Big Announcement

HUGE announcement coming this Sunday...

Book Review - Communicating For A Change

I think that I am setting a personal record in reading right now - I have 5 books going at one time. I am not sure how I am retaining anything from any of them, but it is a great way to cover a lot of subjects!

I did manage to finish one of the five yesterday - Communicating For A Change by Andy Stanley and Lane Jones. I will say this up front: I really respect Andy Stanley as a communicator. I think that he is one of the best out there. I have seen him speak in person many times, and he always manages to move me. That said...this book was kind of a mix for me. I really enjoyed Andy's insight on how he puts a message together, and the tips on being a better communicator. He has developed a very unique approach, one point sermons, that is extremely effective. He answered a lot of the questions that I would ask if he would ever have lunch with guy like me (are you out there Andy? :)). Really, really good stuff.

However, some parts of the book did not do it for me. The narrative tale in the first section, while an interesting way to introduce the major points, seemed unnecessary to me. I probably should have just started reading where Andy takes over. That's where the gold is.

The only other slight problem that I had with the book was the perceived message that this is absolutely the most effective method for life change. It could possibly be; however, that's a pretty strong statement to make. I know several extremely successful communicators who take a different approach, and the fruit of their ministry is obvious. Andy even gives props to a few specific communicators - after listing their methods (fill in blanks, using notes, verse-by-verse) as not the best way to do it. I am sure that he did not intend this as a slight to them, but that's how it came across to me.

As a side note: I thought it was interesting that Andy encourages you to listen to and critique your own messages to find your own voice; while Mark Driscoll says to move on after a message and sleep like a Calvinist. I like Mark's approach!

After all of that, I would HIGHLY recommend the book to anyone that is a communicator. It doesn't matter who you are communicating to, we all need to get better and be more effective. And I'm still game for lunch Andy. Call me?

They Grow Up So Fast

We're turning 2 in a couple of weeks. WOW! I still can't believe that we are already 2 years into this adventure. It really feels like we're starting to put on our big-boy pants as a church:

• We nominated elders at our last 1st Wednesday service.
  
• We are in the middle of hiring our next full-time position.
• We are completely financially stable right now.
• I occasionally sleep an entire night.

As I begin to put together my thoughts for our anniversary service on August 27th, I am so thankful for this church and the people that God has sent us. We are unbelievably blessed! I continue to be amazed by what God can do through people that surrender to Him. By next year, we should have the training wheels off!

OK To Be Different

I was talking with a friend of mine, who visits a lot of churches when he travels, about how so many churches seem to be the same right now. From the appearance of the building, to the flow of the service; everything feels copied out of a seeker, mega-church book somewhere. Now, this is not necessarily a complete bad thing. I think we can absolutely learn from other successful churches and apply what works in our neighborhood. But, I also think churches should start looking at what they can do well and do differently. In order to reach this generation, I think that we need different kinds of churches who preach the Gospel. What is unique about you? What is a different and effective way to reach lost people and build believers? These are questions that I have been asking about our church, Seacoast Greenville. Here are a few of the things that I think makes us unique (note: I am referring to Seacoast Greenville only - not Seacoast Church as a whole).

1. First Wednesday Services. I know that this has become a popular trend with churches now, but I really dig the way they work for us. They are purposely not over-programmed. There is always preparation and planning that happens before, but we are totally open to whatever direction the Spirit takes us. Worship & prayer is a priority on those nights. My favorite service at Seacoast.

2. Sunday Worship Response. We have recently opened the time following the message for people to respond to what they have just experienced. During our worship time, people are free to seek prayer from elders, take communion, nail their requests and sins to a cross, light a candle to represent a prayer for someone, and give their tithes as worship. This has revolutionized how our people worship. I cry everytime when I see a family gather together to take communion. We are also seeing people healed and marriages strengthened through the prayer time.

3. Programmed, But Yet Not. I think one of the strengths of Seacoast has always been our seemingly laidback, but moving services. I talk to people all the time who tell me they cried from the first note of music until they walked out of the building. Something powerful moved them to tears and repentance. That's the power of the Holy Spirit. We are never too uptight about trying to put on the greatest show, but we are very intentional about creating moments where people can meet God's presence. That is our #1 priority every Sunday.

4. Honest Worship. I tell my band almost every week - we are not up here to put on a show. They can get that at the Handlebar on Saturday night. We are here to help people worship in spirit and in truth. Does that mean it has to be totally serious and mellow? Absolutely not! We like to enjoy praising our risen Savior! We rock hard and occasionally throw in a screaming guitar solo. I also want our band to look like their having fun while they are worshipping with their instruments. A drummer who smiles and sings along is very cool! It also doesn't mean that it isn't high quality. I believe that our God deserves our best, and there no worse distractions to worship than bad notes!

5. Real People In Leadership. What you see at Seacoast is what you get. None of our leaders are perfect (thank God!). They are on the same path to Christ as everyone else, just at different stages. The people on stage look and talk exactly the same way off of it. And no, I am not going to start tucking in my shirts and wearing socks and shoes! That's just who I am!!! :)

That's us. I would love to hear about what God is doing unique in your church!

