FURTHER PROOF: SOMETIMES LIFE STINKS!

I've been trying to put myself in Xavier Nady's shoes this evening.
Just imagine - yesterday he was a vital part of the National League leading Mets who had just swept their arch-rivals, the Braves for the first time since just before the Battle of Gettysburg.

One of his teamates is in an accident, will probably not pitch agan this season and suddenly the club has a major problem. So they get two mediocre pitchers from the Pittsburgh Pirates (they used to be a baseball team) and give them Nady in return.

From penthouse to outhouse in one phone call, which he apparently got while walking on the beach with his fiancee!

There's no other way to put it, life does stinkl at times. It's what we do with it all that is the making or otherwise of us.

WHAT TO DO?

Thanks for praying for Mike's dad - he's holding his own over in sunny Arizona, so let's believe for continuing recovery.

We should have been leaving for JFK right now, heading for the peace of Scotland and some time with Gill's sister-in-law who last month had more surgery for bowel cancer. Thankfully she is doing very well, so we'll catch up with them at some point in the future since we now have a credit with good old British Airways.

Staying here was a no-brainer and to be honest, there's so much going on in our preparations for our September relaunch that I'm sort of glad we won't be going far. We'll probably carve out a few days here and there over the next couple of weeks to kick back and enjoy one of the Island's many beaches, but the main thing will be staying available to Charlotte and particularly to Mike's family.

We've got a barrel-load of the stuff we need for September - video camera, plasma tv for Big Screen Cafe, furniture for The Chapel, invitations, etc, but there's a lot that's still in the works and if I'm nearer home we can keep pushing it along.

I love visiting Scotland and catching up with people I've known for 30 years in the tiny villages of Cairnbulg and Inverallochy, but they'll be there another time as will the special memories of the past that are wrapped up over there.

Focusing on the future will continue to be front and center for the next few weeks!

SHOT!

Running on four hours sleep last night is catching up on me, but this has been a good day. Got to spend some more time with Jonathan, Donna and the kids before taking Jonathan into Manhattan this afternoon for him to prepare for the next few days of design shows, etc.

It was a great morning, with a bunch of good things going on -

1. A YWAM team was outstanding in our alternative service Altered. I'm looking forward to making that a part of our weekly schedule from September 10th.

2. In Worship Central we actually had a full band, which was quite a change from the decimated group we had last week. We even had a guest keyboard player who knew his way up and down the notes well!

3. I think my last part of the series went over reasonably well, sonsidering I was brain dead after an eventful night.

4. Although I arrived a lot later than usual today, everything was in place. I know my presence is not really needed at 7.00am on Sundays, but I just like to be there from the start of preparations. Every Sunday has been in preparation for several months - I love it when the time comes to get everything under way.

5. Our tailgate party after service was great. It was a treat not to have to rush away from the theater because Pirates Of The Caribbean was opening on seventeen screens. The parking lot was hot, but it was good to hang with everyone. It's amazing that so many people eat burgers and dogs just after 11.00am!

6. I was delighted that almost all our new tee shirts were sold. It proves a ton of folks took on board the idea of being walking billboards for the next month or so.

7. There were a load of guests around today - they came on a good day. I do love doing what I do!!!

QUITE THE WEEKEND!

It's always interesting when someone tells me they have missed my meanderings here. It's good to know people actually stop by occasionally and read the random thoughts of a seriously over-the-hill pastor!

Yesterday evening we got word that our son-in-law's father had been seriously injured in a skydiving accident whilst in Arizona with his work. Freddie is a great guy who got a thirst for this lunatic past-time a couple of years ago, so he loves to jump wherever he is around the country.

However his landing yesterday has him in a life-threatening condition after serious surgeries.

Please pray for him and for all the family right now. Gill and I were scheduled to leave for Scotland tomorrow on a 16 day vacation, but we have cancelled that trip and will be around for the forseeable future.

As you can tell, there's a lot going on. I only had a few hours sleep last night, so am tired now. Church today was great - more about that later!

JUST BEIGE

I got a great email from someone in our church in response to my blogging about change the other day. This lady who has been with us since the start related a conversation with a woman who had seen major conflict in her church because there were those who wanted to change the color of the sanctuary from the beige it had always been.

The email continues -

I am glad that our church will never be 'just beige'. I love the fact that we can never get too comfortable. Just when things are going along, you spice things up and change a bit. The mission has always been the same, but I like the varied packaging. No one can say church is boring!

I love people who have got the point!

And there's no plain beige around Church At The Movies!!!

Color is mandatory!

