My kinda church

Denny over at Joy in the Journey recently asked what kind of church are you looking for? It elicited some good feeback... I even popped off on a few desires. Then another friend Aaron pointed me to the below Mark Driscoll video.

And now I've settled in on my new answer... a two-fisted church. I have in the past few years begun to describe myself as theologically conservative and culturally liberal. Theologically conservative in view of the Bible and God and Christ and sin and salvation and ecclesiology (church structure). Culturally liberal in that you don't have rules (above the clear principles in Scripture) for every part of life that you lay on people like what to (or not to) wear, watch, listen to, eat, drink, etc. You allow people to utilize discernment to engage the culture for the purpose of displaying the beauty and transforming power of Christ.

Is your God GREEN?

There is a new issue on the agenda for some churches these days... being eco-friendly. That is right... some who call themselves Christians have heard Al Gore's call for repentance and are preaching and practicing a lifestyle which is friendlier to the earth. Some even suggesting that our ever-increasing consumption of natural resources is sinful at worst and devastatingly ignorant at best.

I just listened to a 5 week series from Mars Hill Bible Church entitled God is Green. The content ranged from a theology of creation care to practical ways to live a simpler, less consumptive lifestyle. One Sunday they invited Dr. Matt Sleeth author of Serve God, Save the Planet: A Christian Call to Action. Rob Bell even suggested that this issue of green-ness is the new seatbelt.

Then yesterday I saw that Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas was written up in the Dallas Morning News as going green. The article did not so much focus on caring for the environment as saving money wasted on energy consumption to free it up for "real ministry." Christine and I visited Preston-"world" for a few months when we lived in Dallas. If Southern Baptists are going green... does that mean it is becoming a mainstream evangelical issue?

So what do you think.
Is God Green?
Does Jesus care how we consume or care-for the environment?
Should the church lead this charge or leave it liberal, tree-huggers?

Take a Day Off

You might desperately need a day off. I know I do. I've got a family vacation scheduled the first week of June and I can't wait. I can't wait to sleep... play... eat... explore... read... think...

Mark Batterson at National Community Church just got back from an anniversary trip to Italy and has posted his Theology of Travel. It will inspire you be a better steward of your vacation days.

And if that's not enough of a push, I came across this quote from Leonardo da Vinci...

Every now and then go away and have a little relaxation. To remain constantly at work will diminish your judgment. God some distance away, because work will be in perspective and a lack of harmony is more readily seen.