Here are a few websites I think are very cool. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have:

Since we gearing up to elect a new President soon…here is my favorite site “today“…very fun to watch

You know I love me some music…here are a few of my favorite videos

I’m a fan of Sigur Ros. This is my favorite video.

Sometimes I have those days at work that you just feel like a worker bee…Menomena said it best

I enjoy me some Arcade Fire…here you can enjoy them too.

Oh, here is a Great Christmas show

unChristian continued…

I grew up in church but it wasn’t until I was in seventh grade and living in a new state that I made a serious decision to follow Christ. It was mostly due to being excepted in the new place by older, more mature youth. Prior to that church my family attended a rather larger church in Memphis, with a rather arrogant youth group…hard to fit in if you didn’t grow up in the church or your family didn’t have money (most of the teens attended the private school).

So here I was in this new city, new church, new friends, and I decided I’m going to be serious about Jesus. Didn’t take long before I was handing out tracts at school and spending my Saturday mornings (and afternoon for that matter) going door-to-door evangelizing the neighborhoods. Sounds funny now because I’m so opposed to such forms in sharing Christ, but that was what I was told a “good’ Christian did on his Saturdays.

I’m sharing all this because the next chapter of unChristian is addressing the issue non-Christians have with Christians – that we are too concerned about getting people saved. Which I agree and disagree – we are called to make disciples, to share our faith. But I think we go about it the completely wrong way, which the book address nicely (again you should read it).

Did you know that most people between the age of 16-29 have at some point attended church or considered Christianity? Most have accepted Christ, but their faith dissolved after 18 months. I don’t believe that they were ever actually Christians. Which makes the job of telling people about Jesus harder. The problem is that they just didn’t see anything real and/or never experience a authentic conversion. I know “who am I to decide who is save or not?” But salvation takes time – it just the beginning at the alter (wherever that may be?).

It the last five years I have begun to see salvation and the whole conversion issue different. I don’t see it as a all out “lets get everyone saved today before they all burn in hell!” First, there is no room for relationship and no distance for a journey. Jesus came to earth and introduce a different relationship. The Pharisee always view it as “get in or your out” approach and many “sinners and tax collectors” chose out – until Jesus came. He sat with them, ate dinner with them, lived in peace with them. He was fully God but didn’t approach them as “I’m not your friend to get you in and I’m your find even though you may chose to remain out.” He was making disciples which starts with believing with your heart and then confessing with your mouth.

I don’t believe handing out tracts, going door-to-door, preaching in public on a box, or striking up a conversation with a stranger so you can invite them to your church Sunday is Christian – what maybe Christian in the way we know it – but not Christ-like or Godly. People desire friendship and with time and conversations people see Jesus and ask — “bang” you realize your making disciples.

Many thoughts have been through this little brain of mine in just three weeks of this new year.  I have so many questions. Many doubts and many hopes.  A friend shared this with me, how to have an exceptional new year, and after reading this literally SIX TIMES today (yes, it was a bad day!) this has helped my mentality and hope that each day those “energy vampires” will go away.

Enjoy.

1.    Take a 10-30 minute walk everyday. Smile while you walk. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2.    Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you must.
3.    Buy a TiVo (DVR) and tape your late night shows, so you get more sleep.
4.    When you wake up in the morning completed the following statement: “My purpose is to _____________.”
5.    Live with the 3 E’s: Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
6.    Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.
7.    Make time to practice meditation and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8.    Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
9.    Dream more while you are awake.
10.    Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat fewer foods that are not manufactured in plants.
11.    Drink plenty of water.
12.    Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13.    Clear all clutter from you house, car, and desk; and, let a new energy flow into your life.
14.    Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, past issues, negative thoughts and things you cannot control.  Instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment.
15.    Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum. They appear and fade away, like algebra class.  But, the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16.    Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
17.    Smile and laugh more. It keeps energy vampires away.
18.    Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
19.    Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20.    Don’t take yourself so seriously.  No one else does.
21.    Don’t try to win every argument.  Agree to disagree.
22.    Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
23.    Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
24.    Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, and wear that fancy underwear because TODAY IS special.
25.    No one else is in charge of your happiness except you.
26.    Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ‘In five years, will this matter?’
27.    Forgive everyone for everything.
28.    What others think of you is not your business.
29.    Time heals almost everything. Give healing time.
30.    However good or bad the situation, it will change.
31.    Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Family and friends do that. Stay in touch.
32.    Call your family often.
33.    Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
34.    The best is yet to come.
35.    No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.
36.    Do the right thing!
37.    Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
38.    Each  night before you go to bed complete the following statements: ‘I am thankful for _______.’ And “Today I accomplished _______.”
39.    Remember: You are too blessed to be stressed.
40.    Enjoy the ride. Life is not Disney World and you certainly don’t want a fast pass.  Make the most of life and enjoy the ride.

