Half baked

This is dangerous, but I think I'll just take personal liberty to put in writing some half-baked thoughts. I'm not sure it will be good like some undercooked things are, like brownies, but I'm hoping it won't be as bad as botulism.

Jake and I attended the Catalyst conference in Atlanta this weekend, and it was ridiculous. I'm not even sure who's in charge of the thing anymore, but they packed two days full of fabulous speakers and really bizarre displays of human tricks. Just after best selling author Daniel Pink kicks your teeth in, guys are jumping on trampolines in skis and snowboards. 13,000 people played a drum stick on a cup in unison. Random, I know, but the content of the conference was anything but random. It was spot on for Jake and me. Painfully so. You know when you get a massage and the person finds a knot to drill on for 20 minutes? It feels oddly good while being horribly painful at the moment and for days later. That was Catalyst. My brain and my heart are sore.

I'm trying to sift through the "takeaway" points that punched me in the face, and as I do, the reoccurring theme of restoration just won't quit.

• Andy Stanley - am I trading my life, my reputation, and my calling for a bowl of stew (reference to Jacob and Essau)?
• Scott Harrison, founder of Charity:Water - it's useless to guilt people into giving. We just have to tell them of the need.
  
• Daniel Pink, author of Drive - What's your sentence? Clare Boothe Luce asked this of JFK whom she felt needed to narrow his paragraph of focus to one sentence like presidents before him had.
  
• Christine Caine, founder of A21 - If God is who you say He is, why didn't you come sooner? (paraphrased question from a sex trafficked girl in Greece to Caine)
  
• Rani Hong - spoke of her abduction from India. She was literally sold as a child slave and lived as such until she was adopted by a woman in the US who had no idea of her abuse.
• Seth Godin, author of Purple Cow and Linchpin - Defines art as a human act that changes something and is given generously. "Your art is your purpose."
• Tad Agoglia, founder of First Response (not the pregnancy test) - "Everyone has something to give, even if it is just kindness."
  
• Gabe Lyons, founder of the Q conference and author of Unchristian - People are desperate to connect their calling and talent with the body of Christ. Our mission as a church must go beyond salvation. We must be about restoration.
  
• Bishop TD Jakes - I love him. He said something about eagles, chickens, the corner, and why black people don't get shot out of canons. I dunno, but I love him.

See what I mean? What am I supposed to do with all of this? I have to do something. DO something. What is my part to play in God's plan that His Kindgom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven?

I'm thinking that if I ever discover my "art" I can write my sentence to give more than just kindness so that no one has to ask me why I didn't come sooner. I'm still unsure how the eagles and chickens on the corner fit in, but I'm working on it.