RESEARCH - SERIOUSLY!

Yesterday I heard about a pastor who had been forced from his church because people didn't like the fact that he used video clips and gleaned sermon material from other preachers.

I wish him well. That church will die and deserves to!

Forget the video clip part of this, I want to pass on some thoughts on how the better preachers do their research in 2006. I doubt if the church that's stuck in the dark ages has a problem every time its pastor quotes from Spurgeon or some other dead church leader from bygone days, but sadly they have not come to appreciate the commitment of a teacher who pulls all he can from past and present for their benefit.

There was a time when my sole study resources were books published before my mother was even born. I still have many of them, but in all honesty, I look more to living preachers to get further insight than to those who went to see Jesus some time before World War 1.

Does a church really want a pastor who sits in a room alone and scratches notes on paper without referring to some of the greatest communicators and teachers of our time? If I'm going to preach on marriage, giving, missions or whatever, trust me I care enough about the people I am accountable to, to see what far bigger men than I have to say on the subject too.

Man, most mega-church pastors have whole research teams to glean material for them, so I'll gladly plug into their resources until I have my own research team. I'll willingly accumulate ideas, quotes, stories, sometimes even a whole outline from sources I use on the internet or those whose podcats I listen to.

Inspiration is not just found in dusty volumes, it can be drawn from people who are out there getting the job done in our world right now.

Sometimes I prepare a message without opening a single book. I have Bibles and study books on my computer, plus access to an unlimited number of the world's best Bible teachers. It's the way it's done nowadays.

Welcome to the 21st Century!

RESEARCH

Spent most of the day doing research for Sunday's series finale - Seven Secrets Of A Successful Team. It was a tough day, driving all the way to Queens, sitting out in the baking sun for four hours and watching the Mets barely get a win over the Cubs with a tenth inning score.

You may call that a mid-week day off, but I call it in-depth preparation so that I can teach with authenticity at the weekend.

It's tough but I'm that dedicated, I am willing to put myself through that kind of personal pain so I can do the best job that's within my capabilities.

CHANGE

Someone dropped a real compliment the other day when talking to me about our church. She said, Grace Church is totally different from how it was when we started. I thought that was great - only problem was, it was intended as a complaint not a comment on the fact that we have kept moving forward since the fall of '98 instead of having rigor mortis starting to develop from Day One.

So what has changed?

1. We were a lot smaller then. Sure we had just over one hundred and fifty people there, but if everyone ever turned up on the same Sunday now there would be 500 of us.

2. We were a collection of people defining our mission. Now we are a committed group who are on mission.

3. The worship service was our whole focus. We didn't even have decent facilities for children's ministry. Now we have a well-equipped and staffed nursery, are about to launch Kidmo, Altered and a cafe-style video venue and are focusing on reaching whoever we can using as many hooks as possible.

4. There was one pastor who talked about leading the church eventually with a team of pastors. Now there is a four person pastoral team in place.

5. Then we were looking to survive - now we are expecting to thrive and multiply.

6. In the first few months we didn't look a heck different from a bunch of other local churches that the unchurched have decided are not for them. Now we have our own identity as the un-church church.

7. Then we talked reaching the lost, but had little idea how to really achieve it. Now we are totally geared towards a Sunday service that becomes the gateway to relationship with Jesus as well as to our church.

8. At the start our services were a little more Charismatic/pentecostal. Now we defer to the unbelievers as Paul suggests we should in 1 Corinthians 14 and have a separate worship night which is for those who already know Jesus to worship him extravagently.

9. We were culturally relevant if you were still in the seventies. Now we use all that's at our disposal to ensure we communicate reasonably with a short-attention-span, visually stimulated world.

10. When we started out, dissatisfied Christians came from elsewhere hoping for the kind of church they wanted and that served their requirements. Now if Christians come, they'd better care more about the lost than themselves, or they really won't stick around.

I like our church now - guess not everyone does, but ask me if that keeps me awake at night.
Pleasing God is all that matters and in doing that, some long-time Christians are sure to cry "foul". Pity I can't hear them!

ALMOST AT SHEA

Got a call late this afternoon asking me if I wanted tickets for the Mets game tonight. Did I want them? Is the Pope a Catholic?

They included a reception before the game and two good tickets to see my favorite, division-leading team. Gill hurriedly pulled her David Wright shirt from the closet and I put on my Pedro Martinez shirt, then off we drove like a pair of senile groupies.

While we were on our way there we got a call from our benevolent friend, apologetically explaining that when he called ahead to say we would be there for free food and drinks and the game, he was told that he himself was the only person who could use the invitation.

