Welcome to Dorkburg...

This Thursday! 10.29.09

2009-10-28T08:15:00.000-07:00

What up gangstas!? This is a quick update about some things taking place at TransformationC this Thursday!

1.) Fall Festival @ Benteen Elementary

One of our fellw Transformers works with Hands on Atlanta & facilitates the After School Program at Benteen. They hoped to throw a colossal Fall Festival for the kids, but are lacking one important thing..volunteers! Transformation needs a few good men & women to make this festival dream a reality! Can you be there?

We will be gathering there at 3pm until about 5:30pm & we need YOU!!!

Tweet me if you re interested in coming! The addy is as follows:

Benteen Elementary School
200 Cassanova St, SE
Atlanta, Ga 30315
Fulton County

Marta bound?
Take the #49 from Five Points Station to the intersection of Custer & Cassanova! Benteen Elementary will be directly across.

2.) LOVE is here... Pt. 2, Here Comes The Bride

The series, "LOVE is here...", continues tomorrow at 8pm EST! We would love for you to join one of our 3 gathering: East Atlanta, Ft. Lauderdale & web!

This week's message is on that you do not want to miss! I promise you!

For the Love... A Reflection

2009-10-15T13:48:00.000-07:00

New Series! New Campus!

2009-10-15T11:18:00.001-07:00

Updates from Transformation C

2009-10-01T07:35:00.000-07:00

LIVE Stream, tonight 8pm EST, http://www.livestream.com/transformationc

Flood Relief, http://www.HopeATL.com

Need I say mo!?

LIVE @ Transformation C

2009-09-30T07:46:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder, Transformation C is now streaming gatherings LIVE! Our next gathering will be tomorrow, October 1, 2009 @ 8pm EST. Feel free to join us for about 30 solid minutes as we share in Christ & build community. You will be joining our East Atlanta & Ft. Lauderdale campus on the web. Be prepared to chat & grow in community ONLINE!

Be it in your dorm, at your home, at St. Arbucks or on your iPhone, you can tune in!

Need a link? http://www.livestream.com/transformationc

HopeATL.com

2009-09-30T07:41:00.000-07:00

Some won't believe it until they see it.

A Body in the Water

2009-09-23T07:58:00.000-07:00

This is my buddy, Shaun King of the Courageous Church in downtown Atlanta, giving a short explanation of the Atlanta flood & what has happened since. Lives have been taken. Homes, cars & possessions have been destroyed. There are hundreds of families with nothing to their name.

It baffles me how many of our neighbors have lost everything within a night's time & because we are unaffected, it does not phase us. As the Body of Christ, this bothers me. Where are the hands & feet? How long will we be a social club filled with poster boys that advertise activism & never advocate for anything?

Transformation C, the gathering that I pastor will be under girding Shaun & the Courageous in being the hands & feet during this tough time. I urge you, if you are in Atlanta (or not) to reach out. On Shaun's blog, labeled above, there is a list of things & ways we can aid the flood victims. Help us help our city for the fame of Jesus.

Hello, Ft. Lauderdale!

2009-09-17T09:16:00.000-07:00

Our gathering, Transformation C, has been alive for little over 3 months. In that time period, as a community, gathering in a home to do life together & grow in faith, we've winessed God do some ridiculous things. We don't have a degree in developing strategy, so faith is all we've really had to go off of. That faith has opened up a tremendous door or our young family & I'm about to let the cat out of the bag...Are you ready?

Tonight, we will be streaming our very gathering for the very 1st time. You can find it at the bottom of the page as well as at http://www.livestream.com/transformationc.

Even bigger than that is the development of Transformation C, Ft. Lauderdale! A group, much like our own, will be gathering wth us, LIVE tonight to share in spreading the fame of Jesus!

Feel free to join in! Tonight, 8pm

LiveChrist

No Greater Love...

