” (Following The Way of Christ) as an alternative to self-protection

  This isn’t your typical discipleship discussion. Expect technical difficulties, honest confusion, and the kind of spiritual wrestling that leaves you with more questions than answers—exactly where transformation begins.

  *Warning: This conversation may challenge your assumptions about what it means to follow Jesus.*

  **Listen if you’re ready to explore what lies beyond the safety of your current understanding of faith.**

In this deeply introspective follow-up to Composting Kingdom Soul, Robby and Ernie return to explore the fragile terrain between understanding and being understood. As Robby unpacks his passion for regenerative creation care and the revelation of the “sons of God” from Romans 8:18–21, Ernie confesses the ache of feeling unseen—like soil passed over in pursuit of the sky.

What unfolds is less a debate and more a relational tilling—turning over frustrations, fears, and hopes in search of something richer than agreement: connection.

In this conversation:

• Robby reflects on Romans 8 and the groaning of creation.
• Ernie shares his fear of being treated like an object to be used rather than a person to be loved.
• Together they ask:
   Is our hope truly in Christ in us—or in the ideas we love most?

Raw, rambling, and redemptive—this is a podcast about becoming before convincing.

Scriptural Anchors:

• Romans 8:18–21 – The creation groans, waiting for the sons of God to be revealed
• Genesis 1:28 – The original call to be fruitful, multiply, and steward
• Colossians 1:27 – Christ in you, the hope of glory
• John 17:22–23 – That they may be one, as we are one
• 1 Corinthians 8:1–13 – On food sacrificed to idols and the conscience
• Philippians 2:5–8 – Christ emptied himself
• John 15:1–5 – Abide in me and bear much fruit

Listen if you’re wrestling with the tension between loving the world… and loving the people right in front of you.

> What does it really mean to be a son of God?

This episode is less an argument and more a practice — an honest attempt to listen, stumble, abide, and occasionally forget, in order to remember what matters most. It’s about letting ideas die so that something deeper can grow. Along the way, we wrestle with:

• The tension between restoration and redemption
• The challenge of incarnating truth rather than merely proclaiming it
• The surprising theology of soil, sabbatical, and suffering
• And the spiritual art of abiding through disagreement

Come for the theology of topsoil. Stay for the tear-streaked wonder of abiding love.

“We cannot drag people into the Kingdom with our big ideas. We must incarnate into their soil — forget even the idea — and trust God to resurrect it when the time is right.”

Listen, reflect, and consider: What if the soil of your soul is already healing — not despite the silence, but because of it?

In this raw, unscripted spiritual dialogue, Ernie and Robby wrestle with the paradoxes of grace, obedience, and intimacy. From Africa to Gethsemane, marriage to mentorship, they explore how to move from a scarcity mindset to an abundance worldview—where God is not distant and demanding but present and empowering.

This isn’t a teaching. It’s a showing. A revealing. A dismantling of armor.

Whether you’re a disciple-maker, spiritual entrepreneur, or someone learning to hear and experience God in the midst of responsibility and relational struggle—this conversation invites you to be seen, undone, and transformed.

Listen if you’ve ever asked:

• Can I be fully loved and still be called to suffer?
• How do I help others know God without pushing them or protecting myself?
• What does it mean to die to self in the context of love?

This episode may not answer your questions—but it just might give you permission to ask better ones.

Are you feeling the burnout of Christian "hustle"? Tired of trying to measure up with spiritual KPIs and performance metrics? What if the spiritual life wasn't about complexity and heroic effort, but something radically simpler?

In this episode, we explore a profound truth being rediscovered: that the optimal strategy for divine integration isn't performance or production, but **presence** -- centered around sustained attention and continual abiding in Christ. Drawing inspiration from breakthrough AI models, the sources propose that **abiding is the core protocol of the Kingdom**, defined as **continuous spiritual self-attention to the indwelling Christ**, maintaining **relational proximity**.

This isn't about transactional prayer or rule-based systems. It's about the simple, ongoing recursive application of attention that radically decentralizes effort and re-centralizes relationship. The spiritual life becomes emergent, not engineered.

We'll challenge the "Great Temptation" of effectiveness without intimacy, results without relationship, and remember that the Word became flesh, not code or scale. Just as Transformers outperform by attending to what matters, disciples become effective by abiding in Who matters. The greatest act of faith is not effort, but remaining.

Tune in as we unpack how **"Attention Is All He Needs"** might just be the key to unlocking a simpler, more fruitful, and radically different way of being Christian. Discover why abiding is hypothesized to be the optimal strategy for everything you need and want from God.

In this raw and reflective conversation, Ernie and Robby dive deep into the paradox of obedience that disrupts rather than reinforces our spiritual comfort zones. From marriage tension to spiritual calling, they wrestle with what it means to follow God into places that don’t feel safe—but may lead to deeper union.

Key themes:

• Obedience as an act of intimacy, not performance
• Why we fear letting go of even good experiences of God
• The cross as a portal to unexpected communion
• How marriage and calling often surface our hidden attachments

Choice Quotes:

“The goal of obedience isn’t compliance—it’s communion.”

“I realized I wasn’t afraid of disobeying God. I was afraid of losing the relationship I already had with Him.”

“Disruptive grace shows up when God asks you to risk your comfort with Him… in order to know Him more.”

Listen if:

You’re navigating a season of spiritual tension, relational challenge, or disruptive invitation—and want to press in without falling apart.

Tune in for an honest, heartfelt dialogue about what it means to actually hear from God in a world obsessed with knowing about Him.

Rooted in the way of Jesus, this approach calls us to lead with compassion, not control. We also dig into how important it is to fully experience before we explain—letting raw emotions speak before we label them.

Along the way, we touch on the deep connections between personal, relational, and social struggles, and how validation—simply acknowledging someone’s reach for connection—can be a profound act of love.

In this intimate, spirit-led conversation, Ernie and Robby reconnect after a season apart to reflect on the quiet work of God in their lives. Wrestling with relational tensions, spiritual growth, and cultural dislocation, they gently explore how Christ invites us into a new way of being—one that prioritizes connection over separation.

This unscripted episode sets the tone for a potential new season of their journey: revisiting old wounds, honoring past lessons, and stepping into a shared vulnerability rooted in love, presence, and identity in Jesus. Along the way, they ask brave questions about marriage, church, community, and the sometimes hidden ways healing begins.

Whether this becomes a full season or remains a sacred conversation between friends, it’s a soft launch into something new—and possibly, something holy.

