On the Eve of another dream

So i am a serial dreamer... (enter exhausted groan from the MRS here), some of you might know about CANVAS and how that has been able to make a HUGE impact in our art community here in Tampa. Mike D and i dreamed about a church making an investment and creating a platform for artist that aren't in a church. 

Not in the hopes to convert them, not in an effort to preach to them, but to make a friendship, to do what it takes to earn trust... and to ultimately leave our city better than we found it. What a cooler way to do that than to invest in a community of inspiration... these artists are the ones who have the power to bring beauty and life in so many ways to our city.

So kind of a phase two (that sounds too technical or planned out), is MOTION... our film festival. And incredible group of friends and dreamers have been working with me to plan this event. May 1-2 Channelside cinemas 8pm-10:30pm. 

I was sitting this morning with Brand Tampa founder Julia Gorzka and she was asking me why... why do we do what we do. I have been thinking allot about that lately... i know how much crap i get for epic lingo, and for some of the "catch phrases" that i seem to say... but all of it is true... its real. 

If we claim to be followers of Christ... then we would naturally leave a path of light, and life where ever we go. That is apart of our spiritual makeup if you will... i mean think about it right. We are supposed to have "Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, and Self-Control" so wouldn't that be something that would naturally make our cities a more beautiful place.

Not that we are not supposed be/do these things to announce or to promote that we are doing them... but i think they become a by product of following Jesus.

I don't know if the artists, or the film makers of Tampa will come to Element one day, or any church for that matter... that is not really my intention with the festival... but i hope that they will see that people who love God, and go to church... love those who don't.

Maybe they will see us as givers not takers, those who reveal the God colors and Flavors of this world... not yelling at the absence of them.

I think that is what Jesus would have done...

So.... i ask you to pray for MOTION, come to motion... do not be offended if the film were are showing don't line up with your lifestyle (thats not what this is about to start with), but pray for our film makers, support THEM as children of God... lets write another chapter in this legacy, and lets leave our city a little brighter.

I am excited!!! 

Thoughts on todays Message

So Lisa sent me this... man, this will make you think.

"I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please.

Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine.

I don't want enough of Him to make me love a black man or pick beets with a migrant.

I want ecstasy, not transformation.

I want the warmth of the womb not a new birth.

I want about a pound of the eternal in a paper sack.

I'd like to buy $3 worth of God, please."--- Wilbur Reese:

Our First Easter

So this week has seemed jammed packed... i moved my office next the the christmas storage and the baptism pool, i have been working my butt off on MOTION (which is just 3 weeks away), and i have been prepping for Element's first Easter service.

Normally around this time of year we would working on a mailer/flyer/marketing piece... or i would be running ragged trying to be ultra creative in my planning for a Sunday service, or spending a lot of money on add campaigns... but not this year.

One, i don't really know if any of that works... or in the long run really matters. I am wondering if we will have a bunch of newbies this easter, (being that our only advertisement is on facebook) and i am wondering if "a bunch" if what we are really looking for. 

What i have been chewing on is what if our people invite people that they have relationships with, that they do life with, and that they actually know. I think inviting someone to our gathering that way would have way more influence or potential for anything we say or do to actually matter or stick.

I consider my self a creative, and Element is full of creatives (incredible brilliant minds)... but impressing someone with our religious inspiration rarely (if ever) translates into a God that is tangible. If we say that God is real, that our lives here are a part of HIS story... then i think what would matter most is if we were just our real selves... not the polished Christmas and Easter selves.

I have a couple people i would like to invite to check out our Element gathering... and i am hoping that because of our relationship they would see it is not some religious sales pitch... but as a friend who is sharing a very real part of my life.

So i am curious as to what our first Easter will look like, i know that we have not done anything really out of the ordinary... we are looking at the resurrection from a personal angle, we are going to sing a song that has been really resonating with in some of us, and Chris is making a pretty killer video... i think we are just going to be ourselves... and let the hospitality, and simplicity of our call speak for itself.

If you think about us, please keep us and our city in your prayers... it is my Hope that people will find a place they can be apart of... grow in... and fall in love with God.

I'll keep you posted.