Welcome to FPC! Smoking or Non-Smoking?

Reggie McNeal's book, Missional Renaissance, is rocking my world and shifting my thinking. Here's what I mean . . .

"He calls it the 'cigar bar church.' Every Sunday night, Chuck gathers a group of guys together around cigars and some drinks. They talk about everything--everything. Including God. 'These guys would never go to church,' he says. 'They'd shock everybody with their questions. Besides,' he adds, 'they don't let us smoke cigars in church.' Chuck is no rabble-rouser; he's an ex-pastor who grew frustrated at not being able to reach men with his church programming. . . . Chuck is providing a connection to the kingdom that doesn't come with all the church trappings that often obscure the primary point. Church is simple at the cigar bar: life is the issue; God is the conversation. Several of the cigar bar participants have become viral Jesus followers, infecting others with their newfound spiritual connections."

When Jesus commissioned his disciples to "Go into all the world and make disciples of all the nations . . . " He didn't anticipate large groups of people huddled together in buildings on Sunday mornings, singing "Christian songs", speaking "Christian language" and fighting for "Christian rights". He never planned for His church to be insulated from the culture. Instead, Jesus expected his followers to use what McNeal calls, "their life assignments as missionary posts to bless people." In our daily lives, in our closest relationships, in our spheres of influence, we are to represent God to people and people to God.

Here's a thought . . . instead of evangelizing people, which has digressed to mean "converting people to our world-view and convincing them to attend our church", try blessing people! In other words, be a priest everywhere you go - at the post office, school cafeteria, classroom, DMV (if that's possible), in the office, at the Y, when your shopping, getting your oil changed, paying bills, doing the laundry, or mowing the grass! Look for opportunities to love people, inspire people, and serve people! And do not allow anyone to tell you that you can't be a priest in a cigar bar - you can - by the way, we "church people" ought to be used to blowing smoke - don't you think?

Sunday's Random Thoughts

• FPC band rocked today! One of the best sets I've heard - incredible! From the opening song to the last note - I wouldn't have changed a thing - I would have just made it longer.
• We've packed almost 1,000 hygiene kits for Ecuador - giving them out in the prison and schools of Ecuador in less than two weeks - can't wait!
• Our new website for FPC is looking good - some new features that you're gonna love.
• The Ecuador Family BBQ was a success - I ate too much - way too much - but let's not talk about that anymore, ok?
• Ok, one more thing about the BBQ - Emil Verde's "Girdle Busting" dessert was off the chain delicious - even though I don't wear one - it busted by girdle wide open!!
• Our new series planned for August is going to be FUN, FUN, FUN!
• I'm sad about MJ - he died way too young - his creativity and talent was peerless.
• We've got some plans to expand the outreach abilities of FPC - let's do it - what are we waiting for??
• I'm going to speak to a group of women prisoners in Ecuador - what do I say to encourage them? I cannot begin to understand the pressure those women are under - God give me the words to say.
• I'm loving www.babelwith.me - check it out - those guys at Lifechurch.tv know what they are doing.
• Reading through Dallas Willard's book, Knowing Christ Today - great book!! - I wish that I would have read it two years ago - of course the book just came out a couple of months ago - I guess that would have been cool, though, huh?
• You know, every time I go to Ecuador I am reminded of a quote that I read from Wes Stafford (Compassion International) - "You can't out give the poor". So true, they always give us more than we ever give them - why is that??
• I'm sitting on my deck while my kids play in pool - what a beautiful night and what a beautiful life - it passes so, so quickly.
• Still trying to determine what I want to be when I grow up - trust me, I've got a lot of growing up to do.
• If my life ended today - like it has this week for Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Billy Mays and countless others - would I be happy with where I've been, what I've I accomplished and most importantly, who I am?
• The older I get and more road that is behind me the larger God becomes to me - He is closer than our next breath, yet so many of us live as if He is sitting on some distant star.
• I have to be honest - my prayers are getting shorter and shorter - it seems like the more I talk to Him, the more I miss what He has to say to me - AND HIS VOICE IS REALLY THE ONLY VOICE THAT MATTERS!
• Again, as always, I love my beautiful, talented and passionate wife with a love that I wish every man could experience - I am a lucky man!!
• Why do we have to sleep, there's just so much to do.
• I love you.
• Let's do it all over again, starting tomorrow - what do you say?