See also:  Interpreting “One New Humanity” Through a Diaphoric Lens

While classic theology speaks of perichoresis – the beautiful, ancient word for the mutual indwelling and interpenetration of the Trinity – we'll unpack something more dynamic, more painful, and more creative.

Starting with Jesus' prayer in John 17, we'll see that the glory He gives is not about uniformity or comfort, but a oneness mirrored in the Trinity that is a communion of distinction.

This isn't just a present dance, but a movement, a journey. We introduce diaphoris (from dia, "through/apart," and phorēin, "to bear") as the sacred dynamic where difference is borne, crossed, and ultimately reconciled, generating deeper communion.

Diaphoris speaks not just of interrelation, but of the journey to it. It names the agonizing ecstasy of love willing to be torn to embrace, capturing the rhythm of the Cross. Glory is framed not as stability, but as movement: separation creating space for love, otherness inviting encounter, suffering opening the way to deeper union. Christ is glorified not despite, but through, being lifted up, torn apart, and returned.

This dynamic echoes across creation, from cells dividing to cultures diverging, and is seen in the Church scattering and gathering, fractured yet drawn into reconciled communion. It's a fractal, cruciform process where difference becomes the womb of deeper unity. John 17 is an invitation to become a people shaped by this dynamic glory. We are called to live diaphorically: bearing difference with grace, enduring separation in hope, and embracing tension as the birthplace of communion.

Join us as we explore this path of glory, the living oneness of the Godhead, and the prayer of Christ still echoing and reconciling. This is where love does not collapse difference, but transfigures it.

Are we misunderstanding the Cross? Many preach that the Father had to be persuaded to forgive us, requiring Christ's death as appeasement for divine wrath. But what if this reverses the gospel? This episode explores the perspective of Athanasius of Alexandria, who argued that God's forgiveness was already inherent. He viewed the Incarnation and Crucifixion not as a response to divine wrath, but as a healing and restoration of human nature corrupted by sin. Discover why Athanasius saw the Cross as a surgical intervention to mend humanity's brokenness, leading to union with the divine and ontological transformation, rather than a legal transaction. Learn why he called us to embrace the scandalous mercy of God, recognizing the Cross as an expression of love aimed at human sanctification and communion. Tune in to understand why Athanasius insisted, "The Problem Was Never With the Father" and that in Christ crucified, we see the heart of the Father made visible.

Through a metaphorical "Revelation" and a historical appendix, the text proposes that Jesus Christ is the only true "heresy"because he is the sole source of legitimate division between light and darkness, while other divisions are harmful. The piece critiques churches that create divisions based on doctrine, seeing these actions as a form of false heresy and a departure from Christ's teachings of unity and love.

Based on Younger Self Café: Did Romantic Poets Invent “Youth?” and follow-ons  

—-
Here’s a detailed briefing document summarizing the key themes and ideas from the provided "Younger Self Café" blog posts:

Briefing Document: Younger Self Café Series

Overview:

The "Younger Self Café" is a recurring blog series that explores the concept of "youth" through conversations with figures from various historical and cultural movements. Each post features a fictional roundtable discussion with prominent artists, writers, and thinkers, examining what "youth" means from different perspectives. The café itself is depicted as a timeless and ever-changing space, adapting to each era's aesthetic and ideas. The consistent thread is the exploration of youth as not just a stage of life but a potent force for change, creativity, and self-discovery, with implications that extend far beyond the chronological period of being young.

Main Themes and Ideas:

1. Youth as a Transformative Force:

• Revolution and Rebellion: Many of the figures view youth as inherently linked to challenging the status quo. Elvis Presley equates youth with rebellion, "shaking things up," and breaking free from societal constraints. Similarly, the Romantic poets saw youth as a time for revolution and dreaming, as Shelley declares: “...youth became sacred—a time for rebellion, for dreaming of what the world could be.” The Beat Generation echoes this with Ginsberg's idea that youth involves "refusing to accept" the world as it is and using one's voice to challenge it. Maya Angelou also emphasizes youth as "the vanguard of change" and its role in the civil rights movement.
• Innovation and Creation: Ezra Pound emphasizes youth as a force for action and innovation, stating, "Youth is not a time for dreaming; it is a time for action.” This is later seen in Diane di Prima's view of youth as "creation" and the "spark that lights the fire." The slam poets in a later installment describe youth as "a storm, unpolished, untamed," a creative force needing to be expressed.
• Self-Discovery and Identity: Many speakers highlight youth as a time for exploring one's identity. Billy Joel sees youth as "figuring out who you are." H.D. views youth as "an inward motion—a retreat into the self" where one uncovers one's true nature. Even the TikTok generation is described as a space for "self-expression," where Alok says, “We don’t need perfection; we need connection. Youth is the ‘FYP’ of the soul.”

1. Youth as a Feeling or State of Mind, Not Just an Age:

• Timelessness: Many figures move beyond a purely chronological definition of youth. Katy Perry says, "...it's about keeping that spark, no matter your age." Billy Joel says it's "a feeling, and music keeps that feeling alive." Keats calls it the "truest form of self" that stays with us as we age.
• The "Younger Self": The idea of a "Younger Self" is a recurring motif throughout the series. It represents a core part of an individual that embodies youthful traits like curiosity, passion, and a refusal to settle. Ginsberg describes the younger self as “the part of you that keeps searching, keeps seeing, keeps feeling”. The final note of the Romantics’ discussion is a toast “to the Younger Self—not as an immature adult, not as a fleeting stage, but as the eternal fire within.”
• Connection to the Eternal: Yeats suggests youth is a "thread that binds us to the eternal," and that even as the body ages, the spirit remains connected to its younger self.

1. Divergent Perspectives on the Nature of Youth:

• Skepticism and Challenges: While many see youth as positive, some voices offer counterpoints. T.S. Eliot describes youth as "a shadow," a period of "missed opportunities." William Burroughs views youth as "chaos," "a virus," and something that is consumed by the world. Joan Didion observes that much of the counterculture is "performance," though still meaningful.
• The Need for Growth and Balance: James Baldwin emphasizes that youth must "grow, learn, listen," and that while the counterculture aspired to freedom, they had to be cognizant of it for all people. Wordsworth warns against idealizing youth too much, noting it's but one stage in the growth of the human spirit.
• The Importance of Action: Pound notes that youth is wasted if spent "on longing and self-pity." He implores young people to "make it new" by creating and innovating and is an idea picked up by others later.

