"Camping Trip"

Ever since Reagan could talk Michele has convinced her that "camping" is "going somewhere that has room service". Reagan really enjoyed "camping" last night in a place that had Pizza Hut on the room service menu... (Here she is in full "princess" mode)

Having a great time hanging out with the girls...Reagan wanted to swim (for about five minutes) ...watched the American Idol Finale last night propped up on a million pillows in bed...I was actually really surprised at the results. I have been a David "C" fan all through the competition but I really thought David "A" would win because of the "cutesy factor"... Glad I was wrong.

Now it's off to the conference for me and off to the Mall and Movies? for the girls...

In case you missed it...

In case you missed it Carly Smithson got voted off Idol last night. (recap) Brook White had to stop her song and start again when, as she admitted ,"completely lost the lyrics". That means that "America voted" and chose someone who clearly messed up their performance, was genuinely humble, admitted her mistake and "started again"-over someone with a "slick" "smooth" and "perfect" performance that the judges raved about.

...just something to think about when we are tempted to fake our way through a "perfect Christian" "performance" of life in front of our friends and family...maybe they would rather see "genuine" and "real", even "flawed" if we would be willing to apologize and "start over"...

Idol gives back...

I don't want Thursday to become "rant about Idol day" but... If churches think it's "OK not to be visibly "giving back" to the community and world because "we provide a service by meeting every Sunday." Why does the most watched show in America dedicate an entire night to "giving back"? Is it for purely "charitable" reasons? Or do they also have research to show that "doing good is good for business"? If I had to guess I would say both reasons motivate them...

32 men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do...1 Chronicles 12:32

(I think we still need to "understand the times" in order to know "what to do"....)

"Faking it"

Okay, I admit that I am not a Beatles fan...gasp! But guess what....most of the contestants on American Idol last night weren't either. The songs were "new" to them. Some of them admitted to hearing "their" song for the first time that week. The consistent theme of the show besides "sucking in general" was the judges saying, "These are great songs...but you just don't seem to have a real connection to your song"... In spite of all the contestants proclamations of "love" for the music of the Beatles (a couple were probably sincere) they couldn't fool the judges or the audience. If it's not "your song" it's hard to "fake it".

That's why I believe so strongly that being part of Gods kingdom plan for earth and living out your passions is the best way to live. You never have to fake it...

I can't believe I am saying this- Bring back the Bee Gee's theme night!

What I learned from American Idol...

Here's what I'm sure of after watching last night.

1. I'm tired of the "bad singers"...
2. A grown man in a cloak is Never a good thing.
3. Anyone who can rhyme "stalk her" and "Caulk her" is a musical genius and should be listened to! (and possibly put under surveillance by local law enforcement.)
   

...remember to say "thank you" when someone says you are a "sexyface".

Seacrest out.

What about homosexuals???

Since the story about actionchurch ran on the news this weekend I have had the opportunity to answer a lot of really great questions. I think I should answer one of the questions that I have been asked numerous times here on the blog, as it seems to be on many people's minds.

The question is:

Q: What do you believe the Bible teaches about homosexuality? Are homosexuals welcome in your church?

The answer is very simple for us...

A: The Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin...and all sinners are welcome at actionchurch!

We hope that people who attend actionchurch will turn away from their sin and become a follower of Jesus Christ...but even if they chose not to...all sinners are welcome. That includes "gay" sinners, "straight" sinners, religious sinners, non-believing sinners, people who will "sin" tonight by not watching the American Idol premiere...anyone! We are the church for people who don't like church and there is no one too "super-bad" to be accepted and loved by Jesus and actionchurch...nuff said.



19The Son of Man (Jesus) came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."


Matthew 11:19

"They should have eliminated Barry Gibb!"

Wow! I'm pleasantly surprised to see a "dude" still in the final three. Even if he is a "beat boxer"... Simon had it right about Lakisha "going home". As the show was ending my wife got a BIG laugh from me by saying. "They should have eliminated Barry Gibb!" I couldn't agree more!

It's not over!

I was thinking last night as I watched the Idol results show that it was about this time last year when Chris Daughtry was voted off...(He was #4) I'm sure at that moment it seemed like the biggest disappointment of his life. You know the "rest of the story", Chris has one of the Hottest albums and videos in the world right now. I love the album and am "selfishly" hoping that Daughtry stays on the charts because there are several of his songs I would love to use when actionchurch launches! ( Crash, Home, Used To, and It's not over.)

So where ever you are, however bad things appear to be, whatever setbacks you have suffered, no matter how impossible your situation looks...put a fist in the air, enjoy the video, and remember- It's not over!

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 NIV

Idol gives back...

I watched part one of "Idol gives back" last night. (Where was Bono?) There are two ways to look at American Idol's first charitable effort. One is that they are genuinely trying to help people by using the shows enormous popularity. The second is to think (cynically) that this is just an enormous publicity stunt to keep attention on the popular yet "aging" show. My personal opinion is that it is probably a carefully calculated combination of the two.

But what if "Idol gives back" is nothing but a publicity stunt? If so, it would mean that America's number one show, At&T, Ford, Coca-Cola, and many other top corporations think that donating millions to the needy will attract customers to their companies and increase their profits! It is yet another sign that we now live in a "compassion economy" where people choose their products based on the "good" they do for the world. Examples: Starbucks, Gap (RED), etc... The effectiveness of these current campaigns can be questioned, but the desire the public has to purchase such products cannot!

Do I think that churches should do good in a substantial way because it's currently "good marketing"? Nope, I think the church should be the most generous, charitable, and compassionate place on the planet because it was one of Jesus' primary commands! The fact that charity and generosity are currently "fashionable" is simply an opportunity for us to lead and not follow!

So what do we have to offer (as churches)if we choose not to be "part of this "new fangled" charity/compassion fad?) Bible knowledge? Yeah, that will do it...it's much too difficult to Google "bible study" on your laptop...people will just have to sit through a 90 minute church service if they want to learn about the Bible. "Fellowship"? Yeah, no one could possibly match our church picnics and potluck dinners...not bars, bowling leagues, Myspace, Tupperware parties,...no one. "Live Music"?... Yeah, that's finally it. No one can beat an under-rehearsed band with 13 back up singers singing "As the Deer panteth for the water"...definitely not MTV, VH1, American Idol, You tube, your local club, junior high talent show....Nope, no one.

What if we as churches offer the Good News of the Kingdom that Jesus preached? What if we cared more about doing good IN our communities, than looking good TO our communities? What if we actually lived like we would be judged by how we treated "the least of these"? What if we invited our friends and neighbors to join us in our mission-regardless of their "beliefs". What if we actually changed our community? Even though I've never voted for and American Idol contestant....I would "vote" for that!

Ya did Good Chris.

Michele and I were sorry to see Chris Sligh leave American Idol last night. (Note to guys, always blame girly-show-watching on your wife or girlfriend.) We were rooting for Chris because he was funny, very talented, had hair like Sideshow Bob, and was a worship leader at Seacoast Church. Although he didn't make the final ,I think Chris did a great job of showing that a follower of Jesus can be witty, fun, and very sharp. Way to Go!

"Musical nerd" note: I wonder if Chris had trouble with tempo in his songs because he normally plays guitar while he sings. A lot of "worship leader types" actually cue the band and keep their tempo on their guitar. Just a thought.