“What the…!?” “什么… ！ ” ？

There are few things as frustrating as collapsing into your bed in your new apartment, bone tired from moving heavy boxes all day and ready to sleep hard, only to be jolted awake by your new neighbors’ music or video games.有几件事令人沮丧，因为作为倒塌到您的床在您的新公寓，骨累了，从移动沉重的箱子，所有天，并准备睡眠的努力，不仅要发生里氏清醒，由您的新邻居'音乐或视频游戏。 Particularly when it’s no different the next night, or the next, or the next…尤其是当它的没有什么不同未来夜间，或未来，或未来…

Even the most devout Christian can lose it and end up screaming in righteous fury – though to no avail – at the offending neighbors, or just your shared wall or floor.即使是最虔诚的基督徒可能会失去它和最终的惨叫，在正义的愤怒-虽然不得要领-在得罪邻居，或只是您的共享墙壁或地下。 We feel powerless and angry about becoming such a hateful person.我们感到无能为力和愤怒，成为这样一个充满憎恨的人。 In fact, when we don’t get to know our neighbors as fellow humans, if we never see them, they can morph into disembodied evil spirits in our heads, whose every noise and move are laced with malice.事实上，当我们不知道我们的邻国，作为人类的同胞，如果我们再也看不到他们，他们可以变身成disembodied邪灵在我们头上，其每一个噪音和提出的laced与恶意。

Frankly, there’s not much you can do to figure out and avoid noisy neighbors when you’re looking for an apartment beyond trying to visit at night and listening carefully to see if the walls are soundproofed.坦白说，有没有什么你可以做出来，并避免噪音的邻居，当您正在寻找的是公寓之外尝试访问在夜间和细心聆听，看看是否有隔音墙。 Asking the landlord about noise problems will more than likely result in a less than straight answer.要求业主对噪音问题，将以上结果可能在一个不到直接答复。 However, you can do a lot once you move in to feel more at peace in your apartment, all the while putting your faith into practice:不过，您可以做的工作很多，一旦您提出在感受到更多的和平，在您的公寓，所有的同时，把你们的信仰付诸实践：

1. Get to know your neighbors. You don’t have to be Mr. Rogers or the newest member of Desperate Housewives to get to know your neighbors. 1 。结识你的邻居，你不一定要罗杰斯先生或最新的成员绝望的主妇为了结识你的邻居。 Just being on a “smile and nod” basis with your neighbors goes a long way.只是一个“微笑和点头”的基础上，与您的邻居去了漫长的道路。 You’re both much more likely to look out for each other in small and big ways (picking up stray mail, calling in potential gas leaks, etc).您都更容易看出来对方在小和大的方法（落杂散的电子邮件，要求在潜在的气体泄漏等） 。 If you are used to smiling at your neighbor and maybe even saying “hi,” it’s then much easier to progress to asking about a building issue (“Is it true they’re going to be renovating the basement next week?”) and much easier to have a calm, rational conversation about noise or other problems— even at 4 am, when he’s drunk or high.如果你是用微笑在你的邻居，甚至说“嗨” ，它的那么容易得多的进展，要求有关建设问题（ “是否属实，他们要去加以翻新地下室下周？ ” ）和容易得多有一个冷静，理性的交谈约噪音或其他问题-甚至在上午4时，当他的酒醉或高。 And you might find that your neighbor’s laugh no longer seems maniacal so much as vivacious, and that you’re happy for her because you know she needs the joy in her life.和您可能会发现你的邻居的笑，似乎不再疯狂了这么多，作为活泼，和你很高兴，为她，因为你知道她需要的喜悦，在她的生命。

You shouldn’t expect to become best friends with your neighbors.你不应该期望成为最好的朋友与你的邻居。 People in apartment buildings usually don’t want to live next to their best friends, but they do like to be on good terms with their neighbors.人在公寓大楼，通常不想住在明年他们最好的朋友，但他们希望得到良好的条件与他们的邻居。 Sort of like an office environment, but hopefully less stressful and without the awful lighting!有点像一个办公环境，但希望少的压力，没有可怕的照明！

Tips: Bolder people often knock on their neighbors’ doors on the day they move in. If you want to try this, make up an excuse for knocking beyond introducing yourself, like asking them to please let you know if you’re being too loud while you move in. If you’re a shy person or just conscientious about not invading other people’s space, then slip a card under your neighbors’ doors inviting them to your housewarming party. 提示：大胆的人往往敲门，他们的邻居门的一天，他们搬进去，如果您想尝试这一点，作出了一个借口，敲开超出了介绍自己，想要求他们请让你知道如果您正在太大而你搬进如果您是一位害羞的人或只是不自觉地入侵其他人的空间，然后支路卡下，您的邻居的门，邀请他们到您的housewarming党。 Even if they don’t attend, they’ll probably be flattered to have been invited, and be much more willing to deal with you in a respectful manner.即使他们没有出席，他们将可能会受宠若惊，以已被邀请，并更愿意处理与你在一个尊重的态度。

2. 2 。 Start a building e-mail list . 启动建设的电子邮件名单 。 One of the best ways to create a good overall environment in your building is to start an e-mail list.最好的方法之一，以创造一个良好的整体环境，在您的建设，是启动一个电子邮件名单。 An e-mail list can be a good way for neighbors, especially younger ones, to trouble-shoot common problems or plan building events, or just share tips (eg, washing machine is eating quarters).一个电子邮件列表可以是一个好办法，为邻国，尤其是年轻的，故障诊断的共同问题或计划建设活动，或者只是分享提示（例如，洗衣机是饮食宿舍） 。

Tips: Set up a list on Google or Yahoo (or your preferred service) and put cards underneath your neighbors’ doors asking them to join. 提示：成立一个名单上Google或Yahoo （或您的首选服务）和卡下，把您的邻居的门，要求他们加入。 Be sure to explain what it is, why they might want to use it, and what won’t be allowed (for example, you may want to avoid using it to share grievances about the landlord, since it’s likely she’ll see a copy and try to shut it down if you distribute it around the building).一定要解释它是什么，为什么他们可能想使用它，会有什么不容许（例如，您可能希望避免使用它来分享不满房东，因为它的可能，她会看到一份拷贝，并尝试将它关闭，如果您分发的建筑周围的） 。 Once it’s set up and you have some users, start using it right away so that the idea will stick.一旦它的成立和你有一些用户，开始使用它的权利以外，使这一想法会坚持。

