Connexion

File that under "duh"

Another totally useless study to proclaim the certainty of the obvious...

"They also found that intoxicated bicyclists were 3.6 times more likely to suffer head injuries in cycling crashes, said Dr. Pat Crocker, chief of emergency medicine at Dell Children's. "We were very surprised by the strong association between drinking and not wearing a helmet," Crocker said.

People who think they are safer on a bike than behind the wheel after drinking are wrong, the doctors said. It takes more skill to maneuver a bicycle and "you don't have that metal armor" of a vehicle around you, Milling said. Of the 200 bicyclists who were treated at the hospital, 58 percent of the drinkers suffered head injuries, versus 28 percent of the sober bikers, according to data that Milling provided."

Personal vs. Impersonal? ...where's the line?

Phoenix Church is a bit different than other churches in that our "target" are seekers. By nature, the people we are trying to do church for are skeptical, aloof, and unsure. In our first year, we've had many first time visitors, but not many of them give a repeat visit. They give us positive feedback and often indicate they plan on coming back - but poof and they're gone...

We are trying to think through our follow-up strategies and I would love to hear what works for you and your church. If you have a similar model that would be awesome... I know not everything will work, and I really have to be sensitive to our church culture - but I am ready to try some new things!

Here's what we do right now...

• When a new person comes, we give them a t-shirt in exchange for a survey. (Surprisingly we have a really high rate of return on those surveys - people want the shirt I guess) The survey has basic info and gets their email...
• They get added to an email database and we send out periodic (not every week) emails to that list plugging whats going on and new series, etc...
• Obviously, we try to meet every new person - and we usually do...

I know that we need more "personal" touch. Should we get a phone number and call them? Should I (or someone) try to go meet them at their home? Should I invite them to coffee? ...where's the line between genuine interest and stalker pastor?

Ideas? Thoughts?

Just be yourself

Dana, the kids, and I watched Martian Child the other evening. It's a story about a science fiction writer and widower that adopts a kid who thinks he's from Mars. Its actually a pretty decent little flick ...and it packs a pretty powerful message: Be yourself!

Imagine for a second if we were all the same... Wouldn't that totally stink?

Think about this too: If God made you the way you are - then what are you saying about God when you spend all your time trying to be something/someone else?

...that's not to excuse things that really should change - but it should set you free. Be who God made you to be! Be yourself!

 

You spending the surplus check?

We got our surplus check in the mail - oddly enough, it came a week after our tax return. Normally it goes in the bank and savings... This year though, we are boosting the economy. Here's the rundown:

• 3 brand new bikes. I'm a huge bike snob so the kids all got very (very) sweet rides.
• A trampoline
• A trip to the coast sometime this summer
• A boys trip to Houston to watch some MLS and MLB

Sounds like a fun summer, huh? Thanks Uncle Sam!!

Phoenix Church firsts...

Last night at Phoenix Church we saw our first salvation and our first baptisms!

We've been doing a series talking about the basics - The Bible, Salvation, Discipleship - and last night we discussed baptism. We decided to end the evening with an invitation that if anyone wanted to be baptized, all they had to do was ask. That's a pretty crazy request given that no one came "prepared" with clothes or anything.

Rachel was the first to respond. I counseled with her some and then Jason (the bass player) walked up and said, "Let's do this." I took them into the back and asked Jason when he had trusted Christ. He said, "...about a minute ago." We all prayed again - and then I baptized them.

How cool is that? ...very cool indeed...

One more difference between men and women

I lit a candle in my office this morning.

My secretary smelled the match and came to check out and make sure I wasn't setting the office on fire. She saw the candle, and sniffed, and oo-d and auugh-d.

It got me thinking. Women light candles to set a mood. They light candles because they like candles and pretty smells and all that jazz...

Men light candles to hide smells. In particular, I was trying to mask the smell of my cycling clothes that I rode in with this morning ...they smell pretty rank and they were smelling up my office! So I lit a candle...

Just one more difference between men and women. Go figure.

One, Two, and Four

1 win, 2 losses, and 4 ties

That's the record of my favorite Major League Soccer team, the Houston Dynamo. After two consecutive MLS Cup wins, a fan comes to expect something more... At least they finally won last week!! This weekend they play Chicago - their record? 5, 1, and 1 ...uh oh.

Crash Test Dummies

I've been wondering what it would be like to drive a car this small... The tests come out okay, but watch it bounce around - imagine that on the highway. They also point out that comparing it to larger vehicles is like a featherweight vs. a heavyweight (good analogy). Might be fun to own though if all you do is "in town" driving...

Kobe Bryant and Phoenix Dave

Have you seen the clip of Kobe jumping over a car? Well, then, what are you waiting for...

Our very own David Tobey figured that since he's the same size as Kobe, he could probably do it too... (spoiler alert - this will air this week at Phoenix Church)

Stories of Transformation

I've been in a pretty big reading slump lately. After months, I think I'm finally coming out of it... I have many of Thom Rainers books. He does research on the church and writes some great stuff - but this may be his best work yet.

The Unexpected Journey is a series of interviews that he and his wife conduct with people who have come to Christianity from other religions. Everything from Wiccan, Jehovah's Witness, Mormonism to Atheism and Islam. The stories of transformation are incredible. Its amazing to hear actual accounts of people turning from other things to Christ. Its also pretty cool to recognize that God uses many, many different methods and believers along the way to someones conversion.

If you are looking for a little hope and inspiration, pick this book up ...besides it's short and a quick read!!