Category: Uncategorized

I’m pretty politicked right now… before election day you need to take an hour and watch both of these videos.

Video 1:

Politicked – Avalanche (TV) from Fellowship Church on Vimeo.

Video 2:

Politicked – Rock the Vote from Fellowship Church on Vimeo.

Facebook users check out the link here

It was announced today that Dr. Robert Schuller and his son are both leaving the Hour of Power Broadcast. The LA times had reported earlier that Dr. Schuller’s son Robert A. Schuller had been removed from the Senior Pastor role that he took over for his father in early 2006. Not much information has gotten out except for that they were in disagreement for the vision for the future of the church. Their denomination (Reformed Church in America) has stepped in to help during this transition.

The reason I bring this is up because I see this as a huge sign of the current state of the traditional church in america. I have a feeling that the clash in vision had something to do with the Crystal Cathedral being very traditional in style. They probably do the best traditional service in the country. They have a full orchestra, beautiful sanctuary, the pastors preach in robes, huge choir and do a pretty kick butt Christmas pageant every year. Where is the problem?

I feel that the problem lays within creative relevance…

The Crystal Cathedral was probably one of the first creative churches in the united states. Dr. Schuller started one of the first “Theatre Churches” by meeting in a local drive in. Their church building is also very creative – When I was out in California last march I was able to drive by it and I texted Jason immediately because I felt I had gone by Superman’s castle lair. They have always been on the cutting edge television wise with their services now being available in HD. They were also the first church to have flying angels in their famous pageants.

Over the years though their creativity did not evolve. The music stayed the same, the clothing didn’t change, the building stayed the same, even the television offers for Christmas ornaments have stayed the same. Now they are having to cut back their broadcast from an hour to half hour, and they are not even really considered a mega church anymore.

What was considered cutting edge in the late 70s is looked now upon as an ancient relic.

I am not just picking on the Crystal Cathedral either. Recent reports show the Southern Baptist Convention shrinking at alarming rate. There is a huge problem with traditional (or even blended) churches in the united states. They are dying!

God is. Church evolves.

Our God is the God of our yesterdays and today. He never changes -however- the church MUST evolve and change in order to continue connecting the world to the life changing power of Christ.

There is only one event that can get my up this early in the morning – CATALYST! Even at c3 there is no need to be up at such an early hour because you are only fighting 4,000 people for seats instead of 12,000. None the less – I have a sneaky suspicion that my mind is about to be blown. Check my twitter for updates throughout the day.

In 3 hours I will be heading out to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for ECU CRU’s Fall Conference. Worship is being led by the amazing band who I have talked about before 10th Ave North. There two latest singles off there new album “Love is Here” and “By Your Side” have been lighting up the charts lately. Its going to be pretty cool to spend the weekend with them and over 120 other ECU students.

I was looking forward to finally visiting the Hard Rock Theme Park -but- they just filled for chapter 11 bankruptcy and are closed until 2009. I saw them building it last year and was pumped about getting to go to it this year. They built it on the former Fantasy Harbour so that is cursed land anyway. Nothing can stay open on it for more than a year.

Anyway… I am going to miss Discovery this Sunday. We are kicking off a new series called “Y DO” – its going to be pretty sweet! This sunday I am going to be checking out Port City Community Church. This will be the first time I will have gotten to see their new building. I’m pretty pumped about it.

I was over at Claude’s and I found his old yearbooks. I knew Claude was old… but he has been around a long time. Enjoy his yearbook photos.

Then I started going through all my yearbooks… wow how the time has flown.

This week has been a hard week. One of the hardest in a while… I think David Crowder of the David Crowder Band felt that I was having a bad week so he recently did this at UBE.

I literally cried tonight after watching this video. Jesus will always be my friend…

Goodnight!

I wish when I was a kid that my church’s organist would have broke out in this!

USA Today had a big article today about how many churches are declining in number. They showed stats on how many church’s numbers are down more in 2008 then they were in 2007… I think I have found the answer why.

