photo by @johnramirez417

I probably should have some sort of about me page on this website but I don’t. I should have a really nice logistical page clarifying what my hate for church really is, but I don’t. I should layout a 10 point post stating why I love the church and why I use the word hate in its place, but I don’t. Look people! I know I should, I don’t but maybe you will actually read some of these posts and figure it all out?

This past weekend some friend and I embarked on a local project which has been a dream of mine for a bit of time. We grouped up, picked up a few cases of bottled water, ice and coolers and distributed to bar hoppers in our town (Tinley Park, IL.) Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: durbins, jw hollstein saloon, old tinley park, servolution, tinley bars, tinley community, tinley park, tinley park bars —

A few quotes have jumped around in my brain like a crackhead in a rubber room. I have heard worthless  words of religion constructed and displaced into everything around us. They continually explode in my brain and echo more reasons why Christianity is mediocre. Christianity is replicating mediocrity and indecisiveness. Maybe a better phrase is, Christianity is gettin Ho’d out!

Ho’d out in the sense that Christians only take the parts of the Bible they like and quickly move on. Ho’d out in the sense a young man or woman hangs out with another man or woman who they “just like to have fun with.” You know the Sex and the City mandate; “friends with all the benefits”. You get all the fun with minimal responsibilities. You have tons of friends with zero depth. You have a belief in the Bible because you think it gets you into heaven, but don’t know what it says. Am I getting warm yet? Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: barack obama, Psalm 119, religious dialogue, wear on your sleeve —

photo by Salomon Ligthelm

A film is – or should be – more like music than like fiction. It should be a progression of moods and feelings. The theme, what’s behind the emotion, the meaning, all that comes later.”

Stanley Kubrick quotes (American Film Director and Writer, 1928-1999) Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: artist, cinematography, dubai, film, salomon ligthelm —

photo by Willow Creek Media

Last night my brain got the better of me. I completely confess to my utter foolishness concerning Bill Hybels. As many of you may know, my mouth and brain  run (bolt) fast. Not only do these gifts work fast but are equally blunt. While these characteristics can be extremely advantageous (which they are), they can also be disastrous (which they also are). Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: apology, bill hybels, online apology, repent, twitter apology, willow creek organization —

photo by @LifeRefresh

A few weeks back I noticed an announcement at church about baptism. Let’s be honest, 90% of the  church announcements displayed I am on my phone either checking twitter or my Espn app. Don’t ask why, you do the same thing.

We all know church news and announcements are  transitional fillers. No one could possibly remember a church news announcements when they only watch it 1x every 7 days. Why do we remember Budweiser ads? Simple, they are replayed religiously every single day, during every single show men watch. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: baptism, baptize, baptized —

I was riding in an elevator yesterday with my wife and little man Roscoe when at the last minute a young asian girl jumped in. The past few days I have been picking up bits of the Japanese language as we have been on holiday in Hawaii. So, when this 9 year old girl stepped into the elevator, I thought it must be my moment to practice this new language. Read the rest of this entry »

You’re a guy and on this particular day, you are feeling real sexy. What happens next ruptures all your flyness because you have just walked into church. You are now gazing at people clapping their hands and a few of them even RAISE THEIR HANDS.  The drums are kickin, the guitars are blastin’ and there are a few cute singers up front too which makes it all the more confusing? Concert or church? Do I throw my sexiness back on or leave it in the car? Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: church concert, praise, worship —

Another night, another bomb dropped at Connect 2010. Carl Lentz was quoted as saying “don’t let the long hair and skinny leg jeans fool yah … I’ll make it rain on yah.”

Of course I took this quote totally out of context because it is my blog and I can do whatever I want. He was actually talking about his basketball skills which had been in full effect earlier in the day as he put on a clinic for some blind children in nearby Indiana. (I’m layin it on thick, so I hope you are catchin it) Stick with me and I’ll give you a mug shot of Carl Lentz’s personal notes …. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: carl lentz, connect 2010, girl is poison, perspective sermon, samson sermon —

photo via Rick Renner Ministries

Rick Renner once again illuminated session 4 of Connect 2010 with infinite personal life details. It  seemed like I was listening to a fictional character from Harry Potter. But no, Rick went on to disclose information concerning his work history at a cemetary, his gramma Faulkner (no relation to the Fockers) and aunt Velma.

Nobody could make up characters with names like these. Then he tops it off by telling us how a certain family member was rumored to have knocked off one of their spouses. No, this is not a Soprano’s episode.

It couldn’t be with names like Velma and Faulkner … this was something different. This was none other than a-la-Rick-Renner! Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: connect 2010, family harvest church, rick renner, robb thompson, romans 6 —

photo by David Mannah Photography

Last night at Connect 2010 at Family Harvest Church was a barrage of thought provoking bombs aimed at every walk of life. Robb Thompson delivered a poetic message with a Mike Tyson uppercut attached.

Do you have people in your life that motivate you to do good? Are you consistently convinced they will give you the right answer when you need it and not the feel good answer?Have you thought about the types of people that you feed your quarters of life with?

There was no sugar to much of this medicine. It was cut n dry like a shot with no chaser. Continue reading to see the entire list of notes directly from Robb Thompson’s message titled Necessary Connections. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: friends, mentors, relationships —