Dropping Rocks

Wow. Just wrapped up the first Tavern Church service. Some quick observations:

1. Great music! "Come On Up To The House" (Tom Waits) was unbelievable. I'm not sure I've ever ever heard JDK sound so good. David & Mike were great too. It's pretty cool to be able to worship w/some Petty & Foo Fighters mixed in.

2. The City Tavern staff could not have been more hospitable.

3. Dr. Steve Bezner's message from John- about dropping our stones- left nary a dry eye in the house.

4. Thanks to Jeff Mack for filming tonight. We'll have some footage up soon.

So many people came out and were generally excited about the concept. It was so encouraging. I'd also like to point out all the behind-the-scenes hard work Kimberly Loeffler did. She's been a major cog in this engine and God has really used her in many of our lives. She was out by herself (in 20degree weather) putting out posters on Friday afternoon.

Mark all your calendars for February 28 when we do it all again!

FIVE DAYS LEFT!

In honor of the number 5- we decided to show this educational/instructional diagram for those of you (and you know who you are) that need a re-fresher course on how to properly high-FIVE...

FAQs

1. Why are you having a church service in a bar?
A: Church can happen anywhere. It's not a building. It's people. And, quite frankly, this idea came from the reality that if Christ were walking around in-the-flesh with us today, he probably wouldn't be spending his time at First Baptist This-town, or First Presbyterian That-town, nor would he be chillaxing at the country club after finishing 18-holes. He'd be at places like the City Tavern. He'd be hanging with the people that need Him most.

2. Can I drink while I worship?
A: There's nothing in scripture that says you can't. But, there's no need to feel like you must. While we like to joke around about being a church with its own bar, the focus isn't on the alcohol.

3. Can Christians drink?
A: Yes. But, do so in moderation. As mentioned in a previous entry (see below) there are no eternal implications for having a drink or two. Unless either a: It's Natty Light or b: you don't tip. (I hope people realize those were jokes.)

4. Who will be teaching?
A: Dr. Steve Bezner. Who is the most unpretentious PhD you'll ever meet. You'll be spoken to, not preached at.

5. What about the music?
A: It will be cool. Cooler than cool.

6. Who is putting this on?
A: Just some friends that happen to be Christians. This is not sponsored by a church or denomination. Just a small network of believers that believe God has called them to make this happen in downtown Dallas. Basically, a radio station G.M., a couple musicians, a music-industry girl, a pastor, and a former MTV's Road Rules star. But, the focus isn't on the people behind it- It's on Christ.

7. What should I wear?
A: Clothes.

8. Who can come?
A: Anyone. No pressure. Come on out. Bring a friend. Find the answers to your questions.

9. What time should I arrive?
A. 7:30pm and we'll be finished by 9pm. Remember parking downtown can be tricky, so allow time for that.

10. Where is the City Tavern located?
Downtown Dallas. 1402 Main Street. Between Akard & Field.

LESS THAN A WEEK OUT!

John David Kent stopped by my office for a few minutes this afternoon to discuss the Tavern Church. We also prayed for all of you. We thought you might need proof, so we took a pic.

BEER AND FAITH

That should be the name of a band. Or maybe a clothing line. Trust me it's no worse than True Religion. I mean, seriously. I can imagine the people that were 1/3 Zoolander, 1/3 Bruno, 1/3 marketing executive that came up with THAT brand name. I can just see them with their tight white leather pants, their pink muscle tees, and their cheetah-print scarves, sitting around a board room, all clapping as they whisper-shout "True Religion" around the conference table to each other with glee. Wow, I'm digressing.

