Carlos Lollett

Epale chamo,

I think you think you’re a good person deep down inside, but you’re not.

Love, C.

Shane and Shane are sick. like sick. Their website should be (www.shane&shane.sick/unreal/whyyoushouldn’tsing/CHEA.) Not only do they sing like angels, which makes me feel like I should go ahead and do something else rather than lead worship, but they seem to have degrees in theology and writing. Seriously, God really blesses these guys with amazing songs. Check out this new one from their new album “PAGES” it’s called “embracing accusation.”After you examine the meaning behind the song, gimme a chea, and e-mail me with collective praise for what God has done in their lives…and in your ears.

This week I went downtown with our small group to “Reach Beyond” the doors of the church out into the community. We passed out free water bottles and gave invite cards to people. There’s a couple things I learned about this outreach.
1. Miami people are naturally very skeptical and distrustful.
2. Downtown is ridiculously diverse. Like crazy. like miami isdiverse.com/downtown/sick.jpeg
3. People in of walks of life want, crave peace, understanding, purpose.
4. I need to memorize tons of scripture.

Let me delve into one of these. I met a drug dealer when I handed out the water bottle. Great guy, charming, friendly, I mean he’s from Hawaii so what do you expect? He told me that he had been married for 15 years and that those years had been the best in his life. He said that he went to church, that everything was awesome during that time BUT, that he also was very tempted with money and power throughout his life. He told me “the thing is, the bad things also feel so good man.” Anyways he decided to sell drugs to make some good money, to have a cool life, and in the middle of one of his crazy stories I realized that they were actually very interesting, fun, some would say. I could see how a man could be attracted to those things, to that life, to the allure and the thrill. I could see how I would be attraacted to the “fun” of it. It reminded me of what Pastor Blackwood from our church said in one of the sermons in our last series. He said, “you know what the biggest lie that the devil has? It’s simply this. Christians can’t have fun.” Should I say more?

And there, you see, I saw a man consumed by sin, drenched in the guilt of what he did to his family, discouraged because he doesn’t believe God can change him, a man that believes “its only downhill from here…” he actually goes to the 8:45 service at what used to be Central Baptist Church. He said he’d go check CF Downtown now… I pray God would use us to help him.

Reach Beyond is cool

So I finally heard Francis Chan’s passion 07 message this morning. (you can check it here)and it was awesome. He talks about being lukewarm as a Christian and how it is so commonplace in the American church. These days it seems like the glory of Christ and the majesty of his throne are just as good as a Heat game, or a U2 concert. You gotta check it out. Maybe, just maybe you’ll can see him at one of the passion conferences this year… or maybe instead of going into debt to go see him preach, instead of trying to find God’s glory in some conference, you could go home and spend some time with God and ask Him to show you. Alone……I need to do that.