My Recent Travels Part One: Thirsty '07

One of the reasons I've been so behind in my blogging this month is I've actually been away more then I've been around. My first trip this month was back to Alpharetta, GA to the annual Passion: Thirsty conference. the conference is led by Louie Giglio and features speakers Andy Stanly and Francis Chan along with music led by David Crowder, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, and Charlie Hall. This year I was accompanied by my good friend Darryl. Here are the highs (and lows) of our trip:

Highs
Amazing Worship (I'm not a huge Tomlin fan but his 20 minute rendition of "Mighty to save" was incredible)
Great Speakers (Andy and Francis are by far 2 of the best communicators alive today)
Terrific Breakout Sessions (So much info my head hurt)
The Cheesecake Factory & Bahama Breeze ( Great food)
Making great time on our way down (Just like George, I love to make good time)
The David Crowder late night concert (we were about 6 feet from the stage)

Lows
Map Quest directions to our hotel (it took us 30 min to find our hotel which was only 1 mile away from the conference)
Crappy hotel (looked great on outside, then we went in)
Louie making Darryl mad (low for Darryl but a high for me)
Louie making up for it (high for Darryl, low for me. I was looking for a fight:)
Getting lost trying to leave Alpharetta (It took us over an hour to find the interstate and when we did we were in Atlanta)

Questions (& other random observations from Thirsty '07)
- Why do so many leaders feel the need to dress like the cover of GQ? Does that really attract more young adults to your ministry?
- Why do people feel the need to begin waving their hands in praise and getting very charismatic after just the first chord played on the first song of the service? Am I a bad Christian because I allow the worship experience to come to me instead of forcing it?
- Why does "Extended Stay America" no longer give wake-up calls?
- How can Andy Stanley manage a church of 20,000? I can barley handle a church of 80.
- Will I ever have a profound thought or statement?
- Do fancy lights and fog machines really add that much to the worship experience?
- Is there more then one bar in Blacksburg?
- David Crowder is the best live concert out there and Matt Redman is the best worship leader. No question about it.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My "Crazy Love" Small Group Discussion Questions

Image
I've had the opportunity to lead several small groups based of the Francis Chan book "Crazy Love". The discussion questions that come with the DVD study leaves a lot to be desired. So through my own personal questions and questions from other "Crazy Love" resources online I've been able to develope a more indepth study of the book. Below are the questions I have used for all 10 chapters of the book study. Feel free to use them as you'd like. Chapter 1: Stop Praying Stop and think about the last prayer you voiced. How did you begin? Our Father? Dear Lord? Jesus? What word or phrase did you use to start the prayer? Now, take a minute and consider the prayer you prayed before that prayer. How did you begin? Same word or phrase? Different? Sorta different or radically different? If you begin all your prayers in much the same way, ask yourself why. Read these words from G. K. Chesterton: A child kicks its legs rhythmically through excess, not absence, ...
Read more

Her Story: Does Satan really exist? Many United Methodists see evil as more subtle.

After spending much of my full time ministry life in the United Methodist Church, I found this article very interesting. It's written by Mary Jacobs and she nails the fact that most UMCers are scared to death to mention the "S" word (Satan) or the "D" word (Devil). Jesus stood up to him. Plenty of Christians talk about him. And some blame all sorts of evil on him. But likely you won’t hear his name tossed around much in a United Methodist Church. Could it be... Satan? “For the most part, you don’t hear mainline Protestants talking about Satan, the devil or the demonic,” said Jaime Clark-Soles, associate professor of New Testament at Perkins School of Theology. “I think we’ve handed that kind of language over to the fundamentalists.” Though Methodism founder John Wesley talked about Satan in his sermons, the United Methodist Church has no official doctrine on the devil or the demonic. Few Methodist ministers in the U.S., it seems, preach about Satan as a personal...
Read more

My Office Quotes: "Job Fair"

Michael Scott: Come here. [talking about Pam] I would never say this to her face, but she is a wonderful person and a gifted artist. Oscar: What? Why wouldn't you say that to her face? Pam Beesly: Michael. Do you remember you specifically told me to bring one sheet of paper. You said it only takes one sheet to make a difference. I said, 'are you sure Michael?' And you said, 'Pam! Pam! Pam!' And then you sneezed in my tea and then you said, 'don't worry it's just allergies.' Do you remember that? Michael Scott: Yeah, I'm trying to lure these kids into my booth. But, uhh, kids are very weary of being lured, these days. Thank you Dateline. Michael Scott: Yeah kiss her. Kiss her good. Andy: Short cut! Short cut! [goes flying out of a golf cart] I fell in the sand trap. Michael Scott: Today I am headed over to the job fair at Valleyview high school to find some new interns. Get some fresh blood. Um, euthanize this place. Andy: Hit about twelve...
Read more