Health Care in the USA

Since I am over 50, it is time for a colonoscopy. So, a couple of days ago I called my health insurance company to determine how much this wonderful experience is going to cost me. Well, I will be paying about $1,000 out of my own pocket! Fortunately, I have a good job that pays fairly well, and I will be able to afford it. However, this year my wife will need one as a well (there goes another $1,000) and she will also need a mammogram (that should cost some $ too). So, 2 colonoscopies and a mammogram = one holiday (or for Americans, one vacation). We will be married 25 years this year, so I guess we will be celebrating by having something shoved our bum to take pictures of our colon. Maybe we could do this together and hold hands -- how is that for romance.

Now, here is my issue.

I currently pay $3,510.00 a year for health insurance. My employer pays an additional$7,800.00 a year. For this, I still pay a doctor $25 everytime I visit ($40 for a specialist), $45-$60 per perscription, $250 for an emergency visit in a hospital and I have a $2,000 per person deductible. Last year, about 15% of my income went to pay for healthcare. This year it will be about 20%.

In the USA we pay a higher percentage of our income on healthcare than any other western nation -- and we still have tens of millions of people who have no insurance worth speaking about. If I save my money, I can afford the colonoscopy. But I know lots of responsible, hard-working people who could not.

We live in what is perhaps the richest country in the world, but we don't take care of our own people -- why? Primarily because we are ruled by greed, consumerism, and multi-national corporations that have only one value -- the bottom line. The healthcare business -- and the legal profession which is also responsible for the absurd cost of healthcare in the USA -- both need to be confronted and changed -- but as long as there are politicians in the USA (both Republicans and Democrats) who are more concerned about getting re-elected and enjoying their perks, nothing will happen.

This country needs a single-payer healthcare system that combines the best of the private and public world. We can learn from other countries who spend less per capita than we do on healthcare, yet have a lower infant mortality rates, longer life-expectancies, and who provide basic healthcare to all those who live in their borders.

Will a single-payer system be perfect? No. But the cost of prescription drugs will drop by 25-50% or more ( don't buy the lies of the pharmaceutical industry -- they actually spend more on lobbying and advertising every year than on research), the number of unnecessary tests will drop dramatically (if we include legal reform), administrative costs will decline by $75 billion annually, there would be less conflict of interest (doctors couldn't own laboraties, etc.), health insurance premiums would drop dramatically, since much of the profit motive in healthcare decisions would be eliminated, and everyone would have coverage -- and the working poor wouldn't have to decide whether or not they should eat, or buy their medication -- and best of all, I wouldn't have to celebrate my wedding anniversary holding hands with my wife as we both get colonoscopies.

But, I suspect as long as politicians, lawyers, health insurance companies, etc. can continue to brain-wash the American public simply by saying the word "socialism", the healthcare in this country will become increasingly more like that in the developing world -- where a few rich people can afford decent care, and the masses die unnecessarily. It is not there yet, but talk to me in 10 years or so.

Islamic Cartoons and Evangelical Christians

I had lunch today with a friend from Indonesia. He is a former Muslim who became a Christian a number of years ago. We talked about a lot of things, including the now famous cartoons that have sparked riots in a number of places around the world.

As we talked, I began to wonder what the reaction of evangelical Christians should be to these cartoons. I have heard Christians reacting in a number of ways. The question that came to my mind was the following:

If Christians believe that every person has instrinsic value, and that we should respect each other's opinions and beliefs (even if we disagree with them) then should we as evangelicals not in some way stand with Muslims who feel dishonored by these cartoons?

Perhaps evangelicals should publically express the fact that making fun of another individual's deeply held religious beliefs is simply inappropriate and wrong. We should condemn the violence, but just maybe, we should communicate how wrong it is to dishonor or shame those who follow Islamic teachings. People should always be treated with respect, even if we disagree with them.

A Sad Day for Canada

Today Canada's Olympic hockey team lost 2-0 to the Russians. It is a sad day for me and for Canada. It is hard to believe that we will get NO medals. I am depressed.

Wayne Gretzky

I REALLY, REALLY hope that Wayne is not involved in the whole illegal gambling scheme -- though it is hard to believe that with his wife betting $500,000 in just a few weeks, he wasn't aware of it. I watched Wayne while he was playing for the Edmonton Oilers -- when he was scoring 90 goals a year. The greatest offensive player hockey has ever seen (though I still think Gordie Howe was the greatest player of all time). When he came to Phoenix to help run the Coyotes I was thrilled. Someone who was a gentleman, had integrity, an all-around good-guy and had hockey smarts running the team. There was hope that in a few years Phoenix could be a Stanley Cup contender. Now, I don't know. I feel very sad. I hope that he truly is not involved. I hope he does not ruin his own reputation, that of the NHL, and that of Canada in the Olympics coming up.