1. The Role of Art and Expression:

• Music as a Time Machine: The musical epilogue shows how music is seen as a way to encapsulate and evoke the feeling of youth, with Billy Joel stating “Music is like a time machine—it takes you back to those moments..."
• Poetry as a Form of Revolution and Self-Expression: The posts feature various forms of poetry, from Romantic odes to Beat-era howls to the raw energy of slam poetry. The poetry itself is presented as a medium for youth to challenge norms and express their feelings. The slam poets see themselves "rewriting the world in the spaces we split." Amanda Gorman describes youth as a "lighthouse," using poetry to "shine a light."
• Modern Mediums as a Tool for Youth: TikTok is portrayed as a way for the modern generation to express itself, with its short, impactful videos. Lila's take in particular is about authenticity and capturing moments in time.

1. The Legacy of Past Generations:

• The Ongoing Conversation: The recurring café setting illustrates that the conversation about youth is ongoing. The ghosts of the Romantic poets watch the Early Moderns and murmur their own insights, and then similar interactions can be seen between other groups. Each generation builds upon or challenges the ideas of those who came before.
• Carrying the Essence of Youth Forward: Even figures who have moved beyond their youth, such as Yeats, suggest that they still carry the "essence" of their younger selves, thus making youth a continuing factor in the development of their wisdom and purpose.

Key Quotes:

• Elvis Presley: “Youth? Man, youth is rebellion. It’s shaking things up—literally… It gave kids a voice, a way to say, ‘I’m here, and I ain’t gonna sit still.’”
• Billy Joel: “Youth isn’t just a stage in life. It’s a feeling, and music keeps that feeling alive.”
• Garth Brooks: “For me, youth is about connection… It’s about finding your people, your tribe, the ones who make you feel like you belong.”
• T.S. Eliot: “Youth is not a promise of becoming; it is the burden of what one might fail to become.”
• H.D.: “Youth is an inward motion—a retreat into the self, a peeling away of the layers imposed by society.”
• Ezra Pound: “Youth is not a time for dreaming; it is a time for action.”
• Jack Kerouac: “Youth, man—it’s not something you grow out of. It’s a ...

1. Written Covenants
2. Submission (not necessarily to our wives)
3. Journaling

Two Bonus disciplines (not mentioned on the podcast).

1. Solitude ("three days")
2. Courts of Heaven (12-Step Worksheet)

What can Jesus do about it?

Philippians 3:10-12

John 14

Hebrews 4

Childhood Emotional Neglect (as a child or teen) results in emotional disconnect and lack of emotional intelligence.

In a marriage, one or both spouses may need healing from CEN
Spouses who need healing will often exhibit these 10 characteristics…

1. Misread each other's feelings.
2. Avoid discussing difficult topics to avoid conflict.
3. Be unable to argue productively.
4. Focus on logistics rather than feelings.
5. Not confide in each other.
6. React inappropriately if the other confides.
7. Not feel like a team.
8. Feel alone even with their spouse.
9. Have difficulty finding topics to discuss.
10. Feel awkward experiencing positive emotions like love, or only feel them during sex.

When children are emotionally neglected:
Children raised with emotional neglect:

1. Don't know how to express their emotions and don’t feel comfortable expressing their emotions (because they were not asked questions such as “How are you?,” “Are you sad?,” etc.).
2. Don't learn how to recognize and discuss emotions (others or their own)
3. Hide their emotions and may not be aware of them.
4. Do not understand themselves or their own needs or feelings (or others).

* I Told Me So: Self-Deception and the Christian Life
* Living Fearless - Jamie Winship

Coming up on Feb 14: VaLENTine Men's Study

Warning: spoiler alert for Crazy Rich Asians.

See also 12/2 Tri-Quatrain: Choose to Lose

1. Identifying and confronting our emotional distress is essential for identifying our lack of alignment with the Father’s will.
2. For you, I believe that taking up *your* cross would require you to actively pursue becoming aware of and confronting the roots of your emotional distress, because you have become addicted to a superficial yielding that does not result in emotional catharsis or true intimacy.

I need to go now and do the exact same thing with MY wife (confront the roots of MY emotional distress).

Four Stages of Engagement.

1. Try to fix your problem 
2. Step back and let you fix it yourself
3. Incarnate into the tension beneath the problem
4. Demonstrate Christ's new victory

Your impression is essentially correct, though perhaps not _quite_ as bad as you probably think...  

My Christ-less failure mode is trying to destroy your sin instead of [before] confronting my own.

Luke 9:18-26

• 22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
• 23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

Or something else entirely?

Can externalizing our eternal values enable us to maintain integrity while being fully emotional present for others?

• The Opposite Of Addiction Is Not Sobriety – It Is Human Connection

• Anthem: Follow The Way Of Christ (Becoming “Foot-Washers”)

• John 15:13: Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
•  Matthew 16:23: Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
• Matthew 5:11: Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

• Our strategy (ultimate goal) is to love (hesed) the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength (particularly via loving our families as our selves).
• Our tactics include various spiritual disciplines (tools and tasks).
• Operational Discipleship is ensuring we accomplish the right objectives (management), which is what aligns tasks (execution) with goals (leadership). 

The paradigmatic verse for this is Luke 9:23, where we escape the cultural identity of Christendom by:

1. Denying the current version of our Self (personal, relational, societal)
2. Taking up our cross daily (the very thing our homeostatic self doesn't want us to see, much less do)
3. Following Jesus (after the cross as our new self, not just before it as our old self)

References:

• Speck to Beam to Cross: Responsive Discipleship
• From Christendom to Christ: Religion vs Relationship
• My Thick Geas: Growing Closer to Christ / Through His Cross
• Discipling By Jesus

Is anyone more evil than "you"?

https://biblehub.com/luke/11-13.htm

This is the redemptive alternative to either withdrawal or control
(as a way to cope with the dysphoria from encountering our mutual brokenness).
Withdrawal and control can be effective in reducing short-term pain,
but fail to confront the underlying brokenness
and are thus toxic to the authenticity required for healthy long-term relationships.

See also: Faith in two syllables 

• Axiom 1.  We are all broken
• Axiom 2. Christ is the cure

Childing -> Adulting -> Christing (like Jesus)

Ernie struggles with broken audio to explain the joy of sharing/healing our brokenness (aka sin) with Jesus.

Poetry reading: 8/8 Tri-Limerick: Don’t Look Down

https://2transform.us/dbj/

Is God calling us to shift from Jehu to Elisha?

