the postmodern pop pastor

Being billed as Willow Creek repenting... it seems that Hybels and his brothers have come to see that some of what they have done for 30 years just might not be producing spiritually mature believers.



This is a preview to more of their findings from surveying their own people.

Read CT's article.

See Hybel's longer video what he calls the the wake of call of my adult life.

No matter what you or I think of Willow, this is very responsible and respectable leadership. I have eagerly waited for repentance to come along with Rick Warren's very godly move into social justice. It would have served the church well if he had admitted that he was blind to this need for decades until the younger evangelical movement taught him the love of God for the poor and oppressed.

All that said, Hybel's findings seem to be that people need people not programs, need individual attention instead of programs and need personal responsibility instead of programs. Hmmm...profound.

Labels: church, community, leadership, spiritual disciples, spiritual formation, stewardship

Smokey sunset outside my Southern California window. They say the fires may reach the ridge outside Corona tonight. The smoke and ash is amazing this morning.

The reports are saying this is the worst natural disaster since Katrina. It really has been a bizarre experience. We have not been directly hit, so we work, meet, watch tv just like normal. But the smoke is rising in almost every direction we look and it hangs low over our already polluted valley. Its dark, heavy and everything smells like campfire. Friends and family have been evacuated and we are still waiting to hear about their homes.


Its a fallen world. We all still need a savior.

Labels: california, fall, fires, sin

In what ways does this remind you of church? Does the teacher know your name? Is the information all up front? Do you read the book before class? (That is, THE Book). Does it have any connection to your real life? What difference would technology make? Good? Bad? How?

Labels: communication, community, education, school, technology

I would normally be in Langley B.C. this week meeting for DMin studies. I feel the loss of the presence of my good friends and the encouragement to be a better pastor. My cohort is done with classes, but some of the brothers and sisters are together this week. I pray that it goes well and the Lord does that deep work in you while there that the trip has always been for me.

Labels: Canada, friends, pastor, school

Took this today at the pumpkin patch with my new camera. It will take some getting use to, but the kids are willing victims. Here's Meg holding her gourd. :)

I’d never seen anything like that before. We’ve only been in Seattle for a year, so I wondered if I’d misunderstood Seattle hospitality (or lack thereof). In Vermont, a place known for its “keep to yourself” attitude, they at least took pains to make their homes appear welcoming. In New England, a red door traditionally signals “welcome” to all who see it. (I first thought that Vermonters had horrible color matching skills, until someone told me about the tradition.)
After my encounter with the unfriendly welcome mat, I walked around my complex, taking stock of the different mats. Many places didn’t have mats at all, which made me wonder how people kept all the Seattle mud out of their homes. I saw several “Welcome” style mats, ones you might find at the local hardware store.

Labels: friends, friendship, hospitality

Next Sunday I will be preaching in the place of a Pastor Bob Burris at Taft Avenue Community Church in Orange, CA. Bob will be leading a team to China on a missions trip.

I will be preaching a text I've preached before...its a text I love from Luke 13, the woman bound for 18 years. I dont have any trouble preaching a sermon again because I believe that God uses the preached word in the hearts of his people. The different thing for me in this is that I wrote this sermon for my people, those I love and live and sin with every day. I will need to rewrite some of it.

Pray for me in this. I wish the Word of God to be used by the Spirit of God as a gracious healer, gentle encouragement and strong deliverer in the lives of my brothers and sisters in Orange.

Labels: preaching

Almighty and everlasting God,you are always more ready to hear than we are to prayand to give more than either we desire or deserve:pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ your son our Lord,who is alive and reigns with you,in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Labels: offices, prayer

My friend Pete has been guest blogging over at A Sermon a Day. He has been sharing some of his favorite sermons that can be found online. I've listened to many of them over the last week. That got me thinking, here are a few I love.

Cal Seerveld, "The Halo of Human Imagination" - more a lecture than a sermon, but my favorite lecture ever.

Rob Bell, "The Goat Has Left the Building" I know, I know, I dont agree with everything he says either, but this sermon is fantastic! Unfortunately, you have to buy it. I just cant delete it from my IPOD. I've listened to it a dozen times at least. I could listen to the last 7 minutes every day.

You know, I really cant think right now. I'll get back to you, but those two are great.

Labels: art, audio, preaching, sermons, teaching