A Tough One

Sunday was a tough day for me. I know that with leadership comes failures, and Sunday I felt like I was let down by a friend and in turn, I let down my community. On the personal side, I can apologize for allowing my leadership to distract our community from what was otherwise a great Sunday. On the professional side, I learned a lot and will never let that sort of thing happen again.

It still stings... although with each storm comes new rain, and new soil is uncovered. I am praying that this new soil is rich with nutrients and commitment to the building of Missiongathering.

Sanctuary Tonight

As always, we had a great sanctuary together. I wanted to point out two things that really stuck out to me.

1. Emily shared this amazing analogy that I know that I am going to butcher as I try to put it down in written form. She said that she had always felt that her spiritual journey in other faith communities had been like a small, pre-potted seed that only had a small space to grow into, and that would only ever become one type of plant. When she found Missiongathering, she said that she had found her "meadow" in which she could grow into herself and where the soil was rich. Where she could "hide out" if need be, or shine in the light of the sun. I just think this is a beautiful and brilliant analogy.



2. We were talking about why people are so attracted to churches that constantly make people feel guilty. I think the core reason is that people (especially in Western culture) get accustomed to a God that is only found in guilt. That we feel closest to God in our sin because it reminds us that we are in need of grace. It can almost become a ritual like practice to be told how terrible we are and how disappointed God is in us. Although I agree that we all need grace, and that it is good to be reminded of that... I think that God meets us in much more than just our guilt and that God sent Jesus Christ to no longer make us live in the shadow of our guilt and judgement... but instead to embrace grace and walk daily in that grace.

AE Love... MG PROMO 1

I had a spare hour or so, and wanted to practice some AE stuff. Here is a promo for missiongathering.com.

Let me know what you think.

Adobe After Effects

I know Im probably behind the curve... but I started using After Effects yesterday to put together a promo / intro video for our upcoming "Heroes" series. I am really excited about what this program can do, and what it will bring to the table at Mission.

Any experienced AE users out there? I could definitely use some tutelage.

Here is what I put together for this Sunday:



Let me know what you think...

Exponential Conference #7: The Journey Home

I hate Southwest Airlines. "Hate" may be a strong word, but our last flight from Orlando to Las Vegas was torture. It wasn't just the fact that I was stuck on the end row where people constantly bumped into me on their way to the restroom. It wasn't just the larger lady that sat next to me who took half of my seat and didn't smell great. It wasn't the 5 kids that surrounded me throwing their respective fits in succession. Those all helped my distaste for the airline...

But the kicker (and if you have a weak stomach I suggest you stop reading now)...

There was puke... not cleaned up and smelling up the whole plane.

Home in two hours.

Exponential Conference #5: Divine Appointment?

As we were watching the reenactment of Jesus' crucifiction, I noticed a guy who had some awesome hair, chucks and some rolled cuffs and looked like he didnt belong (much like I didn't). I saw Rich talking to him, so I headed over, and it turns out, it was Dan Kimball. How random is it that we ran into Dan all the way out here in Orlando and at the Holy Land Experience.

So we all got to talking about the park, and about our respective churches, and then we all went together to "meet" Jesus and take a photo.

Classic... Vintage... Experience.

Only at Missiongathering.

I found Jesus:



Dan found Jesus:



Happy Guys full of Jesus:

Exponential #4: The Holy Land Experience

So today after the conference we got a chance to head over to TBN's "The Holy Land Experience." Here is a brief explanation brought to us by our friends at "Firth in the USA.":



Here is how I would describe it:

Exponential Conference #3

Alan Hirsch brought the noise. I just got out of a main session where Alan Hirsch was sharing about what it truly means to be exponential. Man, it was good stuff. I am so thankful that someone is having the strength and the passion to stand up and say that we need to truly put CHRIST back into the center of CHRISTIANITY. The way he put it was this:

Christology > Missiology > Ecclesiology

Another way of putting it:

Church (minus) Christ (equals) religion

Church (plus) Christ (equals) Christianity

Thank you Alan for having the courage to challenge the way in which we start our churches here in the west. I think that stood out to me most was the way in which he broke down the old accepted thought of "Jesus standing outside the doors of our hearts (and our churches) and we only need to let him in" by asking why Jesus was outside in the first place!

Good stuff... couldn't have said it better

Exponential Conference #2

My first session has been really cool. It's interesting to hear the ideas about creative communication and to see where MG is really ahead, and areas that we can possibly do much better in.

