In light of the AMAZING conversation that is being had about 14 pixels below this post…and let me highlight AMAZING because you guys have been pretty well behaved… Talk to me about this cartoon. Lots of people disgusted by the smell of smoke. Lots of people repelled by the health risks of smoking. Lots of people not hip with second hand smoke. Replace smoke and smoking with a Big Mac. Just as “deadly” as smoking Just as Read more.

This is Rolling Hills Baptist Church,  Fayetteville, GA’s web banner on their website www.wheresthesteeple.org Not the sexiest thing we have ever seen. And you know what? Who cares? Rolling Hills Baptist Church, Fayetteville, GA Their building and property is worth over 1.1 million dollars. The church has a nice facility that is almost paid off. The church owes less than one hundred thousand dollars. The church has 1 million in equity. The church has many families who have Read more.

Some of you go to church. Some of you don’t. Some of you go to church and wish you did not. Some of you don’t go to church and wish you did. I want to know something. WHY do you go to the church you go to? WHY do you not go to the church you do not go to? Everybody now… Where and why or why not? Los Read more.

I wonder. I wonder how many people, if we actually asked them, keep coming back to our churches because of our stellar Sunday productions. I wonder if we ask the right people. I wonder if we stopped, for a while, if people would keep coming. I wonder if we turned off the lights and pulled the band if more people would come or go. I wonder if we flipped the teaching time and music Read more.

I was driving home tonight and did what I normally don’t do. I looked up. I pulled over, grabbed my D300 and started shooting. There is no church sanctuary or auditorium that comes close to the beauty that is Read more.

So it is the end of ’08. We are choosing to trim in ’09 as an organization in lieu of the current economic slump. This isn’t rocket science. It needs to happen. One of the ways that my dept and others are choosing to save is by not catering for Christmas parties and having pot lucks in each others homes. Another way next year is by choosing to restructure the way we do our bulletins. Saving us more money. In your line of work… What are some Read more.

Um. You want to be here this Sunday. We made a freaking movie… Los Read more.

*These are my opinions in a rather shotgun style* 1. Small Groups are a reaction from the local church to the lack of organic community within their walls. 2. The actual church “building” creates a limit as to how large the church can grow. 3. The actual church “building” dictates how most churches do ministry. 4. Most people who attend church do so with little if any of their true lives being shared. 5. Relational Depth can only be achieved my the willingness of the Read more.

3 months ago… Extremely paraphrased for brevity’s sake… Carlos – “Hey Jared. So I’m feeling like it would be cool to have a theme this season of Christmas In The City” Jared – “Um… What does that mean?” Carlos – “Well. Like a city park with a phat skyline or something?” Jared – “I got it. OK” Then I walk in on yesterday to this…[click to enlarge] I work Read more.

Set Tear Down @ Buckhead Church from Carlos Whittaker on Vimeo. I have an amazing production staff. Jared Roman is my staging and scenic director and tonight was the beginning of a LOOOONG week for him converting the stage into an idea I had in the back of me head. So after being at church this morning at 6 am I told Read more.