I went to Orlando for a week, and now I wake up at 4AM

For the majority of this week I was in Orlando, FL at a conference for church leaders who are starting new churches (some people call them/us “church planters”). I usually don’t go to conferences, so the whole experience was a little unsettling for me. Going into the event, I knew that I could be very cynical about some of the things I would see, so I did my best to be open minded and gather whatever ideas, concepts, resources would be useful to us in what we are doing at Phoenix CityChurch.

Now that I’ve had a few days to think about my experiences, here’s what I’m walking away with:

If I am “doubling-down” on my work, I need to “double-down” on my rest. (Chris Seay)

Clarity in trajectory is essential in developing new leaders. (Jon Ferguson)

There are still too many church leaders who want to be rock stars (See also, too many emcees, not enough mics).

The American expression of the church is still holding women (even women who lead) back.

There is no silver bullet. There is no silver bullet. There is no silver bullet. There is no silver bullet.

Being in grad school for three years has trained my brain to deconstruct, unpack, and parse the things I hear and see at a critical level that isn’t used in general culture. I can be seen as pessimistic and cynical if I do much of this thinking out loud. Moral: Don’t bring a grenade to a water balloon fight.

A charismatic person with smooth words and well placed tears can sweep bad theology under the rug. #sheep

There is a perpetuated culture of Christian celebrity and consumerism. Both of these would still make Jesus violently throw up.

There is this DOPE little Thai restaurant on International Dr. In Orlando by the Walgreens.

Reluctantly, I think I like Gungor.

Dave Ferguson, Bill Hybels, and Chris Seay are the real deals.

There are a ton of people who are genuinely grinding out work to establish new churches that express Jesus on his terms. Many of us will still fail.

A model or system, when looked at closely enough, will show its flaws and short comings, not matter what the person promoting it says.

Orlando, in German, means tourist trap.