The poor guy was so embarassed, but it was okay, because -

1. Gill and I got to go out for a while and had dinner together anyway, which had not been in the day's plans.

2. We visited IKEA and got some ideas for making our cafe furniture rather more contemporary some time in the future.

3. We already have field level seats for Wednesday's game, so will get to Shea once this week anyway.

And we get to have an early night instead of getting home around midnight.

TRUE NORTH REVISITED

I guess there's a pretty good chance you didn't check in here to learn that my knees are complaining like crazy about the extra load I'm putting on them by upping my exercise rate to try to be able to finish the 10K race with a time of anything under three weeks. But man, they're sore! All that news is a freebie.

Anyway, I decided to check out True North Church in Port Jefferson Station this evening. It's a while since I've been there, but Sunday evenings at this ten months old church rock. While you don't need a special pass to get in there if you're over 20, I must admit you're pretty conspicuous in the young corwd that packs the place.

As ushers were desperately looking for seats for arriving guests, I decided to give mine up and see how the service was on the video link into the cafe area.

Mild complaint coming up here Bert - you really need to be serving java at night like you do in the mornings. Sitting at a table in a cafe area, something was missing without a coffee mug in my hand.

This church is outrageous. Bert Crabbe is one outstanding guy. He preached a great message too, though the toy summo wrestlers he showed us and said he keeps in his office, kind of freaked me out. Hey, each to his own!

It's exciting to be in a young church that has come so far and will go a long way in the future.

PUT ME IN COACH!

Had a good time this morning continuing our Get Off The Bench series. Today I focused on the importance of everyone playing a position and outlined some more of our plans for September.
The simple overview is here -

It's not earth-shaking, but it introduces our Big Screen Cafe as another alternative venue - getting an outstanding deal on a plasma TV for that area - plus the launch of Kidmo and the long-awaited arrival of Altered as a weekly event.

There's a lot to do in the next six or seven weeks, but the most significant part of our preparations will be seeing a load more people stepping up to take ownership of Sundays.

RW's BLOGGING

Just finished reading some amazing stories on Rick Warren's Blog. Like the 100,000 people who showed up for a service he held in South Korea last week. Not too shabby!

Check this out - Rick Warren's Blog

AMERICA HAS VOTED!

A couple of months ago on these very pages I asked how you describe our church when inviting friends or talking to those who don't know us. I referred to our slightly schizophrenic existence with the legal name of Grace Ministries, the general name of Grace Church and the explanatory name of Church At The Movies.

We really wanted to simplify and since we're going to be in a movie theater for quite some time, we've decided to go with what a number of people suggested in their emails and exploit the theater connection for all it's worth.

So for the next while we will be Church At The Movies (Grace Church) rather than Grace Church (Church At The Movies).

Of course the two are totally interchangeable, so you can use whatever you want, but on all our advertising we will be Church At The Movies.

Why the change? It's all about our key purpose - seeking and saving those that are lost.

COW HARBOR RACE

Before we even pass out information on Sunday about getting involved with this 10K race, we have a team of 15 already. Looks like Grace will be putting out a good representation - and raising a lot of dough to help Kids Explosion take in more orphans and abused children in Kurland, South Africa.

Still not sure if I'm nuts saying I'll run. Please don't bother replying to that!

NUMBER 8

I've never been a great student of the significance of numbers in the Bible. I always reckoned that once I've got all the stuff that's written on its pages actually in practice in my life and our church, maybe then I'll move on to delve into secrets that may or may not really be there in between the lines.

But I do know what people say 8 is about. It's the number of new beginnings, which is quite fitting for this stage in our church's life. This is our eighth year and there is going to be a whole load of new things once the summer's over.

The key to achieving our goals is without question developing an even greater volunteer involvement.

So on Sunday, we'll continue our series Get Off The Bench and will move towards the target of 100% involvement in what we're looking to achieve on Sundays.

"The man's a dreamer", you say. And I'll dream on because I have a lot of confidence in the people God has given us to help us reach our potential.

RUNNING FOR AIDS ORPHANS

Over the past few years, one of the ladies at Grace Church has raised quite a bit of cash for different outreach projects through running in sponsored half marathons, but she has had some health issues lately and has been out of action.

The good news is - Paula's back and she's looking to put a team together to run the 10K Cow Harbor Race in Northport on September 16th.

