foolishnotions.net

i thought the popular questions about my trip seemed a little strange at first. then i remembered i wrote this post in close proximity to my trip and figured i should probably answer some of these questions here.

1. Q: (from twitter) “have fun, learn lots…. come home.” (ok, not really a question unless you know the source… just trust me there was a question in there.)
   A: i think my literal response to this was, “come home? are you really serious? no way you can get rid of me that easily!”
2. Q: did they offer you a job?
   A: this is a hilarious question. i was like a tadpole in the middle of lake erie down there. ummmm, no. they did not offer me a job.
3. Q: will i ever be as poplular as carlos? (not me - someone asked if they could be as popular)
   A: you know? i don’t think anyone is as popular as carlos. i don’t think carlos is as popular as carlos. it’s all just a figment of everyone’s imagination. i’m kidding. carlos wants to make a difference. if that means unabashedly promoting the fool out of his website… then so be it. he’s using it for god’s glory. so, if you dare be so brave… go for it.
4. Q: are you trying to learn how to become a mega church?
   A: i am trying to learn what i can from others who are making a big impact in their communities because i want to make an impact in mine. i have learned a lot of things that can be applied in my life and my job and i have seen things that work great in other places but would not work at all for me. i have no desire, whatsoever, to become just like anything or anyone but what god desires in his heart for me to be. that goes for my church too. i can tell you, very certainly, we are very different church. we have unique purpose in our community. i have no idea to what numeric number the rock will grow. but i want to reach as many as we possibly can. only god knows what that really looks like.
5. Q: (quoted directly from my website) “I don’t want to point out the obivious but Ernie is bald with a goatee and so is Los…. Is there a pattern developing. Just asking… Glad you are home.”
   A: yes, there is an pattern. an epidemic, actually. it’s called male pattern baldness. wikipedia says, “researchers suspect that several genes inherited from both parents play a role in androgenetic alopecia. paternal hair loss has been shown to correlate with chances of alopecia in sons, while variations in the androgen receptor gene (AR), which can also correlate with baldness, are X linked and thus inherited from one’s maternal grandfather or grandmother.” there is more. so, if you are not regretting asking this question yet, and would like to learn more… you can read all about it here.
6. Q: is your blog holding up under the ragamuffin effect?
   A: bluehost.com handled it quite nicely, actually. and most of my 300 or so new visitors left. so, i don’t think my blog is in danger of crashing this week.
7. Q: did you learn lots?
   A: yes. i got to see first hand a lot of things, technological and otherwise, that i had never seen up close before. they had some phenomenal ideas about children’s and small group ministries. but all of this, though impressive, was not my greatest take away. i was challenged the most by the obvious quality of their management and leadership. their team was unified, well organized and had a common goal fueled by a clear vision. it was glaringly obvious. and since i am, by my artistic nature, a little organizationally challenged, i think this is what i learned the most from.
8. Q: are you looking for a job?
   A: no. i am exactly where god wants me. i posted this post a few weeks ago to share something in my life that i believe many people go through but keep buried inside. but at the time of it’s writing i was pretty much over it. god had dealt with the issue quite handily. you see, i have quit before. i said, no more, to ministry life and went and pursued a vocation that had nothing to do with the church (or, so i thought). you know what i figured out through that experience? i can’t run away from the calling god has put on my life. quitting turned out to be little more than a detour. i landed right back on the course god had plotted in the first place. so, frankly, i realized quitting is futile. god has seared the vision of this house on my heart. i love my church. i love the leadership in this house. i love my city. yes, it gets hard… it’s demanding and draining sometimes. i feel inadequate constantly. but none of that really matters. because it’s not about me. and my god is more than enough.
9. Q: was it hard to come home?
   A: no. i could not wait to get home. atlanta is beautiful but the traffic was horrendous and i missed my family and my church. i was anxious to put into practice all the information i have filled my head with over the past few months. i talked to pastor b on the way home. i was telling him how going all these places and seeing how god is using others has been awesome. but i have been more amazed by how these experiences have worked together to make my heart beat harder and stronger for the vision of the rock. he quoted someone he recently heard say, “they are my people, but this is my tribe.” that could not hit it more squarely on the head. i hold my new friends dear. they are my people. but here is where my family is.. here is where god’s work is for me.
10. oops. i only have nine. so the last question is for you.
    Q: what do you want to know? do you have questions about technology in the church and what it means specifically for us at the rock? do you question why i and others have traveled all over to see other churches? is there anything you have been wanting to ask someone on staff but never have? ask.
    A: (this is you… comment below.)

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