But what if much of the problem is agreements — agreements that are a result of groupthink where people are afraid to express unpopular truths.

Now you’re talking about the Abilene Paradox, a concept introduced by business management expert Jerry B. Harvey.

On a hot afternoon visiting in Coleman, Texas, the family is comfortably playing dominoes on a porch, until the father-in-law suggests that they take a trip to Abilene [53 miles north] for dinner. The wife says, “Sounds like a great idea.” The husband, despite having reservations because the drive is long and hot, thinks that his preferences must be out-of-step with the group and says, “Sounds good to me. I just hope your mother wants to go.” The mother-in-law then says, “Of course I want to go. I haven’t been to Abilene in a long time.”

The group sits back, perplexed that they together decided to take a trip which none of them wanted. They each would have preferred to sit comfortably, but did not admit to it when they still had time to enjoy the afternoon.

It’s one of the hardest things to do in relationships (marriage, family, friendships, church): to express an unpopular opinion while remaining polite, respectful, and under control.

Churches, not just parents, share some of the blame for teens’ religious apathy as well, says Corrie, the Emory professor.

“If you don’t say you’re doing it because of your faith, kids are going to say my parents are really nice people,” Dean says. “It doesn’t register that faith is supposed to make you live differently unless parents help their kids connect the dots.”

SO . . . what have you done . . . or what has your church done . . . to stoke the imagination and interest of teenagers? How have you presented a challenge that seems radical, that is focused on bringing healing to a hurting world?

“So, when somebody asks me, ‘Was Jesus God?’ I usually turn the question around. ‘Is it true that the living God was uniquely and personally present in Jesus?’”

- N. T. Wright

It was a good survey if you live in northern Europe! Congrats to Scandinavia.

In the next ten spots you pick up (in order) the United States, Germany, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Korea, France, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, and Singapore. You can read more here.

For more on the churches in Singapore check this excellent Chronicle article; and look here for more on the Center for Fathering.

Here are a few photos (thanks again to Dave Hogan!):

On Monday, a JetBlue attendant named Steven Slater snapped on the tarmac at Kennedy International Airport, the authorities said.

On his way out the door, he paused to grab a beer from the beverage cart. Then he ran to the employee parking lot and drove off, the authorities said.

Gotta love that he stopped for a beer. He’s figuring that his services won’t be needed again, so why not celebrate with a Heineken on the way out?

What’s your chute escape fantasy?

This note is from Brad Carter from Connecting Caring Communities in Abilene — an amazing group:

You may have seen that this month we are competing in the Pepsi Refresh Project– the only Abilene area idea to be accepted in the contest since it started in February and the only one in our area. We’re excited about the possibility of receiving $250,000 for our work in Abilene. BUT, we need as many votes as possible to make it happen. People who like our idea to “transform forgotten neighborhoods into places where people find hope” can vote for us EVERY DAY during the month of August online AND by text message.

Vote by text message: Send ‘101909′ to PEPSI/73774

This is from the first post:

“Blessed is the person who does not walk in the council of the wicked or stand in the road of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.”

And so the Psalmist compares this person to the most beautiful things he knows, the beauty of nature. Those of us who live in west Texas understand this. Trees are precious things. Green is a wonderful color. And virtue is too. A life well lived is the ultimate act of biblical interpretation.

So here’s the report by the numbers:

Miles ridden: 105 (on a mountain bike)

Raw oysters slurped: 9 dozen (that’s Mike, 108 oysters; Diane, 0 oysters)

Seafood bought, cooked, and eaten: crab, amberjack, grouper, shrimp

Main source of vitamin C: fresh lime juice

Minutes I spent on the beach: 0 (my 15-mile bike loop has beach to the left [Gulf] and right [Pens Bay] but the beach per se isn’t my thing — I love being AT the beach, just not going TO the beach)

Hours Diane has spent on the beach: 35

Children here with us: 0 (which explains the 0 Minutes above)

BP clean-up workers seen: hundreds

Anti-BP bumper stickers seen: too many to count (e.g.: “Plug the hole with BP executives”)

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By the way, here’s my first blog post from seven years ago (isn’t that an eternity in blog time), which was also about Pensacola Beach.

