Ron Furgerson is a pastor friend and in God's kindness we've had occasion to partner in ministry. He gave me the opportunity to preach at their church's newest site, the Westmoreland campus. We connected immediately - he has a great sense of humor, a military background (Navy, which I forgave him for : -) and a terrific heart for ministry. We also had the opportunity to partner together when I came across a couple of thousand (it was a God thing) brand new Beanie Babies for free. Ron connected me with a ministry at New Life that put them in the hands of (among others) first responders like firefighters. They use them to connect with kids who've lost everything in a fire.

Ron sent me this link. I put it into the "I wish I'd said that" file. Some of the things associated with the Emerging Church provide a valid challenge to a "business as usual" church. Then again, some of the other stuff from the Emerging Church is, well, let's just say I've scraped more wholesome things off the bottom of my shoe. This article does a good job of putting it all together in one place.