Christians Are Crazy Protestors by www.churchmarketingsucks.com

Phil Cooke and Think Christian have recently covered a marketing stunt by Electronic Arts surrounding the release of a new game, Dante’s Infrerno. Here’s a bit of what happened:

The game publisher hired a group of nearly 20 people to stand outside the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles on Wednesday and appear to protest the upcoming EA game “Dante’s Inferno.” EA spokeswoman Holly Rockwood says the stunt was arranged by a viral marketing agency hired by EA.

This is a reckless, foolish stunt by Electronic Arts, and it makes them seem like very disingenuous [insert a derogatory name of choice]s. Stunts like this at the expense of others and that are so blatantly dishonest really irritate me.

But all that aside, as Christians, we set them up for this joke. I told the story of when Hooters came to the town of the church I attended here, and I think this is in the same vein. We’ve made ourselves the butt of the joke by being protesters rather than servants. And now, it’s a tough pill to swallow as we reap the fruits of that stance.

What is your church doing to distance itself from these sort of outlandish protests in favor of a more philanthropic, gospel-based views?

Some random weekend thoughts…

1. Just drank 4 cups of coffee, yuck. But, study was amazing for next Wednesday. Psalm 37 showcases 4 beautiful steps to a worry free life and I can’t wait to share them.

2. Saw Transformers last night… 5/10 for me but had the hottest date in town.

3. Totally addicted to Flight Control app on my iphone. High score is only 47 and doesn’t compare to Kasey Butler’s 300-something… anyone top that?

4. My new fav song is SOON by Brooke on the new United Hillsong album, download it now.

5. Had a blast with Josh Husmann and staff from Pomona First Baptist (The Rising) Wednesday night. Everyone be praying for what God is doing and will do through them.

6. Big weekend at Crossroads. In prayer for Chuck, Tim, and what God will do through them.

7. Amazing post by Steven Furtick here for young leaders and an amazing post here by Seth Godin for those of you unsure how or why to brand anything (remember that there’s a process between the point someone sees/hears about your thing and actually gets to it.)

Drumline close with the CGI space video was one of the most surreal and dynamic moments in my christian existence. Just begged God to hear our cries and adoration of Him in that moment (pic above).

Everyone be praying as we’re now two weeks away from the hard launch of our new facebook campus via Media Social. We’ll get the word out big time this week so you can invite friends and family to watch July 16th!

Exodus 20 showcases God commanding Israel to take a Sabbath based on what happened at creation. Deuteronomy, however, showcases God commanding a Sabbath based on Israel’s Exodus from Egypt.

Interesting switch. One is grounded in creation and the other in liberation.

For years Israel had people with whips standing over them. These task-masters would scold, scorn, push, shove, and even kill so that the broken kept working.

After the Exodus God says “remember what it means to bre free from oppression”. Realize that I’ve given you freedom to rest at times and by staying busy you simply bring the task-master back into your life. Don’t revive what I stomped out by the Red Sea. Don’t choose to re-enter what I broke in miraculous fashion.

So, what are the task-masters in your life? Instead of waiting on the Lord or even resting at times there are voices in your head that remind you of messages, emails, tasks, charts, applications, and decisions?

Take a few minutes today and wait on God. You’ve been given freedom and future.

Part of being a World Changer is getting up when things get hard. I know many of you are asking God for huge things but are wrestling through setbacks. I prayed with Bre last night that as we close this Passionate World Changer event tonight God would grant me one thing.

“the ability for my ordinary mind to comprehend his extraordinary being and convey it to you with extraordinary precision so you realize your extraordinary future”

I believe that tonight God will allow all of us out of the box of our humanity and grant us a new view of Him. Some other huge things the team has put together…

- With Everything finale complete with universe segments and the drumline.

- Francis Chan’s CGI space venture to analyze just how puny we are

- Josh Husmann and team in from Pomona First Baptist, if you see them treat them as family.

See ya in a few hours!