That video is from 2007

Words can not describe the emotion inside me right now… 🙂

(Facebook users see original source for embedded video)

Over the past few months I have been noticing a trend when it comes to “Christian” writing. Its seems that whenever somebody is writing or speaking with other Christians their vernacular evolves. I don’t know how to describe the tone of this text. It almost feels flowery, yet I know they are being genuine. Are they trying to impress the people they are talking to? Does the way they write/talk show how deep they are in their faith?

Here are a few examples…

I found somebody wrote this in response to a “note” on Facebook:

Glory to the King of Kings, so blessed to see the Lord moving in your life brother!! The Lord put the book of James on my heart for you….be encouraged by His word!

Forever changed by His love,
*name

One of my dear friends sent me an email updating our friends and myself about her life since graduation.

Let me say also that my heart is overjoyed to see my increasing love for the Lord grow more and more each day. My church here is a wonderful place of fellowship and I am being built up greatly in the faith with sound teaching, encouragement, accountability, and gospel-focused messages. I am so incredibly thankful for God’s goodness in providing this church body and a family that seeks to bring the glory and honor to God that He alone so rightly deserves.

In addition to these things, I am completely in awe of how the Lord has expressed His kindness and faithfulness in ways I could not have imagined myself. Shortly after I arrived, the Lord brought an amazing Godly man into my life who is nothing but a gift from the Lord. From our first encounter, we both recognized that there was something very unique and special about our relationship – an attraction to the hearts evidently seeking the Lord and desire to encourage one another in the faith. We have received wonderful, Biblical counseling from the elders and associate pastors here and it has been nothing but encouraging and beneficial. We have been super intentional about discussing things that are of great value and importance in any relationship, but purposely encouraging one another toward holiness through study of the Word, prayer, and fellowship among believers. The more time we spend together, the more confirming it seems that we may very well be headed toward a marriage covenant in God’s perfect timing…

My friend is absolutely amazing. I think it is awesome that she has found a church and met somebody, but the eloquence and complexity are very above par. I felt like I was reading a fine classic piece of literature.

I’m not picking on my friend or the the other guy, but I just have to wonder if your average joe talks and writes like this.

To me if I was “an outsider” reading this I would be very puzzled. Is the first guy that guy’s brother? Isn’t it weird that God put a book filled with James on a guys heart? Be encouraged by who’s word? What does sound teaching mean? Does that mean you can hear the teaching? What is an Elder, and why are they determining who you can marry?

I know the answer to all these questions and think that both of these quotes are awesome. I’m pumped that those two guys are encouraging each other to read scripture. I am definitely pumped that my friend has met an awesome guy. However, the only reason why I know this is because I was brought up in church all my life. I know the “stuff christians like” because I experienced it.

I am not advocating for the dumbing down of the Gospel, but I feel sometimes we just need to express ourselves in ways the normal family man with 2.5 kids can understand.

While I was in New York City I saw a common theme amongst many of the college students. These are people who are smart enough to get into some pretty good schools, yet many had gone to mass and church services all there lives and couldn’t explain to me what simple things like “Grace” and “Easter” are,

I have commonly referred to this type of thing as “Christianesse” but I think it is more than just using churchy words. I feel you can loose people by writing while expecting your audience to have a full understanding of the context.

It is not we aren’t talking about the right message. We are just presenting the message in a way that is hard to understand. The message we talk about is amazing and unchanging – no matter what way we present it. So lets present it in a way that everybody can understand.

Things have been going amazing up in NYC. This time next week I will be back in North Carolina! We are extremely busy this last week, but I came across a few links that I had to share!

Insights on Pro Presenter – An article from the guy who runs the Pro Presenter at Revolution Church. You have got to read this if you have anything to do with Pro Presenter of CG

Ed Young writes about Trash – This article was spot on. I have seen all these things put into practice at fellowship, and it does make a huge difference.

Crazy in Love – This is Newspring’s opener last week… amazing!

Pics from Revolution on Sunday – Awesome pics from Revolution. They show that you can go full tilt on production in a portable setting!

My Twitter – I had three twitter replies in one day… including one from Gary Lamb.