the drum|rob fairbanks

39% of American go to church?

Gallop just published it most recent poll of religion and American life. They discovered that almost 40% of Americans go to church. WHAT? Where? 

 

What do you make of this pool?

2013 Family Christmas Video

Just for fun...check it out.

Christmas thingie from Rob Fairbanks on Vimeo.

 Rob

A Little Holiday Cheer!

Last Spring, in preparation to watching the new Star Trek movie, Trey and I watched all of the Star Trek movies. Generally it was quite enjoyable and humorous at times with some of the dated special effects and over the top acting (mostly from the Priceline King).

We watched the new movie and loved it, but we felt like we just did not get enough so we started watching episodes of “The Next Generation.” A little known fact: The original Start Trek ran a relatively short time, but The Next Generation ran a whopping 7 seasons with something 27 episodes per. Well, to make a long story shorter, we got sucked in and have been watching them ever since. We are presently mid-way through season 6. Ok, here is the ridiculous math – roughly 150 episodes so far equaling about 100 hours of viewing. It’s ok, you can say it, “Have you lost your mind?” Answer: Just maybe, but know this…we have fallen in love with the character, Jean Luc Picard (AKA Professor Xavier).

So, in honor of the season, Spokane’s incredibly frigid weather and our inexplicable addiction to Star Trek Next Gen…here ya go (dug up on YouTube by my son-in-law, Caleb Ingersoll). Enjoy and "Make it so!!!"

  

Seeking Shalom for Spokane

Here is a talk a gave a month or so ago at Life Center, here in Spokane. Immanuel is partnering with LC in our new church plant. The text for the talk is taken from Ephesians 2.

 

Rob

Zags Harlem Shake

 

What is the Missional Church?

I am always poking around the web looking for resources that could be used to help understand the theology of mission.  Here is one that could be a great assest.  John Franke has be a bit of a harbinger of the emerging/missional movment.  He is bright and rooted.  Check it out.

 

Peace,

r

Starbucks Boycott - Here's How

I thought this was poignant (if you were a Seattle Supersonics fan) and hilarious.

green straw project from Mr Ben Weber on Vimeo.

r

 

 

 

Sowing Shalom - Common Good

I just got back from a conference in Chicago that specifically dealt with how Christian congregations can sow shalom into their local contexts.  It was fantastic.  Almost simultaneously, I came across this new site by CT.  It is worth looking at.

 

What are some of the ways your church has facilitated or joined in "common good" initiatives in your city? I would love to hear!

r

Keller on How to Treat Homosexuals

I thought this was a fair and gracious handling of an increasingly difficult topic. From my perspective, Keller is the epitome of grace and dignity. I am not a huge fan of his Calvinism, but there are few I would vote for to represent Christianity more than Keller.

 

For the Love of Art...and People in Madrid

The video below was produced by one of my colleagues in Madrid, Spain, Kelly Crull.  Their project (called Decoupage) seeks to reach out and live out tangible gestures of love to the artistic community of that amazing city.  Kelly shared the same story at our last event and I am so please to be able to push it out a bit.  I really think you'll be amazed!

UnplowedGround (March 2012) from Kelly and April Crull on Vimeo.

 

Here's a question I am interested in: What books, articles or blogs have you seen or read that address the arts and creativity in the church (besides Art and the Bible by Francis Schaeffer)?