ROCK FOR JUSTICE!!!!!!!!

ROCK FOR JUSTICE is one of the most significant moments ever for the Gathering. We are engaging with the creative community of Atlanta, bringing top-notch artists together:
Aaron Shust
Meghan Coffee
Evan McHugh
Erica Ambrose
Ryan Van Kirk
Trey Rosenkampff
Eryn McHugh
(and yours truly)
in a world-renowned music venue, Eddie's Attic,
for a purpose that goes beyond the walls of any one church, any one denomination, any one political group- to help LOOSE THE CHAINS OF INJUSTICE AND UNTIE THE CORDS OF THE YOKE AND SET THE OPPRESSED FREE!!! (Isaiah 58:6)
We are doing this for the good of those who will be saved, looking after those that THIS WORLD HAS ORPHANED (James 1:27)
and also for the PEACE and PROSPERITY of this city to which God has called us!
(Jer 29:7)

YOU have an opportunity to be a part of this, to raise awareness here in YOUR city, to chip in a few dollars (you will spend $20 for your entertainment some other way this month, I promise) to benefit the broken, abandoned, oppressed girls UNWILLINGLY caught in the web of commercial sexual exploitation, and to have an incredibly fun time listening to great music and developing a community of like-minded people!

I struggle to find words to express to you how much I want you to come to this, whoever you are, because it is THAT important to me. The best thing I can think to say is that YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS!!!

If you are struggling with whether or not to come, call me. Let's see if my enthusiasm rub doesn't rub off a little bit. I'm not even joking. I don't care if you don't know me. That's so worth it to me. Click the icon above and it will take you DIRECTLY to the page to buy a ticket. DO IT. DO IT. I can not wait to spend the evening rockin' the gates of Hell with y'all. Let's do this.

(ps if you try to use my number to stalk me, i will straight knock you out. boo ya)

wow, you gotta see this

this is what happens when you are incredibly athletic, equally stupid, and have a lot of time on your hands

a picture of the Father I longed to have, and of the Father I long to be

I've been told that the most powerful voice we ever hear comes from the lips of our fathers. The blessings, curses, or silence of our fathers has a way of echoing around in our souls for most of our lives. I've been a father for almost 12 years now. Nothing has grown me up more, broken me more deeply, thrilled me beyond words more than being a dad. It is a role that I cherish and rejoice in.
This video and song by Sawyer Brown paints a picture of the Dad I longed for and the Father I long to be. I hope you enjoy the image of a Father in the video as much as I do. It points me to my Heavenly Father who will love me and bless me, in spite of all of my failing.

INFO-MATIONS

Here are links to facebook pages givin you some info on events coming up:


Dinner to raise funds for Julia Lowry:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=32983411613#/ical/event.php?eid=45546271724

Super Bowl Party:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=45186308172

It's football time! Come join us for the last game of another great season!

We will be having two contests to kick off the night!

1. BEST DRESSED FAN: To all you die-hard football fans, even if your team didn't make the cut, come dressed and ready to represent your favorite NFL team!!!

Most decked out and loyal fan wins!!

2. MOST CREATIVE APPETIZER/DESSERT: Show your creativity by bringing an appetizer/dessert that is done Superbowl style!!! Make it football themed, shaped, etc. and be sure to name your creation!
i.e. Patriots Pass and Punt Cookies.

Most creative name, taste and design wins!

Even if you opt out of the contest, we ask that everyone bring the following:

Guys: Bring something salty
Ladies: Bring something sweet

Hope to see you all there!!!

PARKING: IMPORTANT! Please take a right into the Renaissance Plaza office building prior to the right into Stewart Court, and then walk the sidewalk the short distance. Girls can use the cul-de-sac until it's full, but no crazy parking please :).

285 to Buford Hwy (near spaghetti junction)
South on Buford Hwy (away from Chik-fil-a, towards Taco Bell)
First left on Jess Norman Way
First right on Stewart Road
First right on Stewart Court
2nd house on left - 2755 Stewart Court

2 Things Matter

Matt reminded us on Sunday night that the only things that we can pour our lives into now will matter in eternity: the word of God and the souls of people.

