The documentary Young @ Heart performs Coldplay’s “Fix You.”  Very powerful. (HT: J.R. Briggs)

Must Read: Writing a Storyline, An Alternative to the Mission Statement by Donald Miller. Someday, I hope to call him Don.

A satirical look at “contemporary” worship services.

Really enjoying, “Untamed” by Alan & Deb Hirsch.

This is Nashville by Shaun Groves. A call to action with perspective.

Garden to City looks like a killer project. (HT: Jon Tyson)

The History of the “Dude.” (HT: Noel Heikkinen)

Comedy Central is developing a Jesus cartoon. I don’t see this going well.

JR “The Dream Awakener” Woodward announced an Unconference in Denver in June. I’ll be there.

If you’re into music, you’ll dig Daytrotter. I always discover something amazing there.

I recently had the opportunity to attend some conferences and learn from some amazing leaders and thinkers. Wish I could have captured a snapshot with everyone but I was able to get a handful. Here are some of the more familiar names that I connected with.

Spent several days with Dallas Willard at the Ecclesia National Gathering. So much wisdom packed into one person. He was a wonderfully gracious gentleman. His book, The Divine Conspiracy, helped shape how I view life in the Kingdom of God.

Dallas Willard and Me

One of my favorite authors of all time is missiologist, Alan Hirsch. This aussie’s work was very influential to me prior to starting Project Church and it was cool to chat about specifics now that concepts have become reality. Looking forward to giving his newest book, Untamed, a read.

Me and Alan Hirsch

Had the opportunity to have lunch with Rick Warren along with a handful of other church planters. Tremendous experience. It’s refreshing to see a Christian leader use his influence for good around the world.

Rick Warren and Me

Met one of my favorite bloggers, Pete Wilson. He’s the real deal. Pete has a book coming out titled, Plan B which is sure to be a hit.

Me and Pete Wilson

Great analogy from The Shaping of Things to Come by Alan Hirsch and Michael Frost:

In the Australian Outback, it is impractical to build fences around ranches because the distances are so vast. Since water is rare, however, it isn’t necessary to build fences. Instead, ranchers dig wells which provide water, a precious commodity in the desert or semi-desert. The sheep and cattle are therefore “contained” by their attraction to the center rather than by clearly established boundaries. In the same way, an incarnational approach to ministry is “centered-set,” with Jesus and the Gospel being central, rather than bounded-set, which seeks to define “Who’s in and who’s out.”

Would you describe your church as a fence or a well?