Tour de Floyd

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Floyd_1With Lance Armstrong in retirement and the Tour de France field torn up by a doping investigation, American Floyd Landis has taken advantage in today's stage (bad hip and all) and will almost certainly be the last man wearing the maillot jaune (yellow jersey) after arriving in Paris tomorrow.  He leads by 59 seconds. 

I remember learning about Floyd back in 2002-2003 and wondering if he was the guy who would follow in Lance's footsteps.  I guess we have our answer, at least for this year.  Floyd will have off season hip surgery though, it's that bad, and that may make future wins very difficult.

Phriday is for Photos: Special Edition

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Every day is Photo Phriday when a picture is this good. 

Joe Thorn and I were photographed by Olan Mills at the Southern Baptist Convention.  I just received it in the mail and couldn't resist scanning it and putting it up.  The photographer thought it was funny, but a few SBC'rs walking by the booth seemed a little freaked out.  Imagine trying to take this pic and keep a straight face!

Some of you will be offended by it.  When you are offended and choose to tell me, it won't be a surprise.  So save your fingers from violently typing your thoughts and laugh with us.

I think it's unbelievably funny and still laugh out loud whenever I see it.  It's really the continuation of a running joke.  Enjoy!

Crisis in Generica

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Read Mark Van S' post on the Crisis in Generica (his name for suburbia).  A blurbia...

These days, when we think of Genericans, we think of vacuous, vapid,consumers. Lonely plastic-people who pretend that everything is all right. Urban folk, and rural folk, both are suspicious of such plastic people. In our cities and towns the problems are obvious. The poor folk aren’t hidden. Our lives are lived in public. When we go to the streets of Generica (those streets with deceptively pretty names), everything looks the same…the pleasant exteriors betray the brokenness of their residents.

And in response, the Suburban church–the Church of Generica seeks to save these people by catering to their broken impulses. We feed the individualism by giving them individualized sermons (David Fitch can detail this phenomenon much better than I can). We try to attack the isolation by introducing small groups (which are usually pretty anemic and unoffensive…being centered on things like the Purpose Driven Life). And so the Generican Church tends to have the same ailments as the Generican people–and all their blessings as well (like resources and a value of excellence).

A spiritual crisis is growin in Generica. The people are dying there. They have money, but it has secured their sense of disillusionment. Materialism grows, but the people cry out for substance. They moved out to the burbs to find sanctuary, but they crave relationship.

But as missional pioneers emerge–those uniquely envisioned folks that can utter prophetic voice to their brothers and sisters in Generica–they flee to the cities with their obvious problems. Urban has its own challenges, to be sure, but it is easier to be missional in the city, in many ways, than it is to be missional in the burbs. Generica needs missional leaders. Missional leaders who reject the homogeneous unit principle (the idea that folks don’t like crossing cultural boundaries so we should do church in a way that appeals to particular cultures rather than being mulit-ethnic in our approach), who reject consumerism and materialism, who embrace authentic community, who care about the poor and the marginalized should come back to the suburbs and minister there. Generica is growing in its diversity. Generia has its poor. And most of the churches in Generica tend to assume that issues of race and poverty and crime are urban issues. But new churches must come to Generica.

Churches that value social justice.

Churches that cross cultural boundaries.

Churches that challenge consumerism.

Churches that build authentic community amidst fracture.

Who will respond to the cries for healing in the broken land of Generica?

Read Crisis in Generica.

Acts29 Boot Camp: San Diego

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I want to encourage any of you who are interested in planting a church, replanting/renewing a church, or just learning to be a better pastor or church leader to attend the Acts29 Boot Camp in San Diego.  There will be some really good guys speaking there including David Fairchild, Scott Thomas and Daniel Montgomery.  It's at Kaleo Church where my friend Drew Goodmanson is an elder.

My Acts29 Boot Camp experience was in Dallas last fall.  It sparked much conviction about my calling and direction in ministry.  It was also life-changing for my wife.  I highly recommend it.

Joe Thorn: Akin on Alcohol

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Joe Thorn has a biblical response to Danny Akin's Baptist Press article: The Case for Alcohol Abstinence.  A blurb...

There has been a lot of talk about “wisdom” in the middle of thisdiscussion. I agree we must pursue, and pray for wisdom. But “wisdom” is not law, and it is often subjective. What is wise for one man, may not be wise for another. I will agree in saying that abstaining from alcohol may be “the wise thing” for some people, but to suggest that it should be the behavior of all people is not only unwise, it is unbiblical.

Go to Joe's post and discuss it.

Alcohol and Biblical Greek

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Here's a little light-hearted fun for your afternoon.  Please tell me what is wrong with this statement from the Summer 2006 issue of the Southern Seminary TIE (first found at Mere Comments 1 1/2 years ago).  Russ Moore writes...

I do know Greek, but I still believe that "teetotalism" is the best option for my church in the contemporary cultural context. I'm a convinced Protestant who believes in sola Scriptura and sola fide without reservation.

Sacred Space Ministry

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Imago Dei in Portland, where Rick McKinley is pastor, has started something called Sacred Space.  From the Sacred Space website...

sacred space is an urban renewal project spearheaded by Imago Dei Community.

sacred space emblemLast fall, nearly two hundred people got together on a sunny September day with a vision. The team descended upon St. Francis Park in SE Portland to serve in an amazing renovation project with over $5,000 in resources raised. The park was transformed from a blighted area into sacred space.

After a year of dreaming, praying, and planning, our vision has grown.

And it’s still growing.

On August 12, we expect one thousand people will come together to bring restoration, resurrection, and renewal to about fifty spots around Portland, Oregon.

With shovels and rakes, hammers and nails, hard work, healing, and laughter.

We’d love for you to be a part of it.  Look for signup information soon.

the idea

plantSacred Space is about recalling our duty to preserve creation by reclaiming harmony with God’s Kingdom: the way things should be. We are committed to a missional journey of actively repairing the broken places all around us, partnering with God to restore our divinely-created habitat.

We want to engage the city in this process of regeneration, planting seeds of hope and nurturing the faith that we can make life better together. We believe that God invites people from all beliefs into this progressive movement. As we combine our talents we experience authentic community rich in meaning, truth, beauty and worship.

Jesus Loves Porn Stars

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Jesus_loves_porn_starsIf you haven't seen the ABC news piece on the XXXChurch.com's Jesus Loves Porn Stars Bible, you should.  I find this issue fascinating and important.  Craig Gross and others in this ministry go to porn expo's and give away Bibles that have some Christians displeased, including Al Mohler (as the video shows).  More from Mohler at his website.

Please watch the segment and let me know what you think.