Just Go for It ! "I don't believe in punting...."

With these simple words, Coach Kelley of the Pulaski Academy Bruins has found a profound and paradoxical scheme for winning high school football games. His team hasn't punted since 1997 (when it did so as an act of sportsmanship) and they have over 100 wins this decade including the Arkansas 5A championship last year.

Do the math (according to this weeks Sports Illustrated magazine article) and you can begin to imagine the systemic motivational force field that empowers this team with the mind set of four downs on each possession - instead of the traditional three and punt mentality. They actually morph into more of a rugby team as they effectively throw the ball on most plays that include shuffle passes, end arounds, reverses and multiple laterals.

Talking about imaginative faith in action, tested in the rough and tumble world of Friday night lights across the USA, and you have another expample of what is happening worldwide as emerging faith communities scrimmage the more traditional and inherited institutional church structures that were built around the time of "3 yards and a cloud of dust" mentality.

As we emergent's give up punting, and enjoy playing a wide open game (regardless of the outcome) we might just end up at the local pub buying pints for the other team. I say cheers!

Enjoy the challenge,

O'