2009-09-16T08:02:00.000-07:00

Break Free, part 3, Senseless Tradition (2/2)

2009-09-04T05:37:00.000-07:00

Break Free, part 3, Senseless Tradition (1/2)

2009-09-04T05:33:00.000-07:00

TODAY!

2009-08-16T00:19:00.001-07:00

Indeed, it is true! Northpoint finally caught on! (LOL) After a much anticipated wait, Northpoint.tv is launching, bringing service LIVE to you in the A.M.

I am excited to see where this goes & am praying with my brothers in arms that it will be a great tool to preach the Gospel!

For a more thorough & detailed post, check out what my bro, Antwon, had to say! I'm just too lazy to compete...

http://bit.ly/AvQet

Break Free, Pt. 2: Self Preservation

2009-08-14T09:12:00.000-07:00

Next Thursday at Transformation C., we'll be rocking out the 2nd message in the series, Break Free. Its all about aspects of our lives that we need to be freed from if we are going to serve God to the max.

In the American church, we have grown so consumed with false theologies on blessing, favor & "good Christian lives" based on misinterpreted scripture. Its become a culture & a generational way of thought. All the more, it is tearing the CHURCH apart...not the building, but the BRIDE!

We've got to break away from a little thing I'd like to call self-preservation! What happens when our ideal of an over-protective God spoiling His kids day after day hits the wall? Then what? Where is your faith then? If we are going to serve God, we must break away from this image of God & the ideals that He will allot each of His children good & comfortable lives...S#%@ happens & when it does, we've got to have the capacity & faith to bounce back rather than self-loathe & doubt.

Will you break free with us?
(Pray with us. We hope to stream this service online!)

The Journey Begins...(At least, this one does.)

2009-08-13T15:31:00.000-07:00

You heard it right. In 2-weeks, the braids will magically be taken apart & locked!

Why?

Tons of reasons. More reasons than I have time to write. The biggest is this: As a Christian, especially in the States amidst traditionalism & senseless ritual woven into our faith, there has to be defiance in order for us to progress. One of my life goals is to take myself as far from the generic Christian identity as possible. Plus, I have wanted locs for a really, really long time.

Effing STOKED!!

What d'you think?

Food For Thought...Human Responsibility

2009-08-09T20:15:00.000-07:00

Jacques Ellul on Human Responsibility...We All Hold Blame...

Confessions of a Pastor Pt.2

2009-08-08T21:12:00.000-07:00

I must say, today has proven to be interesting. I mean this not in a generic, cookie-cutter whatsoever. Everything from waking this morning with deep sexual frustration ( i.e., Physical Longings) to spending time reminiscing with a group of dear friends about our experiences in college ministry has placed me in a very awkward mood.

My conclusion is this: I'm dissatisfied with my present state. Here is why...

1.) On multiple occasions, I was tempted to violate my flesh due to sexual longings. I'm sure you get the picture.

What bothers me is that these desires to gratify the flesh have become progressively worse.

2.) I miss my old, passionate self.

I REFUSE to be one of those Christians that was 'once upon a time' passionate about the Savior. Upon reflecting on my early collegiate days, I realized how, very much, my passion & longing for God has died down, It seems that as my knowledge has increased, my zeal to pursue Him has dwindled. It definitely hurts.

3.) I am not too sure how I feel about her.

Long story (really) short, I want to honor God with every aspect of my life. There was a young lady whom I fancied & desired to pursue not very long ago. She is a Christ Follower & she does so beautifully. Its a joy just to hear about her love walk with the Father. Well, we pulled the plug on pursuit & tonight was the 1st night I saw & was able to interact with her in nearly a month. While I do feel that I am truly capable of being a good & godly brother to her, thoughts of pursuit linger & bring confusion.

At the end of the day, this bit of venting stands just to say that my life needs heavy reconstruction. As a pastor, as a leader & as a brother, I have an obligation to be transparent & to be strong. I pray that this is a means of surveying my current stage in life & building from here. Pray with me.