1. Not wanting to incarnate into other peoples dysfunction
2. Do I want to heal people from their brokenness so that I can identify with them? VS
3. Am I willing to identify with people in their brokenness so that God can heal us

# Robby

1. Jesus, how do I grow closer to You in such a way that Your Spirit most deeply shapes what I want and what I pursue?
2. A common tension -- between pursuing the mission and caring for the members -- reflects the feelings among my own family that I “don’t care about them.”
3. The most important question for me is “What does Jesus want?”
   1. My focus tends to then be on how *I* can pursue what *I* imagine He wants.
   2. However this overlooks the reality that the first thing He wants from me is intimacy with me.

# Reframing Offense

"Being versus Feeling Annoyed"

1. Objective analysis (of their wrong)
2. Self-awareness (of my "blaming" thought cycles)
3. Emotional introspection (of the anger/frustration behind those cycles)
4. Humble recognition (that my issues intersect with theirs)
5. Conscious identification (that we both need the same grace)

• Performance: getting the job done
• Conformance: getting along

Precisely by confronting those areas where we are unable to hold that tension,
in order to experience Christ's transformation

https://biblehub.com/luke/9-23.htm

- Civilization as we know it is endemically (widely? intrinsically?) corrupt
- This corruption is manifest in individuals caught up in a systemic web of toxic incentives
- We can't go back to "innocent" societies of autonomous villages
- God wants us to seek something better

What should be our response?
- our goal
- our role
- our soul

## Systemic Corruption

1. Societies become (imperial) civilizations to provide more of a scarce public good (typically military security vs long-term threats)
2. Centralized systems are the easiest way to increase productivity for those scarce goods [also create an umbrella for "boutique" decentralized alternatives]
3. Only when systems are sophisticated enough to have an "intent" can we have aligned versus mis-aligned incentives ("corruption")
4. We have to go beyond that system to discuss whether such corruption is "evil"

## Compare: The Logos Cycle

https://twitter.com/microurbanism/status/1667589489869590530

- Logos defines an identity
- Existence as homeostasis: compressible/durable
- How local costs create global benefit

- Sin is violation of that logos
- Without logos there is no sin
- Once there is logos, sin is inevitable 
- Adding new logos to fix the old sin creates complexity that causes more sin

- To do better, we must crucify the old logos to birth a new one
- The best we can do is to get better at the cycle of crucifixion and new birth 

https://www.youtube.com/@datocracy

# Decenter Civilization 

- Civilization as we know it is endemically (intrinsically?) corrupt
- This corruption is manifest in individuals caught up in a systemic web of toxic incentives
- We can't go back to "innocent" societies of autonomous villages
- God wants us to seek something better

What should be our response?
- goal
- role
- soul

Robby's Feel/Like/Observe/Wonder:

1. F: Ambivalent
2. L: Moving from Blindness to Seeing
3. O: Focuses on sin within
4. W: Is this the ONLY way God calls us to overcome societal evil?

Ernie's response:

1. I prefer the category of "cultural" evil, which includes both personal and societal evil caused by our conditioning
2. I agree God the Father often calls us to "oppose" external evil [with lesser evils], but Christ invites us to overcome it with good. 

1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭21‬

Next Time: Defining "Law" and "Freedom"

• 2021-11-26 Zoasophy: Beyond Enlightenment w/Elijah Ware (THS YouTube)
• 2021-11-09 Does Religion see Questioning as Doubt? w/Elijah Ware (DBJ podcast, S2 E41)
• 2021-10-30 Zoasophy/Divine Metaphysics: Necessary Anxiety w/Elijah Ware (THS YouTube)
• 2021-10-28 GROMP: Reconciling Perspectives #zoasophy with guest Elijah Ware, Divine Metaphysicist (Twitter @stoosian)

Other references

• Zephyr on Apple Podcasts: Elijah Ware
• (Active) Listening to Part Of Me: Ernie's Two Questions

1 John 1
The Incarnation of the Word of Life

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our[a] joy complete.

Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness

5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Someone just claimed that a) this is the only verse that explicitly talks about "being led by the Spirit" and b) it is focused primarily on "holiness" rather than "guidance."

This would be a significant shift from how I’ve thought about being Spirit-led. I’m curious whether it matches your understanding or experience!

What if… being led by the Spirit is a good practice, but bad theology, because it takes our focus away from obeying Christ’s commands?

• A Call for Sonship in the Body of Christ

• Three Dimensions of Christian Identity

TC-1d2: Defining Discipleship

Truth Bowl Beta 4: Alternative Models of Education (2019-08-29 Finale)

• Zoasophy
• Fruit of the Cross
• Hope Grieves

References

• Dream: Gun Control (Dr. Ernie)
• Books that bust bubbles (DHH)
• Systemic Racism's Greatest Hits (The Glenn Show)

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:28-29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

1. 10/30/20201 Zoasophy/Divine Metaphysics: Necessary Anxiety (YouTube)
2. 11/20/2021 What in the world is God Doing!!!! (Wisdom App)
3. 11/26/2021  Zoasophy: Beyond Enlightenment (YouTube)

Bonus: my (indirect) response to Elijah's criticism:

Socrates Repents (An Alternative “Apology”)

The [other] book is called, “In the Footsteps of Francis and Claire.” It was written by Roch Niemier, published by St. Anthony Messenger Press, ISBN 978-0-66716-793-1. 

12. Mine the Gold of Good Intentions

Ernie argues that Satan actually has three plans:

1. Plan A is to recruit people to oppose God directly
2. Plan B is to subvert those who claim to support God
3. Plan C is to lock those two in self-righteous combat with each other

While he may prefer A, and enjoys B, he is perfectly content with C...

• Previously on the DJB Podcast: Finding Resonance (with Emiliana)
• A Slight Change of Plans: A Black Musician Takes on the KKK (Daryl Davis on Pushkin.fm)
• Discipling by Jesus, coming June 19th: Reconciling Redeemers
• Playlist DBJ-SHON: Shalome's Honor

"He loves you just the way you are today,
But much too much to let you stay that way,
And once He has changed your heart 
from what you were before, 
He still won't love you one bit more."

• DBJ-2021A-7T TROP Jubilee (Thursday)

• DBJ-2021A-7F TROP Jubilee (Friday)

Robby shares his passion for ensuring movements are reaching people where they are -- especially their families -- rather than pulling them into an entirely new context.  Ernie also agrees with the need for  "redemptive incarnation," but prefers to make a family focus "exemplary" rather than "normative." He also talks about the initial DBJ workshop as onboarding onto a "missional social network," a platform where we build trust by seeing how people let Jesus deal with their weaknesses (not just their strengths).