Bono's Speech at the National Prayer Breakfast on February 2, 2006

This speech made me proud to be able to call Bono a brother -- a fellow follower of Jesus. It wouldn't be hard for me to believe that Bono is a prophet. If only the Church -- especially the evangelical church would have the courage to make speeches like this at political functions, rather than being seduced by political power and being scared to say anything that actually matters.

Below is the text of the speech. I encourage you to read it.

BONO: Thank you.

Mr. President, First Lady, King Abdullah, Other heads of State, Members of Congress, distinguished guests …

Please join me in praying that I don't say something we'll all regret.

That was for the FCC.

If you're wondering what I'm doing here, at a prayer breakfast, well, so am I. I'm certainly not here as a man of the cloth, unless that cloth is leather. It's certainly not because I'm a rock star. Which leaves one possible explanation: I'm here because I've got a messianic complex.

Yes, it's true. And for anyone who knows me, it's hardly a revelation.

Well, I'm the first to admit that there's something unnatural… something unseemly… about rock stars mounting the pulpit and preaching at presidents, and then disappearing to their villas in the South of France. Talk about a fish out of water. It was weird enough when Jesse Helms showed up at a U2 concert… but this is really weird, isn't it?

You know, one of the things I love about this country is its separation of church and state. Although I have to say: in inviting me here, both church and state have been separated from something else completely: their mind. .

Mr. President, are you sure about this?

It's very humbling and I will try to keep my homily brief. But be warned—I'm Irish.

I'd like to talk about the laws of man, here in this city where those laws are written. And I'd like to talk about higher laws. It would be great to assume that the one serves the other; that the laws of man serve these higher laws… but of course, they don't always. And I presume that, in a sense, is why you're here.

I presume the reason for this gathering is that all of us here—Muslims, Jews, Christians—all are searching our souls for how to better serve our family, our community, our nation, our God.

I know I am. Searching, I mean. And that, I suppose, is what led me here, too.

Yes, it's odd, having a rock star here—but maybe it's odder for me than for you. You see, I avoided religious people most of my life. Maybe it had something to do with having a father who was Protestant and a mother who was Catholic in a country where the line between the two was, quite literally, a battle line. Where the line between church and state was… well, a little blurry, and hard to see.

I remember how my mother would bring us to chapel on Sundays… and my father used to wait outside. One of the things that I picked up from my father and my mother was the sense that religion often gets in the way of God.

For me, at least, it got in the way. Seeing what religious people, in the name of God, did to my native land… and in this country, seeing God's second-hand car salesmen on the cable TV channels, offering indulgences for cash… in fact, all over the world, seeing the self-righteousness roll down like a mighty stream from certain corners of the religious establishment…

I must confess, I changed the channel. I wanted my MTV.

Even though I was a believer.

Perhaps because I was a believer.

I was cynical… not about God, but about God's politics. (There you are, Jim.)

Then, in 1997, a couple of eccentric, septuagenarian British Christians went and ruined my shtick—my reproachfulness. They did it by describing the Millennium, the year 2000, as a Jubilee year, as an opportunity to cancel the chronic debts of the world's poorest people. They had the audacity to renew the Lord's call—and were joined by Pope John Paul II, who, from an Irish half-Catholic's point of view, may have had a more direct line to the Almighty.

'Jubilee'—why 'Jubilee'?

What was this year of Jubilee, this year of our Lords favor?

I'd always read the Scriptures, even the obscure stuff. There it was in Leviticus (25:35)…

'If your brother becomes poor,' the Scriptures say, 'and cannot maintain himself… you shall maintain him… You shall not lend him your money at interest, not give him your food for profit.'

It is such an important idea, Jubilee, that Jesus begins his ministry with this. Jesus is a young man, he's met with the rabbis, impressed everyone, people are talking. The elders say, he's a clever guy, this Jesus, but he hasn't done much… yet. He hasn't spoken in public before…

When he does, is first words are from Isaiah: 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,' he says, 'because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.' And Jesus proclaims the year of the Lord's favour, the year of Jubilee. (Luke 4:18)

What he was really talking about was an era of grace—and we're still in it.