We've been talking about it a bit and have decided that we will invite sponsors to help us with the next major challenge for our Kids Explosion work among AIDS orphans and abused children in Kurland, South Africa. The three existing safe-houses are not enough to accommodate the increasing number of children being left parentless as this diease claims over 800 lives a day in that country, so we are in the process of helping them buy land to build another house.

So our team will run for AIDS ORPHANS, a cause that has been highlighted recently thanks to Bill Gates and we hope that with folks taking sponsor sheets to their friends, families and workplaces, we will be able to come up with a substantial contribution towards the cost of providing a new life for devastated children in one corner of South Africa.

I'll be doing my part - running with the team from Grace.

What team? Good point.

Why not join us? Email the office for more info.

HOT ENOUGH?

That was a hot one and according to the weather folks, who are almost as infallible as the Pope, there's more on the way. Though our office is closed on Mondays, I decided to check the phone messages this afternoon and picked up a distress call from a young woman living in a Selden shelter with an eight year old asthmatic son. The shelter supplied a fan, but that was it. Turns out we have a spare air conditioner in the garage, so I have just passed it on to her. Hope the poor boy gets some relief tonight - mom too! It's great to be able to bring a smile to someone's face.

But earlier this afternoon I failed in a mission to bless someone. Here's how that went down - Yesterday I read on a friend's blog that there was a growing trend, especially in Seattle, of people paying for the car behind them in Starbucks' drive-through's.

I make no secret of the fact that Starbucks is not my favorite coffee, but since they provide facilities that I use as a second office, the least I can do is drink their strong, over-priced brew.

Anyway, having read that info last night, I decided to give it a try as I was passing Starbucks this afternoon. So I turned in, ordered brewed coffee with skim milk and drove around to the window. As I pulled up there, I prepared to tell the staffer that I would pay for the car behind me too and so checked in the mirror first to make sure the vehicle behind did not contain a soccer mom, her son and his whole team.

Imagine my surprise when I realized there was no one there. No one waiting, no one coming, no one just pulling in.

Ah well - I tried.

Why don't you try it sometime too!

THE END OF THE DAY

This has been a good day!

Service was outstanding. Enjoyed eating brunch afterwards with those members of the family who did not hive off to Texas last year:).

Stretched myself a little further at the gym this afternoon - walked four miles and ran four. (Ask me when last I ran four miles in my life - the answer's easy!)

Now I'm watching Cliff Floyd and the Mets beat up the Cubs. Eleven runs in one inning, including two grand slam home runs in a single inning. Roll on September!

A very good day.

OUT OF THE PARK

I've been mixing up my sports metaphors all morning, so I guess one more time won't matter. Our service today wasn't just a home run, it was out of the park. The band was outstanding - must be because Mike was back on guitar!!! The preacher was half-decent too!

What also helped was we had our biggest crowd since Memorial Day - 33% more than last Sunday. It's still hot here and it's still summer, so the only thing that makes this weekend any different from last was that we put a call in to everyone in the church on Friday to remind them about the new series we were starting today. I guess it worked!

Rather than re-hash my sermon for you (you can get it on our website very soon!) pardon me while I brag about some of our folks for a second, because something was happening today that blew me away. Our worship leader Nancy (together with her husband Al who leads one of our set-up teams), plus our other main worship leader Ray (and his wife Donna who does sound and lights for us) - to say nothing of their actively involved teenage daughters - left for vacation straight from church.

You might not think that worthy of your valuable time as you surf the internet looking for something of interest because there is nothing on 576 channels of TV, but stick with me because there is a point to this story - a very rare one.

The two families chose to leave for vacation on Sunday afternoon and return on Saturday - so that they will not miss a Sunday of ministry in church.

See, I said this was rare. Most of you know that I've been around since Noah was a boy and I want to assure you, I haven't seen a lot of this kind of commitment.

I find it humbling, encouraging and downright outrageous.

Have a great vacation guys - you're eight in a million!

HAPPY ST.SWITHEN'S DAY

One of the few downsides of living in the colonies is that we miss out on some of the interesting celebrations instigating by our slightly wacky forefathers back in the UK. Like St.Swithen's Day, which there is a good chance most people reading this blog have never heard of.

Well, for your further enlightenment let me explain that it's today - July 15th.

And what do the British do on St.Swithen's Day? - Nothing they don't do every other day of the year, except perhaps comment on the weather slightly more than usual.

You see, July 15th is like Groundhog Day - only without the groundhog. Tradition states that if it rains on St.Swithen's Day, it will rain for the next 40 days. And if the sun shines, it will be fair weather for 40 days. Whereas the groundhog tells if the end of winter is near, St.Swithen divulged a foolproof method of predicting how long summer would last. Of course anything longer than 24 hours is an acceptable answer in the UK!

