Church HOPPING

During our Staff Staycation last weekend we visited 4 churches.

Radiant Church, Christ Church of the Valley, Life Church and Genesis.


Being a sensitive (or defensive) pastor I don't want to pick on any of them. So here are some general observations without identifying which church I'm describing.

VANILLA - everything is so predictable at church. I'm all for liturgy but does it have to be so bland?

PRODUCTION - churches work hard behind the scenes. all the churches used videos and click tracks and lighting effects and "quiet please, ready...action..."

QUALITY - from the bulletins to the programs things were done well.

PREACHING - disappointing. one pastor showed pictures of political figures to cartoon characters and explained why they could be the anti-Christ. two used scripture to get across the point they wanted to make. one taught the word with depth, insight and passion - i liked that.

PEOPLE - kind cattle.

Visiting other churches was a great experience and think everyone should take a weekend every year to do it. It was fun to be unknown, like a mystery shopper, and see what God is doing in Phoenix. If I didn't have a church home, I don't know where I would go. This reminds me that church is not a place to go, but relationships shared.

The Extreme Center

Why do people leave the church?
Many reasons, but this is what I have heard...

You are too CATHOLIC, You are too NAZARENE, You are too CHARISMATIC, You are too EMERGING, You are too CONSERVATIVE, You are too CONTEMPORARY, You are too EMOTIONAL, You are too MISSIONAL, You are too RELATIONAL, You are CHANGING too much etc. etc.

Fascinating because I also hear we are too the OPPOSITE of the above concerns. I sense the reformation in the Church and society today is leaving behind this dualistic thinking. This is the day for Believers of the EXTREME CENTER to quit being polarized by preferences and embrace Christ as our identity and not any other label.

The Church's unity will be found in answering Jesus' prayer in John 17 and not in doctrinal disputes or finding the gathering that meets all my intellectual needs. I resonated with Rick Warren's comments while interviewing Obama and McCain when he said that we need to learn again how to disagree without demonizing the other. AMEN!

Wesley spoke of this a long time ago:

"Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences."

I am not there yet, but want to be. I look forward to the day when we are too JESUS.

What a Friend Needs...

I was hanging with two friends (Gabe and Tom) awhile back and we came up with a list of what a friend needs. When one is hurting we all want to help but don't always know how or what to do. We thought it is helpful if one person tells the other specifically what would help. Here's our list...

JUST LISTEN, initiate sex (from spouse of course!), Brainstorm Options, agree, SYMPATHY/EMPATHY, speak Truth, Remind me Who/Whose I am, real Prayer NOW, S-P-A-C-E, BE with me, RESOURCES - books, quotes, music, bible verse, ADVICE or Wisdom, Go with me, Do the hard thing with me, FUN/Pleasure, getaway-escape, Permission to EXPRESS!!! the good, bad and ugly W/OUT Judgment, BRUTAL Honesty, CHALLENGE me to ACT, relieve me of a responsibility, Discern my place/purpose in God's Story, Bible character Association, SHOOT the BREEZE, Give me a SECOND+ chance, FORGIVE me, REmind me to Forgive...

Campmeeting

The AZ/So. Nevada Nazarene District of 60+ churches gathered in Prescott for 10 days of services and fellowship.

Dr. Schortinghouse brought in 2 speakers: Jack Eyestone and Gary Haines.

Some thoughts:

• God is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Campmeeting was geared towards the Abraham generation with a few appearances for Isaac.
• Being a lover of expositional studies, I received little help from the preached word.
• Being Wesleyan in theology, I received little help from the "semi-eradication" in the American Holiness sermons.
• The Abraham generation was negative about the new proposal for a gymnasium and dormintory for children and youth. One pastor responded, "Why, ya'll be dead in 10 years!"
• There was wide consensus of disappointment, yet the regulars will return next year.
• Re-creation is needed not evolution.
• Self fulfilling prophecy from the denomination's decadel emphasis on children and youth: "You're Losing Us."