Travis Johnson

Watch the Innovate Conference FREE

Thanks to the guys at Granger!  They're providing the sessions of the Innovate Conference for free.  Thanks to Tim Stevens for the heads up.

Convergent Conference

Paul and I hit the Convergent Conference today and will finish up tomorrow around 2 pm here in Raleigh, NC.  We did the trip on his frequent flyer miles (that's a good deal for me).  The conference is on the campus of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. It was great to meet up with Patrick, one of Paul's friends and Jon Rogers, an old friend from Lee.

Ed Stetzer spoke.  He always shares a message that the Holy Spirit uses to convict me and focus me back to the main business of preaching Christ.  Ed always make me almost want to be a Baptist.  Since the conference focused on the emerging church, Ed shared how that:

• the emerging church exists because the church in North America is largely ineffective.
• evangelicalism is struggling for its soul.
• we are in this place because we have forgotten the centrality of the cross.
• we must look to Luke 24 and recapture a. the centrality of the cross, b. repentance and forgiveness of sins, c. the importance of the witness.
• we must live like missionaries.
• missionaries look like the world and live radically different.
• but, many of us live like the world and look radically different.

Then, Mark Driscoll spoke.  Excellent stuff.  I watch Mark's Vidcast every week.  If I could pick a church as a backup church to attend other than Life Pointe, Mars Hill Church would probably be the place.  In watching, listening, and reading his stuff, I've had a mental picture that he is a 6'4" trucker looking guy.  I guess he's about 5'6"?  So, my mental picture of his persona was off a bit...though he still comes off truckerish, engaging, funny, abrasive, and insightful.

With that said, he has HUGE words for the Church.  He talked about:

• the difference between the three streams of the emerging church (the relevants, the Emergents, and the confessional contextual calvinists).
• how that Brian McClaren, Doug Pagitt, Rob Bell are basically sell outs when it comes to Scriptural integrity.  He presented a strong case and held nothing back.  Interesting stuff.  Without a doubt, this is the most direct, I've heard Mark address these issues.
• He specifically cited their views on the Atonement, views on homosexuality,rabbinical study, their influences, and theology.
• There were some very vivid conversations and references to the virgin Mary and McClaren's new organization, "Deep SHIfT".
• Most importantly, he spoke of how there is a generation of people on the scene now who have no historical knowledge of the Church and how we must engage them.
• If we fail to do so, the Church will continue to compete for an ever shrinking circle of angry children of liberal or fundamentalist religious people.
• Rather than embracing syncretism or sectarianism, we must practice the art of subversion.
• We must follow Paul's example in Acts 17 and "Go and see" the world.  We must understand our culture and speak effectively to it whil remaining faithful to the message of Jesus.

At the risk of making this post go on longer than it needs to, I have to say that Driscoll and Stetzer are tapping into a lot of emotions and feelings I have about the Church.  It is encouraging to hear and challenging to practice.  Great stuff all the way around.

3 Free Tickets for 3 Lead Pastors

Over the past several months, I have been involved in a great coaching network led by Nelson Searcy of the Journey Church in Manhattan.  I've grown a lot in this environment.  I wanted to open the door for a few lead pastors to experience a little of what I've experienced.  So, I have 3 free tickets to a Stewardship Seminar that is being held in Tampa on September 11th from 9 AM to noon.  For lead pastors, this is a "can't miss seminar."

After the three tickets are gone, there is a cost of $49 to attend.  If you cannot afford to go, let me know and we will do whatever we have to do to get you there.  Either comment here or email me if you want one of the free tickets and I'll email you the code.  Otherwise, you can register here.

Craig Groeschel the Prophet

You've got to watch this video from Buzz.  Craig Groeschel was incredible.  He definitely spoke with a lot of authority.  Here are some of the highlights from Craig's talk:

• Limited Resources+Increasing Passion = Exponential Innovation
• You have everything you need to reach the people God wants you to reach.
• Get less passionate about getting people into church and more passionate about getting the church into the world.
• If we are going to reach the world, we are going to have to sit in the smoking section.
• Unlike a NASCAR driver, innovative leaders turn right.
  