Looks like hot and sunny for the next six weeks. Nice job Swithy!

All the more reason not to miss out on the AC in the UA Theater tomorrow morning.

LIKE THIS?

Here's the graphic for something we're working on.

I love it.

What's it for???

Now that's an interesting question - and here's the answer.

Make it two Sundays in a row and all will be revealed on July 23rd!

Great work Jonathan - as is your Get Off The Bench artwork.

TAKING IT UP A GEAR

I generally make the graphic for our current series the wallpaper on my computer, so I'm constantly reminded of where we're focused.

Get Off The Bench gets under way on Sunday and the morning's theme is Defining The Win.

If you're successful in sports you keep winning games. If you're a successful investor, you have an impressive portfolio and plenty of profits to show. A top salesman proves his worth by the amount of inventory he can shift in a given period.

But what's success for a church? What's a win?

I want to restate our vision and goals on Sunday, especially with the fall in mind. Next week I'll be detailing the specific changes we are planning for September, but before that we need to make sure we're all focused on what we're about.

It's time to see our church move from good to great!

ANSWER THE PHONE!

I love Mickey Mouse phones. I have one on my desk as a constant reminder not to take myself too seriously. Maybe everyone should have a Mickey Mouse phone, who knows it might help the world be a less intense place!

We did something new today - making a telephone call to everyone in the church to remind them we have a brand new series starting on Sunday. And it all happened in just minutes, not because we have a small congregation or because I'm tech savvy, but because I have friends who make me look good.

One of the highlights of our time in Georgia last weekend was being able to spend some time with Tony McCollum, who I first met three years ago. He has a
great church that meets for worship in a movie theater right in the humungus Mall of Georgia.

Tony's a goldmine of information and a fun guy to hang with too, so I picked his brain for most of Sunday afternoon and evening. It was him who let me into the secret that there is a company out there who at minimal cost will send your recorded message to everyone on your phone list. What a great idea.

So Marie set that all up for us in the office this morning and everyone on our mailing list got a call from Rog - whether they wanted it or not!

It's a great tool for staying connected - I love it!

BTW if you're part of Grace and didn't get the call, what's wrong with this picture? You didn't make it to the mailing list yet? - time to email us your details!

SPEAKING OF INDIA ...

Okay, you might not have been, but I was. Just got off the phone after a lengthy conversation with a very helpful Delta agent, making arrangements for my visit there next February. That will be a very special trip for several rerasons -

1. Gill will accompany me - her first taste of that great country. She is heavily committed to our outreach in South Africa and makes that her focus. We often go our separate ways - her to SA and me to Mumbai - but next year will be different.

2. I will be speaking at the 25th Anniversary of Covenant Blessings Church, the great congregation we partner with over there.

3. I will be teaching the Purpose Driven Church principles to a conference of key pastors, with the potential to influence 2,000 churches.

I booked early as we will be using frequent flyer miles and have enough to go business class, which will be a blessing on such a long journey. The problem is, the airline allocates very few seats for business class freebies and they are already taken on the best flights (like the one direct one a day!).

So it will be a dog's leg of a journey to Chicago, Paris and then Mumbai. The return trip features a 5 1/2 hours layover in Paris (which is longer than any mortal should ever have to spend in France!). But I figure a longer journey in comfort is better than a regular one in the cattle class.

So I'm wired. Training pastors is a tremendous privilege and responsibility. I guess I'd better learn something myself between now and then so that I have something to say!!!

PICTORIAL GA

Lead pastor, Gary Lamb preaching last Sunday

Tim and the band doing their stuff

Out Back At 6.45am (set-up team's cars)

Main Theater Entrance

NEWS FROM INDIA

It was the main railway line from the city center out to where our friends Basil and Cathy D'Souza live and minister that was the scene of the rush hour bombings yesterday.

Word from Basil is that no one in their church was affected, but it would be good to pray for the families that were and for the continuing stability of the country.

On Saturday the congregation there, that I have visited so many times, will be embarking on the 40 Days Of Purpose campaign that we followed two years ago. We have been able to pass on most of the resources that are needed and you can even get copies of Purpose Driven Life in India now.

The leaders in the church were very excited when I sat down with them last month to help them put the finishing touches to their preparations and now we wait to see what God will do there during the next six weeks.

AM I SHARP OR WHAT?

Check this out -

Mark Driscoll's podcast



My podcast!

