Travis Johnson

Confessions of a Continuationist - part 1

I am a Continuationist.  I pray to God for his intervention in the daily and mundane.  If He never moves in a tangible spiritual way post-salvation, I will live.  But, I thank God that Jesus is moved by the feelings of my infirmity.  I believe that God is not cruel...that He would simply feel my pain and weakness and does nothing about it.  I look to God for healing.  I look to God for wisdom, discernment, and for my future. 

I believe that God is very involved in my life.  I am dependent on His presence.  This past year, a mom in our church had a baby born 2 weeks before the age of viability.  God did a miracle in that baby.  He was at church Sunday, a big healthy boy.  I believe that was the continuing work of the Holy Spirit.  That was awesome.

With that said, I know that we will not always be healed.  The Bible shares that we all have an appointment with death.  Still, I confess as a continuationist, I do not understand how some people are not healed when it just feels like they should be.  My friend, Dave Crowley is going through a tough journey.  Still I trust God.  Keep praying for my friend.  Thanks for taking a look at my theology as I actively work it out in Word and in experience.

Blog additions: links and tools

Hey. Its Monday am.  My phone is off and I'm kicking around on the couch.  We're getting ready for a little family outing.  So, I figured I'd do some spring cleaning on my blog, sweep some stuff away and make some additions before we head out.  Really quick, I:

• added a blog search on the left side bar.  It should make finding content on my blog easier.
• added a technorati link in the left side bar to show what blogs link here.
• added a few bloggers I met at Exponential: Matt Payne, Andrew Jones, Drew Goodmanson.
• I also noticed that Relevant Christian recently linked to me.  I hit them back with a reciprocal link...nice blog guys.  And, of course, Todd Rhoades....thanks for the link.  I hit you back as well.

Also, another reminder...have my content delivered to your Google Reader, newsgator, or other RSS subscription service by subscribing to travisjohnson.net by clicking here.  Peace!

Drew Goodmanson on Internet Evangelism

I was in Drew Goodmanson and Brad Abare's session at Exponential.  Some of this material was presented then.  Check out the powerpoint/pdf that went with the full session on internet evangelism.  (source: drew goodmanson)

more pics of life pointe

Today, Michael John Stanley lead worship.  That dude can jam.  It was a great day.  I enjoyed taking a break from our Losing My Religion/James series to share my heart. The only downer is that our theater seems to have a problem figuring out our A/C unit.  Seriously, I think I'm on the verge of going postal over how hot our auditorium has been.

A couple weeks ago, I shared some pics from our auditorium.  Here are some of our other environments: lobby, hallway, and one of the nurseries.  I think our volunteers are pretty awesome to pull this stuff off every week.

Mark Driscoll on Male Church Planters

I guess Bill Hybels had a beef with the video because of Mark's perpective on women in ministry.  I too find Scriptural support for girls to be pastors or even Apostles. Nonetheless, Mark Driscoll brings home a message to men on church planting in my kind of language.  He makes me want to go fight someone.  Mark is leading the way, drawing people to the central message of Jesus in a city where God is largely unrecognized.

New blogger to add to your list

Ryan Hartstock is a creative guy at 4Corners Church in Cincinnati, OH.  He does some of the most creative church stuff you can find (see his flickr).  He's a blogger.  I didn't know that.  But, I do now.  As you can see he is now firmly installed on my blogroll.  I just wonder when Ben will blog...or does he?

Hispanics Changing the Face of Christian Worship

Mark Rodriguez, the worship pastor at Calvary Chapel Miami Lakes, just up the road from us was interviewed by the Miami Herald for an article about Hispanics experiencing God outside the confines of the Catholic Church.  Its a good article that also talks about the growing influence of Hispanic Pentecostal Churches like El Rey Jesus and Alpha and Omega.

The big news?  People are breaking away from the expectations of others, finding Christ for themselves and learning to experientially follow Him.  That's good news for Miami.

Destiny

"The only thing standing between you and your destiny is the tough decision you are unwilling to make."

I wish I could remember who said this.  How many huge, mission-oriented opportunities are out there for you?  Having trouble getting to them for the clutter?  Consider eliminating your clutter to get to your basic life mission.

I find that clutter happens and becomes somehow important.  The next thing you know a garage no longer has space for a car, a person has no time for God, a life has no space for others.

Hasta la Vista Exponential Conference

Ships were not made for harbors.  So, as much as I enjoy hanging with a bunch of guys that talk and dream about the same stuff, it is time to go back to sea.  Homestead is calling.  And, in all honesty, Christian subcultures can be overwhelming...a seemingly safe bubble of good little Christians. 

I can't wait to get back to Miami where road rage, high taxes and tolls, congris, maduros, population density, hurricane warnings, and bazillions of ethnic and cultural concoctions await.  Jesus is in the middle of all that.

As my last NNCC/Expoential Conference entry, check out what some of the other pastor/bloggers are saying about it:

Matt Payne - Drew Goodmanson - Andrew Jones - Ben Arment - Jeff Calloway - Derek Brown - Tadd Grandstaff - Dave Ferguson - Todd Rhodes - Chris Elrod - Gary Lamb 

Follow the conference on Technorati: here and here

Oh, and thanks to the guys that have linked to me.  I had as much traffic on my blog by 9 am today than I usually get in a day.  Thanks especially to Todd Rhodes from Monday Morning Insight.

American Idol @#$%@#

Phil Stacey, Blake Lewis, Jordin Sparks, Lakeisha Jones, Melinda Doolittle, Chris Richardson you are all safe. What the heck was that?!