Anyway, so back to beer and faith. It sounds like a weird combo- but it's not. At all. Martin Luther, who I think has affected most of our lives rather significantly, said "God does not forbid you to drink…he permits you to drink wine and beer: he does not make a law of it. But do not make a pig of yourself; remain a human being. If you are a human being, then keep your human self-control.” My favorite perspective on beer is from Benjamin Franklin, who pontificated, "beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." (For the record, I think sending His only begotten Son to die for our sins is better proof of the Almighty's "love" for us, but I see where Ben was going with this.) Some of the most religious groups prior to the onset of the 20th century regularly imbibed a brew or two. In fact, in parts of the world the water was so contaminated (and literally toxic) that beer, over history, saved lives.

I'm not sure when beer became the enemy. I think it was in post-prohibition, protestant-bent, middle-America that we began to look down our noses at beer-drinkers. We clothed ourselves in the very thin cloak of moral elitism and we felt so bad about all the sin in our lives and our inability to reconcile it that we started looking for anyone/anywhere/anything else to make ourselves feel better about our own corroded ids. And beer became the bad guy.

Don't get me wrong. Too much beer is definitely a bad thing. So is too much sugar. Or too much caffeine. Or too much anything, except love and Christ (which are really synonymous, so I'm being redundant.)

But, there's nothing wrong with a beer or two. I promise you there will be no eternal implications (unless it's a Natty Light.) So, I invite all of you out to the only church I've ever known that has its own bar, the Tavern Church.

Mark your calendars. The last Sunday of each month at 7:30pm. Invite a friend.

The 1st service is next Sunday, January 31. Our teacher is Dr. Steve Bezner. You can read some of his very wise, insightful perspective at citizenbezner.com - see you then...

An Official Blurb:

We're less than 2 weeks away from the first Tavern Church service, Sunday night, January 31st at 7:30pm at the City Tavern.

Grab a beer. Hear the Word. You may have grown up in church or you may have raised yourself in a hippie junkyard (I've never heard of a hippie junkyard- it just sounded good) but regardless- we all need a Redeemer. Come on out. Bring a friend.

NEW LOGO

Thanks to Gavin at www.nocargarage.com for his work on the TC logo! We feel so official.

The Island of Misfit Toys...

Some people love A Christmas Story. Others prefer Christmas Vacation. My girlfriend Kimberly loves Elf. I've always been a sucker for It's a Wonderful Life. But as a child, I was all about Rudolph. It must be telling that I identified w/a story about a deer w/a red nose who ran away w/an elf that really longed to do dental work. There were other aspects to the story that I found fascinating- and who doesn't yearn to live a Yukon Cornelius lifestyle? But, the part that always got me was the Island of Misfit Toys. Where else could you find a Charlie in the Box? A flying lion? A spotted elephant? A bird-fish? It was as if Dr. Moreau had been genetically-mutating christmas gifts and somehow Rudolph stumbled along.

Well, we're less than a month out from the first Tavern Church service. It will always be the last Sunday night of each month at the City Tavern. Some of the guys putting this on are:

-A speaker who'd rather be a professor.
-Two guys who should be melting peoples' faces off at rock shows instead of church services (and they will be days before and days after.) One who's hung w/Snoop Dogg, played Lollapalooza, dined with Madonna, been on Conan O'brien, hung out w/a host of others- but nowadays would rather be hanging w/us...
-A country radio station manager who prefers indie rock.
-A music industry girl who grew up in LA and was in NYC before a series of very random events brought her to Dallas, of all places...
-A former star of MTV's Road Rules- that has turned into a sorta respectable businessman.

It's not exactly the Justice League. In fact, it's a whole lot more like the Island of Misfit Toys. Guys w/crazy pasts tied together by one thing: belief in a Redeemer and a desire to know Him and make Him known. So, we press onward- believing God has brought this random lot together to help bring people to know Him.

Where do you fit in this story? Ever felt a bit like a Charlie in the Box? Perhaps a cowboy that rides an ostrich? A toy boat that sinks? Not quite fitting in as seamlessly as you'd like? Longing for answers? Looking for more out of your life? Come hang out w/us and a bunch more "misfit toys" Sunday, January 31, at 7:30pm.