I'd love to tell you I worked out the hyperlink thing by myself, but my buddy Danny Carlisle is the one who enlightened me. Here's Danny

TOP CHRISTIAN PODCAST

This morning at the gym I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts - it was Mark Driscoll preaching at his Mars Hill Church in Seattle. During the course of the message he said that their podcast was itunes #1 download in their spirituality and something-or-other-else section.

He's definitely worth listening too. This year he's spending most Sundays working through 1 Corinthians with a series entitled Christians Gone Wild. You'll find him here - www.marshillchurch.org

He preaches even longer than I do, but like me, it's all good stuff!!!

By the way, you can hear Grace's podcasts here - www.churchatthemovies.com/listentomessage

FYI - If any kind soul wants to help me with inserting hyperlinks, I'd be glad to hear the dummies version!

MAJOR IMPRESSIONS FROM THE STONE - #2

Today has been another of those day where I've been catching up with a ton of stuff that accumulated while I was away over the weekend. I've also been looking over the notes I took at Ridgestone Community Church and the others we visited in the pursuit of developing Grace Church in every way possible.

Yesterday I commented on the fact that The Stone is special because they befriend the people who matter the most.

There was something else that impressed me in the early hours of Sunday morning before even Starbucks was open. I had arrived at the theater at 6.45am and a lot of the heavy work involved in set-up had already been done. As I parked at the back of the theater there were at least a dozen cars there, but it wasn't them or their drivers, who had been there since 5.30, that left the lasting impression. It was something else.

Walking the corridors and seeing the different areas getting prepared for the morning's activities, I came to meet a great guy, whose name I have regretfully forgotten.

He was working hard setting up the children's area and the sweat marks on his tee shirt testified to the fact he had not let up for more than an hour. I later discovered he was 73 years old and had been a part of the church since Day One.

He described himself as having been burned out after being in the same small church for years, where the service was always predictable and he could predict what the preacher would say too. So he went to the opening service of a new church he heard about, loved it and has been at The Stone every week since.

Three hours after he started work on Sunday, he was heading home to shower and return for the service with his wife. "I find a lot of satisfaction in coming back and seeing everything in place for the people". my new friend commented.

That guy impressed me and he underlined the fact that the strength of this great church is that the members have bought into the vision. You don't demonstrate that by just showing up, you become a part when you are plugged in.

If you've really got it - you get stuck in.

They've got it there in Canton!

MAJOR IMPRESSIONS FROM THE STONE #1

As I said below, I don't want to go over all the details of what Lead Pastor, Gary Lamb is doing right at Ridgestone Community Church in Canton, GA. Sitting here watching the Homerun Derby (David Wright of the Mets in the lead so far!), it's fitting to say he and his folks are hitting it out of the park down there.

But to see why the church is doing so well, you have to move away from the theater they use for Sunday morning services. The answer isn't at the new church office complex either.

I knew it already, but the secret to the phenomenal growth of The Stone and the reason it will become a mega-church was re-emphaszied for me at a Cracker Barrel Restaurant around 8 o' clock this morning. We were having breakfast with the man himself before heading south for the airport and home, and in the restaurant we were introduced to two people who love Gary and the church.

They were great people and I loved talking to them. Gill and I enjoyed their company so much that we invited them to come stay with us and visit New York. I'm not going into details here, sufficient to say that our new friends would probably feel unwelcome in most Christian churches. And the sad truth is they would have every reason to feel that way because most self-righteous, double-talking, judgemental, hypocritical (getting my drift?) congregations wouldn't want them.

But Gary does. He cares about them. He likes them and they like him. They trust him and look on him as a friend.

Listen, any church where the lead pastor follows Jesus' example and is a friend of sinners, is destined for great things.

Gary loves the people no one else loves. He welcomes those who would not be wanted elsewhere.

That was what impressed me most about Ridgestone. Not the band, the banners, the great preaching, the amazing kids' program, or remarkable set-up (best I've seen in a movie theater). I love that church because it loves people and I think Jesus loves it too - in fact I reckon he shows up there very, very often.

WHAT A VIEW!

I love it when the plane takes the flight path right up the East River on its descent to LaGuardia. You get to see the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and all the cool stuff that typifies New York. I watch the tourists stretching their necks to see out of the left side of the plane and think - that's my town!

To tell you the truth, though I enjoy it, our arrival back into Queens didn't take that route today. We came from somewhere way over in Jersey, got an eyeful of the projects in the Bronx and bounced all over the tarmac once the wheels finally hit the ground.