So fast-forward 2,000 years. That same thought, grace, was made incarnate—in a movement of all kinds of people. It wasn't a bless-me club… it wasn't a holy huddle. These religious guys were willing to get out in the streets, get their boots dirty, wave the placards, follow their convictions with actions… making it really hard for people like me to keep their distance. It was amazing. I almost started to like these church people.

But then my cynicism got another helping hand.

It was what Colin Powell, a five-star general, called the greatest W.M.D. of them all: a tiny little virus called A.I.D.S. And the religious community, in large part, missed it. The one's that didn't miss it could only see it as divine retribution for bad behaviour. Even on children… Even fastest growing group of HIV infections were married, faithful women.

Aha, there they go again! I thought to myself Judgmentalism is back!

But in truth, I was wrong again. The church was slow but the church got busy on this the leprosy of our age.

Love was on the move.

Mercy was on the move.

God was on the move.

Moving people of all kinds to work with others they had never met, never would have cared to meet… Conservative church groups hanging out with spokesmen for the gay community, all singing off the same hymn sheet on AIDS… Soccer moms and quarterbacks… hip-hop stars and country stars… This is what happens when God gets on the move: crazy stuff happens!

Popes were seen wearing sunglasses!

Jesse Helms was seen with a ghetto blaster!

Crazy stuff. Evidence of the spirit.

It was breathtaking. Literally. It stopped the world in its tracks.

When churches started demonstrating on debt, governments listened—and acted. When churches starting organising, petitioning, and even—that most unholy of acts today, God forbid, lobbying… on AIDS and global health, governments listened—and acted.

I'm here today in all humility to say: you changed minds; you changed policy; you changed the world.

Look, whatever thoughts you have about God, who He is or if He exists, most will agree that if there is a God, He has a special place for the poor. In fact, the poor are where God lives.

Check Judaism. Check Islam. Check pretty much anyone.

I mean, God may well be with us in our mansions on the hill… I hope so. He may well be with us as in all manner of controversial stuff… maybe, maybe not… But the one thing we can all agree, all faiths and ideologies, is that God is with the vulnerable and poor.

God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house… God is in the silence of a mother who has infected her child with a virus that will end both their lives… God is in the cries heard under the rubble of war… God is in the debris of wasted opportunity and lives, and God is with us if we are with them. "If you remove the yolk from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom with become like midday and the Lord will continually guide you and satisfy your desire in scorched places"

It's not a coincidence that in the Scriptures, poverty is mentioned more than 2,100 times. It's not an accident. That's a lot of air time, 2,100 mentions. [You know, the only time Christ is judgmental is on the subject of the poor.] 'As you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.' (Matthew 25:40). As I say, good news to the poor.

Here's some good news for the President. After 9-11 we were told America would have no time for the World's poor. America would be taken up with its own problems of safety. And it's true these are dangerous times, but America has not drawn the blinds and double-locked the doors.

In fact, you have double aid to Africa. You have tripled funding for global health. Mr. President, your emergency plan for AIDS relief and support for the Global Fund—you and Congress—have put 700,000 people onto life-saving anti-retroviral drugs and provided 8 million bed nets to protect children from malaria.

Outstanding human achievements. Counterintuitive. Historic. Be very, very proud.

But here's the bad news. From charity to justice, the good news is yet to come. There's is much more to do. There's a gigantic chasm between the scale of the emergency and the scale of the response.

And finally, it's not about charity after all, is it? It's about justice.

Let me repeat that: It's not about charity, it's about justice.

And that's too bad.

Because you're good at charity. Americans, like the Irish, are good at it. We like to give, and we give a lot, even those who can't afford it.

But justice is a higher standard. Africa makes a fool of our idea of justice; it makes a farce of our idea of equality. It mocks our pieties, it doubts our concern, it questions our commitment.

6,500 Africans are still dying every day of a preventable, treatable disease, for lack of drugs we can buy at any drugstore. This is not about charity, this is about Justice and Equality.

Because there's no way we can look at what's happening in Africa and, if we're honest, conclude that deep down, we really accept that Africans are equal to us. Anywhere else in the world, we wouldn't accept it. Look at what happened in South East Asia with the Tsunami. 150, 000 lives lost to that misnomer of all misnomers, "mother nature". In Africa, 150,000 lives are lost every month. A tsunami every month. And it's a completely avoidable catastrophe.

It's annoying but justice and equality are mates. Aren't they? Justice always wants to hang out with equality. And equality is a real pain.

