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Talk about a string of bad press! In addition to a write up in the Christian Science Monitor [The Coming Evangelical Collapse], a cover article of the Newsweek Magazine entitled “The End of Christian America,” a more readable and short article popped up last week on ABC News entitled, “Young America Losing Their Religion.”
While these articles aren’t great news, I must be a bad pastor Continue reading “why is everyone leaving the church?”
Thanks to the collective wisdom of our larger staff, I pulled this “voodoo video” from last week’s Good Friday service.
But I still really like this video. Very thought provoking so I’m now sharing and showing it here on my blog – for your viewing and commentary (video below).
It’s disturbing on several levels including the usage of ‘voodoo’ in it’s title which isn’t the best word in a church context but from an artistic level, this is an amazing video. The incredible animation is created by 26 year old artist Joaquin Baldwin. I don’t know him personally but after watching this video, I suspect he may have been influenced by Christianity in some shape or another. When you watch the film, you’ll see some Christian parallels. Had I shown it, it would have taken some good explanation why I was showing the clip.
Here are the reasons this video really made me think: Continue reading “the voodoo video i couldn’t show at quest”
There are numerous significant theological and biblical meanings behind the Last Supper (Passover Seder) and while the pursuit of those meanings are worthwhile and powerful, here’s the most simple and as significant:
Jesus wants to eat with us.
Let me say that again. The Triune God of the cosmos not only created the world and humanity but desires fellowship, communion, and friendship. And when sin entered the world and humanity to wreak havoc and choas, God intervened again – with the redemptive mission of restoring Shalom – all that which God intended for us.
The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood (John 1:14 / The Message)
Throughout Jesus’ journey, he was eating with Continue reading “all jesus wants is to eat with you”
Is it ok to sometimes poke fun and laugh at ourselves? I hope so because if not, I’m in some big trouble. As in, I might get blacklisted by the Christian evangelical subculture.
In reponse to the question about the 10 Most Essential Christian Books, I received some fabulous and interesting suggestions. But I also started getting a list from people regarding the most anti-essential Christian books or in other words, books that should never be published so I’ve taken the liberty of listing some of them here. And if you’re gonna get offended, I have two things to say: 1) It’s not my list or umm, it’s not all mine. Don’t kill the messenger! and 2) Relax. It’s okay to make fun of ourselves sometimes. I hope.
If you want to laugh even more, check out 10 reasons why men shouldn’t be ordained.
I’ll share my list of essential book soon but for now, enjoy this list of the Christian Books that should NOT be Published from various commenters from this blog. You folks are mean!
And dare I ask:
Update: I’m adding the American Patriot’s Bible to this list. The crazy thing is that it’s a real book unlike the list below.
At least once every week, someone emails me to ask about Quest Church’s history, connection, and affiliation. Specifically, are we non-denominational, independent, cultic, or affiliated with some sort of denominational group? People tend to be scared of charismatic Asian dudes with long curly hair and bad patches of facial hair.
Minhee and I initially planted Quest as a non-denominational church. I had no interest in denominations. I was burnt out. I was weary and cynical about organized religion and chose to leave my then denominational affiliation. The theme of my life – then – was ‘rage against the machine.’ I was somewhat of an angry deconstructionist pastor. It was probably a good thing that I had no idea what ‘blogging’ was back then because it would have been pretty intense. But after some months, I also came to realize that I didn’t want to pastor or lead a church on an island to ourselves. We felt we could do more in partnership and relationship with other like minded and like hearted followers of Christ. So, after some months of intense research, conversations, and reciprocal interviews, we decided to partner with the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Some of my friends still give me grief that I chose to partner with “a bunch of Swedes” particularly because diversity and multiethnicty was always an important ecclesiological pursuit for my vision as a pastor and leader. So, why did I partner with the ECC even despite no truth to the rumors that Covenant pastors receive 50% discount from IKEA? Continue reading “why i roll with the covenant”
Goodness, these people work quick. Here’s the article [huge front cover of the Local Section] from the Seattle Post Intelligencer on the Quest/Interbay merger and their observations from yesterday’s service.
I tell this to every pastor that I encounter: People are watching your church community more than you will ever now. We have visitors that share about how they’ve been watching, following, and observing for months or even for years before they make their first visit.
Here’s the video we showed to honor the “Interbay community” at yesterday’s service and the ONE CHURCH newsletter [pdf]. UPDATE: here’s another article from the Covenant Wire.
Time to come up for some air. It’s been a very BUSY past few months; a little more pushing in the next three months to pound out some “minor” building renovations in August and then a chance to rest in the Fall. Transitions are very tough and through these transitions, trying our best to make sure that people [both from quest and the interbay community] don’t get lost in the transition and translation.
The article:
Only a parking lot separates Interbay Covenant Church and Quest Church, but the neighboring Seattle congregations hardly seem alike on the surface. Continue reading “seattle pi article on church merger”
EUGENE CHO 