I've sat here for five minutes, maybe ten, thinking and praying what I want to write to you, but suffice to say, I'm "with" you.

The vitrol and self righteousness, the hard hearted judgemental barbs hurled back and forth, just break my heart.

I want to write a longer post, but I just dont have the [b]energy[/b] but let me say this, you wrote:

Thank you neil for your post, the burden in your heart is from God i am persuaded. Thank you for sharing it. God bless you and I for one Amen your prayer.

_________________
CHRISTIAN

Intercessor & general,

I looked over your notes on your blog about meeting Driscoll: http://prayer-warrior83.xanga.com/672237978/8220all-things-to-all-men-by-all-means8221/

I was looking at his video about using media and I liked the verse he used "by all means".

You made a pretty solid post there good job.

I actually visited Mars Hill once. Interestingly I was in Seattle for a wedding and was being told it was the most unchurched city in the US. We went out and did some evangelism and I had some of the MOST unusual demonic experiences there which is a story in and of itself. I unwittingly attended Mars Hill not knowing what it was as I went with my friends. I noticed that they had some cool pictures up during worship and that the songs were well done and theological modern hymns and liked it. I was surprised how fashionable everyone was and had never really seen that many fashionable people before not even in High School, but was unsure if it was just the culture of Seattle. Some of the people seemed nice, hip and friendly, young and family oriented, the pastors were passionate about motivating towards their Acts 29 movement. I also noticed the preacher meaning Mark giving a smart message on the Bible and that he dressed young with a hole in his jeans or something. This short visit however was not enough to discern fully for me though.

I also recently saw him preach in CA at the Crystal Cathedral on the hour of power show with Robert Schuller. He gave a pretty solid message on the person of Jesus and the crowd did not seem as a majority too happy. I also watched the show afterwords and it seems they cut his message out. To me he did not even seem to preach anything really hard. I think he was using the platform as a chance to minister.

He actually said that the membership is 10,000 now. I guess there are a lot of things going on campuses and wonder what that is all about.

You know one of the most interesting things you posted was that Mark was originally with a group seeking to reach generation x with Reuben and I cant remember if the Rob Bell was in the mix. Its interesting that he was tied with that. I know someone said Bell's Mars Hill is different but I wonder if they have a history together. I would like to know more about this?

You know I have been thinking more about planting a Church recently and am looking into it. I have been thinking over some things like should I be part of a certain denomination, or is there a lot to learn from what Driscoll has done with generation x ect.

Josef,

I think you may be a little extreme on that position.

What does it mean to humble yourself does it mean not to be yourself anymore and act like people around you? A servant of Christ is called to gratify Christ not people and by doing that you are well-accepted and spoken of before men.

Who other humbled Himself more than our Lord Jesus Christ, and yet there was no sin found in Him. Was that because He was the Son of God He did seek God’s will and God’s glory first of all. When after the resurrection He mentioned that “all power is given unto Me” does not that mean the power given to Him is sufficient for us to live worthy of God who called us to inherit His Son’s glory?

1 Cor 11;1 can people say of me that I am an imitator of Christ and Paul …
is my conversation as a minister like the one in 1 Th 2;10 can God witness and the believers also that I behave holily and righteously and unblameably toward believers?

Jesus said that a disciple could be as his master. So if people are transformed are transformed to the level of their teacher or in which way?
When a offer for a job do I use foul language if not much more a slave of God will have in view that he is a salt and a light and he walks so to impress God since he is not his own anyway. A servant of Christ influence men and does not conform after men’s opinion he is not to shape but after his Master and forerunner. There is not such a think as humbling before God and live a life that does not please Him.

Eph 4;22 you put away as concerning your former manner of life ( I want to be a minister of the gospel of Christ and I repent but I am not putting away the former life). Is the former life a matter of past? (Eph 2;2 etc.).Am I ashamed of my past life? (Rom 6:21)

Tit 2:8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. It looks like there are many good speakers but not all good speakers are good shepherds/example for the flock of Christ and for the world.

1Ti 4:12 … set the believers an example in speech, Tit 2:7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,

Eph 5:4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting:
Eph 5;4 the pastor/leader is the one that give himself an example to the believers. In what manner is he an example to me. Maybe he is not a real leader or should not be one unless he first learn submission and proof through his example what a changed life looks like then he can be a leader.
We have things upside down today if I have a seminary or some form of theological school I think that I should be a leader of the church of God; but according to the word of God a qualification for leader and teacher does not stay in school or how good of a speaker I am but first in a testimony to the church of a person that knows and loves His Master.