Now that you have an e-mail list, it’ll be much easier to:现在，您已经有了一个电子邮件列表，它会容易得多：

• Throw a building potluck.丢一建设potluck 。
• Organize a trick-or-treat set up in front of the building on Halloween.组织的伎俩-或-对待设立在大楼前对万圣节。
• Plan, plant and maintain a common tree, flowers or garden.计划，厂房及维持一个共同的树木，花卉或花园。

You don’t need a building e-mail list to do any of these things, but it certainly helps.你不需要建设电子邮件名单做任何这些东西，但它肯定有帮助。 If you don’t have an e-mail list, use cards and flyers around the building or try the old knock-on-the-door technique to get your neighbors involved.如果您没有一个电子邮件列表，使用卡和传单，周围的建筑物或尝试旧的连锁反应，对- -门技术，让您的邻居参与。 Building events or tools that promote civil interaction and helps create a universal expectation that people will treat each other well, even when we’re behind our apartment walls.建设活动或工具，促进民间的互动，有助于建立一个普遍的期望，人们将以诚相待，以及其他，甚至当我们的背后我们的公寓墙壁。 The change in the ethos of the apartment building will impact even those who choose to not participate directly.的变化，在校风公寓大楼会影响甚至那些谁选择不直接参与。

Please note that you don’t have to be new to your building in order to do any of the suggestions above.请注意，您不一定要新，以您的建设，以做任何的上述建议。 It’s never too late to start getting to know your neighbors!它的未为晚也开始渐渐了解了你的邻居！

Finally, check out our guide to Neighborly Home Design at最后，瞧瞧我们的指南睦邻首页设计 neighborsproject.org , which includes more ideas and tips ranging from simple to advanced projects towards making your building more neighborly. ，其中包括更多的思路和提示不等，从简单到先进的项目，使您的兴建更多的睦邻。

Author Bio: : Kit Hodge is the CEO of Neighbors Project, a 501c3 non-profit that inspires and trains members of the new urban generation to connect with their neighbors through projects that improve the neighborhood for everyone. 作者生物： ：试剂盒Hodge的是行政总裁的邻居项目， 501c3非营利性，激发和火车的成员对新的城市一代连接与邻国通过的项目，改善居委会为大家。 She has also successfully coaxed her downstairs neighbor to turn down his music at 4 am when he was dead drunk.她还成功地coaxed她在楼下的邻居把他的音乐上午4时，当他死了喝醉了。

Onward, Christian Soldiers以后，基督教士兵

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Jonah on Climate Change约拿气候变化

I’d really like to know something, please educate me if you can.我要真正想知道的东西，请教育我，如果你可以。 After leaving Egypt, the Israelites moaned and complained and worshiped false idols, and then spent 40 years wandering around in the desert being miserable.后离开埃及，以色列人moaned ，并抱怨和虚假的偶像崇拜，然后花了40年徘徊在沙漠中被悲惨。

Another time, God sent the world’s-worst-prophet to Nineveh, the ancient capital of Assyria one of the enemies of the God-people.还有一次，上帝派遣world's -最坏的先知，以尼尼微，古都之一，亚述的敌人神人。 Jonah eventually proceeded to preach destruction on these people, who he really hated.约拿最终，进而鼓吹破坏对这些人，谁他真的恨。

The first group were the God-people and had seen some pretty amazing things.第一组的神人，并已看到了一些相当了不起的事情。 Locusts, frogs, rivers of blood, water from rocks.蝗灾，青蛙，河流的血液，水从岩石。 The second group weren’t the God-people, presumably knew nothing of the stuff this crazy man was saying (and it is a bit of a surprise they didn’t just kill him on the spot, given he was covered in fish sick) and yet “turned from their evil ways.” What was the difference?第二组不是上帝的人，想必一无所知的东西，这疯狂的男子说， （这是一个有点出人意料，他们不只是将他杀死，对现货，鉴于他所涵盖的鱼生病了）然而， “从他们的邪恶的方式”是什么区别？

The reason I’m asking is that it seems to me that Global Warming is clearly the most critical issue any of us are likely to face in our lifetimes.原因我要求的是在我看来，全球气候变暖，显然是最关键的问题我们任何人都可能面临在我们的有生之年实现这一目标。 To be frank, it scares me.要坦率地说，它害怕我。 Did you know, for example, that one of the leading climate scientists is now saying that the CO2 target in last year’s你知道，举例来说，一个主要的气候科学家现正说，二氧化碳的目标，在去年的 IPCC警监会 report was a serious overestimate?报告是一个严重高估？ According to his calculations, the international negotiations are pointless - because they are all assuming that we can reduce the /rate/ of increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, whereas the truth is that we actually have to reduce the /absolute/ amount in the atmosphere.根据他的计算，国际谈判是无谓的-因为他们都是假设，我们可以减少/率/增加的温室气体在大气层，而事实的真相是，我们其实有减少/绝对/金额，在气氛中进行的。 If true, it has massive ramifications.如果这是真的，它的大规模的后果。 It isn’t good enough to stabilize the current CO2, causing economic growth.这是还不够好，以稳定目前的二氧化碳，造成的经济增长。 We actually have to cut back.事实上，我们必须削减。

And given that we are within the 10% of the world’s population rich enough to actually read and understand these words, that has implications to the way we live our lives.鉴于我们都在10 ％的世界人口丰富的不够，其实阅读和理解这些话，已经影响到了我们的生活方式我们的生活。

Or try this one: did you know that 50% of all food produced by farms in America is wasted before anyone eats it?或尝试此一：您是否知道， 50 ％的所有食物所产生的农场在美国是浪费之前，任何人吃它呢？ That, if we somehow had the technology and willpower, all that wasted food in a year could meet half the annual import needs for the entire continent of Africa. ，如果我们在某种程度上有技术和意志，所有浪费食物在一年内能够满足一半，每年的进口需求，为整个非洲大陆。 That amount is just the wasted food from the UK.这一数额只是浪费食物来自英国。 Imagine the amount of wasted food from all the developed countries.想象的金额浪费食物从所有发达国家。 Think of all the cost of producing that food, only for it to end up in the dustbin.认为所有的生产成本的食物，只为它结束了，在垃圾桶。

