OK, so I was reading my newest edition of Church Production Magazine, when I came across a piece that I found both inspiring, and thought-provoking.  The article was written by Karl Moraski, Music Director for Hope Community Church in Raleigh, NC.  The entire article was great, but the part that made me stand and applaud was the following:

"Should we really invest that much money in AV equipment?  If we expect to reach our culture we must keep up with them technically.  Our neighbors and friends who are far from God are used to surround-sound movies in HD and state-of-the-art lighting at concerts and shows they attend.  We want our congregation to bring their friends and not have them turned off because we seem antiquated in our methodology.  I would beg the leadership not to skimp in the area of AV equipment."

And then, my favorite part:

"Extravagant?  Yes.  As extravagant as the perfume that was poured on our Lord’s feet…and Jesus said to her "…wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be talked about in her memory" (Matthew 26:13) Don’t be frivolous, but why not be extravagant for God?  He deserves our best."

Wow.  I finally have a Biblical answer for the times when people ask me why we spend so much on equipment, or set pieces, or whatever.  If we keep the fact that technology isn’t God in perspective, and that technology only exists to help convey the message of God, we can’t be wrong.  Having poor audio in a church doesn’t just mean they don’t have the best audio….it means there is a distraction…something that can prohibit the Word of God from reaching every ear in the house as cleanly as it should.  Churches shouldn’t go into debt just for the sake of technology.  But remember that seekers or new church-goers tend to look for things that will discredit the church…..as Karl said above, if we "look" or "feel" antiquated, they disengage, and we have lost our chance.  So, for those who say we spend too much on technology, or furniture, or marketing, or anything, consider the verse above.  There are unfortunately hundreds of churches nationwide that spend no money on anything, and it is apparent in every service they hold.  People’s salvation doesn’t revolve around the church budget, and it shouldn’t.  Any money spent, for even one saved soul, is worth the cost. 

If you are interested in this topic, check out Chris’ Website for another story on this same idea of when is it OK to be Extravagant for God?

Well, I figured it has been a while since I have posted on here, so I thought I would catch up.  If I follow my normal routine, I will add about 3 entries today…and then no more until June or so.  Sorry, that’s just the way it is.  Things have settled down a little bit now that the Easter rush is finally over.  We had EIGHT Easter services that weekend….1 Friday, 3 Saturday, and 4 Sunday.  Our numbers were lower than we expected….onlt 9,112 people on campus.  Still, that’s not bad.  We also had over 100 people baptized that weekend, around 40 of which were not registered….which means they decided to get baptized AFTER they arrived at church that weekend.  VERY cool.  Chris is out here, and is getting settled in nicely.  He bought a new car, and is zipping around all over town now.  In his first week, he put in almost 80 hours…..way to go Chris!  This past week around the Ridge has been a little slower…which has allowed chris to start working on the other part of his job….web design for the church.  Check the Church’s Website often to see some of the changes he is making…..coming soon….Podcasting @ the Ridge.  I can already see the dilligence and work ethic that Chris is going to put into all of the projects he works on.  I am really excited to have him here. 

On a completely different subject……how do you deal with personal conflict?  Whether it be sin in your life that you are dealing with, or personal struggles with decisions, or trying to always do the right thing….How do you keep in check?  I have realized that having an accountability partner could quite possibly be one of the best thing that could happen to someone’s personal walk.  Having someone you can talk to, tell them everything that’s going on in your life (the good, bad, and questionable), and someone that can help keep you going in the right direction seems priceless to me.  I don’t currently have one of those people…..but I know others that do, and it’s helping them a ton.  For the rest of you who don’t have that person like me, I encourage you to find someone.  Someone you can trust, who you can talk to, and someone you can take guidance from.  I think you will see the difference.

I am priveledged enough to be working with two of the high school kids right now, on a slightly deeper level than normal, to help them become what they want to be.  A mentor of sorts.  Both of them have tons of potential, although in very different areas, and i am excited to be able to help them grow into what they want to be.  I firmly believe that one of them will be a dynamic, renowned worship leader within the next 10 years.  I tell you this because I have seen two things within my own life since I have started working with them.  First, in order to fill others, you have to be filled (back to the last paragraph).  Secondly, it is an amazing feeling to have someone, who isn’t THAT much younger than you, look up to your for asnwers in all kinds of subjects…life, church, music, whatever.  Sometimes I feel like I just live my life, getting nothing out of it, and giving nothing to it.  But as I talk to these kids, I realize: I am using my own life experiences…..the very ones I thought didn’t impact me……to lead these kids.  Not only that, but as I talk to those kids, I am making an impact….no matter how small.  That one student is going to be who they are because of their talent, their character, and their heart….that has nothing to do with me.  But knowing that I did even just one little thing to help steer them in the right direction, makes it VERY exciting to me.  (not to mention the name recognition and free concerts later )

This may be one of my most random blogs to date.  They are all just things that I am thinking right now….now being an interesting time in my life……some things are going better than I could have ever expected….some things aren’t……and some things are going, whether I expected them or not.  I am excited to see what is in store.

Stay Tuned…..

Well, after many months of convincing Chris that CRCC is where he needs to be, he is FINALLY coming out here!  His official start date is April 10th.  He will come out for 7 weeks, and then go back and get married to his lovely wife-to-be Amanda, and then they will both come out for good sometime in mid-June.  He will be working on our web-development stuff, as well as be the AV Manager for the new youth buidling….which basically means a second ME, which will leave me to work in the Auditorium.  This is an exciting time in my life, his life, and the life of our church.  Visit his blog page to see HIS account of the last few months, as well as the church’s website that he will be working on!!