  • Luther turned right and we all own Bibles.
  • Wesley turned right when he preached from on top of his father's grave.
  • The Azusa Street Revival began when people turned right and pursued God.
• If you are not being called a cult every now and then, you aren't doing much.
• Don't worry when the pharisees are criticizing you.  Worry when they are not.
• A personally challenging statement for me was when Craig said that young pastors need to get rid of their anger.

Get Your Buzz Conference Audio Here, Folks!

Mega-kudos to Mark Batterson for releasing the Buzz Conference audio (video coming soon).  So, without having to pay for your hotel or conference registration, you can attend the conference.  Great move...great generosity. 

The mission of Jesus needs more people taking their hands off of the merchandise so that people can more effectively grip the plow.  Thank you, Mark.  Of the audio available at this moment, you must listen to Craig Groeschel's first session, especially if you are a pastor hoping to reach this generation for Christ.

Extra-Curricular Buzz activities: Year 2

Last year at the Buzz Conference, I got this picture. This year, it isn't so fashionable to have the "W" grace my hand, even if it is standing next to Sen. Leahy.  So, I kept it in my pocket.  Instead, we participated as citizens by sitting in the galleries of both the US Senate and the House of Representatives, tickets compliments of Senator Mel Martinez's office.

We were in the Senate when Mitch McConnel and Dick Durbin were acting conciliatory towards one another after the Immigration Bills failed.  Then, we hit the US House of Reps.  They party over there compared to the Senate.  There was a lot of cheering and booing.  It looked like nothing was getting accomplished...which is probably a good thing generally.

I ended up sitting next to Guy Melton from the Church at Pembroke Pines.  That was a real treat.  If I had to go all the way out to DC to meet him, it was worth it.

Follow the Buzzers

If you want to follow the Buzzers and get notes on the Buzz Conference from multiple sources, here they are:

• Ben Arment
• Todd Rhodes
  
• Johnny Roberts
• Ryan Day
• Steve Pike
• Stephen Shields
• David Foster
• Jerry McQuay
• Tim Stevens
• Kent Chevalier
• Ken Witcher
• Jess Bousa
• Kathy Guy
• Matt Morgan
• And, the unnamed tech guy that seems to be unable to connect to wifi (there seems to be a bit of irony in that)

TECHNORATI: Buzz Conference

Inspiration Day at the Buzz

I came to Buzz last year.  It was just what I needed.  We had just gone into our theater.  It gave us some umph in utilizing our space and helped us to think out of the box.  This year, I came because I wanted Jesse to see what Mark Batterson and his crew were doing and to hang with Paul. In addition to that, I've gotten big inspiration.  I feel re-inspired about our space and mission.

There are a lot of guys blogging their notes.  I'm going to hit my personal highlights:

• The conference opened with a great worship set.  I just found myself forgetting that I was tired, sunburnt, away from my wife, and tired.  I got bombed with tears worshiping an incredible Jesus as we were singing "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing."
• Mark was very open with his heart, staff, and space.  He's a generous, insightful leader.  According to Craig Groeschel, he has a prophetic voice for today.  I agree.
• Tim Stevens rocked.  I loved his reference to John 1:14 in the Message “Christ became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.”
• Then, Craig Groeschel spoke.  He's incredibly innovative.  I knew that.  I expected that.  But, I didn't expect him to speak with such authority.  I'll dedicate another post later to what he said.  It was significant.  I was convicted, challenged, and inspired to reach our community with more intensity by his words.

Buzz Conference - DC - Day One

Hit Reagan International in DC.  Jumped on the Metro.  Pulled into Ebenzeers Coffeehouses a few minutes late for the Theater Church pre-conference at Buzz.  Its hotter than blazes here.  I'm dying.  I'd love to get some good Miami weather to cool things down (its that hot!).  The whole temperature thing is magnified because I'm toasted.

Anyway, I'm sitting next to Jesse, Paul Hollifield, and Ken Hitte thankful to NCC for the Chic-fila and the conference.

National New Church Conference Audio

The 2007 Exponential Conference (National New Church Conference) was excellent. In case you missed it, you can get the audio to the plenary sessions here:

Plenary Session 1 with Wayne Cordeiro
Plenary Session 2 with Ed Stetzer
Plenary Session 3 with Dave Ferguson
Plenary Session 4 with Bill Hybels

For the rest of the pre-conference podcasts, click here.  Thanks to Steve Addison for the heads up.