DISQUS

John, this is so right on. I began a 21 day Daniel fast at the beginning of the month but have been unable to come off it. On the 21st when I was supposed to end the fast, I felt an overwhelming burden for hurting people who are outside of a personal relationship with Jesus. I wept and prayed for much of the day and have continued to sense that we need a refocusing on what's important to the heart of God but that refocusing will not happen without significant trauma and hardship that will shift our paradigms. Keep praying brother, you are not standing alone.

"God is not green, kermit is...." This is vintage. I absolutely love it! Ben's comment that "salvation is cosmic in nature" is not only disconcerting to me, it's baffling. Last I read, this earth will ultimately be destroyed (no matter how hard we may try to protect it) and a new heaven and new earth made. It's the people that Jesus died for not trees! Just my two cents.

Tony, I really enjoyed this post. I am a Nigerian living and pastoring a multicultural congregation in Orlando, FL, so my eyes and ears perk up anytime I find something that further promotes this concept. I should tell you that celebration church in Jacksonville, FL (Stovall Weems) is the most amazing church I've seen in their ability to employ rap, hip-hop, R&B, rock and various other styles in their worship. They have definetely created their own sound and style and it is reflected in their congregations multicultural and multigenerational look. You guys should definetely check out his church.

Pretty interesting concept! Thanks for sharing.

Love the list. I agree with all of them except, I don't have an attitude this morning! :)

Amazing!!! We at http://www.churchatthewell.org will be getting involved in this project as well. It's an amazingly Kingdom minded opportunity to build a stronger network of relationships.

Wow! I'm so sorry to hear this. Having been Ted Haggard's associate pastor for many years, I know first hand what it feels like to experience the pain of betrayal and then deal with the reality of a major transition. I also know how devastating it can be on both families directly involved. I will pray. Our church will pray. And God will still be God no matter what.

I'd be lying if I said I was stunned. Unfortunately I've seen much worse! There's a guy from Australia who does a whole series ripping Rob Bell's NOOMA videos. Isn't it amazing that he spends 20 mins of his service ripping to shreds something that someone else is doing of value to the Kingdom yet he, in the same breathe he says that real Christianity is preaching "meat" from the Scriptures. Honestly, as hard as it may appear to be, we must pray for people like this who actually subvert the truth of the word of God believing that they are representing God. I can't wait to hear what he has to say about a "one word" conference titled "Unleash." :)

This may well be my all-time favorite of any blog post you've ever written. Great story! Thanks for sharing.

Seeing as your all so cool and current now, it's hard to believe that you actually looked so "dorky" at one time in your life. Hope your wife's eyesight is much better now. :)

Love the visual!

Wow, sounds like those of us who aren't there are really the dogs behind! Thanks for taking notes for me, there will be a pop quiz on this later. :)

I'd have to say without a doubt that I have been most impacted by the ARC conference at which Craig Groeschel spoke last year. It was at Celebration Church in Austin, TX. Having said that, I have really cooled off on the conference circuit over the last five or so years.

I say old boy, jolly good show on the post today. You know, there are always elocution lessons to be had, what, what!

Aaron, thanks for responding to my question. Your point is well made and well taken. Had you asked it as a rhetorical question I would certainly have concurred. Our motives are the primary factor in all of the guest blogs that you posted whether it be on fasting or short-term mission trips. Your question, "...what are we doing about it when we get home?" is a question I have been asking of Americans for years. Don't pay lip service to caring for the poor and the needy. It is much less hypocritical if you say that you have no interest in going (not that I support that idea) than if you decided to go because it was expected of you but your heart really wasn't in it.

Wow! I'd say there are a few heated comments here. I certainly see the value of the post and take the essence of its meaning, though I'm inclined to agree with Branden that the post title would seem to be more inclined toward shock value than actual accuracy. Depending on who you are, you could interpret that as sensationalism.

It is however (at least in my opinion) largely true to say that many people go on mission trips and think that the biggest sacrifice is giving up their comfortable way of life to "endure hardship" for a while among the less privileged of the world. As a Nigerian who pastors in the USA, I can tell you that no matter how much hard candy you hand out to the kids, no matter how many "gently used" clothes you distribute, no matter how many pictures you take with the "natives", they still watch you get back on a plane and jet off to your completely unrelated lifestyles, probably never even remembering the names of half the people you met. They are less interested in your "gifts" as they are in whether you really see them as equal to you in the eyes of the Lord. Make no mistake about it, the indigenous people of these nations can read your hearts.

Finally, as I end my dissertation :) I want to ask Aaron to clarify his statement "Compassion lends us to believe we are better humans than the subjects of our compassion." What does this mean? Are you suggesting that the idea of compassion is misplaced, and if so why do the Scriptures continue to tell us that Jesus was moved with compassion at the plight of the lost, the poor and the hurting?

Just to throw you off a bit so that you'd think I was female, mine would be Hillary Hostetler

Aaron,

I hear what you're saying, however, I don't think the concept of quiet time is quite as simplistic as a comparison to a meeting at Starbucks. It is true to say that we live in a world in which media distractions are ubiquitous. If I'm trying to have a conversation with someone I love yet I'm distracted by TV, or music or some other such influence, it's fair to say that my conversation will hardly be of any substance or depth. Whether it's the semantics of the term "quiet time" that you disagree with, I imagine you certainly are not opposed to the idea of prayer in a place of isolation in much the same way Jesus did when he had fed the five thousand and then retired to a secluded place for upwards of six hours.
By the way, thanks for showing some love to the Clarks on my blog.

How about I just watch all the great stuff God is going to do in and through him rather than his face?

Tony,

Since I've started to follow yours and Perry's blogs, I've been blown away by what God is doing in the life of your church, and by how you guys seem to take it all in stride and remain authentic. It's truly an admirable quality and I pray that your church will continue to lead the way in innovation, creativity and caring for people.

That's pretty profound Tony. I love it. I believe the Holy Spirit works through "decently and in order" and considering my audience so that I communicate effectively is all about decently and in order.

You just think so 'cos you haven't seen my son! Is your son 6'3", 240lbs of muscle, with a 32" vertical, and a super athlete? If you can't answer yes, then I know my son can take your son on the court. Come to think of it, I can probably take you on the court too. Let's set it up.:)

You're a funny guy!!!