Step into the animal kingdom and check out your favorite bunch of cud-munchers ... Zebras, Gazelles, Sheep, Goats. You pick. Check it out. Nobody steps out of line. When it's time to eat, everybody eats. When it's time to travel, everybody travels. When it's time to breed ... ummm, let's go to the next paragraph.

This herd thing ... who hasn't gotten caught up in the frantic scramble to stay in step? It has it's "good points". You don't have to think for yourself. You don't have to worry about morals. You don't have to consider consequences. Just keep up with the pack. There is safety in numbers.

So where's the herd headed on our side of the planet? Watch TV. Listen to the radio. Walk through the mall. We're in an all-out stampede, raging after the finest fashion, the shiniest bling, the newest gadget ... you know, the latest thang. And we're willing to pay big time for it. But, hey it's worth it ... isn't it?

But, wait a minute. We're not animals. We're humans, made in God's image, with a conscience and the ability to care and choose.

So probably we just need to start being individuals ... right?

Actually, it goes deeper than that. This is about freedom, freedom from the urges of the herd as well as freedom from the slavery to self. This is about hooking up with a God who liberates us to love an d share ... not so we'll fit in, but because we want to.

What would happen if a big bunch of us went all rebellious with this? What if we spoke up for the little guy who gets bullied in the locker room? What if we started eating lunch with a loser? What if we connected with someone from across the tracks? What if we bought our clothes at Goodwill and gave our surplus cash to a homeless person? What if we traded a Friday night out with friends for a visit to the local nursing home?

Discuss Chapter 2 on the IO Forums

**"The Herd Urge" is the introduction to Chapter 1 of IB Press's "Nothing But Dirt" online book project. For complete details on this book project please login to IO and contact Wendell VanValin

Wendell VanValin is one of those guys who would take a bullet for Jesus. He's that committed. He's been a pastor since the 70s and now resides in Bowling Green, KY. His favorite band is the Beatles with Led Zeppelin a close second. His favorite author is the guy who wrote the Bible along with Louis L'amour.(famous writer of westerns) He's an avid woodsman who loves hunting, fishing, hiking and horseback riding on his horse named Cracker. He's married to his unusually awesome wife Robbie and has two great kids - Bethany and Jake. Check out Wendell's recent book "Mark Each Day" at the IO store.

Comments

All the difference in the world... Written by jacardi41 on 2007-01-07 19:09:01 All the difference in the world... I have been working with youth in various forms since I was in HS. I have been a youth worker, a youth minister and now a teacher to name a few... Statistics beyond all measure show that kids that have someone, anyone, are a whole lot less likely to do freaky stuff--like cutting, drugs, illicit sexual activity and the like. Kids like rebellion and many have something to rebel against. It is fun, dangerous, new, exciting, attention getting... and after a while old, draining, and more hurtful than they could imagine. I can also tell you that kids often don\'t want to do that stuff...but they want to be liked and fit in and doing that stuff is how they blend. Anyone, anyone, who takes the time to care about a kid will find out the rewards--and that could be the very thing that saves a life. See, I said that kids don\'t want to do the freaky stuff but they often don\'t have someone to give them the strength they need to stand against the current and not drown. Anyone will do... Then again, anyone who does becomes someone. That someone can save the life of one caught in the stream. It takes time, energy, strength, and creativity to move from \'anyone\' to \'someone\' but those are the very things that made Jesus radical. Sad thing is, most \'Christians\' want to be radical in speech only...

All the difference in the world... Written by jacardi41 on 2007-01-07 19:10:00 All the difference in the world... I have been working with youth in various forms since I was in HS. I have been a youth worker, a youth minister and now a teacher to name a few... Statistics beyond all measure show that kids that have someone, anyone, are a whole lot less likely to do freaky stuff--like cutting, drugs, illicit sexual activity and the like. Kids like rebellion and many have something to rebel against. It is fun, dangerous, new, exciting, attention getting... and after a while old, draining, and more hurtful than they could imagine. I can also tell you that kids often don\'t want to do that stuff...but they want to be liked and fit in and doing that stuff is how they blend. Anyone, anyone, who takes the time to care about a kid will find out the rewards--and that could be the very thing that saves a life. See, I said that kids don\'t want to do the freaky stuff but they often don\'t have someone to give them the strength they need to stand against the current and not drown. Anyone will do... Then again, anyone who does becomes someone. That someone can save the life of one caught in the stream. It takes time, energy, strength, and creativity to move from \'anyone\' to \'someone\' but those are the very things that made Jesus radical. Sad thing is, most \'Christians\' want to be radical in speech only...

your neice Written by Elizabeth Crook on 2007-06-11 18:51:50 Hey Uncle Wendall,    My mom told my that Bethany has been going through some hard times that I have recently had experience with. I understand that her current cell phone number is not valid and I would really like to talk with her. My e-mail address is This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or she can call me at 859-361-1842. I hope this gets to you.    thanks,    Elizabeth Crook

Absolutely Written by Greenhillsgoer on 2008-01-09 21:45:46 Absolutely, I agree! My life was turned upside down at 19 because of following the herd. I'm not an "old person" (I'm 21) and still use this phrase! Jesus told us in Matthew (Sermon on the Mount) that there are two roads to choose between: A wide path, and a narrow path. Somehow, I can't see a herd following a narrow path, and God wants us on that narrow path! Put 2 and 2 together, and DON'T FOLLOW THE HERD!

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