I Complain Too Much

I was reading some of my posts and I realize I complain too much...especially about our church. Just to clear things up, I love our church, our mission, our delivery, etc. There are a few things that I wouldn't mind changing, but that goes with just about everything.

So there.

Thank God It's Friday

After probably the toughest day at work ever last night, I'm so glad it's Friday.

After work, I went to VONS and grabbed a 22-ounce IPA, ate a nice salad for dinner and drank my beer while watching Everybody Loves Raymond until after midnight. Unfortunately, Megan was asleep when I got home so I didn't get to spend any time with her, but there's always...FRIDAY!!!!

Los Primos Mexican Food

Just an update...

I posted about the Shops at San Miguel Ranch opening up below our townhome complex and a few days ago, I went to try out the mexican food joint, Los Primos.

While standing in line, I run into a couple guys I went to high school with and it turns out, one of the guys owns Los Primos. I wish I saw him after I got the food. It's good, but the servings are small, and the prices are a little high. I guess that's what we get for living in a place that ends in "Ranch."

By the way, I'll probably go there more than I should. Please open up Sushi place!!!!

Comments

I figured out how to let everybody comment, so you don't have to be registered to comment!!! Work with me through these difficult times of figuring out a blog.

Loud Music in Church

This is more of a plea than a post.

There is a perception of "church music" that has been dubbed (rightfully so) to soft-contemporary artists that sound like they belong in elevators across the world. My main concern is we, as a church whole, are not encouraging non-Christian 20-somethings into coming to church services because they will be subject to "soft" music. I have a friend that I've invited to church a few times ask me, "Are you guys playing rocking music or are you playing "churchy" music?"

Mega-churches across the country are rocking the congregations with plenty of musical power, but are lacking close relationships and meaningful fellowship. I think the smaller churches are rocking the congregation with the closer relationships but are lacking in the music department. At least I believe our church is. Going along the lines of my last post, I think we need to change the way that we view our worship ministry in our church. Being a musician, I have different opinions about the way things should be run, in terms of sound, and whatever transpires, I will go along with it. But I think it is worth a try to try something new.

I think that having church sound like a "show" isn't all that bad. When most people go to a concert, you'll find them singing along to the band's songs. Musical worship is about trying to get the congregation to sing the songs of praise. In our church, it seems that a lot of people are just listening or following along with the words and not really engaging in what the song is about. When I had a week off, I felt uncomfortable in the congregation because it wasn't really loud enough for me to sing and not have EVERYBODY around me hear it. When I go to mega-churches where the music is loud, I have no problem singing and getting involved in the songs. So, my main concern is the loudness of the music and how we can try to solve that problem.

I have an idea. I call this the "4 part method to getting someone to think more like you" (book copyrights to come at a later point). First week, you start with the borderline extreme. In our case, we would turn the sound up quite loud (even louder than you want it), but still with a good mix (plenty of kick drum, bass, and guitar) and loud enough to draw comments. The second week you do the same, but this time, you will probably draw some complaints, rather than just comments. The 3rd week, you compromise a little (you turn down the music a little, noticeable enough but not loud enough to elicit the same number of complaints). The 4th week, you compromise even more but still have gained more direction towards your goal than the complaints would suggest (you turn down the music just enough where you may receive a few comments but not very many complaints [but is quite louder than services in the past], and after the previous 3 weeks, it seems like a reasonable level).

There is a slight chance for this process to backfire, but in this case, I think we would be fine. Besides, the next step up from elevator music is geriatric hospital music (then we go on to music heard in a Macy's - still way away from turning people away from our church). One of our older congregational members stated, "People think since I'm old, I don't like loud music. I grew up with the 'Stones. It can't get any louder." That's what I'm talking about.

That brings me to my next point...I think I want to run sound one week!!!

"Contemporary" Church

Since I quoted Mars Hill Church in my last blog, I googled it to see what came up. I came across a site that had people who reviewed the church. All but one of the reviews were 1 out of 5 stars with very negative comments, mainly towards the style (or content) of teaching and because it seemed like the church was mostly concerned about growing that specific church (which I get caught up a little in our own church). But one thing really caught my attention. They all had attended the first time because it seemed more like a "club" or "show" to them.

