Gravity

If you are a pastor, this message from Matt Chandler at Resurgence in Seattle is a MUST watch or listen. I completely resonate with where Matt is coming from.

We're Back

We made it back from vacation and I feel like I need a vacation! Someday we'll take a relaxing trip...someday. We actually had a blast!!! I thought I would share some of the highlights for those of you who care about such things. Keep in mind that we live in Greenville, SC. We don't have a lot of tall buildings or celebrities just hanging out. We were enamored by both...

This was taken just before I jumped the fence...not a good idea:)



Outside of Ebenezers Coffeehouse in D.C. - very cool place

Taken after hiking up to the Washington monument...only to find out it was closed:(

Finally in New York! (notice the pub I'm giving the A.R.C.)

On a five story ferris-wheel - INSIDE of Toys-R-Us!!!

We ate lunch at THE Hello Deli. Rupert G. actually took our order!

Woke up early to catch the Today Show. Right after this was taken, I shook hands with Matt Lauer. Have not washed it since.

On our last night in New York, we decided to take a carriage ride through Central Park. It monsooned the entire time! This was us making the best of it.

Is It Heaven?

I am posting this on a MacBook in the Apple Store Manhattan. I may not come back...

Surratt Summer Tour

The fam and I have embarked on a much, much needed vacation. We're doing a mini-tour of the northeast, starting with D.C. and ending up in New York for a few days. I have never been to New York (at least a time that I can remember), so I am pretty stoked about checking it out. I'm also excited about visiting The Journey Church in Manhattan on Sunday. A few of their guys were at our Multi-Site Conference in Charleston, and I really dig what they are doing. It's always great to get away and see what God is doing somewhere else. I almost always come back inspired and ready to steal...I mean adapt a few ideas. :)

Today, we did the D.C. tourist thing. I am not sure who decided to do this in the middle of July (that would be me), but did you know it's really HOT in this town?!? At one point, we thought were going to melt into the Washington Monument. Definitely the highlight of the day though, was dropping on Mark Batterson and his staff at their coffeehouse/offices - Ebeneezers. What an amazing place! Literally a half-block from Union Station, they have one of the sweetest coffeehouses I have ever been in. Mark even took time out from his meetings to give us a tour. D.C. should absolutely add Ebeneezers to the official tour map!

Next stop - NY!!!

Could Someone Please Find The Pastor?

I performed a wedding tonight for a great couple in our church - Jay and Amy. Jay is one of our guitar players in the band and it was a really fun night! Our worship leader, Chris, was the DJ and he just would not play a song that I could dance to...oh well, maybe next time.

I've started to notice something at weddings that I have performed: almost always at the rehearsal, the wedding coordinator will put out a call for the pastor to show himself - and when I identify myself as such, I see this look of total confusion and panic come across her face. I am expecting her to say: "very funny little man, now go find the real pastor and we can get this thing started." It's kind of nice not looking the typical part of a pastor, but on the other hand, I don't like frightening wedding coordinators. Next time, I think I will wear a large badge that says "My name is Chris and yes, they let me be a pastor".