more than a book, a lifestyle

Resolved, never to fall to the false glory of the American dream, but rather to embrace the life of a disciple who is called to risk everything for the glory of the Father and my own inheritance in heaven.

on the cusp of my graduation, today i received a book that reaffirmed the fact that i will not live for the same values as my parents' generation.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad. what the rich dad tell their kids about money - that the poor and middle class do not.

this on the inside cover: "hope this book guides you to a head start on a lifetime of financial security and success."
i will probably never make as much money as my Father. i am fine with that.

the boomer generation shaped the world into the capitalist, global culture it is today. i could talk about the boomer's obsessions and frailities, but i'll move on to how their choices in the areas of health and wealth and the American dream affect our generation.

in the new era of mega-markets and corprate conglomerations, the church (on the whole) has been confused and tainted by the corprate model of success. however, the stage has been set for amazing global opportunities. the desire for a grass-roots, underground movement has been set and is already moving. those of gen-y and later have tasted the American dream and chosen to foreit it in favor of community and realism. so much is status and subrbinization, but people still long for what is real. relationships are real, pain is real, the necessity for satisfaction is real.

the chuch (body of believers throughout the world) can meet these needs because we're getting these needs met outside of the American dream. we find them in Christ alone. we just need a new, organic (see oakpollination.blogs.com) model to reach the world. that model begins with individuals. it begins with small groups. it begins in your neighborhood. it begins to grow and change and shape others to the image of Christ. but it depends on us. are we reflecting that image everywhere? do we embody the Christ-centeredness necessary for God to do amazing things within us?

i'm rambling. more to come...