Grace,
Anthony

Five Chapters Down

2009-08-08T12:18:00.000-07:00

Greetings From Lohm,

As it stands, I have successfully compiled 5 chapters of my very first novel, Deleminus. This has been no easy task. Only a few months ago, I experienced a severe slump in my ability to write & more importantly, write well. Some call it "Writer's Block." I prefer calling it lack of vision & not a lack of inspiration.

I have grown to appreciate the works of an acclaimed author & professed athiest, Philip Pullman. While his writings may be seen as propaganda against the Christian faith, I see him as a literary genius. One thing I adore the most is his compulsion to write & do so continually.

After completing 5 chapters, all of which are a surprise to me in that I actually wrote them, I reflect on a quote that I pulled from Mr. Pullman, "If I only wrote when I was inspired, I would only write 2 or 3 days out of the year."

The House With The Purple Door

2009-08-07T10:06:00.000-07:00

Probably the Coolest Thing Ever

2009-08-05T14:02:00.000-07:00

Probably the most amazing thing I have seen today.

I snatched this from my good friend's blog & I must say, if I had one of these, I'd change the world!

I think I'm going to construct one in my backyard.

Seriously.

Transformation C. Takes on Compassion Int.

2009-08-05T13:08:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege of attending the Catalyst Conference last year with my good friends Antwon Davis & Daniel Gilland. It was probably one of the most earth-shattering experiences of my life. Everything from the worship to the ridiculous amounts of free leadership tools that we had access to will keep my 1st experience with Catalyst continually etched in my mind. Antwon & I literally walked around with a bag going from booth to booth gathering books & shirts as if this conference were Halloween for church leaders. This was also my 1st experience with Land of 1000 Hills Coffee, which I am now a voluntary posterboy for. Each message that went across was the stage had specific significance to me as I sat with eyes wide & ears open, listening intently!

It was phenomenal! Each moment was pivotal, but there is one in particular that burned deep. A young lady from the Philippines (my Mother's home) came to grace the stage. She spoke of an organization called Compassion International & how she was sponsored as a young girl through their program. Since, she has gone to college & is now aiding to help underprivleged children in her country. It was through Compassion that she was afforded such opportunities & can now be a beacon of light to others.

I am proud to announce that Transformation C. will be sponsoring its 1st child within the month. Our plan is to start with one child & as we grow, we will add more & more kids. The goal is to eventually leave no child unsponsored, be it through strategic partnerships or fund raising, we want to help these kids just as the young lady who graced Catalyst was helped. How beautiful would that be?

Contradictory Me?

2009-08-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

Maybe I think entirely too much. I could very well be the case. It could be the case that I think so much that I will always view my life as flawed.

What if I'm not thinking too hard? What if this is exactly how my mind should function? I am beginning to think that this is the case...

When I survey my personal character, life, thought processes, etc & I cast them against the wall of normalcy (ie, everyone else), I seem to notice something peculiar. I am an oddity. This run-on sentence should explain it perfectly: I am a tattooed, pierced, passionate Follower of Christ with a heart for the Church, Social Reform & Literature, writing a very Harry Potteresque novel that I pray will reveal Jesus to masses of people that are far from God at the same time, also pastors a church that challenges its gatherers to live Christ-Centered lives while having a heart that breaks & beats alongside His for what His heart breaks over & beats for.

That's only the half of it, but I hope it gave you an idea. Sometimes, when I look at the lives of others & I cast myself against normalcy, I feel alone. I feel like I'm the only one of my kind & that I could be unintentionally doing wrong by the way my life is modeled. I don't know any pastors who will sit & salivate over Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo or give an entire lecture on the Chrristological qualities of Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone. I don't know any Christians that would rather listen to Make Yourself by Incubus rather than The I Heart Revolution by Hillsong because they think the content of the Incubus album is a bit more challenging & pleasant to the ears. I just don't.