This is helping me shape how I look at the next year, as I think on where I will invest my time; and it's helping me reflect on the past year. Where did I spend my time? Will I reap an eternal return on that investment -- or was it wasted on me, accruing more cool stuff, the worries of the world, my comfort?

We'll do well to boil it down to that every day. Bible and Souls. Keep it simple...check ourselves every day, and every minute of the day, making sure we are giving our lives to what matters.

What Would You Do?

What would you do if the doctors said you had only one year to live? Matt posed this question to us tonight. So, what do you think? Would you bungee jump? Travel? Eat the best food? Try to get more out of life? Make amends with enemies and/or God? James and I walked around Atlantic Station and asked this question. We had some fun, got some good answers, and made a fun video. Enjoy!


What Would You Do? from Garrett Moore on Vimeo.

Whats up with Tanzania?

Ever wonder that? Maybe not....but come hear how people at perimeter, and a member of the gathering, have been shaped by helping shape the culture of Christ in Tanzania.

This Sunday Julia Lowry will be giving a presentation on what is going on there in the Fellowship Hall from 3-5pm. Please join us!

Consumerism! The Musical

Just in case all those Christmas commercials are getting to you and you've got a hankerin' to buy everything you've ever wanted--give this little video a quick watch. Humorous take on what we've been discussing the last month here at the gathering. Join us this wk--Matt will close the series out with a talk on how consumerism affects how we view church. Be there!

PS. 10 points if you can name the mall shown in the vid.

We're very excited about our next event, "Chocolate & Cheese!" Click the icon to get more info on this party!!

Need = Dependence

I was pondering later last night on what Garrett shared with us. Lots of good stuff (this series has been good at helping me look with a critical eye at what the world is telling me is true, exposing the ideologies and lies we too often live by). One thing in particular stood out. He said that things we think we need are things we really are depending on. And that dependence is a strong thing because we are relying and leaning on it in lieu of Christ. It's making me rethink what I believe I need and even my Christmas wish list.

"the stuff you own, ends up owning you"

What are you needing right now? A New Job? New headphones? Lost Season 4 DVD? A Husband? Why do you want that thing? Some of it might be practicality, entertainment value, companionship...but the things that really drive, what we say we just HAVE to have, i bet the chances are we are looking to those things to fulfill us in ways only Christ can.

this consumerism really is consuming us--may we be consumed by Him instead!


Here's a good article to read on the history of consumerism that both Mike and Garrett referenced the last few weeks.

some things never change

watch this video... one of the most startling short presentations i've seen in sometime about the state of our world.
makes the truth of heb. 13.5, "God is the same yesterday, today, and forever" all the more comforting... yet it makes the challenge of contextualization the need of the hour in many respects. i'd love to hear your experience of this video
(just copy and past this address into your web browser, couldn't get my link function to work on blogger :(

http://release.theplatform.com/content.select?pid=x7aVOMrlfkkijQwcLllwk6WjB5JE0zrF

what is leadership?

What is leadership? I've been wrestling with this question most of my adult life. I've often occupied positions that have called me to exercise leadership over groups of people. I've always felt this internal pressure to be a superman of sorts, a heroic figure with cape flapping away in the breeze. A hyper-competent know it all that will show up to solve all of humanities problems.
What a 'sucky' paradigm.
Who can live up to this? I can't. I end up putting on a persona
I'm tired of trying.
So, when it comes to this idea of alternate atlanta, i think the following is a fair statement... i'd love to get your feedback.

Leadership is not getting the community to follow one great man's vision as much as this.. Leadership is getting the community to face its biggest problems.

I'm wrestling to lead in a way that my life serves as a mirror to help people understand themselves better... that my life serves as a sign post that points people to the kind of relationship with God and others that brings healing and health to our worlds... that my life will serve as a catalyst discover in community God's call to follow Him.

I need your help. I'm broken but feel called. Jesus keeps messing up my paradigms.

Counter::Cultural

I read this quote this afternoon and thought it related to the vision we have of becoming an Alternate Atlanta. It's from Shane Claiborne (don't think he's related to Liz--could be) and he's answering the question How do we Influence Culture without Being Consumed by It?

