Ergun Caner, of Liberty University, called last Friday and we talked about the Evangelical Manifesto. It seemed a bit odd to see his name on the document considering he taught at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University. We talked again today.

Whatever you think of the manifesto, Ergun's name sticks out like Joel Osteen at a John MacArthur's Shepherd Conference.

Now that I am on break sitting in a Starbucks in Barcelona, I thought I would catch up a bit on non-meeting stuff.

This is sort of my "Friday is for Friends�? from the last week or so.

Billy Hornsby (Not Bruce Hornsby)

As I mentioned, I had a good week last week at Liberty University and had the opportunity to visit with Billy Hornsby. (No relation to Bruce and he does not have a "range.�?)

He says some nice things on his blog, but he made me promise to say something nice about The Association of Related Churches (ARC). I am glad to do it!

He tells the ARC story on his blog:

Started seven years ago with two church plants, today the Association of Related Churches, (ARC) has planted 53 relevant, life-giving churches across the country, many of them now effective mega-churches. We are a non-denominational church planting engine that offers coaching, assessment and financing to young church planters and church networks. Because of the partnership of vision minded pastors like Greg Surratt, Chris Hodges, Dino Rizzo, Rick Bezet and Scott Hornsby, the ARC is poised to make an even bigger impact in the next few years. Great new friends have come along side of ARC to make the potential even greater...Guys like Matt Fry, Craig Altman, Craig Groeschel, Stovall Weems and many others have put the MO in the organization.

ARC is looking for planters and has resources for them... so check out their site for more info.

Rick Warren

Tonight (this afternoon in the states), I will interview Rick Warren for an upcoming podcast. More soon...

Ergun Caner

Though this will get me in trouble with some folks, I must admit that I enjoy Ergun Caner.

He is bombastic and sarcastic, traits that for some odd reason I can understand. He is also concerned deeply about evangelism and missions. And, as he puts it, he may have the greatest job in the world. Every Wednesday he speaks to 5000 young adults and challenges them to follow Christ to reach and change the world. (And, I am exceedlingly grateful he let me have a week with them.)

Now, Ergun is not what you expect in a seminary president. He drives a Ford Expedition that is tricked out with new rims, bullet holes, and a bumper sticker that says, "My Dean could beat up your Dean.�? Now, I know the Deans of about 20 different seminaries and I am quite certain that is true.

Most importantly, he appreciates 80's hair band music. While driving his Expedition, I was entertained by Queensryche's "Operation Mindcrime�? playing on "Hair Nation of Sirius radio. (If you don't know, I can't explain it to you--it was an odd few years in rock and roll.)

I hung out with Mark Driscoll on Tuesday night and Ergun Caner on Thursday morning-- and I think they would like each other. Not sure who would win the fight... but it would be close.

Monday is for Missiology

I must confess that I have done a terrible job finishing my Meanings of Missional series. It is not a dead project--just a delayed one. I have found adjusting to my new roles to be more difficult that I expected.

Not bad things, just too many things, and I need to get back to writing on missiology.

I will soon.

To my Evangelical Free Friends on the Emerging Church

I will post those resources on understanding the emerging church soon. Sorry I am delayed.

Now, back to missionaries in Barcelona...

I spoke at the Campus Church tonight... and hopefully made much of God's mission, reconciliation, and the cross. It's late and I am tired, but Liberty is not what I remembered. Tonight was 5000 students in God centered worship, some dancing, many on their faces, and all there voluntarily. All good-- just not what I expected. More soon, including updates on my meetings tomorrow to help Liberty plant 500 new churches in the next 5 years.

Update:

Now that I am bit rested and am sitting in the airport, let me share some more.

I graduated there from Liberty in 1995 (an eternity ago!). The school was doing well, but nothing like it is today. I was impressed with several things:

1. The students.

What an amazing collection of students. After I spoke, I had students say hello from all over the country. I even made a side comment about Mongolia-- and there was actaully a student from Mongolia who said hello. Amazing diversity. And, I was impressed with their commitment to Christ and passion for His mission.

2. The worship.

Honestly, I was surprised by the worship service. It was powerful and moving and much more contemporary then I expected (in other words, more what I was used to). Ergun Caner mocked me for being surprised, but he did not know what it was like when I was here over a decade ago! Grin.

It was great-- not cliché driven pep rally worship, but God-centered passionate praise. Ergun says he has the best job in the world and I can see why.

3. The plan.

We met this afternoon with Jonathan Falwell and about 15 others to talk about how Liberty and Thomas Road could help facilitate 500 church plants in the next 5 years. I think they have some traction there. Expect to hear more in the future from them on the subject. I think they have some great ideas and look forward to seeing them developed.

4. The campus.

If you have not been to Liberty lately, you should take a look-- it is quite an impressive facility, and growing every day.

A good day... and now time to go home and see my wife and daughters!

Yesterday, I attended First Baptist Church of Hendersonville, TN. Actually, it was the second week I attended -- last week we worshiped with the congregation and heard Ergun Caner preach.

Yesterday was to be the first day of a several week sermon series I would be preaching at First Baptist, but something else was more important: their beloved pastor is struggling and is very ill.