Jedi Mind Trick: Atmosphere=Worship

Silicon Valley may not be unique in its endeavor to be the center of the world, but it's in the running. Most contemporary people know this, which is why there are so many teeny tiny houses being built in the South Bay. We are attracting an incredibly diverse mix of folks wanting to taste the riches of the California Gold Rush. After all, it could happen again and at any time, right? Oh the promises made to what will eventually be highly disappointed fools who mistook lights, camera, and action for real living. The balance comes when you drive your massively expensive Hummer into the gas station and pay a whopping $3.25 per gallon. Then it hits you all at once ... you thought you were about to live the good life BUT IT TURNS OUT TO BE A JEDI MIND TRICK OF SORTS. To put it another way, you got dissed hard!

Anyone who puts up a lot of fuss and junk about the looks of our new facility should be very VERY careful not to overstate their case. I know a lot of really cool looking worship facilities where the people are inhibited and restricted from lifting up their praise to the Father. They showed up because of the lights, camera, and action ... then bolted because the worship team was mean, had wrinkles in their foreheads, and couldn't create an authentic smile if their life depended on it. I know of one place where it feels so claustrophobic from the stuffiness and restrictive spirit of the church members that I simply couldn't stand it. I would much prefer an older, traditional facility (kind of ugly actually), singing only hymns BUT THE SPIRIT ALIVE AND VIBRANT. I know several churches like this. Their facility is run down and pathetic, yet the worship was all of that and more. And if you need more to drive this point home, just ask our teens. They can worship in a barn out in the middle of nowhere, as long as the people are loving, caring, and the music and message is PHAT. Let's make sure we don't build our preferred worship facility AND MISS GOD'S COMMAND TO WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH. Atmosphere helps ... but it aint everything!