As of late, I have grown comfortable in my nature as a misfit & with it all, hope to be pleasing to God through Christ. If you're like me, heed my words. You are odd. You are wierd. You are beautiful. You have been made that way in order to serve God as an individual & it is not necessary to have to fit the mold to do so. Glorify God in your individuality & shine! You may hold the key to reaching the unreachable!

About...

2009-08-04T22:07:00.000-07:00

Dorkburg was an idea that was birthed out of me in the Fall of 2008. It was & remains to be a metaphor for my life, & as I have found, the lives of countless others. Let me explain, each one of us, be it an individual or cooperative aspiration, wants to change the world. Some want to change the world for good, others for evil. Some simply want their perspective to be heard & considered.

Dorkburg is a city & unlike most cities, it finds home in my mind. It has one citizen & that citizen is me. I, like countless others aspire to change the world & this is where I will start. If I can change the heart & mind of that one citizen, I am well on my way to changing the world as a whole, one step at a time.

Welcome to the city limits....Dorkburg.

Hey! I'm Anthony Fisher. I am a student, author, social activist & pastor here in Atlanta,Ga. In pursuit of a degree in Sociology w/ a Minor in Religious Studies, I & an amazing group of others embarked upon a church plant in late June. Since, Transformation C has developed & aims to serve Atlanta & to provoke Believers to live like Jesus. I am also in the process of writing my very 1st novel entitled, Deleminus. It is a piece of Fantasy Fiction literature filled with magic, suspense & adventure. Aside from being entertaining, my prayer is that I am able to showcase Christ through it to individuals who may never come in contact with Christ in any other way.

Tearing Down the Wall of Distraction

2009-05-15T06:36:00.000-07:00

This video is of Courageous Church (Atlanta, Ga) tearing down a wall that divided its office space. They took invisible ink markers to the wall...then blacklights....then a sledge hammer...then fists. Distraction fell.

Confessions of a Church Planter

2009-05-14T06:09:00.000-07:00

Here is some background information before I decide to completely spill my guts.

- I am a 21 year old guy studying Sociology & Religion at Georgia State University.

- My ambitions are to plant & pastor a church while being an award-winning Fantasy-Fiction Novelist.

- About a month ago, God pretty much wrecked my life (in a good way).

- In less than 2 weeks, I will be launching a house-church, Transformation C.

Granted, a lot of that stuff is uber-basic, it will mean tons as this post progresses. About a month ago I had a series of 3 conversations back-to-back. Each built off of the one before, starting at my local Starbucks, then in my Religion & Literature class, & back at Starbucks.

It all started during a conversation with my good friend & brother Travis Crafter about simple life matters. Weeks earlier, I'd experienced a major slump in my faith. Because social injustices hold a place in my heart, it is often difficult to see God's hand in them. Nonetheless, I was able to conquer those feelings & continue in my pursuit of faith. We then moved to the subject of community, being a leader, feeling as though you are involuntarily being hurled into a course of action, etc. That conversation ended only to be continued in class. As we began our discussion of 'A Lesson Before Dying', I kid you not, EVERY subject matter we discussed was addressed. My mind was running laps by this point, so what better than more caffeinated inspiration to top it off? Back to Starbucks.

That's when it happened. During that conversation, it was almost as if a burning bush had perched itself on our table to speak....'What if you started to build the church?'....I reiterated, "Travis, what would you think if I started the church?"

He paused.

Then spoke.

"People have been ready to follow, they're just waiting on you."

God used that experience to wreck me.

------>FastForward----->

We are a week and a half away from our official launch. Within the month, we have been able to recruit a worship leader, an administrative assistant, Life-Coach, supporters, & more. Just yesterday, God answered a major prayer of ours, giving us the means to purchase furniture for the room that we will be using to host service. Its going to happen....but....as a church planter, I am experiencing a place of lonliness that is unlike any other.