Okay, I don’t want to give this movie away so I’ll work really hard to not slip up…but fair warning there may be some spoilers in this blog.

I like this movie! It wasn’t the best flick I’ve seen but it was an interesting way to film a movie about a (almost said it) crashing New York City. At first I was getting sick because the whole movie is filmed through a hand held camera in the hands of screaming New Yorkers running for their lives. So you find yourself getting dizzy and sea sick. But often enough they slow the movie down so you can see what is happening, who is being hurt, and where they are in the city. They also use camera tools (camera light, night vision, time stamp) to really make it feel real. They also show newscast on televisions in stores so you can see what is happening more professional. Plus for all the girls out there its all tied around a love story.

It was a good ride for the money and something I will see again (just so I can see what I missed). I recommend see thig movie…but maybe after the crowds clear. I had to see between a family of four (sharing popcorn0 and a PDA couple.

This post is apart of the unChristian book review. However, I’m not going to give you a snap shot of what is in the book (because I think every Christian should read it) –I’m going to “blog” how I see it in my life. Here is the first: Hypocritical.

I know I’m a hyprocrite because I’m a sinner. I know I preach one message and often live another. I don’t think this is too different than what I see in Bible. Jesus saved his “best” comments for those who proclaimed to be close to God. Look at Matthew 23, “outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled hypocrisy and lawlessness (v.28). And this: “You are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are filthy – full of greed and self-indulgence” (v.25). Jesus even points out what awaits the hyprocrite, “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law…hyprocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either” (v.13)

Sad but I see myself more like a “teacher” in His comments. I so often keep myself and others out of His presence with saying one thing and doing another. Paul in Romans 7.14-16 said it best: “… I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. Like Paul, I know that all God’s commands are spiritual, but I’m not. Isn’t this everyone experience?” Yes. I’m full of myself—after all, I’ve spent a long time in sin. What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. That is why I cling to the Bible. I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, so it’s obvious that God’s influence is necessary.

I think this is the story of every Christian. Right? But we are viewed as hypocrites because we don’t confess we have a sin problem. We chose to proclaim our morals and force them on our neighbors (and world), but never proclaim “We’re messed up! I’m life is crooked” Maybe its pride? self-righteousness? fear? But we have to start being honest about our faith. We chose to follow God because we know we need help every second of the day and we can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for ourselves much less anyone else. We just know God can make a difference…I know He has in my life.

I’m a hyprcrite and I’m Christian! First confession of many.

I’m mad at God! Okay, I said it. Maybe mad is too intense? I’m frustrated with Him.

A few months ago my daughter was born and my whole world was turned inside-out and upside-down. I love being a father. I value my daddy daughter days and will miss them when they are gone. But about the time my daughter was born we decided it was time for our next challenge – the challenge of full time ministry. We have always been bi-vocational pastors. Long story short – no full time experience in ministry equals no interest from churches. We’re okay with that – we really want to be in the church planting world – but that, too, is a hard place to get paid. But over the last eight months we have lost focus of what we want to do. I’m growing less and less interested in full time ministry and even more unsatisfied with bi-vocational anything.

If God would only open doors for us (laughing to myself). Sounds so vain! I’m a guy who daydreams a lot and works best when I can focus on goals (helps control the daydreaming). But having nowhere to be my confidence and courage, I feel I’m wasting time in doubt and searching for help. Nothing to keep my head in the clear.

There is a song by a band called Mute Math that says “every moment of time just an answer to find…what you’re here for, what you breathe for, what you wake for, what you bleed for…” I’ve always had that “side” thing in bi-vocational ministry (my church plant) for the last seven years. Now I go to work at the same job and have nothing else to look toward. I’m frustrated and feel a little stuck.

The more I lie in bed and stir at the ceiling I realize I’m annoyed with myself. Why don’t I know what makes me happy? Why can’t I be clear what I want to be remembered for when I die in 50+ years? Sometimes I feel like I have more “Whys” than “Because”.

So really I’m angry with Chris. More frustrated with the guy in the mirror.

I grew up pentacostal and made jokes with the best of them…but I just learned about his website that made me fall out my chair laughing.

www.holyghosttees.com/

You have to check it out.

When you looks at Jesus, read his story, study his words what do you find his against? I mean really, what did he oppose, who did he push back, when was he the most angry? I think religious leaders were always trying to discover what was Jesus against? The problem was there were enough people in opposition to something; He came to proclaim what God was for.

