rant: i'm sick of other pastors. i love them, don't get me wrong. but, why can they not be true to what God asks them to do, be themselves, and let their church function as God gives them the church (people)?

there are 2 things that never fail to happen when i am in a group of "ministers". really, this is no church in particular. really.

1. "they" always try to "use" our people to promote their programs.
this is exponentially multiplied if other Bridgers are present with me. example: yesterday i took 2 of our guys to lunch with a bunch pastors -- i sat in the middle. on either side of each of them, they were being heavily recruited to help another churches program (one-guitar; one-keyboard). i am kingdom-minded, but this stuff is silly, and it always happens.

2. "they" have always just started some "alternative" worship service, and it is always "just like what you guys are doing". yeah, right.

it's probably better. it's probably better planned, more pollished, and has better, more relevant, hipper teaching. (i know the band isn't better, though.) but, what we do is out of the gifting that God has given us, and the conviction that church is the people, serving is the essence, loving others is NOT optional, being real is the only honest way to be on the journey, the worship gathering is the overflow of Christ in our lives, and our substance and style is as honest as we can be before God. so, i'm glad they start something like ours--too bad their overflow and honesty isn't worthy enough for their main worship gathering.