Since things have taken off, there has been more criticism than ever. There has been less support than ever. And in a quiet mind, that can be dangerous. Granted, yes, we should find our support in Jesus & all that fluffy Christian jargon, the reality is that even as a pastor, you will probably experience this same lonliness. You want to know that people support the vision. You want to be comforted by those who love you.

What I find as strange is that in writing Deleminus, I seemed to rally more geniune support than in attempting to launch Transformation C. From church leadership to close friends, it has been noticably quiet & at times, I've almost come to doubt that God wants me to do this.

On top of this, it has required a ton of work that I was not expecting. Up until yesterday, I thought that I wasn't going to be able to purchase furnishings for the room. God had his way of providing & now its possible. I had been spending a majority of my earnings & time working on 'church stuff' to prepare for launch.

Yesterday, something hit me. In John 10:27, Jesus says that His sheep know His voice. If we are called to reflect Jesus, would it not be the case that the people that we are called to shepherd would know our voices as well?

Drum Roll Please......The 1st Series Is....

2009-04-22T07:20:00.000-07:00

SAY ANYTHING! After much deliberation, the 1st series for Transformation C. is set in stone. As a new community of faith with a fairly unknown vision, its rather important that we understand why it is that we do what we do.

Say Anything started as a social experiment and ended as a critique on what culture thinks about Christianity. It asked the simple question: If you could say anything to a Christian, what would it be? The findings were nothing support of surprising.

In a 4 Part Series, we'll attempt to face a few major issues that are facing Christ's Followers in progressive culture.

W1: SAY ANYTHING: What did it mean?

W2: We Don't Know What We Believe

W3: We Don't Believe What We Believe

W4: We Don't Live What We Believe

I'll keep you posted!

Latest Trailer for the Half-Blood Prince

2009-04-22T06:28:00.000-07:00

I embrace the inner dork. I am effin in love with this stuff!!

40 Inspirational Speaches in 2 Minutes

2009-04-20T08:21:00.001-07:00

Encouraging & Hilarious....

Worthy to Be Followed...

2009-04-16T06:30:00.000-07:00

This is just a brain-fart that I just wanted to put out there for the public. There are some questions that I ask myself & perceptions that I held unknowingly until now that I would like to question. This post is interactive. In that, if you are one of the 2 people who actually read the content of this blog, please feel free to respond.

What is integrity?

When you hear it, what does it sound like?

When you see it, what does it look like?

Is it a constant or does it permit slack?

Here is why I ask. I currently have 118 followers on Twitter. Granted it is social media, the term "Follow" implies to me that one must be noteworthy enough to lead. Whether we think so or not, people read what we have to say when we post, but is the perception of self skewed as it crosses the threshold of a computer screen? As I look more and more at it, my life & lifestyle seem less than remarkable to be modeled or romanced. I bleed. I am flawed. I slip....& when I slip, I slip hard. But does this mean that I do not have the capacity now to be a moral & integral man?

Are you worth being followed?

Big Thangs Poppin!

2009-04-07T19:13:00.000-07:00

Here's the deal, we all have vision. At one point or another, we all had a big dream. What I am afraid happens to most of us, however, is that as we grow up, that vision gets smaller. We start college, and that vision seems to appear less attainable. We meet a girl/guy and settle down, suddenly that vision is put on the back burner, often left there for lengths at a time. My wish for you as it is for myself is that we are able to catch hold to those things that God has placed on our hearts and run relentlessly for them regardless of age, occupation or life circumstance.

As of late, I've been working on my very 1st novel, Deleminus. In less than 2 months, I have been able to complete 3 chapters, develop an editorial team, and raise mass support through social mediums. This, for me is a part of that vision....that BIG vision that God has placed in me to impact this world.