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".

Breakfast In Anderson

There's not a lot of people who can cause me to get up early on my day off and make the drive to Anderson, SC, but this morning I had the privilege of having breakfast with the one and only, Gary Lamb. I was feeling pretty honored that Gary would drive all the way to Anderson from Canton, GA to meet with me, but then he informed me that he was having lunch with another pastor of some tiny church in Anderson. :) I have to say though, what a cool guy! I totally vibed with Gary from the moment we started talking. They are dreaming up some awesome stuff at the Stone, and I can't wait to see what happens over the next few months. God is blessing the socks off of those guys right now - and I can see why. Gary is a passionate leader who will do almost anything to reach people for Christ. And he bought my breakfast...which is always cool! :)

Redneck T-Shirts & Other Things

I have not posted very frequently lately, mainly because my life has been INSANE for the past few months. Our church has been growing pretty rapidly, and I have been in Dallas for Leadership Network almost every month. I have LOVED almost every minute of it, but it has kept me pretty busy. Finally, things are settling down a bit for the summer. In a lot of ways that's great - we need to work on some organization and leadership areas going into the fall - but I have kind of gotten used to the frenetic pace. I am probably going to drive our staff nuts this summer! Here are a few things happening lately:

1. The fam and I made a visit today to the redneck capital of the south - Anderson, SC - for Freedom Aloft Weekend. That is not at all a slight on Anderson. They are very proud of and own that distinction - just ask Perry! I will have to say that - only at events like that do you learn how some people should not express themselves with their t-shirts. I saw a new one today that I cannot reprint here, but it did make me laugh. Not so much at the saying, but the fact that someone would wake up and decide that it is good idea to wear that shirt in public!

2. I tend to be a very streaky reader. I LOVE to read, but I hit times when I don't get to as much as I would like. Then there are times where I devour everything I can get my hands on. I am in one of those right now (probably because 24 is over!). I am in the middle of Breaking The Missional Code by Ed Stetzer & David Putnam right now. So far, I am really digging it. I will post a full review soon.

3. I am very excited about some of the things that Seacoast is going to start doing this summer. We have been experimenting with some of it in Greenville lately, and I think it's going to be a very big shift for our entire church. The cool thing about Seacoast is we don't stand still. As I heard Dave Ferguson say in a message: "God moves and we step." You have to do that to keep up with what God is dreaming, and He has some huge dreams right now for Seacoast Church!

4. If you live in the Greenville, DO NOT MISS THIS SUNDAY!!! I promise that you will not regret it. In fact, this would be a great weekend to invite someone with you. And that's all I am going to say about that!

Driscoll Book Review

I just finished my pre-release copy of Mark Driscoll's new book: Confessions of a Reformission Rev.: Hard Lessons from an Emerging Missional Church.
The first thought that I have: WOW! I finished it in 2 days because I could not put it down. I have been a fan of Mars Hill Church for quite awhile from afar. I love their approach to doing church missionaly. Driscoll is one of one of my favorite communicators out there, and I believe a prophetic voice for this generation.

I have to say that the book did not disappoint. He is VERY honest and does not sugar coat anything about their experience of starting a church in one of the most un-churched areas in America. I love his sarcasm and saying what most pastors only think. I know they think it, because I do! I believe that every pastor who is considering planting a church should read this book. Church planting is hard, especially when you do it in Seattle, but the fruit is eternal.

Multi-Site Revolution

My brother, Geoff Surratt, and two of the guys that I work with at Leadership Network: Greg Ligon and Warren Bird, just came out with the book The Multi-Site Revolution - a very timely breakdown on how the method for spreading the Gospel is being changed dramatically all over the nation. By taking a close look at several churches that are the pioneers in going multi-site, they are able to show the mistakes and successes that have happened along the way. In fact, Seacoast Greenville is featured for how not to do something. You have to read the book to find out what that was! :) I HIGHLY recommend picking up a copy if you are thinking about going multi-site, want to find out more about the concept, or if you like the color red.

The Pen Is Mightier Than The Computer

I love computers. I spend all day working on one at my desk, and then I go home and crack open my laptop for the evening. I have a Treo 650 for my phone that I have been known to occasionally glance at emails with in the car (don't tell anyone!). My job with Leadership Network is to build real-time websites during their Leadership Communities. I cannot imagine my life without some sort of a computer within at least 5 feet of me at all times. Yet, when I sit down to work on a message or craft a set-list, I use a good 'ole pen & paper. I have used notebooks lying all over my desk! It's something about the freedom of a pen and paper that allows me to be the most creative. I don't know if it's because I grew up basically without a computer, or if there is something more to it - but does anyone else work this way?

Seacoast All Access

Seacoast (my church) has just made everything that we do creatively - roll-ins, countdowns, graphics, videos - available free online. Check it out at www.seacoast.org/allaccess. It's just getting started, so there's not much up yet, but will be soon.