Is Jesus the Only God?

Very cool video from Mark Driscoll

You Version

Here is something new and cool. It's called You Version.

It basically a community Bible developed by the Lifechurch team. On the left side is the Bible, on the right side are posts based on whatever passage you highlight.

What a great idea!

What a great church!

Today my church did something they really didn't have to do. They took some time with us to explain why it is they do the things they do. I thought it was pretty cool.

I attend the contemporary worship service at Frazer UMC. Click here for a link. As you know, contemporary worship is sometimes bashed in churches because of the music, drama, pop-culture references, casual atmosphere, etc.. that is present. Sometimes people just don't get it and assume the worst. They think any reference to pop-culture is from Satan, anyone wearing jeans to church is going to hell, and any rock and roll music is an abomination. Contemporary church leaders everywhere probably get at least one strong comment a week on what they are doing incorrectly.

Well, if you could have heard the passion and heart of John Schmidt and Rob Webster, the leaders of contemporary worship at Frazer, today...you would have to think otherwise. Here is a brief outline. I was proud of them! They opened up and explained why they create the atmosphere they do, from music choice to words on the screen. They covered it all. Ultimately, it is 100% about reaching people and doing everything they can to encourage all people, both believers and non-believers, to live out the principles of Scripture. The guys are absolutely passionate about it.

It's a privelige to worship at a place like that. Where they don't let the traditions of men get in the way of reaching people where they are. It reminds me of this passage in Romans 14:17-18, "For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too."

Way to go John and Rob, truly doing work for the Kingdom of God and a couple of my real life heroes!

I like Jesus...not the church

Eye catching title to an article recently published in Outreach Mag.

Here is the link

The article says that these are the top perceptions of how 20 & 30 somethings view the church today:

1) The Church is an organized religion with a political agenda.

2) The Church is judgmental and negative.

3) The Church is dominated by males and oppresses females.

4) The Church is homophobic.

5) The Church arrogantly claims all other religions are wrong.

6) The Church is full of fundamentalists who take the whole Bible literally


I wonder if people in my town have this same perception of my church?? I wonder what I could do to change that perception?? Are these perceptions legit?? Something to ponder huh...


The article, which I recommend reading, closes with this statement that I completely agree with:

"May those who like Jesus but not the Church understand the Jesus of the Bible and the full, wonderful life that His life, death and resurrection bring. And may they move from liking Jesus to loving Him, and from not liking the Church to loving it."