You know, think of those Jewish sheep-herders going to meet the Pharaoh, mud on their shoes, and the Pharaoh says, "Equal?" A preposterous idea: rich and poor are equal? And they say, "Yeah, 'equal,' that's what it says here in this book. We're all made in the image of God."

And eventually the Pharaoh says, "OK, I can accept that. I can accept the Jews—but not the blacks."

"Not the women. Not the gays. Not the Irish. No way, man."

So on we go with our journey of equality.

On we go in the pursuit of justice.

We hear that call in the ONE Campaign, a growing movement of more than two million Americans… left and right together… united in the belief that where you live should no longer determine whether you live.

We hear that call even more powerfully today, as we mourn the loss of Coretta Scott King—mother of a movement for equality, one that changed the world but is only just getting started. These issues are as alive as they ever were; they just change shape and cross the seas.

Preventing the poorest of the poor from selling their products while we sing the virtues of the free market… that's a justice issue. Holding children to ransom for the debts of their grandparents… That's a justice issue. Withholding life-saving medicines out of deference to the Office of Patents… that's a justice issue.

And while the law is what we say it is, God is not silent on the subject.

That's why I say there's the law of the land… and then there is a higher standard. There's the law of the land, and we can hire experts to write them so they benefit us, so the laws say it's OK to protect our agriculture but it's not OK for African farmers to do the same, to earn a living?

As the laws of man are written, that's what they say.

God will not accept that.

Mine won't, at least. Will yours?

[pause]

I close this morning on … very… thin… ice.

This is a dangerous idea I've put on the table: my God vs. your God, their God vs. our God… vs. no God. It is very easy, in these times, to see religion as a force for division rather than unity.

And this is a town—Washington—that knows something of division.

But the reason I am here, and the reason I keep coming back to Washington, is because this is a town that is proving it can come together on behalf of what the Scriptures call the least of these.

This is not a Republican idea. It is not a Democratic idea. It is not even, with all due respect, an American idea. Nor it is unique to any one faith.

Do to others as you would have them do to you.' (Luke 6:30) Jesus says that.

'Righteousness is this: that one should… give away wealth out of love for Him to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and the beggars and for the emancipation of the captives.' The Koran says that. (2.177)

Thus sayeth the Lord: 'Bring the homeless poor into the house, when you see the naked, cover him, then your light will break out like the dawn and your recovery will speedily spring fourth, then your Lord will be your rear guard.' The jewish scripture says that. Isaiah 58 again.

That is a powerful incentive: 'The Lord will watch your back.' Sounds like a good deal to me, right now.

A number of years ago, I met a wise man who changed my life. In countless ways, large and small, I was always seeking the Lord's blessing. I was saying, you know, I have a new song, look after it… I have a family, please look after them… I have this crazy idea…

And this wise man said: stop.

He said, stop asking God to bless what you're doing.

Get involved in what God is doing—because it's already blessed.

Well, God, as I said, is with the poor. That, I believe, is what God is doing.

And that is what He's calling us to do.

I was amazed when I first got to this country and I learned how much some churchgoers tithe. Up to ten percent of the family budget. Well, how does that compare the federal budget, the budget for the entire American family? How much of that goes to the poorest people in the world? Less than one percent.

Mr. President, Congress, people of faith, people of America:

I want to suggest to you today that you see the flow of effective foreign assistance as tithing…. Which, to be truly meaningful, will mean an additional one percent of the federal budget tithed to the poor.

What is one percent?

One percent is not merely a number on a balance sheet.

One percent is the girl in Africa who gets to go to school, thanks to you. One percent is the AIDS patient who gets her medicine, thanks to you. One percent is the African entrepreneur who can start a small family business thanks to you. One percent is not redecorating presidential palaces or money flowing down a rat hole. This one percent is digging waterholes to provide clean water.

One percent is a new partnership with Africa, not paternalism towards Africa, where increased assistance flows toward improved governance and initiatives with proven track records and away from boondoggles and white elephants of every description.

America gives less than one percent now. Were asking for an extra one percent to change the world. to transform millions of lives—but not just that and I say this to the military men now – to transform the way that they see us.

One percent is national security, enlightened economic self interest, and a better safer world rolled into one. Sounds to me that in this town of deals and compromises, one percent is the best bargain around.

These goals—clean water for all; school for every child; medicine for the afflicted, an end to extreme and senseless poverty—these are not just any goals; they are the Millennium Development goals, which this country supports. And they are more than that. They are the Beatitudes for a Globalised World.

