“He has called us to take the scenic route.” This quote from Brian McLeese is very telling of who was at this Allelon thing and why we were all there. We have been called to, as I like to put it, “cut across the grass.” I like walking on grass better than concrete. So, generally, if I can, I cut across the grass instead of walking on sidewalks. Seems a little rebellious doesn’t it? There are some people who would just never think of doing that – it’s off limits - you don’t walk on the grass man – it’s gotta stay looking pretty. And when Brian said what he said, it hit me again - yip, there are some who are called to take the route of more sprained ankles, more stepping in dog crap, more getting mud on your shoes, more beauty, stronger legs...

And such was the crew that came together in Eagle, Idaho for this un-conference with a hard to pronounce name - Allelon. It's Greek to me. It’s actually Greek to everybody - cause it’s Greek - for “one another.” Pronounce it A-LAY-LONE - or you can say all alone, ay! leave me alone!, maybe the popular allenon – “hi, my name's Alan (hiiii Alllaaannn) and I’m an emerging church planter” Whatever funky twist on it you can give has been given. It’s a foundation to help get people together who are walking this new journey.

Allelon will be --- is --- significant. This is a new friendship --- a family --- bearing one another’s burdens. God has done this thing as a favor to many of us --- and as a favor to His growing Kingdom on earth. I went to Idaho to investigate something --- to see what was going on with all these people. I came back a part of something --- a member of a new family. Allelon, however odd the name sounds, is about that --- being family, bearing one another’s burdens --- and there are sometimes many burdens on this journey. It’s about walking this journey into the emerging church together, figuring it out as we go.

I return from this trip deeply affected. I return also connected to people in a way I wasn’t before. This was more the Council of Boise than a conference there. We weren’t so much talked to as we did talk with each other. We talked about deconstruction without stone throwing. We talked about our pain and not blaming anyone for it. We talked about our fears and how to overcome them. We prayed for one another, counseled one another, and taught one another. Oh, and the guys did their business in porta-potties.

Another testament to what kind of get together this was is the fact that we didn’t shuck out much money at all to be a part of it, and most people who came, all that were able, stayed in host homes belonging to the people who live there in Eagle – it was great to be there with these people and their families, where they live.

There were around 100 people there from - well, from everywhere. Many of us were coached by Todd Hunter in our church planting efforts over the last two years. This was our pre-existing connection with Allelon and with each other. I think the farthest traveled award goes to my friend Malcolm Hawker from Australia. There were several from England as well. Most of us, though, were from all over the United States --- all thinking and wondering about the same things. All of us trying to do something new and trying like hell not to do it simply because it’s new and weird. This is a bunch of people asking hard questions --- questions many might think are already answered. It’s time to rethink almost everything to make sure we haven't gone too far off the path. “The Gospel” - what is that? What does it mean to be the church and how do we do that? What is leadership? Where do we stop and the Holy Spirit begin? What about children in the emerging church? These are some of the questions we talked about and there was a lot of story sharing.

Our hosts: Mark & Jeanette Priddy, Eric & Beth Keck, and Todd & Debbie Hunter --- these guys and their families and their faith community there in Eagle. They made us all feel amazingly at home. They brought us all together and served us and facilitated a great mingling of hearts. There was a little sitting and listening but not much. What there was then lead into discussions. The microphone was on the move constantly --- more than it was stationary.

We talked about how encouraging it is to simply know that there are so many other folks out there who are asking the same questions and coming to the same conclusions. I mean, when you hear some of the things that people you perhaps just met are saying, if you didn’t know that God was real, you would be flabbergasted and think it was some spooky magic – “Wow! How did you know that? I mean, how is the exact same thought in your head that is in mine!?” Well, we know - because it didn't originate with us. We are all breathing God’s Breath and sometimes when we all exhale at the same time in the same place, it all looks the same, smells the same, whatever, you know what I’m trying to say I hope.

To see God living and active in the whole Body like this is amazing and it puts strength in your feet to keep on walking - walking this scenic path.