We have the same problem today. In the second chapter of UnChristian they ask the question, “Why so Negative?” They try to discover why people in this generation are hostile toward current Christianity. Their answer is Christianity has become famous for what we oppose, rather than who we are for. We are considered to be entrenched thinkers, antigay, anti-choice, angry, violent, illogical, empire-building, convert-focused people who can’t live at peace with others. That doesn’t sound like Jesus? That wasn’t what He came to proclaim.

Actually their researched revealed six broad themes that are most commonly raised by outsiders. These reflect the very real ways in which the Christian community has mistakenly portrayed itself to a skeptical generation. These themes will be the content for the rest of the book and blogs.

1) Hypocritical. Outsiders view Christians as people who say one thing and do another. We act polished and clean-cut that is not accurate. We give the impression that the church is only a place for virtuous and morally pure people.

2) Too focused on getting converts. They feel like targets, rather than people. They question our motives when we try to help them. They wonder if we are only trying to get them “saved,” despite the fact that many have already tried Jesus and experienced church before.

3) Antihomosexual. It’s no surprise we are considered bigoted and show disdain for gays and lesbians. We think we can “fix” them or cure the homosexual by leveraging political solutions against them.

4) Sheltered. No shocker! Even those inside the church view church as old-fashioned, boring, and out of touch with reality. The world is complex and the answers aren’t simple. We are viewed as not willing to deal with the grit and grime of people’s lives.

5) Too political. I wish I was reading this chapter now as the Iowa presidential caucuses is today, this view deals with the thought that Christians are right-wingers. We’re perceived as overly motivated by a political agenda, that we promote and represent politically conservative interests and issues.

6) Judgmental. We are thought to judge others too quickly and we are not honest about our attitudes and perspectives about other people. People doubt that we really love them as we say we do.

Let me make a point: one the book is a research and two you may not agree with the views of outsiders but you should not ignore them. These are real views and criticisms that are even more supported if they go unanswered. By looking at these views it helps us respond to them better and them to us. It keeps us objective and reminds me that views can change and these views of Christianity can change too (if we respond well). Last, views are rooted in stories…real stories with real emotions. If nothing else this is a wakeup call to us all. This chapter is so much deeper than I can give justice in a blog, but know these views are not created in a vacuum.

I look forward to discussing “Hypocritical” in the next blog.

Something about the clock turning midnight and once year we make new goals and plans.  We list all the things we want to change about us and the world around us. It happens once a year – New Years Eve.  But I’m not ready to put 2007 behind me, I think I can learn a lot about 2008 from it.

I think 2007 has taught me a lot.  January I learned I was having a little girl and I think I got soft.  Not bad soft, but “grandfather” soft.  If you knew my papa Goad (mom’s dad) who had three girls (no boys) you would understand – good soft.  February and March are big months for Summer and I because you have Valentine’s day and our anniversary.  We both think during February and March we grew closer and learned to harmonize better together.  Nothing external really changed but having a baby together really brings two lives together into one.  The month of May was huge for us because Tatum was born (late).  Our world turned upside down and I will never look back to life without her.  June life slowed way down.  We had a baby and I turned thirty and I feel old (I hope wiser).  But you know what they say – thirty is the new twenty. August I did something opposite of most dads – I started staying home with Tatum on Thursday and Friday.  Something I will always remember and cherish – Daddy/Daughter Days. September we decided to leave Southwest Family Fellowship, probably prematurely?  But it was the timing of God.  I also watched a good friend leave Austin and move out of state.  I learned that friends aren’t cheap and value them when their near.  October we decided to start a church and put our house on the market, November we decided to slow down and wait on starting a church, and December we just waited (do we go/stay, will our house ever sale, what does God want us to do?).  Our 2007 taught me many lessons but the most important was God & family are first – everything else needs to get inline.

What I look for in 2008?  We decided to get completely out of debt.  Everything goes – car debt, student loan debt, credit card debt, house debt!  If we had to ask someone else to use their money to support our life style it is being repaid in full (plus some…interest).  We both are working toward losing weight – me more than Summer (she doesn’t have anything to lose).  We looking at our family time as more valuable than our social time, but I’m personally working harder on friendships.  I’ve always had this fear I will fail my friends so I let few get close – but that is a horrible way to live (without friends).

Here is what I’m asking God about 2008.  Where will we be (location) in December 2008?  Who will I meet this year that I have role in their life to play and the same for them?  Where will we get the money to pay off 100% of our debt?  How will we live after we are debt-free?  What happened to my life purpose – to start churches?  Is my life purpose evolving?  How can Summer and I embrace our purpose together?

Sometimes we have more questions than answers.

Sincerely,
Chris