The problem is not the thousands of people in Egypt fighting over bread or the billions living in absolute poverty, who face an even more uncertain future due to climate change.问题不在于成千上万的人在埃及的争夺面包或数十亿生活在绝对贫困中，谁面临着更不确定的未来，由于气候变化的影响。 The problem is the small percentage of rich people who are taking more than their fair share: us .问题是很小的百分比，有钱的人谁是采取更比他们公平地分享： 我们 。

I know many of us have been banging on about this for a long time.我知道我们很多人已经撞就对这个相当长的时间。 And I know there are some churches which have really grasped the message.我知道有一些教会，其中有真正掌握的讯息。 But is anyone actually prepared to repent of their wealthy lifestyles and face up to their responsibility for our greed which is causing the climate to change?但是，其实任何人都愿意悔改他们的富裕生活方式和面对他们的责任，为我们的贪婪，这是造成气候改变？ OK, we might be prepared to change a few light bulbs, but is that honestly going to stop the tsunami that is coming?确定，我们可能会准备改变数灯泡，但是，诚实的去阻止海啸，是未来？

This morning in church, I heard something a bit like this from the pulpit - “Climate change is a fact.今天上午在教堂，我听到的东西，有点像这从讲坛-“气候变化是一个事实。 But thinking about it can paralyze us because of the magnitude of the problem.但思考它可以瘫痪，我们因为这个问题的严重性。 So I just want you to remember this: don’t panic, God is in control.”所以，我只是想让你记住这一点：不要恐慌，上帝是在控制“ 。

Don’t panic?不恐慌？ Millions are dying because of the human greed of a few rich fat people, and the church is telling us “not to panic?” Whilst panicking might not be the best move in the face of a global catastrophe, surely repentance is.数百万人死亡，因为人类的贪婪数脂肪丰富的人，和教会告诉我们， “不要恐慌” ？惊慌，而未必是最佳动议，在面对一个全球性的灾难，肯定是有悔罪。 Costly repentance.昂贵的悔改之意。 The kind that says actually my lifestyle is totally wrong and I need to change my ways, fast.那种说，其实我的生活是完全错误的，我需要改变我的方式，快速。 God being in control in some ways is irrelevant.上帝被控制在在某些方面是无关宏旨。 From my bible knowledge, it seems quite likely to me that we are going to have to live with the consequences of our actions.从我的圣经知识，它似乎很有可能，我认为我们将会有生活的后果，我们的行动。 God being in control does not necessarily offer a Get Out of Jail Free Card for the future.上帝是在控制不一定提供一个走出监狱免费卡，为未来作好准备。 So what does this knowledge mean in our own lives, and how do we get the message out?那么，这是否意味着知识在我们自己的生活，以及如何做，我们得到消息呢？ How do we do better than Moses - with all his multi-media presentations and flashy graphics - and take lessons from the miserable, soaked, sick-smelling Jonah?我们如何做总比摩西-他的所有多种媒体的介绍和华而不实的图形-和采取的教训，从悲惨的，浸泡，病假闻约拿？ Is there any point in even trying?是否有任何一点，甚至尝试？

Author Bio: : Joe Turner is an angry 30-something with a bad memory for dates. 作者生物： ：乔特纳是一个愤怒的30多岁，与一个坏的记忆体日期。 He is founder of the他是创始人之一 Freedom Clothing Project自由成衣项目 - an effort to bring trade to some pretty dark places - a regular contributor to the -努力实现贸易的一些相当黑暗的地方-经常向 Celsias celsias climate change blog, a husband, father and气候变化的博客，一个丈夫，父亲和 ham-fisted user of theology火腿吝啬用户神学 . 。 Blunt and annoying.布朗特和恼人的。

Emerging Middle-Aged Women新兴的中年妇女

If you’re old enough to understand the idiom, “You could have knocked me over with a feather,” you’re probably too old to be hip to its current equivalent.如果您老不够了解成语， “你可以有超过撞倒我与鸿毛” ，您可能太旧要髋关节其目前的同等学历。 Since I’m both, I’ll simply tell you what happened yesterday and let you supply the metaphor.因为我既，我会简单地告诉你，昨天发生的，并让您供应的隐喻。

A woman I know who’s pushing 60 works as an administrative assistant in a local, evangelical church.一名女子，我知道谁在推动60工程作为一个行政助理在一个地方，福音派教会。 For the past 15 years, she’s been devoted to tireless service, nurturing the women’s ministry and a healing prayer ministry along with managing the church office.为过去15年来，她一直致力于不懈的服务，培育妇女事务部和愈合部的祈祷，随着管理教会办公室。 Her faithful labor, under the paradigm that men lead and women follow, has been split between implementing the details of the surrounding elders’ vision and helping the younger women in the church “obey God and love their husbands.”她的忠实劳动，根据范式认为，男性铅和妇女的后续，已分裂之间实施的细节周围的长者'的远见和帮助年轻妇女在教会中“服从上帝和爱她们的丈夫” 。

Yesterday she told me she was considering stepping down from her position.昨天她告诉我她正在考虑下台，由她的立场。

“We’re just a ‘G’ rated version of the world,” she said. “我们正在只是一个'克'额定版本的世界， ”她说。 “And I can’t be a party to it anymore. “我不能一党给它了。 Our idea of being evangelistically bold and counter-cultural is bringing people into this building.我们的想法被evangelistically大胆和反文化是使人们进入这座大楼。 But once we get them here, we don’t offer them anything different from what the world offers.但是，一旦我们让他们在这里，我们不向他们提供什么不同，从世界各地提供。 We certainly don’t love and forgive each other and we don’t build into each others’ lives.当然，我们不爱和原谅对方，我们不建立相互转化他人生命。 I don’t think this is the way we’re supposed to do church.我不认为这是这样的假定我们正在做的教会。 The secular world is doing a better job at loving people that we are.”世俗世界，是进一步做好工作，热爱人民，我们“ 。

My friend went on to say, “Here’sa quote from a Korean leader: ‘When I encounter a Buddhist priest, I meet a holy man.我的朋友接着说， “这里引述从朝鲜领导人： '当我遇到一个佛教徒的神父，我满足一个神圣的男子。 When I meet a Christian leader, I meet a manager.’”当我满足一个基督教领导人，我满足经理人“ 。

