Nothing works for everyone

The problem with CIR or may other meetings is that we start with three streams of people. People that are prayer people, relationship people or action people. CIR has all three. But it is more complicated than that. There are at least three levels of experience, beginngers, veterans and the in-between. So there are now three streams and three experience levels so we now need to organize 9 different conferences to meet everyone's needs. But beyond that there are at least three different thinking models. There are the theory people who want to talk about the theology and theory behind city reaching. The practical people that only want to talk about practical ideas that they can try. And there are the story people that want to talk about everything through stories. So we now have 27 different conferences (3 x 3 x 3) that need to be organized to meet everyone's needs.

U2 Eucharists

Link

This is an article about an Episcopal Church that has a U2 themed worship service. The service seems to have moved around and happened in several cities. In Atlanta more than 500 people showed up to a worship service.

City Impact Roundtable

I am at the City Impact Roundtable in Cedar Rapids, IA. There is a group of about 150 people at this conference to talk about how to reach cities for Christ. I am listening to a guy talk about City Reaching in India. Yesterday I went to a group that was talking about blogging and how to use tools to build unity within the church. Neil Cox, from Indianapolis does more blogging than anyone I know. He has a blog for the CIR Conference. But while we were there, two people created blogging accounts (here, here) and when I got home there were two more (here, here) that I saw had started blogging about the conference. These tools are working.

Jesus Loves Porn Stars

Link to Story

There are a couple pastors that have a website called www.xxxchurch.com. They have a ministry that works with people in the porn industry. They were invited to come to a gay porn show and were given 1/2 off the registration fees if they would come and set up a booth at the show. They were invited by the show's coordinator to come. They have been at several porn shows in the past giving out bibles and encouraging people to get out of the porn industry. They attempted to purchase 10,000 bible and have a special printing with their logo "Jesus Loves Porn Stars". The American Bible Society refused to print it. Now there are several issues. One is that the guys ordered the bibles without telling them what would be on the cover until the very last minute. So when ABS refused they didn't have time to get a new printer. Then there was a big LA Times story that got the press involved in a way that was probably not good for anything other than publicity. What I agree with is that these guys should be doing their ministry with the porn industry. What I don't agree with is the way that they often seek out publicity, in ways that may take advantage or hurt people more than necessary. But their message is clear, it is evangelistic and I hope they can continue and get their bibles printed.

As a side the www.xxxchurch.org has some anti-porn and accountability tools that are easy to use and should be used.