In a pluralistic world, Christians must bear in mind that the Bible has both mediated grace and motivated genocide. Even as Christian ministers stand on sacred ground in pulpits preaching from the Bible, we must confess that the Bible is contested ground. As contested ground, the Bible is saturated by the tragic trail of tears from untold victims of scripture-sponsored violence.

Consequently, Christian leaders must construct notions of biblical authority that acknowledge the Bible’s ambiguous history. I offer such an approach in my book Preaching Paul (p. 23):

Many Christians assume that the Bible is supposed to hold us accountable to live the gospel. Is it not possible that God also expects us to hold the Bible accountable — accountable to being, through our interpretations of it, an ever more genuine witness to the gospel?

Slave castles, concentration camps, and hateful biblical interpretation marginalizing other religions, women, and gay and lesbian people place a question over the Bible: After religiously-motivated violence whose effects continue, what good news does the so-called “Good Book” contain?

Exclusive approaches to scripture that fail to address the oppressive impulses sponsored by, and contained in, scripture will be whitewashed tombs — antiseptic exteriors masking death and corruption below. On the other hand, nuanced, inclusive understandings of biblical authority openly admit that on certain matters of justice and compassion the Bible misbehaves and is not at its moral best. By forthrightly addressing the Bible’s moral miscues and its oppressive statements, progressive Christians can more honestly proclaim the tomb-breaking power of holy hope and inclusive love.

So here’s a taste of what’s on the playlist:

Keb Mo, “Life Is Beautiful”
Brett Dennen, “Blessed”
Louis Armstrong, “What a Wonderful World”
Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, “Over the Rainbow”
Jack Johnson, “Banana Pancakes”
Three Dog Night, “Celebrate”
Jimmy Buffett, “I Love the Now”
Zac Brown Band, “Where the Boat Leaves From”
The Beatles, “Twist and Shout” (makes me think of my granddaughter)
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, “House at Pooh Corner” (makes me think of my boys when young)
The Doobie Brothers, “Listen to the Music”
The Allman Brothers, “Blue Sky”
Ben Harper, “Get It Like You Like It” (associated with coaching little league …)
Coldplay, “Viva La Vida”
Dave Matthews, “Every Day”
Rare Earth, “I Just Want to Celebrate”
Eagles, “Already Gone”
Grand Funk Railroad, “Some Kind of Wonderful”
Steppenwolf, “Magic Carpet Ride” (live)

Ah, well, there are a few pick-me-ups. What other suggestions do you have? What music can lift you?

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On a music theme, have you listened to Marc Cohn’s new recording, “Listening Booth: 1970″? It’s amazing!

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Congrats to Dr. Randy Lowry, who just finished five years as president of David Lipscomb University. He (and Rhonda!) have built an amazing leadership team and faculty. It’s a top-flight school — a wonderful success story!

But since that wasn’t possible, the next best way was to spend it with Albert Pujols, the greatest active player in baseball. And to see him homer in Wrigley Field? Icing on the birthday cake.

The last time I saw the Cards and Cubs play at Wrigley was in August, 1968. (History exam: can you think of anything else happening in Chicago that month?) My grandmother and aunt saw how much I loved the game, so they took me the next night. We got to see Bob Gibson pitch eleven innings, though he didn’t get a decision. That’s the summer he pitched 28 — TWENTY-EIGHT — complete games. Today we celebrate a pitcher who has any complete games. Plus, 13 of those 28 were shut-outs.

Anyway, a couple shots of my buddy. (And thanks, Margaret and Leon for the birthday present. Doubt that I’ll ever get to sit that close again!)

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We were blessed at the Heartbeat retreat to have Mark and Katrina Willis with us. Check out the beautiful, intriguing painting she did for our theme: “New Eyes, New Views.”

(Willimon podcast)