getting ready for Egypt trip

I'm starting to anticipate my trip to Egypt in a few weeks. I am doing reading, but doing as much exercise to be in shape as well! This is a group of 9 clergy who have been together for 2 years (1 more to go), funded by the Lily Endowment to learn together about the "sea-change" that is happening around us institutionally, organizational, missionally, and in the role of clergy. In Egypt we will learn how a small minority of the population being Christian has made such a major impact on the wider culture.

Here in the U.S. we are use to being the "big kid on the block", but that has clearly changed...even though many folks still think we are, or are resentful that the "world" doesn't kowtow to them like it use to. As my O.T. prof from seminary, Walt Brueggemann said about the post-exilic community (returning from Babylon around 500 B.C.)...it looks the same but it doesn't function like it use to.