Yesterday, I led a Presbymergent conversation group for those interested in exploring the intersection between the Emerging Church and the PCUSA — it was an interesting chat in light of all the recent proclamations of the “Death of the Emerging Church.” There was certainly much life to *our* conversation!

This morning, I led morning prayer with the assistance of my little Ukulele and the Book of Common Worship. What an interesting pair…

And, in about one and a half hours, I’ll be leading a workshop called “Open Source Education in Emerging Congregations.” We’ll explore Wikipedia, Twitter, Facebook, Linux, and Second Life — not just as “tools” to use in ministry, but more importantly as ways to understand how emerging generations think, interact, engage, and live out their calling.

The workshop starts at 2:00pm CST and goes until 3:30pm. You can follow the conversation on twitter via hashtag #APCE10x — and if you’re logged into SecondLife, there’s a wee small chance that we might be stopping by the 1PCSL Chapel around 3:00 or so, time permitting. Oh, and you can find my notes, and various links for the presentation on my wiki here.

Warning: I’m thinking out loud here, so if you’re ultra-orthodox or easily offended, this might not be for you.

Earlier today in my Patristic Readings in Greek class, we came across an interesting word. I don’t have a good Greek font installed to reproduce it here, but it’s the same word in the New Testament that we usually translate as “cleave” (as in, a man shall leave his family and cleave to his wife). It also has connotations of “glue” and “stick” — but at least one Greek dictionary also used a stronger, more interesting word: Weld. The image of “God as Welder” instantly conjured up (for me, at least) a blue-collar, working class sort of God, and borrowing a popular political meme lately, I blurted out to my Greek class, “Hey, it’s Joe the God!” Not surprisingly, I got a lot of raised eyebrows on that one.

But I’ve been thinking about it a lot today. Yes, it’s true that John McCain has kind of been beating the whole “Joe the Plumber” thing to death lately, and all of its related offshoots (Bob the bricklayer, Craig the Construction Worker, Sue the Waitress, ad nauseum) but there’s an undeniable appeal to the “common person” here.

It’s one that resonates with me. My favorite author, John Steinbeck, spent a literary career celebrating the lives of working class people in books like The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, and Once there Was a War. Actually, it permeates everything he wrote. My musical icon, Woody Guthrie, and folk music as a whole, celebrate the “songs of the simple folk.” In my own life, I have often championed the cause of the masses–it explains my infatuation with blogging, Web2.0 technology, Wikipedia, and open-source software.

Back to “Joe the God.” I’ve been really stressing lately in my church history class over the issue of the “Divinity of Christ” that keeps showing up in the early councils and creeds. While I can’t completely deny that Jesus is God, I’ve had a hard time affirming it outright. I’m beginning to realize that perhaps this is because for a long time now, I’ve been far more enthralled with Jesus’ favorite title for himself (Son of Man) than with our favorite title for him (Son of God). I’m captivated by his humanity more than by his “divinity.” It’s the idea of “Joe the God” — or perhaps more accurately “Joe the Messiah” that really moves me, and I sense I’m not alone in this either.

Here’s a thought: The early church “fathers” struggled to find a balance between Christ’s divinity and his humanity. Is it possible that in our own time the pendulum has swung to far to the “divinity” side, to the point where [people like me] feel a strong need to advocate and emphasize Chris’s humanity? Yes, I know I sometimes take this to the extreme, calling the divinity into question–but perhaps its a needed over-compensation necessary in order to bring balance to the force. Oops, wrong universe–how’s that for syncretism?!

Back to politics and a nod to the other point of view: A few months ago, long before the rise of “Joe the Plumber” my friend Trait Thompson made a case against looking for a “Joe Six Pack” to lead the nation, arguing that instead we need an FDR or a Thomas Jefferson. It’s a great post, and you should read it. Ironically, we both like John McCain, but (obviously) come at it from different angles, as we always have (It’s great to have friends across the aisle, btw).

So I wonder if those who yearn for strong or exemplary leadership in our government are more drawn to the image of Jesus as “Son of God.” Drawing Augustine into the equation (just for fun), I wonder if perhaps those who, like him, view mankind as depraved and fallen are more likely to feel a need for an external, all-powerful divine Savior. Conversely, perhaps those with a pre (or post) Augustinian view of things, who see mankind as “made in the image of God” and therefore intrinsically good, look internally to humanity for our salvation–casting Jesus as the “people’s Messiah” or “Son of Man.”

If this is the case, following the threads begun in the age of Enlightenment, through the democratizing influence of the internet today (think web2.0), and looking toward a post-modern future with shades of Ray Kurzweil’s messianic/apocolyptic concept of Singularity…

Maybe the pendulum is ready to swing in Joe the Messiah’s direction. Second Coming of Christ, anyone?

Ok, so at the end of January this is about a month overdue, but I wanted to say thank you to everyone who contributed to Grady’s Christmas present this year: Two XO Laptops from the One Laptop Per Child foundation – one for Grady, and one presented on his behalf to a child in Mongolia (see pictures!).

The give-one-get-one program provided a great opportunity to talk to him about kids in other parts of the world who don’t have some of the things we take for granted here, and Grady often asks questions about “the little boy who got a computer just like mine.” (ok, so we’re making some assumptions – it could have been a little girl).

The computer itself is incredible: It looks like a toy (designed for small fingers) but it’s a full featured, rugged, and powerful laptop, with more USB ports and better wi-fi range than my Dell has. It’s not only green in color, but possibly the most environmentally conscious computer ever made, too. It runs all open source software, including a Linux-based interface designed especially for children. It was designed first and foremost as an educational tool with a strong constructivist philosophy, which is evident in just about every program (they’re called “activities” on his laptop). In addition to recording his own videos and making a collection of his favorite jokes, he’s already experimented with changing the programming code (python language) for one of the games – something actually encouraged by the developers!