Part of what I think we have to do is not just figure out how we interact with the culture, but create a new culture where we bring one another to life and call each other to the best of who God wants us to be. So it's not "How much secularism can I get away with?" but "How can I be set apart in a way that celebrates the distinctiveness of who we are as people in this world who are resident aliens?"

The Amish [are] a beautiful example. I'm sure Amish kids say things like, "Why don't we get an XBox?" And their parents reply, "Well, that might be OK for other kids, but you're a little different. We build farms; we build barns." I love that. One of the biggest questions for the Church today is not "Are we culturally relevant?" but "Are we culturally perculiar?" Not just "Can we be relevant to culture?" but "Can we be nonconformist to culture; can we be people who do things differently?"

So can we? are we? What do you think??

on being an alternate atlanta

"What a wonderful open door God has placed before the church of today.
A pagan world, weary and sick, often distrusting its own modern gods.
A saving gospel strangely entrusted to us unworthy messengers.
A divine Book with unused resources of glory and power.
Ah, what a marvelous opportunity, my brethren!"

J. Gresham Machen, God Transcendent, page 154.

My heart has been continually wrestling with this calling God has given the gathering to become an alternate atlanta.
What does it mean?
How do we attempt it?

Jesus is in the process of making all things new.. of establishing His Kingdom here and now. We're not so much inventing a new society as we are allowing the reality of Jesus to tranform our inner lives and then allow ourselves to be conduits of that same transforming love into the lives of those we rub shoulders with everyday.

The opportunity is here.
God is working.
The world is hurting.
We are hungry.
May we know first hand what it means to 'taste and see that the Lord is good'
ps. 34.8

Will you join me in the journey?

wkly video update

after many false starts, gonna try to consistantly blog again!

great quote about following God and calling that I came accross this morning:

"Let us be very careful of thinking on the one hand, that we have no work assigned us to do, or, on the other hand, that what we have assigned to us is not the right thing for us..
If we can say in our hearts to God, in reference to any daily duty, "This is not my place; I would choose someting dearer; I am capable of someting higher"... we are guilty not only of rebellion, but of blasphemy. It is equivalent to saying, not only "My heart revolts against your commands", but "Your commands are unwise; your Almighty guidance is unskilful; your omniscient eye has mistaken the capacities of your creature; your infinite love is indifferent to the welfare of your child"
--- Elizabeth Charles

Ctrl+Alt+Delete: Relationships

It's here. The final week in our series, Control Alt Delete.
And the one and only Pamela Lucas will be bringing it and sharing from her personal story on this area of dating and relationships. What if God redeemed our mess-ups? What if there is purpose in our failures? What if healing and intimacy in our relationships is still available? Come hear Pamela's thoughts as we all learn together.

Be there. Invite everyone.

this week at the gathering

hey check out what's happening this week at the gathering

are you angry at God?

I thought this quote was both provocative and helpful at the same time.
Many times, I'm not sure what anger looks like if it's not expressed with drama and angst, these thoughts from writer Nancy Groom are very helpful.

My anger against God doesn't feel like I thought it would.
I thought I'd feel deeprage and overwhelming desire to hurt Him.
Instead I find just a deep complaint, a nagging self pity, a free floating dissatisfaction with life and relationships, a quiet conviction that I deserve something better, a profound absence of genuine gratitude for God's gifts, a deep belief that I don't need aSavior (I've done quiet well at living this Christian life without much help from God or anyone else), and an appalling lack of love for or inner connectedness with God.
That angry arrogance shrounds my soul and I am helpless to remove it.
I cannot will it away or or learn one more thing that will dissolve it. If God does not break in, I am undone
I can only beg for grace.... and at the same time wonder whether I evern want or need it.
How profound my rage must be! Deep within is a core of hardness and self-sufficiency, an inner stronghold of resistance to grace that frustrates me as surely as it must grieve the Father.
Whatever it is, I love it's safety more than I want God right now.
-Nancy Groom

I'd love to get your feedback on this quote

this week at the gathering

Hey Guys,
Here is a little video blog about 'what's happening at the gathering'

laugh and enjoy.. :)