Another part of that vision was to eventually pastor a church. When I say "pastor" and "church", I do not mean in the mainstream & orthodox sense. No, I do not want to wear suits and spit on every person on the front row as I yell at. No, I do not aim to create a building that is only used once a week as we fail to transform lives. What I do mean, is being a catalyst used by God to change lives through the TRUTH of the Gospel, life to life interaction, brokenness and transparency. I dream of a people that change the face of their communities through not just knowing about Jesus, but living Christ.

Thus......drumroll please..........I am in preparation to launch on a small scale Transformation. A community of faith that deals with real to life issues, connects them with the Faith and changes lives. We are not a church per se. We are a community of people who strive to LiveChrist, love one another relentlessly & grow. Its on.

Pray. Lets make this a reality.

20/20

2009-01-02T12:41:00.001-08:00

I love talking to people that are nothing like me! Hearing a foreign perspective totally challenges my worldview & I love it! I recently had a conversation with a good friend on tithes, offerings, & biblical mandates. Granted my questions weren't answered, it brought me to this: What if we are so concerned with people seeing what we see the way we see it that it drives people away from seeing Jesus?

One of my goals for Transformation Church is to develop an Ebenezer's-style coffee house that provides a hang out spot for church attendees as well as the community we are fixed in and that creates residual income to fund the ministry. I am very adamant about creating a relevant and WELCOMING environment. Part of that, to me, is finding a cool way of funding the church so that attendees aren't pressured to give, give, and give some more. Don't get me wrong, I think that the gift of giving is awesome, but I do not believe that Jesus came to the earth and died so that we could have 30 minute mini-sermons about why we should tithe. As a matter of fact, I question whether or not tithing is still a plausable mandate biblically. I question whether or not God requires 10% of the 'church' or if the church uses this as a scheme to pay its bills on time.

Thus, my mind began to wander about. We as Christ-followers spend so much time playing 'Connect the Dots' with our faith and with the Bible that we don't see Jesus at all. We are so concerned with majoring in the minors and minoring in the majors that we spend less and less time growing in faith and more time debating on whose view is correct. Could you imagine a church that thought of these things and more as trivial and concentrated on becoming more like Christ. Could you imagine how effective they would be?

A Recognized Holiday in Dorkburg

2008-12-30T04:52:00.000-08:00

Today is Dorkburg, National Get In God's Face & Worship Day will be observed! We here in Dorkburg believe that just as in any activity that is done with zeal and fervor, there must be a constant momentum for it to be effective. You can't shoot a basketball 1 time and be a better athelete than LeBron James. You can't lift a 10lb dumbell and expect to look like me (LOL)....lets face it! Great effectiveness comes through great consistency. Sometimes, however you have to escape normalcy any do something you have never done in order to get effects your never recieved in the past. I've been reading 'Wild Goose Chase' by Mark Batterson, & let me say that it is flipping AMAZING! A few years ago, he came up with a formula. He said that where you are geographically effects where you are spiritually.

Change of Place + Change of Pace = Change of Perspective

Just wanted to challenge you on this National Dorkburg holiday to escape your normal environment (ie, go to a new coffee shop, take a walk in an unfamiliar park, etc.) and spend some time worshipping God outside of the box! We can't confine an unTamed and unFathomable God to routine...nor can we scedule times to experience Him. So, I urge you, try finding him in a new place today! Chase the Wild Goose!

Just Launched BISCUITbreakers

2008-12-22T09:37:00.000-08:00

Imagine this: A mass of deadly assasins equipped with the super secret ninja sense of community & togetherness using their stealth to infiltrate a college campus to spread love! & what better way to spread love than through food!? That's what BISCUITbreakers is all about! Check them out @ www.biscuitbreakers.com or follow them @ www.twitter.com/biscuitbreakers! These deadly bread breaking warriors are gonna change GSU forever, one meal & fellowship at a time!

