Hey there world; so BRC tagged me on his moderator blog to partake in his most recent blog-game– PresbyMEME 5. Here’s the deal, straight from Bruce’s blog:

Meme: a list of questions that is passed along from blogger to blogger in order to learn things about people, increase traffic and be annoying to those who never do memes 😉 Think chain letter for blogs, but without any horrible ramifications if you stop it.

Some of us NEVER do them, some will only do them if an actual friend tags us, others never met a meme they didn’t like. I am pretty much in the middle on this one. I’ll do it if it is interesting and/or a friend invites me to do it.

So . . . I thought, what about a Presbyterian Church (USA) specific Meme that would not only draw us into some conversations but also help us learn a little about one another.

The rules are pretty basic

• in about 25 words each, answer the following five questions;
• tag five presbyterian bloggers and send them a note to let them know they were tagged;
• be sure to link or send a trackback to this post;

presbyMEME 5

1. What is your earliest memory of being distinctly Presbyterian?
2. On what issue/question should the PC(USA) spend LESS energy and time?
3. On what issue/question should the PC(USA) spend MORE energy and time?
4. If you could have the PC(USA) focus on one passage of scripture for a entire year, what would it be?
5. If the PC(USA) were an animal what would it be and why?

Extra Credit: Jesus shows up at General Assembly this year, what does he say to the Presbyterian Church (USA)?

Question 1: What is your earliest memory of being distinctly Presbyterian?

PYT (Presbyterian Youth Triennium). For the first time I felt what it was like to be surrounded by EXCITED Presbyterians. It was both insane and intoxicating.

Question 2: On what issue/question should the PC(USA) spend LESS energy and time?

Tormenting Seminarians 🙂 … J/K. I think it would be nice though to spend less time fighting and “reorganizing” our infrastructure because we are freaking out over money.

Question 3: On what issue/question should the PC(USA) spend MORE energy and time?

Taking a cue from Jesus and TAKING RISKS, encouraging people to engage our reformation heritage and be creative, to seek God both in and outside the church, to listen for the Holy Spirit in unlikely places.

Question 4: If you could have the PC(USA) focus on one passage of scripture for a entire year, what would it be?

Good question Bruce! I think, honestly, that I would choose Matthew 6:25-34:

Therefore, I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing? See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they?
“Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan? Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin, yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith?
“Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.

Question 5: If the PC(USA) were an animal what would it be and why?

A Platypus. Sometimes we feel like we are trying to be too much for everybody and end up feeling awkward. But then again, the platypus is remarkably resilient, and has super-venom skills to protect itself… so maybe its not such a bad thing?

Extra Credit: Jesus shows up at General Assembly this year, what does he say to the Presbyterian Church (USA)?

If Jesus showed up at GA, I think he might steal the microphone, tell us to get off our butts and go outside and be something to somebody instead of talking and fighting about it. Jesus would remind us that the point of the church is to serve the world and glorify God, and that this is the only way. He might also make a joke about Calvin.

TAGGED: Drew Tatusko, Neal Locke, Pastor David, Ben Daniel, Landon Whitsitt, Ryan Pappan