The negative comments were mainly because the sermon seemed conservative or legalistic. A few complained that it seemed anti-feminist. But, for this post, I'm concerned with what brought them in.

In essence, it was a celebration of "pop-culture." There is a free coffee bar, booming music, tattooed congregation, a "blogging pastor", and the like. Apparently, all of these people who are reviewing had some sort of attraction to this place. It was the loud music, the buzz factor that brought them to that place. I've always wanted our church to have that buzz factor, but it has never transpired. Revolution Church (Bobby's old church) had it, I'm sure his new church will probably have it in due time, but will Rancho Vista Church have the "it" that makes people want to attend? I don't know...but I don't know if that is the way to go.

What is it that makes people want to come to your church? At Rancho Vista, we choose the personal relationship route. It is a much more difficult way to get people to come to your church. Personally, I think louder music is a great start for any style of church (for a blog later tonight) to get people interested in a service. But, with the relationship form of evangelism, it tends to keep people around longer once they show up.

So, do we need the buzz factor, or do we (I) just need to be more diligent about inviting friends to our church? And I don't want to get caught up in inviting friends who are already Christians to come to our church, because getting the numbers up at our church isn't going to help the kingdom of God. I don't know but I'm pretty sure I'll always wish we had a hip church that people couldn't help but to go to.

Shops at San Miguel Ranch

Since I'm fully convinced I have nothing to write in my blog, I will talk about the new strip mall going in right below us.

We already have the Starbucks opened, but there are quite a few other interesting shops opening up soon.

Tomorrow morning, there is going to be the grand opening of the Sports Clips store. Megan likes to call it Hooter's Haircuts. It's a haircut place for men. Each stall is supposed to resemble a sports locker and there is a TV playing sports, or Sportscenter, and the whole place kind of looks like a locker room (I peeked inside tonight). By checking out the website, they'll hire good looking women that resemble cheerleaders wearing warm-up suits to cut your hair. Part of the package is they'll give you a "massaging shampoo" and wrap a warm towel around your face when they're done. Then they massage your neck and shoulders (albeit with a massage wand) and then on to the haircut. Now if it just included chicken wings, we'd be set!!!

Another new place that just opened up within the last few days is the Mexican food restaurant. This is our first fast food Mexican joint in the Eastlake area. I might just have to try it out in the next couple of days to see if it is worthy. There is also going to be a sushi place, a pizza joint, an Albertsons (can't wait for that!!!!), a nail salon, a cleaner, an Italian restaurant, a couple banks, and finally...

A SPORT'S BAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm really looking forward to this. I'm not a huge fan of bars, but a sport's bar is perfect! Beer and anything sports (soccer is communism, and I will watch Paper, Rock, Scissors if I have a good beer) is absolutely just what the Eastlake area needs.

Since I run sports leagues, I have a vested interest in sports, in general. I always have people asking me where they can go to have a beer after the game and I have to send them out of the area. Now, with this place opening up (actually called Time Out Sports Grille) I can tell them to just go down the street and I'll meet them there!!! I like to call it networking. Maybe I can convince my supervisors to let me knock a few back on the clock. Anyway, I hope it doesn't turn out to be a dump with terrible watered down beer only (or as Mars Hill church reps would call it...feminine beer).

All in all, I'm glad everything's starting to open up soon. I'll let you know how to the haircut goes!

Lord, please forgive me...

So, I'm up late again and watching the Blue Collar Comedy Tour and Larry the Cable Guy says this line. Now even as I write this, I'm wiping away the tears from my eyes because it is so funny...anyway, I'm sure I will have to bring this up with God eventually (and Megan). But for now, it's really funny.

"That's funnier than midgets running track."

Larry the Cable Guy

Up all night...

I have a problem. I just can't go to bed early. Maybe I think I'm going to miss out on something, but I just end up regretting it about 11:30pm every night.

I'm looking up my Myspace friends to see what kind of action's going on in their world, then looking up their friends to see if I know any of them, then just end up on an endless cycle of wasting-my-time-when-I-should-be-in-bed.

So now, when I want to go to bed, can't because I need to wake up Ryan and feed him. Hopefully, this will help his new habit of waking up at 3am or 4am.