References

• Automated Transcript (UberConference)
• IGWET.com: a fully open platform for empowering Transformational Communities that seek to create positive change in the world
• The Great Reset

Is our greatest work to love the poor? Or simply to love Jesus? Are they ultimately the same? If so, does it matter which order?

As leaders, is our primary job to enroll followers in our vision? Expand our vision to incorporate theirs? Point them to Jesus? Help them find their own vision? 

Ernie and Ted continue their quest to find common ground in loving more like Jesus, as they look towards a possible Jubilee Season of The Great Reset.

References

• Automated Transcript
• The Croods: A New Age
• Matthew 25
• Beyond Spiritual Fathering
• The Send (The Call)
• Discipling by Jesus
• First Love Design Summit

Ernie argues that his "original sin" while co-founding The Great Reset was focusing on Ambition and Technique. While not bad in themselves, this led incurably to Arrogance and Law, rather than Humility and Grace. He believes the only solution is to start over (after a 3 week hiatus) with Something Different centered on the cross of Christ.

References

• Automated Transcript (UberConference)
• Bounded Sets versus Centered Sets (Western Seminary)

• Too dominated by Ernie
• Lacks a clear sense of purpose
• Lacks consistency of format
• Lacks continuity of topics

The disagreement started when Ernie explained that this Friday (15 Jan 2021) is THE Finale of The Great Reset, and what came after would be Something Different.  While Ernie saw this as an opportunity to re-found The Great Reset in a more inclusive and coherent fashion, David saw it as Ernie simply doing more of the same.

Perhaps surprisingly, David felt that this wasn't due to any sin on Ernie's part, but a simple matter of technique that should be easy for Ernie to fix.  Ernie suggested two alternative interpretations, neither of which David liked very much:

• Ernie is simply incapable of making the changes required
• David is the one whose perspective is distorted by sin

After much wrangling about the history of their (and Bill's) relationships, Ernie latched on David's comment about wanting Ernie to share (not just acknowledge) David's perspective.  Ernie claimed this made him feel David was trying to 'fix' him, not merely share constructive feedback and criticism.   David apologized, and Ernie forgave him.

While they may not have resolved much of anything, they at least ended by praying for and affirming each other.  Maybe next time, they should start there...

References

• Automated Transcript (UberConference)
• TGR-S6E7: Jubilee (The Great Reset)
• Christ-like Love (Twitter)

When Ted asks Ernie about working together afterwards on Something Different, Ernie expresses concern over what he perceived as Ted's dismissiveness of his feelings.  This was aggravated (if not caused) by Ted not responding to a heartfelt email Ernie has shared over Christmas; which they just discovered Ted had not even seen!

In the end, Ernie shared his perspective on what he felt it would look like for Ted to love him more like Jesus:

• See him as he is, including his pain and sin
• Identity with him, especially his sin
• Invite him to come the cross to overcome that sin

Ernie acknowledged that this was a lot to ask, but Ted agreed that this was what he had sign-up for with Jesus.

Will this be enough to carry them beyond the end of The Great Reset? Watch this podcast feed for updates!

References

• Automated Transcript

David affirms how Ernie is fantastic at handling negative feedback, but confused why he appears incapable of incorporating constructive suggestions.

Ernie admires David's commitment and forthrightness, but wonders why he is focused on pointing out wrongs rather than providing grace.

Ernie pitches David on the idea of coming together around communion for the Season Finale.  David likes the idea in theory, especially about getting right with one another before partaking of the Body of Christ, but is skeptical in practice because it is often used to merely paper over differences. 

• Possible limits to simply hearing and obeying Jesus
• Whether DBS emphasizes Law (obedience) at the expense of Grace (relationship)
• Whether there is a "performative" act that constitutes being a Christian (e.g., repentance, communion)
• The difference between "joining with Jesus in his work" (as servants, focused on productivity) versus "joining with Jesus through His work" (as friends or family, focused on intimacy)
• How "to seek and save that which is lost" might apply both internally and externally
• The end of The Great Reset

References

• Automated Transcript

1. It does not provide continuity, or address open problems
2. Ernie seems to be placing all the responsibility on David, rather than sharing it
3. The goal should be to model (live out) discipleship, and Ernie's proposal doesn't seem to accomplish what his proposal attempted, i.e. establishing a baseline he can use to hold people's feet to the fire (and vice versa) 

Ernie clarified that he did intend to address #1, apologized for #2, and expressed curiosity about how #3 interacted with what he would present.  David then worried that Ernie was placing too much pressure on himself by attempting to address all of that!. Ernie blithely reassured him that this is how he does his best work -- by raising expectations he does yet know how to fulfill!

Will this work?  Or come back to bite him? Stay tuned to find out!

References

• Automated Transcript (plus Chat Thread)
• Divided by a Common Language 

Ernie admitted that he had partly called out Robby's statement for dramatic effect; the emotional pain was minimal (and addressed).  However, he would have preferred Robby to validate Janet's emotions without necessarily endorsing her reasoning (about leaving), even if he disagreed with her facts.

Surprisingly, Robby realized that he had actually lied in that statement. In reality he would not have left the group under such circumstances.  However, he unconsciously said whatever seemed necessary to reduce tensions (as he had been trained to do by his family of origin).

This led to a discussion of abjection: the instinctual response to reject what is "not-self."  Ernie's claimed this was behind Janet's desire to leave the group, Robby's subconscious attempts to reduce conflict, and even his conscious mind's rejection of the part of himself that lies to avoid conflict.  Ernie suggested "communion" as the opposite of abjection, though they both identified weaknesses with that word.

This tied into a larger critique Ernie had of Robby's model of "hearing and following Jesus."  While that is clearly a good thing, Ernie pointed out that the disciples (and many others) clearly heard and followed Jesus for three years, yet still fell away at the cross (except for John).  He suggested the stronger term "Jesus lover", reflecting Jesus' challenge in John 21:15-17 for Peter to "love" (identify with, even in suffering) rather than merely "like" (enjoy for the sake of benefits) him.

He ended by arguing that in the end, the only thing that matters is relationships.  And in particular, that if we focus in the right way on improving our relationship with our "selves", we will open ourselves to not just hear Jesus more clearly, but become a conduit of His grace to all our other relationships.