I was stunned to hear such words coming from this particular woman.我震惊地听到这样的话，未来从这个尤其是女子。 By all appearances, she’d been submitting unwaveringly and unquestioningly to her elders’ authority and wisdom.所有露面，她要被提交毫不动摇地和unquestioningly她长者的权威和智慧。 To hear her say she thought something was wrong in the church was about 180 degrees from what I expected.听到她说，她认为是错误的东西在教堂约180度，从我的预期。

But here’s what’s more remarkable about this incident: it was the third time in the space of a week I’d had a similar conversation with a staunchly conservative Christian woman over the age of 45.但这里的什么的更了不起的关于这一事件：这是第三次在太空的一个星期，我要了类似的谈话与坚定保守的基督教女45岁以上。

One woman I know actually left her church and hasn’t sought out another.一名女子，我知道，其实她离开教会，并没有找另一个。 I meet with her and pray on a weekly basis.见面与她祈祷，对每周的基础上。 Two other acquaintances in the PhD-level academic world told me they “don’t fit” in their churches, but they stay because of a sense of duty.其他两个熟人，在博士生的学术水平，世界告诉我，他们“不适合”在他们的教会，但他们逗留，因为意识的责任。 But they’ve intentionally distanced themselves from the traditional programming aimed at or directed by women in order to be free to use their gifts and follow their calling to serve grossly unmet needs in the wider community–needs their churches don’t seem to have much interest in addressing.但他们已经刻意保持距离，自己从传统的规划，旨在或导演的妇女，以便可以自由地使用他们的礼物，并按照他们的要求，以服务粗暴未满足的需要，在更广泛的社区的需要，他们的教会似乎并不太多有兴趣在处理。

But it’s not just marginalization of women and neglecting the “least of these” in the community that concerns these women.但它不只是妇女边缘化和忽略了“至少对这些”在社会上的关注，这些妇女。 They say they’re grieved by a narrow, impoverished version of gospel that keeps believers in an infantile state of spiritual formation.他们说，他们很痛心，由一个狭窄，贫困版本的福音不断的信徒在一小儿国家的精神形成的。

My friend put it like this, “It’s like inviting a horde of babies to church and dumping them in the foyer.我的朋友把它像这样， “它就像邀请horde婴儿的教堂和倾倒，他们在会场大厅。 Who’s going to help them grow up?谁去帮助他们成长起来呢？ Who’s going to change their dirty diapers in the meantime?”谁去改变他们的肮脏的尿布在此期间“ ？

I asked my friend what she believes the Spirit is calling her to do.我问我的朋友是什么她认为，精神是要求她这样做。

“It’s relational. “它的关系。 It’s small.它的小。 It’s one-on-one or two-on-two.它的1对1或2 -对-二。 It’s in living rooms and coffee shops and kitchens, not big sanctuaries where you get a rock concert and a seminar.它的在客厅和咖啡店和厨房设备，而不是大圣地的地方您会获得一个摇滚音乐会和研讨会。 I don’t know what God is doing.我不知道上帝是这样做。 And I’m not worried about how big it is.和我根本不担心有多大，这是。 All I can do is be faithful with what he puts right in front of me.”所有我可以做的，是忠实与他所说的权利在我面前“ 。

What’s going on here?是怎么回事就在这里出现？ We tend to view the younger generation as the force of change and the fresh wind of the Spirit.我们倾向于认为，作为年轻一代的力量变化和新风的精神。 But this generation of middle-aged women is unlike any previous one.但是，这一代的中年妇女，不像以往任何一。 These women are educated and informed, most of them have worked outside the home at some point in their lives, and even if they’ve followed the这些妇女都受过教育和知情的，他们大多数是有工作的家庭以外的一些点，在他们的生活，即使他们已经跟随 complementarian marriage model, they’ve had more freedom and decision-making power than women before them.婚姻模式，他们已经有更多的自由和决策权的比女性面前。

And they are rising up with a prophetic voice.他们是上升了一个先知的声音。 They are emerging from their child-bearing and child-rearing years with spiritual wisdom and energy and integrity.他们正在从他们的生育和养育子女年与精神文明的智慧和能量和完整性。 And they are a tremendous resource for the upcoming generation seeking to be faithful in following Jesus in the midst of Empire.他们是一个巨大的资源，为即将举行的一代寻求忠实在以下耶稣在处于帝国。 Younger people would be wise to listen to them and enlist them in implementing their missional and communal vision for the church.年轻的人将是明智的，以听取他们的，并争取他们在执行其missional和社区的远景教会。

Editor’s Note: The original location of the image above would be a good place to start exploring the voice of women in the emerging church movement – 编者按：原来的位置的形象，以上将是一个很好的地方，开始探索的声音，妇女在新兴教会的运动 - www.emergingwomen.blogspot.com

Liturgical persistence and Ecclesial resistance礼仪坚持和教会的阻力

If Stanley Hauerwas calls himself a如果赤柱hauerwas自称 ‘high-church Mennonite’, '高教会的基督教门诺会' ， then I would like to become the official Jesus Manifesto ‘high-church’ advocate. My thesis is simple: there cannot be any sustained ecclesial resistance without a corresponding liturgical persistence. Over the weeks I plan to unpack this under various themes as a way to get my own thoughts clear on the topic, and to learn from you all.然后我想成为正式耶稣宣言 '高教会'主张， 我的论文很简单： 不能有任何持续教会的阻力没有相应的礼仪毅力。超过几个星期我计划在解压这下，各种主题的一种方式让我自己的想法明确的关于这个专题，并了解你的一切。

By liturgical persistence I mean both a real commitment to practicing a liturgical form of communal worship and a relatively deep understand of what is going on and why (passing the peace, exchanging greetings, the Eucharistic Prayer, benediction, etc.).由礼仪坚持我的意思是双方真实的承诺，实行礼仪形式的公用崇拜和一个比较深刻的了解是怎么回事，为什么（通过和平，交流的问候，圣体圣事的祈祷， benediction ，等等） 。 I’m not really going to define ecclesial resistance because Jesus Manifesto is all about this.我不是真的要界定教会的阻力，因为耶稣的宣言是所有关于这一点。

Now I could marshal all the missional, emerging, neo-monastic reasons against emphasizing so strongly the gathered moment of corporate worship, but I thought I would let you all raise those objections in your own words, or the words of those you interact with.现在我可以元帅所有missional ，新兴，新寺院的原因，对如此强烈地强调所收集的时刻，企业崇拜，但我以为我将让你提高所有这些反对在自己的话，或者的话，那些与你互动。