A few things that stuck out to me today were:

1. "Internal Marketing." The way that we communicate to our MG Villagers... there are some really interesting ideas that I think could work well at MG.

2. Finding creative ways to challenge our communities to invite other people. I think this is an interesting concept... instead of just saying it, how do we make it accessible and creative?

Exponential Conference #1

We are off to the first preliminary session at the conference we are attending. If you'd like to check out what it is, go to www.exponentialconference.com. I am signed up for the "Creative Communication in New Churches" pre-track. I didn't know until now that Mark Batterson is leading my pre-conference track. Mark is the Pastor at National Church (DC) and we have chatted a few times about Rescue coming out to play at his church. I'm stoked about seeing him again.

I am actually really looking forward to getting a chance to hear what church planters from across America are observing about faith and the shift that seems to be happening throughout the US.

I should be blogging throughout my time here, so keep up to date with me.

Safley in the South

We arrived safely in Orlando tonight. With a quick layover in Nash Vegas (Nashville) we had really smooth travels. On the way to the hotel tonight, we drove through what I am going to call the "Realm of Disney." Pretty amazing, and I really hope we get a chance to spend a day at Walt Disney World.

We had some Brinner (thats breakfast for dinner) at the good ol' Waffle House, and checked into the hotel. I definately feel like I am now officially in the south.

Here are the official overflow rules for Waffle House... gotta love the south.

MG Baptisms

This Sunday was absolutely amazing.

I am sitting here in the San Diego International Airport, waiting to board our flight to Orlando and can't stop thinking about just how amazing this morning truly was.

I saw people who hadn't planned on being baptised stand up out of their seats and move toward the baptismal wanting to free themselves from the shackles of religion and breathe in the fresh air of a new Jesus (actually an old Jesus) that accepted them and loved them fully. Despite all of the planning and programming we can do as a team, there is nothing more powerful than watching people breathe freedom in.

Thank you Missiongathering for letting me be a part of such and amazing Sunday. God is moving in the lives of people here in San Diego... setting them free and allowing them to live into the grace that has been there for them since their first breath.

Baptism Sunday

Join us Sunday @ 10:30AM. www.missiongathering.com

Azariah Southworth

Laura turned me onto this interesting story. Thank you Azariah for being real with yourself despite the potential loss of your career. I truly believe that "lines" are being drawn in the sand, and the momentum is growing to finally (and truthfully) start asking honest questions about spirituality and sexuality.

Check out the story here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/16/azariah-southworth-popula_n_97078.html

Voice of Restoration

We had a great sanctuary tonight. As a highlight, we got to talk about what Jesus' voice would have sounded like, and what the "spirit" of his voice truly was. Through that conversation, we started talking about how we hear / read Jesus' voice as a voice of restoration time and time again. Not of judgement or condemnation or even righteousness, but a voice of true restoration.

I thought I'd get this out tonight, and elaborate tomorrow on it... but what an amazingly different tone a voice of restoration (which includes love, grace and peace) than a voice of regulation and righteous judgement.

Good night.

betterworldshopper.com

My friend Tracy introduced me to this site, and it has definately been illuminating to me. This site is dedicated to giving information on companies and goods that we often consume on a daily basis. Check it out for yourself at www.betterworldshopper.com. Here is a good screen shot:

EMC 2008

The "Everything Must Change Tour" happened last weekend at Missiongathering and went off. I had an amazing time getting to know Linnea (from Deep Shift) and Tracy Howe (the worship leader for the tour). Great event, great music, and some great conversations were had throughout the weekend. Thank you to all who were involved, and here is a cool photo of yet another FILIPINO worship leader (we are taking over the world!).

Sanctuary Rocks

We had a great sanctuary tonight. Our discussion really shed some light on some things that i've been feeling and kind of working out in my head lately. I will get into those tomorrow, but the basic underlying tone of the discussion was on sexism. Within our culture, how it influences our cultural view of homosexuality, how it impacts our faith, and even how it impacts Missiongathering. I really loved the conversation and I am excited to see where it leads us....

for now though... sleep.

Some Flash Love

So I opened up Adobe Flash CS3 for the first time and took a user crash course for the last 45 minutes. Looks like a fun program... can't wait until I get some more time under my belt for this thing... Check out www.missiongathering.com for my handy work in the banner.

Happy Saturday

"Ask a deeply religious Christian if he’d rather live next to a bearded Muslim that may or may not be plotting a terror attack, or an atheist that may or may not show him how to set up a wireless network in his house. On the scale of prejudice, atheists don’t seem so bad lately."
- Scott Adams