Wow

A=excellent B=good C=satisfactory D=unsatisfactory

Teaching expertise of : Josh A 74% B 24% C 0% D 0%

This just came across in my e-mail. It is my rating from the audience at our leadership retreat last month where I talked on our new improvement approaches in our Lean management system. I'm pretty happy with the ratings... they were the highest of my group. (which is nuts because I thought the team did a better job than me)

Pretty good considering I was literally freaking out the night before.

The most unlikely of groups...

I just attended one of the best small groups of my life. And I know a thing or two about small groups.

Thank you Dan, Debbie, Bill, Charlotte, Jason, Zach, Tony, Sharita, and Eddie. You all have lives different from mine in so many ways. You are much older and younger than me. You've put my struggles in perspective. You accepted me more quickly than any other group I've ever been a part of. You just wanted to hear about me and tell me a piece of your story.

It's amazing that following the way of Christ brought all of our stories into unison for just one rainy night at The River. I look forward to fellowshiping with you all again... being taught and encouraged by each of you.

Deep in Enemy Territory

Saturday morning was spent in Ann Arbor for a Prospective Student Day at the University of Michigan's School of Public Health. I'm interested in their Master's of Health Services Administration (MHSA) program. My friend Bo has that degree, is actively involved in the department, and recommends it. It has also been ranked #1 by US News since 1993. (as they did not fail to mention!)

The building was beautiful... (and I must admit I've not given UM enough credit for their campus)

School of Public Health

Nearby dorms

It was a decent experience but probably not worth the 1 1/2 hour drive. They ran out of lunches before I could eat and they never gave us a tour of the building. They also did not speak very much on the operations of healthcare systems. One of the current students shared this as a frustration of the program. The school seems to focus on the policy side of health. I'm looking to stand alone in operations. Still, it was an impressive place and the alumni network is probably the best in the nation.

I'll keep looking but could find myself here soon.

David Crowder Band in Kalamazoo

I went to see the David Crowder Band and Third Day at Wings Stadium with Rachel and her parents. We also met up with Jason and one of his buddies from out-of-town. It was enjoyable but the number of songs Crowder played was depressingly low. He played Here is Our King, Your are my Joy, Wholly Yours, I Saw the Light, Sing like the Saved, and O Praise Him. The crowd was primarily there to see Third Day and so the energy was low. I seriously need to catch Crowder at a good venue with some Crowder fanatics...

All in all though... a good Thursday night with friends.

A dearth of depth

I think I've gone this whole week without having a single deep thought. And this disappoints me because I then have nothing to blog about.

Our Tuesday Cru small group was better because we had one freshman show up. Solid guy too. We read John 4, the woman at the well. We figured out that Jesus met this Samaritan woman where she was at, breaking all stereotypes and custom. He pointed out her living situation to her but did not condemn her for it. He communicated the message of salvation to her in a way she could understand. He rose above the worship debate (temple or mountain?) by showing that that the real way to worship was in spirit and in truth. (place does not matter/all about the heart)

This led us to some conclusions...

• We need to cross into the Samarias of our time. For instance, if I knew my friend had 5 previous serious relationships and was now living with a boyfriend, would I even dare to start a spiritual conversation with her?
  
• Most everyone knows sin is sin. We cannot convict them of it. All we can do is offer a better way.
  
• In many debates, the correct answer is usually "above the line". For example, should you tithe 10%? The real point is that you give your all to the Lord. The percentage is not of importance. The same can be said for so many issues that divide us... women in leadership, homosexuality, spiritual gifts, abortion, social issues, even music... So often we pick a point on the line and will die to defend it. But we never look up.

The best part of this study is that when I made it, I had very few conclusions prepared.

Random side note: There are at least three people right now that I would love to talk to but if I called them, they would not pick up the phone or call me back. This saddens me...

The Gathering Storm...

I feel like I've seen this all play out before. Think 2002. I remember watching the message boards in Bobby William's last year and how crazy rumors suddenly became fact. I remember the team giving up and losing big... to Wisconsin, to Michigan, to Penn State. I have hope that John L. will turn the tide somehow but it seems like another lost season. Next Saturday is very very frightening.

Smith has no answers after Spartans fall hard again - Detroit News 9/30/06
A new low - LSJ 10/1/06

(Although, after spending the weekend in East Lansing, I know that the great Michigan State University is bigger than football. And things look extremely positive. Campus is getting more and more beautiful every year. The students seemed especially friendly. East Lansing is a great town and is developing wisely. Lou Anna K. Simon is doing a great job.)