I missed my Friday is for Friends, so let me share a bit here.

Foursquare Church, Jack Hayford, and Glenn Burris

Today, I am with Glenn Burris and some of the Foursquare Church leadership in Los Angeles. A couple years ago, Glenn Burris and Jack Hayford asked me to enter into a coaching relationship with their movement to help them through their recent reorganization, and I was greatly blessed that they would have me to help.

For those of you who do not know the Foursquare, it is a fascinating movement with a colorful beginning. The movement was founded by Aimee Semple McPherson. Her Wikipedia article is worth a read. Jack Hayford currently leads the denomination. Christianity Today has called him "The Pentecostal Gold Standard" and they are correct. He is called "Pastor Jack" around the building.

A couple of years ago, Pastor Jack and I spent the day training their district leaders, key pastors, and national staff. I spoke in the morning and talked about how effective movements and how they grow and reach their context. Jack took the afternoon and talked about issues of the heart. By the time he was done, I was praying for a deeper walk and more evident holiness.

Glenn Burris is the general supervisor of the U.S. national church. He and I have met with different groups over the last few years as we have worked through how to focus a movement on God's agenda. I am honored to work with these great folks and will spend the day at their Los Angeles headquarters.

Adrian Warnock

Uberblogger Adrian Warnock has interviewed me on a device called a "Mac," using something called Ichat. Like all uses of the "Mac," he speaks of its superiority way too much. Adrian seems to be the Larry King of the reformed movement (or whatever the Larry King equivalent is across the pond). Most fascinating, he is a psychiatrist in the real world and an uberblogger by night. (Knowing he is a psychiatrist makes me a bit nervous answering questions).

Anyway, you can see our video interview here in four parts:
Part 1 What Does Missional Mean?

Part 2 Church Planting

Part 3 Is Missional and Apostolic the Same Thing?

Part 4 How Can We All Be Missional?

Adrian also awarded me a "warnie," which I am guessing sounds a lot more manly in Britain than it does here in the states.

Regardless, we had a great talk and I am glad to do the interview.

Michael Duduit

I have been talking to Michael Duduit recently. We did lunch and he told me about Anderson University's new graduate school of religion. Michael is moving to Anderson, SC and was packing last week when I called. Now, Anderson is not the typical place that people move. It is in the upstate of South Carolina and probably the only thing most readers know from there is the memorable Perry Noble.

Michael is the editor of Preaching Magazine and we have become friends. This week he asked me to be one of the keynote speakers at the National Preaching Conference in Tampa. I will be talking about preaching that produces life change.

Pray for Michael and Anderson University as they begin this journey to raise up God-called men and women through their new school.

Troy Gramling

It was good to catch up with Troy at the SBC. Troy interviewed me for a podcast that will be coming out here. Troy is probably most famous for his "Naked Pastor" campaign. Having met Troy, I find the whole idea a bit creepy, but I think his point was to show part of the real life of a pastor. What most people in the church never see. I greatly enjoyed dinner with Troy and his staff (who all seemed much younger than Troy and me...)

The Blog Tour

The blog tour hit two more stops last week while I was in Indianapolis at the Baptist-a-palooza called the SBC. The first stop was on Alan Hirsch's blog, then Tall Skinny Kiwi. Last week, the blog tour went from Australians to Brits to Canadians, staying focused on the Queen's commonwealth. We stopped by the blog of Darryl Dash, whose blog has been in my google reader for a while now. Then, the next stop was on the blog of Micah Fries, who has quickly becoming a leading voice for young leaders in my denomination. The other stop was at the blog of Marty Duren. Marty's new blog is called iemissional. I will post more on the blog tour later, but I do appreciate these friends letting me drop by on the blog tour.

Eric Welch, Paul Cedar, Dave Olson and the Mission American Coalition

The leaders of the Mission American Coalition are a great group. They are an evangelical partnership of sorts, helping facilitate networks where denominations can learn from each other. Such partnerships are always tricky since there are many issues where even evangelicals disagree, but the work together with grace and sensitively on these issues. So, when they wanted to talk about some ways to learn from each other, I was glad to participate.

Their annual meeting is in Minneapolis this year in partnership with the National Association of Evangelicals. If you are a denominational leader, it would be good to check it out. And, in the coming days, I will be sharing some new things in relationship to Mission America.

Richard Land

Richard and I had a great lunch a couple of weeks ago, which largely means we accomplished nothing. We were supposed to plan our SBC report, but instead we talked, gave opinions, and argued a bit. But, it was good. It led to a fascinating dialogue at the Ethics and Religions Liberty Commission booth in Indianapolis. At that booth, I tried to get Richard to come out and endorse something that would get him in trouble, but it did not work. He seems to have been around the block before on the interviews... such is life. Meet the Press is a little harder than Meet Ed Stetzer. I kept trying to say, "Let's make some news here..." but he never wanted to.

Now, some would say that Richard is the personification of what some call the Religious Right. We disagreed on some things... and even did so on the stage (in regards to engaging culture, for example). However, I think people miss Richard when all they see is the picture on T.V. He reminds me a bit of Jerry Falwell, who was not afraid of a fight. But, the Jerry I knew cared for the hurting in ways that few appreciate. The same seems ot be true for Richard.