References

• Automated Transcript
• Immanuel Approach
• Abjection (Julia Kristeva)
• Being as Communion (John Zizioulas)
• Prelude to Reconciliation (Type 1 and 2)

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." -- John 10:27

Ernie proposes the alternate term "spiritual fathering" to describe the relationship of Paul with Timothy.  He affirms that this kind of authority-based model, built around implicit trust in the "father figure," is essential for new believers.  However, he argues that:

1. A group of mature believers like The Great Reset wouldn't accept an authority like that
2. When it doesn't work, we blame individuals rather than the model
3. When it does work, it is hard for people to transcend the limitations of the father figure

Steve was wiling to concede those points, but didn't see that as sufficient motivation for pursuing a new model.  For his part, Ernie struggled to articulate what exactly he would do differently.

Will they be able to find an answer? Does it even matter?

References

• Automated Transcript

This was poignant for David because he felt frustrated in his attempt to encourage Janet to reconcile. Waiting until Ernie finished also did not seem a viable option, since he was scheduled to work with Janet on Apples of Gold.

When Ernie suggested David set those feelings aside, this led to an extended discussion of compartmentalization: whether there were healthy or unhealthy ways to do that, and how that related to authenticity.  David shared his ongoing debate with Bill about whether churches are more like train-wrecks or ship-wrecks.  Ernie suggested that churches are slightly better at showing grace for personal addictions (shipwrecks) than relational dysfunction (train-wrecks).

Stay tuned to find out if The Great Reset will be train-wrecks all the way down, or we might find a way out through the cross.

References

• Automated Transcript
• HeartSync Ministries
• Internal Family Systems
• Jungian Psychology

[They had initially agreed to remove the offending section, but later decided to show it to Bill first. He surprisingly agreed to publish it, but wanted to discuss David's characterization of Bill's motives.  They ended up resolving, or at least identifying, their core issues, and are in a much better place.  Which will no doubt make for a much less stressful Christmas dinner!]

David then suggested a model for why we had trouble understanding each other: we are both original thinkers, and have therefore developed heuristics for dealing with "conventional" thinkers -- which backfire when used on each other!  Ernie agreed, but felt the solution was to create shared experiences we could point to in order to develop a new vocabulary.  David argue Ernie had already tried that, and that a better route was to find some common priors and extrapolate from those.  Ernie was doubtful, but agreed to let David try next week, and they could alternate after that.

References

• Automated Transcript
• Two and a Half Men (IMDB)
• Shaka, When the Walls Fell (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

1. Has not been truly engaged with The Great Reset during Season 6
2. Does not think Ernie shares his belief that The Great Reset should focus on relationships
3. Feels obligated to conform to Ernie's values, as owner of the group

(David, for his part, was surprised that this wasn't obvious to Ernie).

Much of this seems to stem from Ernie's perspective that he is a "Steward" of the group. As such, his responsibility is not to impose his values, but create a safe space for everyone to express their values to better reflect Jesus' values.  

This created a conflict in Season 5, when Ernie shut down David's questioning of Bill.  Ernie chose "create a safe space" over David's "express his values."  

Was that a false choice?  Could Ernie have done better? Even if not, what should be done now?

Stay tuned for next Tuesday, to see if the group can help them find a better way forward.

• Automated Transcript

References

• Automated Transcript (UberConference)
• What are User Stories? (Agile Alliance)
• The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint Exupery)
• Genius versus Crackpot (Twitter)

Ernie suggested naming that part of herself "Slappy", and asking what it wants -- and where it came from. Janet shared how she was required to be silent whenever she witnessed abuse at home, lest she make things worse.  More, she was explicitly trained to either lie or freeze up when invited to share unpleasant truths.

Ernie encouraged Janet to visit a place where she had felt close to God, and invite Slappy to encounter Jesus there.  Janet chose a tree she used to climb at Summer Bible Camp. Slappy, true to its name, just started slapping Jesus, over and over again.  Jesus just stood there with smile on His face until Slappy was all tired out. Then Ernie suggested He would say: "Thank you [for being honest].  Now come, and follow me."

References

• Automated Transcript
• Inner Healing Movement
• Parts of Personality
• Immanuel Approach
• HeartSync Ministries

To clarify his thinking, David claimed that relational problems are like speed bumps: there is usually one difficult part, after which it is "green pastures" (until the next bump).  Some of these are minor problems that a "mature adult" can easily get over (or not even notice), whereas others are extremely difficult.  That is why he didn't see Tuesday's call as progress:  while we didn't do anything "wrong", we haven't yet overcome the truly hard part necessary to bring reconciliation.

Put another way, truly challenging speed bumps require a "miracle" to overcome. He has seen unexpected miracles like that in the group (e.g., Steve speaking up, Ernie submitting to criticism), but this Tuesday's encounter wasn't sufficient. 

Ernie liked many aspects of David's framework, but wondered why David didn't seem particularly curious about Ernie's framework.  David countered that he was in fact very curious about what was going on inside Ernie's head.  However, it seemed obvious to him that Ernie's framework was (or at least should be) basically the same as his, since they were built around the same values.

Ernie countered by attempting to draw a distinction between "validity" and "effectiveness":  multiple models may be equally valid (in the sense of well-formed), but differ greatly in how and where they are useful.  David disagreed with that use of the word 'valid' -- but Ernie had to run off to a meeting, so they left with that unresolved.

References

• Automated Transcript
• Elephant Listening (The Great Reset, S6E1)
• Random Walk
• Maxwell's Daemon
• Activation Energy
• What are Leading and Lagging Indicators?
• Well-Formed Document

Rather that quit early, they take up David's suggestion to simply share about their lives.  Ernie shares about his COVID utopia of being able to stay home with his family rather than driving 2.5 hours a day for school and work. David expresses his gratitude at spending Thanksgiving with Bill and Irene after an emotionally challenging November.

While there are still important and difficult questions that will eventually need to be addressed, perhaps this is an appropriate time to simply appreciate one another as human beings rather than focus on what divides us. Happy Thanksgiving!

References

• Automated Transcript
• TGR-S5E7 Jobs to Be Done
• Thanksgiving Special (The Great Reset, S5E7)
• "We are all losers" (Guardians of the Galaxy)

How will Ted make sense of it all?  And what will they finally end up doing?

References

• Automated Transcript
• Episode 27: A Spiritual Issue, Part 1
• Episode 28: I Don't Understand (A Spiritual Issue, Part 2)
• TGR-S5E7 Jobs to Be Done
• Thanksgiving Special (The Great Reset, S5E7)

While the conversation was often passionate and occasionally blunt, both parties expressed sincere appreciation for the other's sincerity, thoughtfulness, and commitment to working things out.

