That’s it? The best we can do is some other life? Is this really just fire insurance? Is this our message to the world? That’s despair. No wonder we have to use words like relevant, the message is all about another world.

Rob Bell

Now what?

Why have I given my blog that title? Because that's really the way I have felt spiritually for the last year or so. Previously, the title was Opening the Door, a reference to The Door, an experimental service that I helped lead at Heartsong Methodist Church. You can hit old entries in my blog and read all about that, and why it was time to end it. In summary: square peg in a round hole, lack of a full-time person running it, etc. Since then, and even before then, I've been wandering in the wilderness, waiting for God to lead me in a new direction, hence the title, "Now what?"

I feel like the whole point of that time, and the time I spend leading worship at Crossway Church (Wesleyan) in Madison, MS was God preparing me for something new. One new thing that came out of it all was beginning to lead programs at Senior High Summer Camps at Camp Sumatanga, but that's one week a year, one fulfilling spiritual experience a year, is hardly enough.

There are churches out there, sure, but I guess what I'm looking for is a place where I fit in. That's what my camp experience was all about, and one of the reasons I still love it. The Gospel has so many layers to it, it's not just about fire insurance, it's about the renewal and reconciliation of all things in Christ. In a lot of places, it is mostly fire insurance with an escapism doctrine.

Currently, we are in a Sunday School class at Collierville United Methodist Church. We decided that we needed to plant some roots and meet some people. I'm actually teaching a lesson right now on eschatology, which is fun for me. It's not my gift, but I enjoy it. I'm about to whip out the preterist view this weekend. Looking forward to hearing the reaction to it.

There are a couple of interesting churches I would like to check out, but sometimes I'm a little afraid of the theology that I'll run into. I guess the whole baptism debacle [ see Baptism Debacle from May 2004 ] from a few years ago has left me a little gunshy. And then there's the distance. There's a church in Southaven that sounds interesting, but it's about 40 minutes away.

All that said, my ultimate goal is to be a part of the founding of a new church, a place where I can use my talents and skills and give of my time and money. Camille and Laura both said that they could see me going into seminary...maybe. I haven't ever given that really serious thought. I don't see myself as a teaching pastor, more as a minister of creative arts.

So from time to time I google "church plant collierville," "church plant memphis," "emerging church collierville," and "emerging church memphis" just to see what I can find, which is pretty much nothing so far, save for a new church plant from the Vineyard church, which I will keep an eye on. I have an open mind on spiritual gifts, but it would be a hard sell for Jamie. Part of the reason for posting this is just to get those search phrases pointing to my site from Google. Maybe some others out there are interested in forming a new church for the Germantown/Collierville area. Contact me if you find me.

The Memphis Conference of the United Methodist Church actually has a posting on their site seeking pastors who are interested in planting new congregations in the conference, which is exciting. Compared to the North Alabama Conference, this conference is less progressive. The only non-traditional church out there is Heartsong, but they are very much a seeker-friendly, boomer church. They do a great job of reaching a certain group, but I'm very much inspired by Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, MI. Check out their websi
[Src]