Cultural Changes in the Church

So, this has been on my mind ever since I've had a rededicating experience with God about 7 years ago. What the church looks like today. Among other contributing factors, I believe part of the reason I got off track in my relationship with God is the way the church looked to me before 7 years ago. Singing mostly stale hymns for 10 minutes and sitting still for 45 minutes observing someone talk, and that was church to me. That was my experience with God more or less before 7 years ago. So, not going into my epiphany 7 years ago, but afterwards I began to reassess what church looks like for me. Now, I go to a great church, Vineyard Christian Fellowship Kenner, and things looked much better there, we have edgy, contemporary worship experience with relevant teachings that challenge and engage me with some great people and I love it, so this isn't a reflection on my church, but the more I examine what the church should look like today the more I interesting things I find...

For instance, a lot of new churches emerging today are being built upon the fact that the church "drop out" rate among people in their 20's & 30's has been pretty high over the past 20 or so years and this has been the basis behind a cultural movement in the way these new churches do church. It's about getting out of the stuffy pews, dated hymns and traditional preaching that's been a constant for who knows how long and getting to a more real, relevant experience with God, which can look very different in many of these new churches. Usually these churches are much more casual and often look much younger demographically. This movement is about breaking out of the right vs left mentality of Evangelical Christianity that most times keeps us divided and within the walls that are built up. So, there are political issues behind this movement as well as theological.

Now, a bit of a disclaimer, a big thing to remember is that not every church that's into this movement is the same theologically, they're going to differ from church to church, obviously. I don't agree with everything said within this movement, I believe in what God says through the bible and Jesus' model for my life and that won't change, I just think the concepts and cultural changes in how we do church here are very interesting and I'd love to take a tour of some of these kinds of churches to see what's going on.

Check out these two interesting articles about the cultural evolution some churches are taking recently:

The Emerging Church, Part I
The Emerging Church, Part II

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Cap'n Jack Sparrow, Yo!

So, I went to see my second blockbuster movie of the summer season, Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Man's Chest. And before I dispense of the tomfoolery and weakness that is my movie review, I must say I was/am a huge fan of the Walt Disney World ride Pirates of the Caribbean. I think this is THE most underated, most well done "ride" Walt Disney World ever created. When you're on this ride you truly feel like you're trying to escape from a Caribbean prison in the 1700's. From the dark, omnious atmosphere to the superbly done landscapes and animatronics action, I absolutely adore this ride, although it is starting to seem a bit dated and probably could use a refirbishment, I think the robots are 1970's technology.

Now, that said, the series had a lot to live up to in my mind. The first of the series "Curse of the Black Pearl" is now in my personal DVD collection, so I really don't have to say more about it other than I loved it. But you know how sequels can go.

Have no fear, EXCELLENT movie! Not the most intelectually challenging film but I really didn't expect it to be. But just like the ride, it's got great atmosphere and keeps the one thing I've always adored of the ride, the mystery. It's got a supernatural legend element to the movie which is a lot of fun for me. The movie is as action packed as you would expect with a lot of funny parts sprinkled in. It definately makes me feel like being on the ride again and it's a truly entertaining movie.

Johnny Depp is just as good as he was in the first one, a very seamless performance between movies. He's got the drunk Keith Richards thing going on which is very funny and doesn't let up the entire movie. Keira Knightly and Orlando Bloom are okay and I could take em or leave em but the real star of the show is Mr. Depp.

I must say, this is what I want to see in a summer blockbuster, a truly entertaining movie that's well worth the money. Go dig it. I did.

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