So what say you: Does ecclesial resistance require a deep liturgical persistence? 那么说你：是否教会的阻力需要一个深礼仪持续？

The More Perfect State更完美的状态

One thing about this post that might throw off long time readers of JM : This will not be about “the Man,” that overbearing nation-state. 一件事，关于这个职位可能摆脱长期的时间，读者的雅可比矩阵 ：这不会是“该名男子” ，咄咄逼人的民族国家。 (At least not directly). （至少没有直接关系） 。

One thing about this post that will not catch anyone off-guard who has ever read my stuff : There will be at least one quote from a church history document that hardly anyone else finds interesting. 一件事，关于这个职位将不会赶上任何场外卫队谁已看过我的东西 ：将有至少1引述一所教堂的历史文件，几乎任何人都认定，有趣。

Seeing as how it is election season (anyone who says it is an “election year” apparently missed out on life since 2004), it is little surprise that posts on Jesus Manifesto about voting are gaining in link power.看到作为它是如何选举季节（谁的人说，这是一个“选举年”显然遗漏了对生命自2004年以来） ，这是很少令人感到惊讶的职位对耶稣的宣言，关于投票的抬头，在链路功率。 Two of the most popular are Mark Van Steenwyk’s两个最受欢迎的是马克范steenwyk的 1o Reasons Why I’m Not Voting 1o的原因，我不投票 and Casey Ochs’和凯西ochs ' 10 Reasons To Vote 10个理由投票 (a gentle rebuttal to Mark). （一温柔的反驳马克） 。

For Mark, voting only gives us the chance to choose between the “lesser of two evils,” something he’s not satisfied with.为马克，投票只给了我们机会之间作出选择“较小的两个邪恶的， ”他的不满意。 The system is just set up this way, there is no way around it.该系统是刚刚成立，这样，是没有出路的周围。 Furthermore, any choice for President is to effectively place someone in a position where non-Christian decisions have to be made (going to war being the main one).此外，任何选择，总统是有效的地方，有人在一个不错的地方，非基督教作出决定（要被战争的主要一） 。 How in good conscience can a Christian make such a choice?如何在良好的良心，可以是一个基督教作出这样的选择呢？ Much of Casey’s rebuttal falls along the lines of “the system isn’t perfect but it is the best we’ve got.” We should be faithful to Christ before we are faithful to the Constitution, but where the two do not directly butt heads, we owe it to our ancestors and immigrants to vote (This is a simplification. His article is much more nuanced and well presented than this).许多凯西的反驳瀑布沿线“制度并非十全十美，但它是我们最好的了： ”我们应忠实于基督之前，我们是忠于宪法，但如果这两个不直接对接元首，我们有责任向我们的祖先和移民的投票（这是一个简化。他在文章中更为细致入微的和，以及介绍了比这个） 。 You can vote and still be prophetic in many areas.您可以投票仍预言在许多领域。

This dialogue gets to the heart of what I have been wrestling with in many of my latest posts.这种对话愈的心脏，我一直在摔跤与我的许多最新的职位。 It is Voltaire that is held responsible for the saying “Don’t let the perfect become the enemy of the good.” Pushing towards some perfect state, whether in studies, religion, or even exercise, can indeed become the enemy of the good.这是伏尔泰的是追究责任，为他说： “不要让完美成为敌人好” 。推动对一些完善的国家，无论是在研究，宗教，或什至演习中，的确可以成为敌人的好。 We feel beat down when we don’t reach the pinnacle of perfection–when we choose the “lesser of two evils.” When someone volunteers at a soup kitchen we remind them that they don’t “really live among the poor.” Or when a middle-aged mom of three buys a hybrid SUV in an effort to go “green,” she is bombarded by her even more progressive friends that she still lives in the suburbs and relies on oil every day.我们觉得巡逻时，我们并没有达到顶峰，完善-当我们选择“较小的两个邪恶” ，当有人志愿者在汤厨房，我们提醒他们，他们没有“真正的生活之间的穷人” 。或当一位中年妈妈的三购买一种混合的SUV在努力去“绿色” ，她是炮轰，她更进步的朋友，她仍然生活在郊区和依赖于石油，每天。

But the opposite of Voltaire’s often summoned quip is true as well–the good can become the enemy of the perfect.但相反的伏尔泰的往往传唤quip是真正的作为以及良好的可以成为敌人的完美。 After all, we are fallible human beings; why not just try our best and see where we land?毕竟，我们是会犯错误的人，为何不只是竭尽所能看到的地方，我们的土地？ We are at the same time saint and sinner (Luther’s famous “ simul justus et peccator “), so sin boldly.我们是在同一时间，圣和罪人（路德的著名的“ 模拟是Justus等peccator ” ） ，所以单大胆。 The “good enough for now” can become “good enough”…which gets translated through time into “the way it has to be.” Our familiar rocking chairs become comfortable as “adequate” gets passed off as “reality.” “不够好，现在”可以成为“不够好” … …其中获得通过的时间翻译成“的方式，便要”我们熟悉的摇摆椅成为舒适，作为“充足”获得通过小康“现实” 。

And now for the historical quote that you’ve all been waiting for: 和现在的历史引述您都一直在等待：

For many readers of church history, the Counter-Reformation in the Roman Catholic Church overshot the mark, as many reactionary movements do.对于许多读者的教会历史，反改革的罗马天主教会超越该商标的，因为许多反动的运动。 Ignatius of Loyola, for instance, wrote that if the Church had “defined anything to be black which to our eyes appears to be white, we ought in like manner to pronounce it to be black. ” But Ignatius’ “Spiritual Exercises” had me pondering another passage in light of my struggle to balance the good with the perfect:依纳爵罗耀拉，例如撰文指出，如果教会“的定义什么是黑色，这对我们的眼中，似乎是白纸，我们应该在一样的方式宣告它是黑色 ” ，但伊格内修斯“的精神演习”了我思考另一个通过在根据我的斗争，以平衡良好与完善：

“Let us remark in passing, that we must never engage by vow to take a state that would be an impediment to one more perfect…” ( Spiritual Exercises, part ii ) “让我们这句话在及格，我们绝不能从事由誓言采取一个国家将是一个障碍之一，更完善的… … ” （ 精神演习，第二部分 ）