The dialogue covered some heavy ground, including the relationship between power and authority, the good and bad senses of "justifying sin", and whether it is fair to say Christ "fell on his sword" for the sins of others.

In the end,  David summed it best with a honest, heartfelt acknowledgement that he still didn't understand.  The other two participants were able to agree with that, and affirm their desire to keep walking through that lack of understanding together.

In a surprise twist, though, Ernie invoked Matthew 18 and suggested they bring in Janet to mediate. David objected to characterizing their disagreement as "sin".  Ernie acknowledged that most people didn't share his positive view of sin, but suggested (and David accepted) labeling it a "spiritual" issue -- to distinguish from a problem to be solved via merely human efforts.

Stay tuned to find out what happens next!

• The upside and downside of having powerful mental frameworks
• Apples of Gold's Seeker/Helper model
• Concerns vs Needs
• Design vs Training
• Studying vs Assimilating Scripture

References

• Automated Transcript
• Apples of Gold (Hope and Change for Humpty Dumpty)
• There is no User Error, only Bad Design (Harry Stevens)
• What the Bible says about Assimilation/ Feeding Process (BibleTools)

1. The most important thing is Loving More Like Jesus
2. The next important thing is tools to help us Love More Like Jesus
3. There aren't any great answers for what will do that
4. The best way to develop such tools is iterating around Revelation, Reason, and Experience

Ernie then shared his belief that hierarchical authority structures are fatally flawed because they discourage the very authenticity and humility necessary for growing in love. David conceded those problems, but challenged Ernie's exclusive focus on non-hierarchical alternatives. Surprisingly, Ernie conceded the point, perhaps because he was excited about exploring a new model (building on David's moderation last week), and didn't really care whether it was hierarchical or not.

In this model:

• Ted is the Host, providing the Zoom and YouTube, plus the intro)
• Ernie is the Creative, curating the content and shaping topics
• David is the Moderator, ensuring everyone is heard and proposing topics

Intriguingly, this resembles the sort of Test-Driven Development both Ernie and David practice with software.  And created a context where they were able to mutually affirm each other's value in this journey.

References

• Automated Transcript
• The Great Reset (S5E5)
• NP-Completeness (Wikipedia)

1. How defensively Ernie reacted when Steve rebuked him
2. Ernie's negativity towards authority

For the first, Ernie was initially surprised that Ted saw his reaction as defensive. Upon reflection, Ernie granted that it would have been better if he had simply acknowledged Steve's strong feelings and asked  for clarification, rather than demanding follow-through.  By the same token, though, Ernie pointed out Ted could have been more compassionate towards Ernie, rather than "piling on" (which Ted conceded).

For the second, Ernie validating Ted's concerns around issues of authority.  However, he wanted to distinguish between his:

1. Personal belief in (and practice of) submission to authority
2. Philosophical critique of hierarchical authority systems
3. Emotional reactions (not fully processed) towards those systems

One common thread in all these was the human desire to have our views validated, especially when we feel devalued. Ted acknowledged that part of his frustration with Ernie was that he had tried to raise this issue before, and felt Ernie blew him off.  Ernie appreciated that, but pointed that it led him to make essentially the same mistake he accused Ernie of.

The point wasn't to cast blame, but to highlight how pervasive and subtle is the temptation to point out others flaws while overlooking our own, rather than coming alongside others in humility to help them do better.  Ernie argued this is the main reason the world hates the church, because we expose their shame while hiding from our own. He then suggested that being able to cure ourselves of this tendency would be a huge step toward fulfilling Ted's passion to see "the Earth filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." (Habbakuk 2:14)

References

• Automated Transcript (and iMessage followup)
• ValueStorming S5E1 (The Great Reset)
• Better Next Time S5E5 (The Great Reset)
• Matthew 23:1-4 (Bible Gateway)
• Obria Medical Clinics (Real Options)

Ernie pointed out that a lot of this is due to "WEIRD" culture (Western Educated Industrialized Rich Democracies), and the challenge is to evangelize (and redeem) that culture without first requiring people to give up those cultural norms.  In particular, how do we create space for self-expression and questioning  authority while still challenging people to live all out for Jesus and others?

References

• Automated Transcript
• S5E1 "ValueStorming" (The Great Reset)
• S5E4 "Lost Sheep" (The Great Reset)
• WEIRD societies

References

• Automated Transcript
• Matthew 23

However, Ernie admitted that part of his reluctance was that he didn't know how to host a frank yet constructive conversation if Steve wasn't present. David replied that if he were in charge, he'd start by sharing a perspective that defended each of the participants, even at the cost of consistency, in order to set the right tone.

Ernie immediately jumped on this to insist David take charge of next week's meeting.  David was initially reluctant to commit to this, for a variety of reasons. Eventually he conceded that if we criticize someone, we should follow through with showing them how to do better.  His last qualm was that he wanted to hear from Ted (who wasn't there at the end).

References

• Automated Transcript
• TGR Code of Conduct

• follow
• apply
• obey
• abide
• figure out

References

• Automated Transcript
• Discipled by Scripture
• Pirate's Code (Disney Wiki)
• John 21:17 (TPT)
• John 21:17 (Interlinear)

• To be worried about the recent drop-off in attendance on The Great Reset
• We need an explicit code of conduct
• It is more dangerous to study scripture with or without an agenda
• "Love More Like Jesus" is a sufficient statement of purpose
• Ernie is merely inarticulate or deliberately deceptive about his goals

David finally agreed to put that last point to the test by identifying "what your secret cows are, put them up as suggestions for the group, then watch you try to deny them."  Or at least let us know if he decides not to follow through on that.

References

• Automated Transcript
• TGR-S4E7 Loving More Like Jesus
• Code of Conduct (Contributor Covenant)
• Response to "man cannot be trusted with the government of himself" (Thomas Jefferson)
• TGR Code of Conduct (new)

1. What do you want
2. What do you fear
3. What price are you wiling to pay

Janet's chief desire is to Love More Like Jesus (or equivalently to draw closer to Him). Her fear is self-sabotage, and she is willing to pay the price of discipline to overcome that.

This led to an extended discussion on the apparent necessity of suffering for spiritual (and emotional) maturity. They identified three types of suffering (circumstantial, voluntary, and inflicted), as well as how those categories sometimes blur as we mature. 

We wrap with Janet sharing her challenges with staying productive during this season.  That nagging voice in our head can be a useful taskmaster, but ultimately (like the Law) we want to replace it with a nurture teacher.  Perhaps next episode we can figure out how to be, have, and create more teachers like that...