But New York really is one outstanding place. Don't get me wrong, I met some great people down south this weekend, but they talk weird, can't drive and a few that I bumped into are very, very strange.

Over the next couple of days I'll write about churches we visited, but I have to start with the new plant that was the main reason for making the trip - Ridgestone Community Church in Canton, GA.

We had a blast there. I've read a ton of other reports from people who have gone to check out this two year old congregation and its zany pastor, but my lasting impression has not been carved from the things most of them noted. Gary is an outstanding communicator (are preachers really allowed to say 'crap' in the south?) and his church is friendly, relevant, well-equipped and above all, going places.

Preston does a phenomenal job with their kids' stuff - it's second to none. The band rocks and the big guy, the head honcho, the big cheese, makes me wish I was 30 years old too.

I made a load of notes, picked up some useful ideas to tweak what we do in a movie theater, but there were a couple of things outside of the service itself that hit me and not only showed Gary's heart, but gave the clearest indication that they are really on track.

Sure I'll copy some of his signage, follow up on lighting upgrades and I'll look into the giant printer they have to produce a ton of good graphics. But those aren't the main thing I got out of my time at Ridgestone - it wasn't them that reminded me this old Brit and the young redneck have an awful lot in common.

Later!

WHERE'S ROGER?

Just in case anyone at Grace was wondering this morning, Gill and I are in Canton, Georgia. Now I know that with the limited knowledge of the geography of the south that most of us Yankees possess, Canton is probably not a city most of us are familiar with.

But stand by, because in the next few years, it will become a very significant place. Not because it is a huge town - it isn't. Or because of it's great historical sites - I only found an old mill.

Ridgestone Community Church will put this place on the map. It started two years ago, worships in a movie theater and has one of the most outrageous young pastors you could ever meet. Gary Lamb is hyper, he's loud - and above all he's getting the job done big time. Don't let the redneck facade fool you - he's a smart cookie and knows exactly what he's doing and where he's going.

That's why we came down here to hook up with Gary again - I knew him before he was famous - and to see how they do church in a movie theater in Canton Georgia.

I was there early this morning to watch their set-up team in action - they start at 5.30am! - and am heading back soon for the actual service.

I loved just being there watching everything happening and have already picked up a whole bunch of ideas. I'm already pumped about this morning and this isn't even my church.

Man, I love this stuff!

FLYING HIGH

I love the sound of our summer program for kids that starts this Sunday. The Plane Truth is an exciting and inspiring six weeks experience for children from Kindergarten through 6th Grade and it's sure to be a winner. So if you've got youngsters in that age bracket, make sure they are there to sign up for the maiden flight on Sunday morning.

The teaching for those who can't qualify for the new children's program will take them to high places too. Heaven Yes! is the final part of our series on death, after death, hell and heaven.

It's amazing how many people say they have been helped by this series. Sometimes it's easy to miss talking about essential issues, but there's certainly nothing more important than knowing what's going to happen when life ends and eternity begins.

It'll be a great morning!

CHURCH STATS REVISITED

Someone asked me today where Grace is at in relation to the stats I quoted yesterday. (Scroll down a bit - they're there!)

Well, they state that churches between three and fifteen years of age win an average of five people to Christ per year for every 100 members. We're eight years old later this year, but if this is the results bracket we should be in, the truth is - we're not.

I am very happy to say we are still pursuing our purposes like a church that is less than three years old and seeing closer to ten people coming to know Jesus each year per 100 church members.

Let's stay young for ever!

GETTING IT DONE

Had lunch Paul Russo, pastor of Calvary Assembly in Yaphank, today and chatted to him about developing his small groups. He's a great guy, turning around a church with a checkered history and I enjoy hanging out with him.

Took a quick ride south from the diner to stop in at Medford AG and chat with Anthony Pelella. Their new building is outstanding and almost finished.

Anthony was telling me that taking over a dying church with six people in the congregation and transforming it into a growing, live church was easy compared with the building project that has dominated his life for the past three years.

They'll be in it soon and the church will really take off. Anthony always tells me that once the building is in use, we can do stuff there whenever we want. I appreciate that all-too-rare kingdom mindset, but he'll need it himself. They'll soon be into multiple services and will use their fabulous facilities more than they even dreamed of.

I reckon if they take northern Medford, we'll look after the south end of the town. There are 11,000 people living in Medford, so there are plenty for us both to reach.

There are some good things going on around us and I'm glad to be connected with some outstanding pastors.

CHURCH STATS

How about these facts and figures from Planting Missional Churches by Ed Stetzer?