There is no doubt that Ignatius was referring to the vow of celibacy in contrast to the state of matrimony.这是毫无疑问的伊格内修斯是指以发誓单身在对比国家的婚姻关系。 Marriage was “good,” but it was not as “perfect” as the vow of chastity.婚姻是“好” ，但它不是“完美”作为誓言的贞洁。 For Ignatius, the good could certainly become the enemy of a more perfect state.为伊格内修斯，良好的当然可以成为敌人一个更完美的状态。 The question is where to employ this attitude in our daily lives.问题是在哪里聘请的这种态度，在我们的日常生活。

When are we to search after “the more perfect state” rather than settling with an apparently good option? 当我们搜索后， “更完善的国家” ，而不是解决一个显然不错的选择呢？

Where are the areas where the “good” is never “good enough” and all lesser options should be shot down? 哪里的地方， “好”是从来没有“足够好”及所有较轻的选项应击落？

General Editor’s Note: Mike didn’t choose the image for this post. 一般编者按：迈克没有选择的形象，为这个职位。 I (Mark) chose it for the 3% of those readers nerdy enough to get the joke. 我（马克） ，选择它为3 ％ ，这些读者nerdy足以让笑话。 End note. 年底注意。

If Pakistan Matters如果巴基斯坦事项

Perhaps it would seem strange that on a site like Jesus Manifesto, I would argue for state education as one of the keys for undermining the state.也许会奇怪，似乎在某个网站上象耶稣宣言，我会据理力争，为国家教育的关键之一，破坏国家。 But so often I hear the talk of revolution, talk of changing the world, talk of globalization, and talk of a new kind of Jesus centered kingdom permeating the world, but my first question is, “How?” How can such a movement begin?但我常常听到谈革命，谈改变世界，谈全球化，谈了一个新的种耶稣为本，英国渗透到世界各地，但我的第一个问题是， “如何？ ”如何能这样的运动开始？ How can we be catalysts for change in the midst of world-wide chaos in places like Iraq?我们如何能催化剂的变化，正处于全球性的混乱的地方，像伊拉克？ I just finished reading an article on pandemonium in Pakistan, and I had a thought:我只是完成了阅读一篇文章，对混乱在巴基斯坦，和我有一个思想：

I really wish I spoke Urdu. 我真的希望我说乌尔都语。

Living in California, I wish that I could speak the language that almost half of my fellow citizens speak.住在加州，我想我能说的语言，几乎一半的我的同胞们发言。 When my roommates and I talk about subverting the culture that immigrants are forced to endure in California, I have another thought:当我的室友和我谈谈颠覆文化，移民，被迫忍受在加利福尼亚州，我有另一种思考：

I really wish I spoke Spanish. 我真的希望我说西班牙语。

It is thoughts like these that make me wish I would have tried harder in my Spanish classes.这是思想一样，这些使我想我会尝试努力，在我的西班牙文班。 It is thoughts like these that make me wish I would have taken Arabic in my time here at这是思想一样，这些使我想我会已采取阿拉伯语在我的时间在这里 Azusa Pacific University.梓太平洋大学。 It is thoughts like these that make me think that those four years of high school are the most pivotal if we want to really bring about radical change for Jesus Christ.这是思想一样，这些使我觉得那些四年高中是最关键的，如果我们要真正实现彻底的改变，为耶稣基督。 I read a lot of Christian blogs, but few of them deal with a Christian approach to economics.我读了很多基督教博客，但很少对他们处理一个基督教的办法经济学。 Granted, the word “economics” brings up a negative feeling among most evangelical Christians because we are told to be against the culture of consumerism and hedonism that the American Empire represents, but don’t we all have some system of economics?批准，改为“经济学”带来了一个负面的感觉，其中最福音派基督徒，因为有人告诉我们要对文化消费主义和享乐主义说，美国帝国的代表，但不要，我们都有些制度经济学？ We might admit that as Christians we have a subversive type of economic system, but it is still an economic system.我们可能会承认，作为基督徒我们有一个颠覆类型的经济体系，但它仍是一个经济体系。 And then I hear another thought:然后我听到另一种思路：

I wish I had studied harder in my economics and government classes. 我想我曾研究更难在我的经济学和政府的班级。

If we are really about change—if we really think Pakistan matters—we will learn the language of the Pakistani people, we will study their culture, and we will actually put our feet on the ground in grass roots organizations of social change for the betterment of Jesus Christ and his radically different kingdom.如果我们真的改变-如果我们真的认为巴基斯坦事项-我们将学习语言的巴基斯坦人民，我们会研究他们的文化，我们会实际上把我们的脚在地面上，在基层组织的社会变革，为改善耶稣基督和他根本不同的英国。 We can build an alternative society there that gives people other options besides running to the state for change.我们可以建立一个替代性的社会在那里，给人的其他选项，除了运行，给国家作出改变。 It is often assumed that revolutionaries do not have to work as hard as the “hard working American capitalist,” but this is simply not the case.它往往是假定革命家，没有工作，努力为“辛勤工作的美国资本主义， ”不过，这只不过是情况并非如此。 The revolutionary might have to learn new languages, might have to deconstruct whole economic systems and start out anew with new small-scale economies that justly and fairly treat the least of these.革命可能要学习新语言，可能要解构整个经济系统，并开始了重新与新的小规模的经济体系，公正，公平对待，至少这些。 The revolutionary might have to take far less pay than what they are entitled to for the amount of hours that they put in.革命有可能采取少得多的薪酬比他们都有权为数额时，他们提出英寸

I am reminded in part of one of the lesser known parables of Jesus:我想起在的一部分，其中的知名度较低的比喻耶稣的：

“Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. “大批人行与耶稣，把他们他说： ”如果任何人来我不恨他的父亲和母亲，妻子和孩子，他的兄弟姐妹们-是的，甚至连他自己的生命，他不能我的门徒。 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.和谁不进行他的十字架跟从我不能作我的门徒。 Suppose one of you wants to build a tower.假设之一，你要建立一个塔。 Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?他将不先坐下来，估计成本，看他是否有足够的财力完成这项工作呢？ For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king.如果他奠定了基础，是无法完成它，大家谁可以看到它会嘲笑他，说，这个人就开始建立和未能完成] 。或假设一景是关于去战争对另一国国王。 Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?他将不先坐下来，并考虑是否他能与万官兵反对一来对他与20000呢？ If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.如果他是不能，他将派遣一个代表团，而其他的道路还很漫长小康，并会要求条款的和平。 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.在同样的方式，任何你谁不放弃了一切，他不能作我的门徒。 Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?盐是好的，但如果它失去其saltiness ，又怎能作出咸呢？ It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.这是适合既不为土壤，也为肥桩;这是抛出。 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”(Luke 14:25-34)他谁的耳朵已经听到，让他听到。 “ （路加福音14:25-34 ）