Yes, I probably would not say some of the things he says (and I am guessing the feeling is mutual), but the presentation they did on ministry to persons with same-sex attraction two years ago was remarkable and noteworthy for its discernment and grace. And, even his concerns about the global warming crowd are driven by the (often overlooked) fact that some who call for an end to global warming really want an end to industrialization-- and industrialization (along with the ever unpopular outsourcing) is lifting much of the two-thirds world out of poverty.

So, we mixed it up a bit in our presentations (which is, I assume, why they asked me to do it).

If you have not read his book, The Divided States of America, it is a good read and worth your time.

Now, if I could just convince him on a few cultural issues and on those bowling shoes he wore on Tuesday...

Bob Smietana

Bob and I got a chance to visit at the Noshville Deli. Bob is the new religion reporter for the Tennessean, the local Nashville paper. I read his most recent book, Good Intentions, which is something like a look at economics (and other issues) from a Christian perspective. I found it very interesting and a compelling read (and, published by Moody, no less-- "the name you trust").

From the book:

Most of us turn to the Bible for decision making, but since the Bible deals in morality and value, it's difficult to apply its principles to the economic choices we make each day. However, by measuring the outcome of these choices with the use of economic theory, we can determine long-range implications and more easily evaluate them according to biblical criteria.

Interesting stuff...

Fundamentalists and Mark Dever

Just this week, the "Mark and Ed" show has passed 4000 views on Youtube.

I saw Mark in Indianapolis and we joke about becoming Internet sensations. Like that Free Hugs video... without all the hugging. Ok, it is not that big, but is interesting to me that thousands of people would watch a discussion about the gospel, the Kingdom, partnerships, etc. If you have not seen the video, you can see parts 1 and 2 here.

I bring this up because it looks like it got Mark in a little hot water with some fundamentalists. You can see the comments in the 9Marks thread where Mark posts on "separation." It's an interesting conversation and worth a read (be sure to read down into the comments).

It seems that his speaking in Chicago (with Acts 29) and in Reston (at Whiteboard) are the main issues that some have brought up. Having been one of the keynote speakers at both of those meetings, I take a unique interest in the subject.

Mark has done a good job explaining his views. In a forthcoming post, I will also explain why I speak to who asks, as long as I can clearly preach the gospel and my training will not advance a non-Chrstian agenda. For example, this week I accepted speaking engagements for the Missouri Synod Lutherans, The Assemblies of God, and my own denomination.

I share the Apostle Paul's desire and hope, that Christ will be preached, even if we disagree in some areas.

Enough for now... off to Los Angeles for the day. It's kinda' like Nashville, with a tan...

Uberblogger Ben Arment sent this along and asked me to tell you that the super early bird registration ends Friday at midnight.

Go to www.thewhiteboardsessions.com for more information. It really should be a fascinating conference.

Since I hate posting conference commercials, and may soon start saying "no" to such requests, let me at least make it interesting and have a little fun with some friends.

Here are some blgoworthy thoughts on the flyer and the conference (and the flyer above):

1. Is my head really that freakishly large?

2. If I was taking a third grade IQ test, and was asked, "Which one does not fit?," it would have to be Dever. (Now, remember, I like Dever so that is not a bad thing.)

3. My favorite Dever line (from when we co-taught at Reformed): "I guess you could say we are a blended church. We blend the best of the 16th and 17th centuries." I am really wanting to bring a tape recorder into the green room and just start some friendly banter like, "So, Mark and Perry, what do you guys think about the Regulative Principle?"

4. Ben worked very hard to crop Dever's picture to remove the tie... but we all know he is wearing one, Ben. And, $50 says he will wear one when he speaks.

5. I think I have been on a teaching or speaking platform with most of these men, but never together. Ben has certainly crossed the streams of evangelicalism. (And I think that we can learn some things from each other.)

6. Is it just me, or does Tim Stevens look disturbingly like Moby?

This is Moby (and not Tim):
However, I bet Tim could take Eminem in a fight.

7. I once confused Tony Morgan with Tim Stevens. I think I need new glasses.

8. Someone needs to tell Perry Noble it is time to update those glasses... the 80s called and they want the glasses back. He is the hippest guy on the stage and those glasses are just holding him back from his full potential. Even a old guy like me got some new glasses.

9. I am the final speaker of the day and am thinking of my theme being, "Synergy." Not sure, but I am considering it... something about how we can learn from different parts of the body of Christ. Other possible topics for me: missional, the Kingdom of God, the purpose of the church, etc. Still kicking that around.

10. Fun Fact about Reston (where the conference is being held)

When you come to Reston, you should know that it is one of the few places in the world outside of Africa that has had an Ebola outreak. Be careful while you are here to stay away from monkees. (Good advice all the time, really, not just for the Whiteboard Sessons.)

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebola_Reston

So, there you go... you should come for the conference.

And, I think I am doing a church planting training the next morning. For more info on that, you can click here.