Now, I'm very lucky. I don't have to sit on any budget committees. And I certainly don't have to sit where you do, Mr. President. I don't have to make the tough choices.

But I can tell you this:

To give one percent more is right. It's smart. And it's blessed.

There is a continent—Africa—being consumed by flames.

I truly believe that when the history books are written, our age will be remembered for three things: the war on terror, the digital revolution, and what we did—or did not to—to put the fire out in Africa.

History, like God, is watching what we do.

Thank you. Thank you, America, and God bless you all.

Culture -- Some Comments Inspired by Darrow Miller

This morning I attended a lecture by Darrow Miller of Food for the Hungry and DNA (Discipling Nations Alliance). While much of what he said came from the book Against All Hope -- Hope for Africa, he did make one statement that I thought was quite important to think about. Darrow said the following:

Our culture is derived from our worship. Who we worship determines our culture.

Western civilization as a whole, and the USA in particular were built upon a Judeo-Christian worldview. The God we worshiped was the God of the Old and New Testaments. Our laws, values, beliefs, etc. were all based on the worship of the Christian God. I don't think much of this can be disputed by anyone who knows any history.

However, if we look at what has happened in the Europe, Canada, Australia and the USA in the past 40+ years, I think you can agree that we have begun to drift from a Judeo-Christian worldview. This happened in Europe before it happened in Australia and Canada. It is now becoming more evident in the USA. As many have said, we are moving from a "modern" worldview to a "post-modern" world.

As this transition becomes more complete, who or what we worship also changes. This too, is quite evident in North America. Who or what do we worship today? I would suggest a number of things.

• materialism -- and the bottom line
  
• individualism -- "what is good for me?" or what I would call "me-ism"
  
• convenience
• comfort -- not only physical comfort, but also psychological, sociological, emotional and spiritual comfort.
• pleasure
  

You could add a number of other "idols" I'm sure. However, if you think about what Darrow Miller said -- what we worship determines our culture -- and if we assume that the things I mentioned above are at least partially correct -- then we need to ask a question.

How will our culture change if we continue to worship materialism, individualism, convenience, comfort and pleasure?

How will our worship of these things affect:

• the elderly and those that are sick or disabled?
• unborn children?
• our healthcare system?
• multi-national corporations?
• our individual, corporate and national generosity towards the poor, the disenfranchised and the oppressed in our own nation and in other countries in the world?
• illegal immigration?
• the sex trade and industry?
• the slave trade that continues throughout the world?
• our we respond to human rights issues in countries we trade with (do we value people or money?). Do we only worry about human rights in those countries that do not affect our standard of living? Do we ignore the human rights violoations of nations that are our economic and/or political friends (eg. China, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and the list goes on)?
  

I am sure you can think of scores of additional issues that a change in who or what we worship will bring in our culture.

Much for us to think about and consider.

Revolution -- George Barna

Over the past few weeks I have read a number of critiques of George Barna's latest book entitled Revolution. Surprisingly, these critiques have come from the people who are usually huge fans of Barna, so this made me curious. So, over the past couple of days, I read the book.

What follows are what I thought were the most important things Barna said -- and some thoughts about the issues he raises.

1. Barna states that there may be somewhere around 20 million people in the USA who he defines as "revolutionaries" -- Christians who " are confidently returning to a first-century lifestyle based on faith, goodness, love, generosity, kindness, simplicity and other values deemed quaint by today's frenetic and morally untethered standards" (page 12).

2. What are some of the characteristics of these "revolutionaries"? Barna states the following:

• They have no use for churches that play religious games (page 13)
• They refuse to follow people in ministry leadership positions who cast a personal vision rather than God's. (page 14)
• They refuse to donate money to man-made monuments that mark their own achievements. (page 14)
• They are unimpressed with accredited degrees from Christian colleges and seminaries. (page14)
• They zealously pursue an intimate relationship with God. (page 15)

3. What are the "passions" of the revolutionaries? Barna suggests the following:

• Intimate Worship (page 22)
• Faith-based Conversations. In other words, evangelism is about relationships and conversations, not marketing, big events, etc. (page 23)
• Intentional Spiritual Growth. Revolutionaries don't want to be assimilated into the "borg" of the local church -- they want to become involved in things that will enable them to grow spiritually and in every area of their lives. (page 23)
• Servanthood. Serving other people is the best way to express one's commitment to Jesus. (page 23)
• Resource Investment. All our resources belong to God, and we need to invest them wisely. (page 24)
• Spiritual Friendships. The Church is all about relationships. (page 24)
• Family Faith. Faith grows in families. (page 24)

The end result is that the proof of someones faith is not in the information they know or the religious gatherings they attend, but in the way they integrate what they know and believe into their everday practices. (page 25)

4. We are not called to go to church, rather we are called to be the church.

5. Barna writes what may be the most important chapter of the book. Called "Spiritual Transitions in the Making" it focuses on the seven trends that he believes will lead to a "new church" that will facilitate the moral and spiritual revolution of the coming decades. Here are those seven trends.