In other words, Jesus said there are a lot of people who are willing to build houses, but few are willing to do the hard work to finish it.在其他换言之，耶稣说：有很多人谁愿意盖房子，但很少愿意这样做艰苦的工作完成。 Are we going to be revolutionaries one minute and in the next minute give up because it is too hard?我们要革命家的一分钟，而在未来分钟放弃，因为这是太辛苦？ If that is the case, Jesus says it is better not even to start.如果情况是这样，耶稣说，这是更好地甚至不能启动。

Author Bio:: Danny is a senior at Azusa Pacific University. 作者生物： ：丹尼是一名资深在梓太平洋大学。 He likes to think of revolutionary ways to serve Jesus that are beyond the usual Christian cliches.他喜欢认为，革命的方法，服务耶稣是超乎寻常的基督教陈腔滥调。 He hopes to become a professional boxer or perhaps even a world entertainment wrestler.他希望成为一个专业的拳击手或什至一个世界娱乐摔跤选手。 If those two do not work out, he will probably become a high school history teacher when he graduates this year.如果这两个不工作，他可能会成为一个高中的历史老师，当他在今年的毕业生。 He keeps a blog at他保存的博客 www.coldfire.wordpress.com

Repentance and Subversion悔改和颠覆罪

Yesterday I had a conversation with some friends.昨天我有一个谈话与一些朋友。 In the middle of our time together one member courageously brought forward a question about our time together.在中东我们时代的一位成员一起，勇敢地提出了一个问题，关于我们的时间在一起。 She reminded us of how she had opened a topic for all of us and had been met with silence.她提醒我们，她是如何开的一个话题对我们所有人来说，并已会见了沉默。 We all remembered being moved by her openness with us and we all remembered our own failure to enter with her into a place of pain and transformation.大家都记得，被她所提出的开放与我们大家都记住，我们自己的失败，进入与她到一个地方的痛苦和转型。 Without telling her story here, I can say, that she struggled with a pattern of being responded to with deafening silence in her life.没有告诉她的故事在这里，我可以说，她挣扎的格局正在作出回应，与震耳欲聋的沉默，在她的生命。 It took a lot of courage, passion, and humility for her to stop being silenced and come back to us and ask us to face how we had shared in that pattern of suppressing her voice.它采取了很多的勇气，热情和谦恭地为她停止沉默，并回来给我们，并要求我们要面对如何，我们共同在这方面的模式，打压她的声音。

In this encounter, each of us was called to account for our failure to love well and to repent for our complicity with cycles of sin at work in our community and the life of a friend.在这方面遇到的，我们每个人被称为帐户为我们失败的爱，以及和思悔改，为我们的共谋与周期的单仲偕在工作在我们的社会和生活的朋友。 In a real way each of us were invited into a holy moment where our own sin was met with bold grace that led to reconciliation.在真实的方式，我们每个人被邀请到一个神圣的时刻，如果我们自己的单会见了大胆的宽限期，导致和解。 We found that our friend’s risky act of repentance called the rest of us to repentance as well.我们发现我们的朋友的冒险行为，有悔罪所谓我们其余的悔改，以及。

Repentance is self multiplying.悔改是不言而喻的成倍增加。 hmmm…. hmmm … 。 sounds like something Jesus said about his kingdom…” a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough…. ” hmmm…听起来像一些耶稣说他的英国… … “ 小酵母工程通过整批的面团… … ” hmmm …

So that leads me to the examples of subversively facing injustice that Jesus presents in the Sermon on the Mount as told by the author of Matthew.因此，这使我要的例子subversively面临的不公正的耶稣介绍，在山上宝训，作为告诉的作者马修。 Yes, there are the regulars, turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, give your cloak as well… these get preached on a lot, and I think are huge, but there are so many others in the sermon as well.是的，有是常客，把其他的脸颊，去额外英里，让您的外衣，以及…这些鼓吹就得到了很多，而且我觉得是巨大的，但有这么多的其他人在讲道中，以及。

Consider Chapter 5 verse 42 “ Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. ” Essentially, it presents a proactive generosity in the face of need around you.考虑第5章诗42 “ 给一个谁问你，不回避，由一个谁想借用你 ”本质上，它提出了一种积极的慷慨，在面对需要你身边。

Or how about 6:3 “ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing ” Perhaps we can see the subversion of giving in secrecy in a society that lists the highest charitable donations in magazines, and allows contributions to be deducted from our taxes–so that it’s almost like it doesn’t cost us at all to help others.或如何约6时03分， “ 但是当你给有需要的，不要让您的左手知道你的右手在做 ”或许我们可以看到，颠覆给予保密，在一个社会中列出的最高慈善捐款在杂志，并允许的贡献，扣除从我们的税收，因此，它的几乎一样，它并不昂贵，我们在所有来帮助别人。

As I continue to read the rest of the sermon, I am struck that many of the practices Jesus lays out as normative for His kingdom, if implemented in our culture, would be a radical subversion; a dynamic turning from the systems of sin and injustice that govern our daily lives.正如我继续阅读其余的讲道中，我深刻的，很多的做法，耶稣了规范，为他的王国，如果实施在我们的文化，将是一个激进的颠覆;一个动态的转折，从系统的单仲偕和不公正的管我们的日常生活。 So then, to turn from the systems of sin in the world and start walking in the ways of Jesus would constitute repentance on a scale dramatically more vibrant and meaningful than a tearful moment at the end of a church service.那么，把从系统的单仲偕在世界上，并开始步行的方式在耶稣会构成悔改，对规模急剧更有活力的和有意义的比泪水时刻，在去年底一所教堂的服务。

If I understand repentance like this: actually participating in the ethics of Jesus’ kingdom, then it means my spirituality is tied up in my daily patterns of economics, relationships, consumption, and time allocation.如果我的理解是有悔罪是这样的：其实，参与道德耶稣的英国，那么这意味着我的灵性就是绑我在日常模式的经济，人际关系，消费和分配时间。

