The music . . . as long as it’s good opinions!

LOL!

Love You Guys

There are however, a few things I have problems or disagreements with. You say that essentially that there was no problems until the people that are tired of the eagle’s started moving them. BUT THAT MISSED THE POINT. My desire would not be to determine who started what. * I’m more trying to get people to step back and see that maybe, just maybe there is more to church then what is in the building for “ME” (AND I INCLUDE MYSELF IN THIS) and I also made it very clear that this includes the eagle’s the graphics stage lighting and every visual and non-visual element of our church.

I understand the point you made about going to my house and removing my guitars… but that just it, THATS MY HOUSE, so many people view the CHURCH BUILDING as there own, and its not. No one individual has any right to call it there’s or to get offended over the change of it.

Now, as far as understanding why they have been placed there… I’ve been going to eagle’s nest for 10 years now and I know why they are there. I know the history and I by no means am trying to dishonor or forget any of that. I’m simply trying to show people that if you hold on to the way you’ve done things for years eventually you will die because the world around isn’t slowing down. If we as a church are so worried about loosing what we look like now then we aren’t really committed to our said vision of reaching the lost 120,000 in sussex county.

Truth is Eagle’s Nest lost a lot of community. (of-course this is my opinion) However.. look at it. 8-9 years ago we were packing out a split level old beat up hardware store, you couldn’t even get people in the door, and we were running multiple services. and people were connected and excited about the ministry they were involved in. And we lost so much when we built our new building (which has been described to me as grandmothers living room.) WE SHOULD HAVE BUILT A BIGGER SLPIT LEVEL HARDWARE STORE.

I’m simply trying to make people think. not convince anyone that I’m right or the eagle’s are evil or that we aren’t reaching anyone.. cause truth is we are reaching some. BUT WHAT ABOUT MORE? When do we stop being attendee’s that like or dislike our walls and never say anything and start being the church community building real church community. Hobb’s said it the best, “A Block Party not a Restaurant.

So, once again, I hope you hear my heart here. it not about whether the eagle’s get moved or not. Its really about building OUR CHURCH to be AS EFFECTIVE AS IT CAN BE.

Thank you,
Jeffery

First, I just want to let you know I think this is a great blog. I also think these are great conversation pieces.

Ok so just for the sake of a good conversation please go with me for a minute and hear my heart. I think it is great that you were so honest about this whole topic and I also think you make a great point on The church needs to wake up and be the CHURCH. I personally could care less about what hangs on the walls be it eagles or whatever other dust collector someone would like to put up.

Just a little different perspective though. And by the way I could probably argue either point. Who started the disruptance of the eagles, the people who wanted them there or the people who did not? There really did not seem to be any commotion about the eagles until someone started taking them away. Could this be a tactic of the enemy to cause disarray in our church body? Could this be a way to break the community down?

To my knowledge the church really isn’t seeing to many eagles added to the huge collection we have. If you think about the history of the church and where the eagles came from it is hard to understand why this has caused such a commotion. Most of the eagles were given to Pastor Bill and have been placed in many different areas to decorate the church. Now that he has retired you probably won’t see more coming through the door. On that note, don’t you think it would be appreciated if the appropriate people were asked if mission: Removal Eagle could take place. Then when questions started arising about the missing eagles there is a plan in place and a leader who can be questioned. It can appear as borderline disrespectful to just remove something that doesn’t belong to you.
Example: If I came to your home and removed all your guitars and music equipment you would probably question and wonder what I was doing.

You made a point about it is not what is hanging on the walls but we have made it about that. (Good Point) Who made it about that? It kind of seems like the people who started removing the eagles may have made it about that. The disruptance did not start until the eagles started being removed.

In all my professional training I have always been taught you do not remove something or change something until you understand why it was put into place to start with. Now, I know this is a stretch but it can be applied in all we do and in everyday life.

The mission team has an awesome publishing of how they are serving the people. I believe it is there and could be even more. We ARE publishing what we do and as you have said should be even more. I agree. I think if you talk to people they would whole heartedly agree with what you are saying with this point.

Your final thought: You have a great point and all movements start as one person having a thought. You could really start something here. The church isn’t our fancy building, it is US. These points are well made about a lot of different things in our church. The green carpet (which some say should have never been there), the music ( in which everyone has an opinion), and the list goes on and on. My question is, could this be the enemies scheme to keep us away from community? My challenge is maybe you have found your purpose. What if church was built for them? What would that look like? You do meet hurting people everyday and so do the rest of us. This could be an awesome start.

I hope you do not feel as if I am “beating on you”, that is not my point at all in writing to you. I just wanted to share some thoughts that I had as I read your honesty.

Blessings,

On a not so side note, that’s why I’m stoked about the potential of ethos. It can become . . . It can become!

ps I like it when you think and share “deep” keep it up

…Check out Scott Hobbs Post Called “A Block Party not a Restaurant” on http://www.higherplaceministries.com