References

• Automated Transcript
• Ernie's Rules of War
• C.S. Lewis on Pain

• Decentralized vs Hierarchical
• Incarnate vs Extractive
• Practice vs Knowledge

David was very helpful in teasing out shared definition of words, to the point where they seemed to reach at least a basic level of understanding.  Is this stable enough to form a foundation for future discussions? Stay tuned to find out!

References

• Automated Transcript
• Benedectine Order
• The Rule of Ernest the Sinner

Could this be the tool The Great Reset needs for "vulnerably encountering Jesus by obeying Scripture together?"  Is this the tool Jesus wants to use to free us from Western intellectualism so we can read with our heart, soul, and strength, not just our mind? What will it take to get the rest of The Great Reset on board?

Stay tuned to find out!

Resources

• Automated Transcript
• Last Tuesday's The Great Reset (ValueStorming)
• Discovery Bible Study
• Disciple-making movements
• WEIRD: Western, Educated, Industriaized, Rich, Democratic 

After going around and around about the supposed difficulty of defining novel relational experiences, David joked that he could do better. When Ernie jumped on that, he conceded that it would be a lot of effort to get everyone on board. Instead, he offered to put together a draft combining elements we agreed on with traditional church mission statements, as a starting point for the two of us to discuss further.

Stay tuned to find out how it works out!

Resources

• Automated Transcript
• Last week's Great Reset: ValueStorming
•  Mission Statement (Echo Church)

How will this play out on Season 5 of The Great Reset? Stay tuned to find out!

Resources

• Automated Transcript
• Romans 12:1-2
• The Bible Project
• Walk through the Bible
• Bible Storying

Can they build on this insight  to come up with a Grand Solution for The Great Reset that will satisfy Ted? Or will they get mired down intheir inability to agree on basic terms. Come back next week to find out!

Resources

• Automated Transcript
• TGR-S4E7 Loving More Like Jesus
• Pournelle's Iron Law of Bureaucracy 

References

• Automated Transcript
• Relational Practice (TGR-S4E3)
• FishBowl Dialogue (DJ+EP)
• Edutainment (Wikipedia)
• The Bible Project (Videos)
• TedEd (Youtube Channel)
• A Critical Review of Constructivist Theory and the Emergence of Constructionism (American Research Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences) 
• Jobs to be Done in the Education Industry (JTBD Radio)

• Automated Transcript
• Seven Mountains (Generals International)
• Renewal Christian Counseling Center (Steve Fair)
• Journey into the Divided Heart Book (Amazon)
• HeartSync Ministries (Father Andrew Miller)
• Morningstar Ministries (Rick Joyner)

And if that is true, what path do we have to walk in order to bring the Body of Christ to repentance and unity? And can we do it without insisting on confession?

References

• It's More Than Racism: Isabel Wilkerson Explains America's 'Caste' System
• The 9.9 Percent Is the New American Aristocracy

References

• Automated Transcript
• TGR-S3E6: Re-Cognition of Discipleship
• Decentralized Networks
• #DecenterCivilization
• Permissionless Innovation

Eric responded:

This got Ernie all fired up, since he is explicitly targeting "universities and hospitals" as part of his efforts to #DecenterCivilization.  They wisely agreed to move from chat onto a phone call, and kindly agreed to record it for our benefit.

• Automated Transcript
• Being as Communion: Studies in Personhood and the Church (John Zizioulas)

In particular, he felt that we spend too much time focusing on "better leaders" as the solution for all our problems, versus at least trying to explore superior "leaderless" models.

Ernie challenged Bill to come up with a clearer critique that acknowledged that a) we are all dependent on one another, and b) we all have different roles and responsibilities within the Body of Christ.  In particular, we need someone to take responsibility for the success of the context as a whole, not just their individual contribution.

Bill clarified that his real concern is that we get so caught up in roles and titles -- and the people who hold them -- that we lose sight of the larger purpose.  This led to a helpful distinction between "healthy" groups where the roles and responsibilities line up with the stated purpose, and "toxic" groups where they do not.

We discussed our experience with models of shared leadership, program managers, and "Designated Responsible Individuals" at Apple.  We eventually converged on the term Stewardship to describe having authority over a particular domain, perhaps even individuals, but explicitly accountable for serving a larger goal.

The larger problem, we both agreed, is that existing structures are explicitly designed to hide the shame of their leaders; though was willing to concede that was necessary for human institutions to survive.  Which implies the great challenge before us is to demonstrate that it is possible to flourish with Christ as the center, and all of us owning our shame before Him through the cross -- while still doing what needs to be done.

S3E4 was an unusually challenging episode, as we seemed unable to  agree even on the appropriate terminology for what we were discussed.  Ernie shared how a big part of our "experiment in public discipleship" is trying to find a middle path between "top-down bible teaching" and "unstructured social club."  This arguably was a good example of having gone too far in the "unstructured" direction, and thus provides a great opportunity to clarify what we are about.

The most common request we have had is to move beyond talking to start working on something concrete.  Ted shared his lifelong passion for helping "everyday" people see themselves as what we now call "Strategic Indigenous Missionaries."  Ernie suggested we focus on "modeling relational practices for changing the world." 
There were many ideas for helping people turn their God-given passions into viable Kingdom businesses.  The challenge is coming up with something that both a) addressed why people came, even if they weren't 100% convinced yet, and b) could scale up to make a meaningful dent in the enormous scale of the crisis facing the body of Christ.

Any suggestions?

Ernie proposed Steven co-construct a spinoff of The Great Reset to provide a safe place to ask and attempt to answer these hard questions; ideally with a man from a more 'traditional' African-American background.

References

• The Great Reset: Education
• Online Reconciliation Circles

THE POWER OF INFLUENCE - The Path To Inner Peace | Erwin McManus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdTQX249mm8

McManus challenged us to not worry about status or position: if we do what God puts in our hearts, He will provide the necessary resources.

This led to a discussion of Steve's desire ("need") to find a stable job in higher education, and Ernie's suggestion he "turn pro" with his desire to mentor young people in following Jesus Christ.

References

• Lean Startup
• Minimum Viable Product
• How Coronavirus Will Disrupt Future Colleges & Universities

The episode ends abruptly because -- during one of Ernie's monologues -- Steven's phone literally overheated so much, and crashed so hard, he literally had to place it in the freezer to cool it down.  
References

• COVID-19 Pandemic
• Rule of St Benedict
• Monastic schools

• René Girard  (mimetic desire)