Church Progress Excert

2008-12-12T10:01:00.000-08:00

I just finished writing a Final Essay for my African American Studies class that focuses on A.A. Spirituality. I got a bit overzealous and turned a 9 page essay into a 13-pager. The essay is focused on progress in the African American Church. Using theories from evolutionists like Herbert Spencer & Charles Darwin, mixed with a history lesson in the Industrialization of Europe and a dash of the Apostle Paul's teachings in Athens, I attempt to draw a conclusion about why it is of utter importance for the Church to innovate. Now, Im seriously considering taking this concept and turning it into a book. There is a link at the bottom. Read it! Comment! Tell me what you think!

Excert: Herbert Spencer, Apostle Paul, the Industrial Revolution, & Progress In the African American Church

Conversation: Pain, Hope, Questions and Community

2008-11-28T05:02:00.000-08:00

Last week, I had the privilege of joining my think-tank group and a few others at A Night w/ To Write Love On Her Arms. I'd heard about this organization a few years ago & sadly, my knowledge of who they were was quite limited. All I knew was that their name was catchy and they had some pretty cool t-shirts....that's it! Little did I know that their name was heavily wrapped around their cause & in a major way, their cause deeply rooted in community and love!

"To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery." (TWLOHA Mission)

Sitting in a room with a hundred others along with the leaders and founders of this movement was such an honor. When the night was over, I was FLOORED! I left with a heavier heart for community, being a godly influence on the lives of others, and relentlessly pursuing conversations that are not going on. Be it in the area of depression, pain, lust, or anything else...there are people who are dealing with real problems and there must be real people to embrace and address them!

Check out the website.

Join the movement.

Be the change.

LiveChrist

Say Anything!

2008-11-27T15:53:00.000-08:00

So, for the last 3 weeks I have had the opportunity to work on a project with my think-tank guys. During our Tuesday meetings, we wrestled with a butt-load of ideas as to how we could spread the message and fame of Jesus on the campus of Georgia State in ways that aren't being done. What we came up with was a series of experiments making use of black hoodies. The 1st of these was a project called Say Anything! We wanted to know what progressive culture thought about Christ Followers, and what better way than to ask? So, for 3 Thursdays, back to back, we suited up in black hoodies & took it to the campus. What we found was nothing less than eye-opening! Check out the website at www.sayanythingatlanta.com

LiveChrist

Great Things Happen Here

2008-11-26T12:30:00.000-08:00

I am pretty sure that when Howard Schultz founded Starbucks, it was nothing less than a God-inspired moment. Whether you are in one of the many metro-Atlanta locations or in Albany, Ga (where there are only 2), you are definitely in an environment that is well-equip for some of the best social interaction and creative thinking that you may possibly ever have. Aside from stirring in me an addiction for hot, caffeinated beverages, many of my best ideas, most gripping converations, and awe-inspiring think-tank sessions have been birthed over a Grande Caffe' Mocha (my drink of choice), a chill environment and a window seat. Let's face it! Great things happen here. Just to list a few:

Together Tuesdays: My Think-Tank sessions with two of the most insanely innovative minds I have ever known, Antwon Davis & Daniel Gilland. I have learned more about using marketing strategies to grow ministry, being authentic, and changing the face of American- Christianity with these guys more than anyone else in my 4 years of pursuing Jesus! I love doing ministry with yall!
The Chronological History of Lohm & More: Well, thanks to Jesus and the comforting sounds of Sinatra as I sip a Caffe' Mocha in my seat overlooking the city streets, I have started 2 novels that I plan to release in mid-2009! So stoked! Thank God for the gift of being a dork!
Say Anything!: We put our heads together for a few weeks and came up with this! A campaign to see what culture has to say about Christianity. We went around GSU asking the simple question: "If you could say ANYTHING to a Christian, what would it be?" Check out the webpage and see what students had to say. One of many ideas executed to get people to question their perception of Christ!
140 or Less: An old buddy and mentor of mind dropped this one on me today, and it has been rocking my world! Vincent Hunt's mind is going to crush Albany, Ga...I promise you!