• The change in leadership from Builders and Boomers, to Busters and Mosaics. Barna believes the latter two groups are changing the ways in which people relate to each other, the types of outcomes deemed desirable, the procedures used to achieve meaningful results, the values and beliefs that underlie critical decisions and the role of technology in daily life. These transitions radically affect how people perceive and practice their faith. (page 42).
• The Rise of Post-Modernism According to Barna post-modernism:
• claims there are no absolute truths
• suggests that good citizenship requires tolerance of all points of view and behavioural preferences
• proclaims that relationships are the most important element of life
• claims that the processes you engage in are more significant that the product of those procedures
• states that the most apporpriate route to influence is through dialogue, not monologue or the imposition of one's beliefs or approaches on others.
• Dismissing the Irrelevant Busters and Mosaics quickly abandon anything they deem as irrelevant to their personal passions. They demand things that foster shared experience and that these experiences be "real, adventurous and memorable." They have little patience for anything based on tradition, customs, ease or social acceptability. In a culture where there are no moral absolutes, exercising choice without any limits is a cherished right. (page 44)
• The Impact of Technology Technology reshapes the marketplace, and reorients the community into new forms and relationships. There is an expectation that ministry resources can be found that respond directly to felt and real needs. Finally, there is a heightened awareness of global faith conditions and opportunities, and the desire to be part of the worldwide Church. (page 45)
• Genuine Relationships Busters and Mosaics pursue meaningful relationships rather than making passing acquaintances. They are much more likely to invest themselves in the messiness of other people's lives, and the devote a large part of each day in building relational bonds. As a result, there is a greater focus on personal authenticity than in performance. Personal stories are emphasized in teaching rather than principles and commands. Team leadership and ministry is appreciated. Finally, organizations that demonstrate inclusiveness are preferred over those perceived to be narrow or judgmental. (page 46)
• Participation in Reality People expect to be active and creative participants in the developing the reality of their experience. Evangelism moves from being event driven at a local church to relational in every-day life. Short-term missions is exploding. Funding for missions and ministry comes as a result of personal involvement.
• Finding True Meaning A growing number of people consider sacrifice and surrender as the possible missing link to their maturity and fulfillment.

Barna ends this chapter by stating two simple facts.

• Christians and churches may not like these trends, but you still have to deal with them.
• The more you can anticipate some of the results of these trends, the greater will be your ability to shape the world in ways that are likely to honor God.

Personal Comment Everything that Barna has said so far, seems perfectly obvious to me. As someone who works primarily in the context of a "mega-church" what has become clear to me is that large churches of all kinds will need to understand the trends in our culture and adapt to them. Clearly, this will be painful. Everything will need to change. Leadership will need to be more inclusive. Simply telling people to give regularly to "the church" will fail to bring the finances necessary for these large institutions to survive. However, if a church is perceived to be missional, and to be making a signficant difference in their local community and the world, there will always be money available. Churches have to abandon the attractional model -- come on Sunday to hear good music and a good speaker. Instead, churches will need to serve their communities and neighborhoods in practical ways -- and, through relationships in the community people will become followers of Jesus. Words such as community transformation, social justice, community service, etc. will become key. Churches will need to understand that they don't exist for themselves -- they exist for the world. Whether or not mega-churches and other "modern" churches will be able to make the transition is not clear to me. I think a few will -- but most will not. My suspicion is that in 10-20 years from now, fewer mega-churches will exist. Instead we will see smaller, intimate Christian communities formed in all kinds of neighborhoods and communities. Some will look like traditional churches, but most I suspect will operate more like businesses or community centers. These new churches may include recovery groups, pottery studios, art studios, ESL classes, computer classes, tutoring programs, and all kinds of other things -- oh ya, also times of worship , Bible studies, opportunities for pastoral counseling, etc. But they will not look like the church of the 1990's or even the church of 2006.