“Smart” sheep
Due to their strong flocking instinct and failure to act independently of one another, sheep have been universally branded “stupid.” But sheep are not stupid. Their only protection from predators is to band together and follow the sheep in front of them. If a predator is threatening the flock, this is not the time to act independently.

At the same time, there is a growing body of evidence that sheep may actually possess some smarts!

Sheep foil cattle guard
Hungry sheep on the Yorkshire Moors (Great Britain) taught themselves to roll 8 feet (3 meters) across hoof-proof metal cattle grids to raid villagers’ valley gardens. According to a witness, “They lie down on their side or sometimes their back and just roll over and over the grids until they are clear. I’ve seen them doing it. It is quite clever, but they are a big nuisance to the villagers.” [Source: BBC News, July 2004]

Check it out here: Amazing Grace the Movie

“Behind the hymn you love is a story you will never forget. In 1797, William Wilberforce, the great crusader for the British abolition of slavery, is taking a vacation for his health even while he is sicker at heart for his frustrated cause. However, meeting the charming Barbara Spooner, Wilberforce finds a soulmate to share the story of his struggle. With few allies such as his mentor, John Newton, a slave ship captain turned repentant priest who penned the great hymn, “Amazing Grace,” Prime William Pitt, and Olaudah Equiano, the erudite former slave turned author, Wilberforce fruitlessly fights both public indifference and moneyed opposition determined to keep their exploitation safe. Nevertheless, Wilberforce finds the inspiration in newfound love to rejuvenate the fight with new ideas that would lead to a great victory for social justice.”

Yes exactly Mark! That’s why I said “so-called misfits”. I believe there is no “noble dream” that can generate “good people” for the “benefit of society”. Jesus spoke of the kingdom but not of noble dreams.

Those who seek such things, as I myself have done, find out who the misfit really is… it’s me, myself and I who is the true misfit.

By the way, who had the noblest dream in history? Hitler has to be in the top 3 noblest dreams of purity and goodness for humanity. If you don’t believe me, look back at how that all started. The plans for grand architecture, great cities, purified societies and blessed happiness for all the world that Hitler dreamed up. He even persuaded many in the church to support him and buy into his gospel.

I know there are people in UBF who have a homosexual orientation, who have suffered the pains of divorce, who have adopted atheism to cope, who struggle with severe depression for not measuring up, and who are simply exhausted from keeping face and pretending to be strong. There is no safe place for the marginalized and so-called misfit people in UBF to discuss their feelings and thoughts safely.

My Skype talks have already taken place. Now I’ve decided to make my Skype available to anyone. I’m here to listen and share my own stories as prompted. I won’t throw bible bombs. I won’t quote the UBF heritage as the answer. I won’t bash or blame UBF. I won’t try to persuade anyone to leave or to stay or make any decision. I won’t attempt to get you to accept Jesus or believe what I believe.

I’m a human being willing to share my journey with whomever would want to join me.

There are 14 videos in total as far as I know. 13 were presented at the GLS. I do not have any of those 13 yet, they are “in the mail” and are supposed to arrive the last week of October.

I have a bonus video, which is an interiew of Patrick Lencioni by the lead pastor from a church in St. Catherines Canada, Jeff Lockyear. Jeff is the head pastor at Southridge Community Church.

They discuss Patrick’s book and apply some leadership principles to church leadership and organizational health of churches. It is 29 minutes and rather insightful.