So… tying these two streams of thought together…所以…绑这两个溪流的思路一起…

Real repentance seems to be:真正的悔过似乎是：

a) born out of other acts of repentance that hold up the mirror of Christ to our lives. 1 ）所生的其他行为的悔罪表示，举行了一面镜子，基督我们的生活。

b) following the subversive patterns of Christ that cause us to boldly face our own participation in the patterns of our world that let sin reign over our lives and the lives of others. b ）在以下颠覆模式基督使我们大胆地面对我们自己的参与的模式，我们的世界，让单统治我们的生命和他人生命。

In suggesting these two points, I want to be careful to emphasize the role of the Holy Spirit in leading us in these paths.在提出这两点，我要小心，要强调的作用，圣灵在带领我们在这些路径。 Coming from a Pentecostal tradition I want to be mindful to those Christians who voice a concern for unbalance on the side of works ahead of faith.来自五旬节的传统，我要铭记那些基督徒谁的声音，关注的不平衡对一侧的工程未来的信念。 I firmly believe that it is out of the work of Christ in our life that we are able to follow the guiding of the Holy Spirit that leads us into the life of the Kingdom that Jesus proclaimed here among us.我坚信，这是出于工作的基督在我们的生活，我们可以遵循的指导圣灵带领我们进入了生活的英国，耶稣在这里宣布我们中间。 Born out of our relationship with God we are guided by the Holy Spirit into rhythms of life that produce the kind of subversive/repentant actions.诞生于我们与天主的关系，我们所依据的圣灵进入节奏的生活产生什么样的颠覆/忏悔的行动。

Peace.和平。

Revolution is in the Details革命是在细节中

As a member of the University Chorale at Indiana Wesleyan University, I had the opportunity to be led by one of the most passionate men I have ever met, Dr. Todd Guy.作为一个成员，该大学合唱团在印第安纳的卫斯理大学，我有机会率领的一个最激情的男人是我所会见，博士托德家伙。 Not only was Dr. Guy at the top of his game and could turn any run of the mill portion of music into a chorale masterpiece, but he saw such a gift as his unique act of worship—God had blessed him with an amazing ability to shape notes and conduct groups beyond the skill set of most average human beings, and the least he could do was offer it up back to his Creator.不仅是博士家伙在最上方，他的游戏，可以把任何运行的轧机部分的音乐成为一个合唱团的杰作，但他看到这样的礼物，作为他的独特的行为崇拜-上帝的祝福，他与一个了不起的能力形状注意到，并进行团体以外的技能一套最平均的人，和最不发达国家，他可以做的是提供了回到他的创作者。 Anyone willing to be under his direction would have to play their part in offering such a sweet aroma back to God.任何人都愿意成为他的方向下，便要发挥他们的一部分，在提供这种甜蜜的香气回神。 Perhaps it was this type of vision that led him to push us so hard.也许是这种类型的理想，促使他把我们这么辛苦。 Dr. Guy had two quotes that I can still hear in my sleep: “Good is not good enough where excellence is expected” and “Excellence is in the details.” (Google tells me that Perry Paxton and George Allen lay claim to the second quote—which is an unnecessary detail—but in light of the topic, it must be included to allow this piece to reach “excellent” status).博士家伙有两个报价，我仍然能听到我的睡眠： “好是不够好，那里是卓越的预期”和“追求卓越，是在有关的细节。 ” （ Google的告诉我，佩里Paxton称和乔治艾伦声称第二quote—which is an unnecessary detail—but in light of the topic, it must be included to allow this piece to reach “excellent” status). Needless to say, we drilled over pieces of music like we were gearing up to storm Normandy.

Dr. Guy understood that the small things, the details, can determine the outcome. It wasn’t enough just to get a feel for A Mighty Fortress Is Our God , one had to pour over it, search it to its depths, and find the latest trouble spot to iron out. It was necessary to go over the entire composition with a fine toothed comb before a song could be rightly considered “ready for performance.” But when this level was reached, and our performance rang through the streets of England as it did that Spring, revolution took place. It was necessary to go over the entire composition with a fine toothed comb before a song could be rightly considered “ready for performance.” But when this level was reached, and our performance rang through the streets of England as it did that Spring, revolution took place. People would stop what they were doing and gather around the choir to hear more. Perhaps they had heard the song before, but not in this style, not with this level of intensity behind it. They had read Psalm 23 since childhood, but never had it impacted them with such force until they heard it sung that day. We would sweat every detail, so when that time arrived, revolution would take place in the ears of the hearers.

Much of what is said on Jesus Manifesto or other “radical” sites can come off nit-picky. Just when we’ve inspired a group of people to start taking the Sermon on the Mount more seriously, we push them off a cliff into the details of how economic sustainability, American consumerism, and climate change can all contribute to the plight of the poor. Just when we’ve inspired a group of people to start taking the Sermon on the Mount more seriously, we push them off a cliff into the details of how economic sustainability, American consumerism, and climate change can all contribute to the plight of the poor 。 It can all seem a bit daunting. But I’m convinced that the details are what determine our success. The holistic good news as identified by Jesus will never come to fruition if we don’t take a similar fine toothed comb to our lives and communities. If it will help, we can use the language of “spiritual formation” or “discipleship” when combing through such areas. It may help it go down a little smoother (at least, this has been my experience working in the mainstream church).

Consumer culture knows how important details are—they pay millions a year just to map out all the details just to know what to sell you next. And little by little, the details get subverted by the consuming impulse rather than by the Church. It’sa whole lot easier to sell something when you can convince everyone they wanted it to begin with. A conversation with my wife revealed a perfect test case. The four year old she cares for had a party at his Catholic school. Every child was to bring a treat to share with the rest of the class; think of it as a potluck for little ones. The school only had one rule: The food had to be store bought, not made . Now it may seem like a small detail to pick out, and I’m sure the Catholic preschool had its reasons, but let’s analyze this:

• Rather than cultivate a spirit of imagination, the children selected prepackaged products.
• Rather than experience quality family time in the kitchen, most children were dragged to the grocery store in a last second mad-dash before school.
• Rather than celebrate the uniqueness of humanity and our gifts, the pot luck turned into a “who can buy the most original thing from the same mass producer” competition.