+ Churches under three years of age win an average of ten people to Christ per year for every hundred church members.
+ Churches three to fifteen years of age win an average of five people per year for every hundred church members.
+ Churches over fifteen years of age win an average of three people per year for every hundred church members.


Another statistic from Stetzer:

In 1900, there were 28 churches for every 10,000 Americans.
In 1950, there were 17 churches for every 10,000 Americans.
In 2000, there were 12 churches for every 10,000 Americans.
In 2004, the latest year available, there are 11 churches for every 10,000 Americans.


Which all goes to show ...

1. The younger the church, the more likely it is to be getting the job done.

2. Although the landscape seems to be dotted with churches, there are less around per capita than in way over a century.

3. There's plenty of scope for church planting!

THE QUIET ONES

I've known Liz Breslin for around 15 years. She went to be with Jesus early Sunday morning and I have just finished preparing a message for her funeral service this evening. She was 62.

A lot of the folks in our church didn't really know her as she couldn't make it to weekend services very often. She lived with constant pain and latterly could only get around with the help of a motorized wheelchair. Rheumatoid Arthritis had taken an awful toll on her body, but that was not all she had to bear, several other serious conditions added to her suffering.

I used to call Liz now and again and was constantly surprised at how bright and positive she was. She had a great sense of humor too.

Now and again she would call me and ask me to pray with her as the pain was so intense. We'd chat, I'd pray and then she would apologize for having bothered me!

Heaven's richer tonight and we're the poorer.

Liz Breslin was neither loud nor conspicuous, but she was part of us and I thank God for her.

CELEBRATING

Sitting here watching fireworks over Boston accompanied by the Boston Pops. I missed Macy's NY gig, so this is second best.

But then again, Boston played a pretty big role in securing freedom from the King, as I recall from my limited knowledge of US history. The notoroius Tea Party didn't go down so well with the British, or so I'm led to believe. Then old Paul Revere did quite a bit to keep the enemy from across the water at bay.

From a bunch of rebel colonists a couple of hundred years ago to the world's only superpower today is quite a transition, leaving us with a lot to be proud this 4th of July.

I know I'm a first generation immigrant and a pretty new one still at that, but I love to tell people that while most of them are American by birth, I am American by choice.

This is a great nation. I'm glad to be part of it.

SURF'S UP!

Let me save you the tormenting mental acrobatics of picturing Rog on a surfboard and let you into the secret that the header may be a slight overstatement of the fact that I just took the cover off our pool - with a little help from my friends!

In case you think it may be a little late to start the water festivities in the back yard, let me explain that since I was out of the country for ten days in June and out on the east end for another six, it seemed pointless to go through the normal process of setting everything going on Memorial Day weekend.

Add to that the fact that I hardly use the thing anyway!

So I figure I saved a month's worth of electricity and chemicals and only have to sustain the waterhole for another eight weeks before I can cover it again and bewail the passing of yet another summer.

Opening a pool is interesting because you never know what you're going to find. The question after ten months of being covered is - what color will the water be? Over the years we've experienced every shade of green and gray you could imagine, with the occasional good year thrown in when the water was clear. This is a good year.

I've been in a lot of church services where you never knew what you were going to get either. Each weekend was a lottery. Where on the chart between normal and bizarre would the service end up? - there was no prior warning!

We don't go in for that at Grace. You often don't get a second chance where the souls of people who need Jesus are concerned. So we think carefully, plan appropriately and do our utmost to avoid nasty surprises.

That way no one is ever embarassed to tell their friends - Surf's Up!

GREAT PARTY!

Now that was some morning! I was glad that I decided to teach on baptism before we actually baptized folks today. That way I felt free to invite anyone who hadn't been in the class, but wanted now to obey Jesus, to come up and do it.

So we had three more people come out from the shadows and openly testify to their faith in Christ in baptism.

Before service someone suggested I was hyper today. Contrary to the rumors, it has nothing to do with anything I've been smoking, let's face it - this was an exciting day. We were celebrating changed lives, people rescued from a lost condition, destined now for heaven and not hell, serving God instead of the devil.

If you need more than that to get you pumped up, you may need to seriously consider some (legal) chemical pick-me-up to help your heart start beating again.

It was a great Funday morning!

WOW!

Just got a copy of this main screen graphic for tomorrow. It says it all. What greater cause to celebrate than sharing with people publicly declaring their faith in Christ?

Then we follow on by celebrating all that Jesus has done for us as we share communion.

Let's face it, while we put a lot of effort into every weekend, some Sundays are really more exciting than others - tomorrow will be one of the better ones!