What's your Starbucks story?

What's Not Working & Why

2008-11-26T12:17:00.000-08:00

As Prophet Love, 86, wears his signature purple suit for 6 of 7 days a week, stalking the streets of Atlanta, he carries a sign that says," 'God' said 97 church folk out of every 100 will burn in Hell." While he is doing this, there are probably another 3 street preachers in Woodruff Park, and another mass, unknown in numbers barking at students, business men and homeless to either "Come to Jesus or Burn in Hell."

I have had the pleasure of speaking with Love, whose sign adorns his phone number for those who may have any questions about his motive or the message he presents, personally. He expressed to me, as I am sure he has to many others, how 'God' gave him this message prophetically to deliver to the world.

Don't get me wrong, I love Jesus and I love other people who love Jesus. Heck, I love people who don't love Jesus more than people who love claim to love Him in most cases, so I am not writing this out of distaste of personal character or with an aura that I have the right answers.

My problem roots from an abundance of passion and a lack in education on the Gospel. My problem derives from the point where arrogance and a false sense of exclusiveness fog up the hearts of Christ followers, causing us to do things that essentially drive people away from Christ rather than direct them towards Him. My problem comes from our unwillingness to progress because we are afraid that we will look too much like "the world." Be it street preaching, gospel tracts, or Christ-inspired billboards with messages like "Jesus is only a U-turn away", it pisses me off when we misrepresent Christ to culture in our attempts to promote Him.

So, what's not working?

Street Preaching: The last thing people want is to hear a loud-mouth, judgmental, imperfect being yelling at them as they walk from work to lunch. As a Christ follower, I admit, it even chaps my behind to be walking to and from class, only to hear the cracked voices of men who don't have their lives together bashing me because my tattoos and earrings make me look like I'm a sinner. Let's face it, for a culture such as our own, this approach simply does not work.
Gospel Tracts: I guess I do look like a sinner (and, yes, I am...thank you GOD for Your Son). Its time for me to face that cruel reality. Last Tuesday, as I was walking from 5-Points train station to my job, a young Mormon woman approached me with SEVEN FLIPPING GOSPEL TRACTS!! She must really have known how much I need Jesus! I'm sorry, but I hate to say that if your flyer isn't decorated with half-naked women, ads for $3 drinks, and a club party, I am afraid that your will end up in the garbage. Talk about going green when you kill thousands of innocent trees and print out tracts that will end up in a dumpster, if not in a gutter! With a generation that has such a connectedness to the visual, a 3-6 page pamphlet with nothing but words and scriptures will not suffice.
Approaching People with the 10-Commandments: Dear Lord! Your Word is amazing and so relevant to me. My question is, Are the 10-Commandments relevant to Atheists, Buddhists, Hindus, or Deists? Is it plausible to to approach people with conviction from a scripture that they think is complete bologna?

Now, Why isn't any of this effective?

Its simple. We have an over-abundance of passion and no sound, Biblical direction. We do things that have been done over and over again, hoping that they work. We have used worn down approaches and have neglected to progress and be relevant. If you study Jesus, He lived in a time where the Roman Empire was EVERYWHERE....So, what did He do? He used culture as a tool to relate to the general populous. He exorcised a group of demons from a man who called themselves legion. Legion was a large group of Roman soldiers. The apostle Paul was the very same. While in Athens, he used poetry and other rhetoric to relate Christ to the culture. In our refusal to progress, the church has become a relic. If you are going to reach people who have not been reached, you must do things that have not been done(Andy Stanley). America has had its share of street preaching, gospel tracts, and so forth. It is not that people don't want truth, they would much prefer relevant-truth that is applicable to their lives and that they can understand. Jesus has that potential! His message was and REMAINS to be the most revolutionary message this planet has seen, but with a played-out approach, there will be no one to attest.

How do you feel we can present Christ to culture that would work?