Sunday's Random Thoughts

• Today was great! Even though Summer is here and kids are out of school, attendance was good, people were engaged and I had a blast.
• I loved Bob and April's opening song - "Life is Beautiful" (I think that's the name) - really good.
• The lighting was great too - super job Britney!
• I am absolutely amazed at how well our Children's Ministry Team decorated FPC for Crocodile Dock - Lana and I are always impressed with those who pull VBS off every year - we wouldn't trade any of you for a year's supply of Muddy's coffee - or at least Lana wouldn't - I would consider it, sorry.
• I'm looking forward to the Wave conference in Virginia Beach this coming August - you need to go with us - call our office, if you're interested.
• The upcoming student trip to Asheville looks incredible - great job T.J.!
• Thanks Shelly S., Wendy B. and Pam P. for making our kiosk so helpful every Sunday morning for our guests and members - I'm so glad for what you do.
• Thin crust pizza is the best!
• VBS every night this week - 6:30 - 9:00 - it will be amazing to see and feel all the energy in the rooms throughout FPC - we love it when it is full!!
• Still reading Missional Renaissance - it is challenging everything I do - great read!
• I'm looking forward to our Staff meeting on Tuesday - I love serving along side of Bob, Michele, T.J. and Kate - I am blessed so much to have these people as my friends and team members.
• I enjoyed bringing the first part of White Space this morning - that one concept - it is ALL BY FAITH rocked my world years ago - I pray it ROCKS YOURS TOO!
• I liked my new podium - did you notice?
• I hated my headset mic in the 10 a.m. service - did you notice?
• We learned a new word this morning - skubala. Trust me, it happens.
• Personally, I think there is a lot of skubala going on in too many churches across our country - what say you?
• I'm tired.
• My kids are excited about school being out - sorry, but I'm not that excited yet.
• Ecuador is right around the corner - did you know that our team has already packed over 100,000 pills for our medical team - that is incredible!!
• I love you.
• I'm brainstorming again - look out staff.
• My wife is a great leader - she knows what to do, how to do it and does it with a great attitude - I saw that again on Saturday - I have learned so much from her.
• I can't believe I am the father of Evan, Ashlyn and Camryn - sometimes I'm overwhelmed by the thought.
• We're redesigning our website - it's looking good.
• We're getting a new logo - it looks slick.
• I love doing life with FPC.
• We need more room - to reach more people - to change more lives - to partner with more people - to expand God's kingdom - agree?
• Good night.

Church with Prostitutes!

What kind of church do I want to build? Within the last few weeks, I’ve been attempting to answer that question with ruthless honesty. All I can tell you is where I am right now - I want a church of: 1) radical inclusion (inviting and welcoming everyone—yes, I mean everyone), 2) radical grace (choosing love over law every-time), and 3) radical service (“washing the feet” of our community).

But, I must be honest. I’m embarrassed at how often I fail to embrace these qualities. Although I am in the process of being re-converted to Christ, there were many years I led people away from God. I preached equality every Sunday but was filled with racism throughout the week. I talked about how Jesus reached out to the hurting and the forgotten, yet excluded people, who lived a lifestyle or practiced behaviors that I considered an “abomination unto God”. I preached about becoming the hands and feet of Jesus, but denied it at home with Lana and my kids. For years I was a bigoted, arrogant and unchristian pastor—I wasted so much time and discouraged so many people from following Jesus.

What began my re-conversion? The beauty of God’s grace – it is as simple as that. His grace is blinding me to what I once saw clearly and opening my eyes to what I could not see before.

I’ll keep you updated on my progress.

What kind of church do I want to build? Maybe the following story will help define it a little more clearly. A few years ago I read about the beauty of God’s grace demonstrated in the life of Tony Campolo. Please take a few minutes and the read the following true story, for it reveals the kind of church that I want to build.

Tony had just arrived in Hawaii for a conference; because Tony had traveled from east to west, his biological clock was thrown off and he found himself hungry and unable to sleep. It was 3:00 a.m. and the only place open was a dirty donut shop in downtown Waikiki, run by a guy named Harry.

As Tony sat there at the counter enjoying his donut and sipping his coffee, in walked eight or nine prostitutes just finished with a night's “work”. They all sat down at the counter and Tony found himself uncomfortably surrounded by a group of smoking, swearing hookers, discussing their night on the street.

He was finishing up his coffee, planning to make a quick getaway, when he heard the woman next to him say to her friend, "You know what? Tomorrow's my birthday. I'm gonna be 39."Her friend said cynically: "So what do you want from me? A birthday party? You want me to get a cake, and sing happy birthday to you?" The first woman said, "Aw, come on, why do you have to be so mean? Why do you have to put me down? I'm just saying it's my birthday. I don't want anything from you. I mean, why should I have a birthday party? I've never had a birthday party in my whole life. Why should I have one now?"

Instantly, Tony had an idea. Instead of running off, he sat and waited until the women left, and then he asked the guy at the counter, "Do they come in here every night?" "Yeah," he answered. "The one right next to me," he asked, "she comes in every night?" "Yeah," he said,"that's Agnes. Yeah, she's here every night. She's been coming here for years. Why do you want to know?" "Because she just said that tomorrow is her birthday. What do you think? Do you think we could maybe throw a little birthday party for her right here in the diner?" A smile crept over the gruff man's face. "That's great," he says, "yeah, that's great. I like it."

Tony said he'd be back at 2:30 the next morning with some decorations and Harry promised to make a cake. At 2:30 the next morning, Tony returned with crepe paper and other decorations and a sign made of big pieces of cardboard that said, "Happy Birthday, Agnes!"