I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t a gift for me, in many ways, too. I almost cried when I first took it out of the packing box to wrap it for him before Christmas. I remember when I was just a little older than Grady, my dad brought home a Commodore 64 for the first time, and (over the next few years) taught me how to write programs in BASIC. It was (and is) a gift that I cherish now that he’s gone, and like the reading it was probably more about the time he spent with me than what we actually did (although I’m definitely grateful for the geek skillz he passed on).

Just about every day now, Grady asks me, “Dad – can we have some computer time?” No gift could possibly be better than that for a father and son.

Thanks to Grandad and G.G., Grandma Linda and Grandpa Jim, Aunt Emily, Uncle Shelby and Aunt Erica, Uncle Jeff, and Uncle Joe – from Grady and his Daddy.

1. A Simple Song to Help Stop the War
2. Why Can’t You Be Like Me
3. Golden Door
4. Imperfect Love Song
5. Poorest Man

There’s an option to add a review to each, if you’re so inclined…

I’m also working on recording some of my arrangements and expansions of well-known hymns — when I’m done, I’ll put them all in album format, and call it Hymns and Heresies.

I’ve been following the One Laptop Per Child project for a couple of years now, getting more and more excited as it progressed toward becoming a reality. And now it’s here. I’m excited because it combines three things (perhaps three out of the big five things) that I’m very passionate about:

• The laptops are designed primarily to be child-centered educational tools
• They are for children in developing countries with limited access to technology
• They are built entirely on an open platform, using all open-source software.

When it was announced (about a year ago) that the laptops would not be available for sale in the United States, I thought it was a good idea — the last thing wealthy Americans need is another gadget for our toy-saturated children. But then, leading up to this holiday season, the OLPC foundation announced the Give One Get One (G1G1) program: You pay for two laptops — one is sent to your child and one is sent to a child in a developing country. It started as a limited-time program, available only for two weeks in November. Recently, however, they’ve extended it until the end of December.

This is a great idea, and we’re participating — with some help from our extended family, Grady will be getting one of these laptops for Christmas (good thing he can’t read this yet), and one will be given to another child in his name. I think it will be a great way to introduce him to the idea of helping others in the world, especially in what is supposed to be a season of generosity, giving, and sharing with those in need (According to legend, St. Nicholas originally only visited poor children).

Anyhow, if there’s a child on your Christmas list, and you’re looking for a meaningful gift with potential to make a difference in the world, consider this one. You can read more about the history and philosophy of the program, as well as specs on the computer here, and you can order them through the G1G1 program here.

When I first registered the domain name “mrlocke.net,” I was a high school English teacher, and I used it to host a class website, where I posted assignments, resources, links, and other things relevant to the literature we studied. I called the website (duh?) “Mr. Locke’s Classroom.” You can still see what it looked like, using the internet Way Back Machine.

Then, in February 2004, my friend Annie introduced me to blogging (as she has done for many), and eventually I incorporated it into my class website, interacting with students through comments and through their own blogs I helped them start. I even got a nice write-up about it all in EdTech magazine. I like that we were on the cutting edge of blogs and education.

But then I left teaching (in body, although not in soul) to work in the church. I changed the tagline for my blog to “I will always be a teacher. I will always be a student.” This continues to be true, and education continues to be a passion of mine. At seminary, I will pursue both a Master of Divinity, and a Master of Education. But somehow, as my interests and passions have expanded, the title of the blog seems too narrow to convey what it’s about.

Come to think of it, what is this blog about?

If it is going to reflect who I am, what I do, and what is important to me, than it’s going to be about:

• Open Source as an approach to software, computers, copyright, and technology, but also to life as well.
• Folk Music and my attempts to create and spread music that belongs not just to me, but to the folks. Music that cries out on behalf of the oppressed and marginalized.
• My pursuit of an Emerging Theology that is open-minded and revolutionary, as I journey through seminary and the process of becoming an ordained Presbyterian minister.
• My stubmling path through Fatherhood, and the joys of watching my family grow.
• And yes, Progressive Education that shatters ancient paradigms and sets captive students free.

In fact, if there is a vein that runs through all of this, I think it is freedom. Freedom from draconian copyright laws and the corporate tyranny of the music industry. Freedom from narrow, judgmental interpretations of the bible and hierarchical church structures that exclude rather than include. Freedom from parental stereotypes and the pressures a materialistic culture pushes on families. Freedom from an educational system that promotes conformity and fears critical thought. Freedom for the weak, the poor, the oppressed, the marginalized, the outcasts.

One of my favorite authors, Jean Jacques Rousseau, started his famous book on Education, Emile, with these simple words: “Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains.”

Unfortunately, the domains “unlocked.com,” “unlocked.net,” and “unlocked.org” are all taken. Any suggestions?

I believe in credit where credit is due, so although I did conceive of and code most of this from scratch, I also used much from other themes I like — more specifically, Kubric, by Michael Heilemann; Cleaker, by Adam Walker Cleaveland; and LivingOS Delta, by Tim Hyde

Although eventually I’ll replace it with the more familiar banner from my old site, for now I absolutely love the header photograph: It’s called “Dust Bowl Farm” by Dorothea Lange, and is archived at the Library of Congress in the Public Domain. Lange was a friend and contemporary of both Woody Guthrie, and my favorite writer, John Steinbeck.

After I finish tweaking it, my plan is to release it publicly for others to download and use. While I’m “beta testing it,” you can help me by pointing out anything that looks off or in the wrong place, especially if you use Internet Explorer or Safari. And feel free to let me know what you think!