Together, they decorated the diner from one end to the other. Harry had gotten the word out on the streets about the party and by 3:15 it seemed that every prostitute in Honolulu was in the place. At 3:30 on the dot, the door swung open and in walked Agnes and her friend.

Everybody yelled together: "Happy Birthday, Agnes!" Agnes was absolutely overcome with emotion. Her mouth fell open, her knees began to shake and she almost fell over. And as the birthday cake with all the candles was carried out, she totally lost it and began weeping. Harry, who was not used to seeing a prostitute cry, gruffly mumbled, "Blow out the candles, Agnes. Cut the cake." So Agnes pulled herself together and blew them out. Everyone cheered and yelled, "Cut the cake, Agnes, cut the cake!"

But Agnes looked down at the cake and, without taking her eyes off it, slowly said, "Look, Harry, is it all right with you if...I mean, if I don't...I mean, what I want to ask, is it OK if I keep the cake a little while? Is it all right if we don't eat it right away?" Harry didn't know what to say so he shrugged and said, "Sure, if that's what you want to do. Keep the cake. Take it home if you want."

Agnes got off her stool, picked up the cake, and carried it high in front of her like it was priceless. Everybody watched in stunned silence and when the door closed behind her, nobody seemed to know what to do. They look at each other. They look at Tony.

So Tony got up on a chair and said, "What do you say that we pray?" And there they were in a dirty, run-down, donut shop with half the prostitutes in Honolulu, at 3:30 a.m. listening to Tony Campolo pray for Agnes.

When he finished, Harry leaned over to Tony and said, "Hey, you never told me you were a preacher. What kind of church do you belong to anyway? It was one of those moments when just the right words came. Tony replied, "I belong to a church that throws birthday parties for prostitutes at 3:30 in the morning." Harry thought for a moment, and said, "No you don't. There's no church like that. If there was, I'd join it."

So would half of Elizabeth City!

What kind of church do I want to build? A church that throws birthday parties for prostitutes at 3:30 in the morning! Do you want to help build a church like that? If so, get some party supplies and set your alarm!

Re-converting everyday,

Scott

A Preacher in Transition

I'm a preacher in transition. At times I get bored with church (and I'm the pastor). To be honest, some Sundays I don't want to go. I would prefer to sit at a local coffee shop with a few friends, drink a gallon or so of the bold blend and passionately discuss and debate the few things in life that really matter.

It may be rather discouraging for you to read this coming from a preacher and all - a pastor at that! But, I grow numb by all the religious "mumbo-jumbo" that so many churches spit out. Trust me, I've spit enough of it out over the years (I have an honorary doctorate in religious garb). It's just that I grow weary of "christians" and "preachers" boasting how "they have the truth" and how they are "changing the world" for God. Really?

Just the other day I read a few comments by a preacher's wife, she was going on about how she "made the devil mad" and then she followed it up with a cute, "and I am glad". (I wonder if she meant to rhyme? I think so.) Give me a break! I'll tell you who is mad - the hurting, forgotten, oppressed people of our world, who have prayed and believed that they would receive food, shelter and protection and yet little, if any, has come. I'll tell you who is angry, it's the homeless person, who sleeps on the doorsteps of a church and gets walked over everyday by the church staff on the way to lunch! You know who is furious? It's the homosexual, who is struggling with his/her identity and is filled with questions and who is coming to the church for acceptance, understanding, compassion and guidance but is met with rejection, judgment and ridicule. I'll tell you who is angry, it's the hundreds of thousands of women and children sold into slavery every year (many into the U.S.!) and although they have prayed to God that release would come, remain in bondage - that's who is angry - I doubt seriously that the preacher's wife made the devil mad because she had her "devotions" this morning, despite her headache.

(Back to my original thought, before the preacher's wife threw me off) I get bored at church because too many do not discuss matters of importance - like the number 26,500. Does that number mean anything to you? It should. It's the number of children who die everyday from preventable diseases - PREVENTABLE DISEASES!

In other words, just this week, over 185,000 children had the ability to live a long and productive life, but were not given the opportunity - why? (Come on, ask yourself the hard question.) Why did we allow 67,000,000 children to die in 2008 from diseases that could have been stopped? Why did all those parents have to say goodbye to their precious children and walk away from a cold grave, when we have the money, resources and ability to do something about it? Why do we seem to care more about our kids wearing a bicycle helmet than we do about other children, who will never have the chance to ride a bike?

Maybe it's because we think that our insider-focused church services and our predictable sermons and our devotional books in the morning "make the devil mad". From the way it appears, (if Satan has any emotions) he is probably more glad than mad.

Listen, I don't know the answers - but I do know that if we talked more about these issues in church and actually linked together to do something about it, I would stay engaged even during my own church service - so would a lot of other people.

As I said, I'm a preacher in transition - in other words, I'm becoming a Christian - want to join me?

That's just my rant - what's yours?