By popular demand, here is the excerpt from Alan Hirsch we read recently (along with the Delirious car crash recovery story)that captures where we are headed;
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We have been called all kind of things (some not repeatable here): low-church, organic church, experimental church, "everyone gets to play church," emerging church...whatever you call us, we are probably none of the above...just don't call us late to church... SERIOUSLY, We'd like to
be more centered and sometimes fuzzy. You know, kind of like:
..here
...please!
We will keep adding info to this MySpace, but our main website is loaded (and leaded), and found by clicking right here . In the meantime, make yourself at home here, listen to some of our music and teachings, leave us some grafitti, and prayer requests.
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RU3D?
Take the Test:
..AreYou 3D?
..
Test Rules:
Answer an emphatic "yes" to each question.
Answer honestly (which is the same as "1")
YOU MAY BE 3D IF...
You think you love Jesus, but are not sure you love..or like..the church/Christians.
You could appreciate a Lord..and a people..who love you just the way
you are, but too much to leave you that way.
You are unrepentantly non-religious.
You never want to hear the following again:
"We've never done it that way before!"
You are kind of expected to dress up at our church.."
"Church as usual.."
You sense that our Radical Dancing God is up to something new in the
world, Kingdom, church..and YOU, and you would rather die than miss the
revolution.
You'd be interested in changing your eternal address AND addressing
the way eternity addresses you NOW.
You have a sneaking suspicion that God, although holy, has a sense
of humor (He made Dave Wainscott, didn't he?)
You'd like to be released from a second-day tomb to a third day womb
(and it's a "womb" with a view")!
You're asking Jesus to help you find your purpose on purpose, AND make
you Spiritaneously free.
You are alive and have a pulse.
CONGRATULATIONS! UR3D! Even if are not alive, and do not have a pulse,
join us! (Maybe Jesus will do something about that as you hang out with
Him..and us)!..
P.S. Bonus: If you are not a "morning person, (like "Crab E.
Bird" here) or even a "Sunday morning person," note we have
meetings throughout the week, all times ending in those glorious letters: "P.M." !
Click here to see (unless it's too early to do so!) Also, we serve genuine
non-religious Starbucks (St. Arbucks) at all morning meetings, anyway (We are heavy drinkers!)
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3DDNA?
To catch our DNA, and discover who we are as Third Day, we offer here at this click a helpful explanation of our Mission, Vision, and Values statements.
"Big deal; lots of churches have such statements, " you say.
"YadaYadaYada...How corporate and boring!," you added.
We hear ya. As you may have guesstimated, we are not "church as usual." And we don't desire to be corporate or boring (except where God wants us to!) So though we use the language of vision, mission, and values...you'll find our statements are ineveitably phrased a bit eccentrically. This is not just to be cute (though we are!), but to catch your attention.
All that to say, what you are about to read may make little or no sense (or even sound heretical) until you click here to see the same page, but with some comments to help interpret each statement....A Scripture or two will even be given to back up each statement, just to prove we are not some funky cult (Though we do play that funky music once in awhile).
Enjoy. Again, here is the darn linkIf you find it corporate or boring, complain to Jesus. Then give us a call.We'll take you out for a coffee, beer or bagel, and talk you through it.
Then if you still think we suck, we probably do.
Music
Well, here are some of the musical influences you might hear at one of our gatherings...although surprises are to be expected...like Funky Gothic here...or Grinch tunes for Christmas like this..
Jason Upton, Mary Kathryn, World/Ethnic, Third Day, U2, Violet Burning, Passion Worship, Misty Edwards, David Crowder, Dave Matthews, David Ruis (uh, we like the name "Dave," OK?), Sigur Ros (and why not? Click this), Rita Springer, Delirious,..We throw in some cool ethereal Celtic stuff, partly because one of our saints has an online Christian celtic radio station at this hot link....
One of our "house bands," Emmaus Roadshew, just opened a Myspace...check it out here..
Sometimes Tattoo Tom or Haidresser Merlin sneak in guitar riffs from all kind of obscure and "secular" sources...but don't worry, we baptize the riffs.
We sometimes have homegrown (don't worry..it's not illegal)
music (don't worry..it's not illegal)...it's just some of our folks
"grow their own."...
So...obviously we lean towards "contemporary" music. If you're looking for a church with an organ, we have several...but they're all attached to our bodies! We love all kinds of music, but we specialize in the kind of style you have just read about. And yes, we are often quiet..we like Steve Bell and other quiet minstrels..
It's not quite music, but it's almost as good...Here is our podcast, box below (click the word posts"to see all the selections),and some random audio of the teachings we've had:
.. Subscribe FreeAdd to my Page
(If...I mean SINCE you liked that movie clip, find some more like it in the "Movie" section above..)
Books
uh, the Bible is #1 for us..
Check it out free here, baby...
Search it here:
Here's list of a few other books that have messed us up, as we seek to do church and shed our (wine)skin: Frost and Hirsch's "The Shaping of Things To Come," McLaren's "Generous Orthodoxy" and "The Secret Message of Jesus," Simson's "Houses That Change the World" (it''s free online, along with other wild articles by him here); for a few thousand more dangerous books like this, visit Dave's insane myspace page at your own risk here..or have java at www.nextreformation.com...
For a less theological, but also discombulating good time, test drive "Mega Shift" here...
..
and especially anyone daring enough to on a life-changing mission trip with us...We have been known to
climb to the top of the Andes Mountains and smash idols and cause avalanches (see this)...but mostly we just go to Peru, Dominican Republic and Israel to see what God is up to, and how we can encourage the saints (and discourage the sinners?). We also love "servant evangelism" locally, which means we are sometimes known as "the church that hands out toilet paper door to door," or "that church that prays for you at the mall". Get the idea here.
a simple,
complex
multiplex
multitidette
of saints and
sinners centered in Fresno, California and online.
Huh?
We are ...uh, a church, we guess.
We are an experiment, a family, a tribe, an organism, a team, a motley crew of misfit toys, a missional outpost, a shapeshifter, a Kingdom thing, an open source wikichurch with couches and coffee, a paradox.
We are perfectly imperfect..or is it the other way around?
We are a "smart mob," trying not be be proud of our humility as we push envelopes, forms and norms. We aim to not "should" on people on the process.
We have a serious sense of humor.
We are sometimes soundtracked by the music of U2, Mary Kathryn,or Sigur Ros; and
sometimes sidetracked by our down home authenticity. We just wanna be real..really. Virtually, too.
We have been known to give out toilet paper door-to-door.
We are in the Matrix, but not of it; we are not Republican or Democrat (we think even Libertarians and librarians can be saved); we are spontaneous on purpose; we are engaged to Jesus and engaging culture.
We are a subverter of the dominant pair of dimes. We play Violet Burning songs and the pastor does robotic dancing while no one is looking.
(Don't look; it's not pretty).
We believe that Joy Falls, Shift Happens and Power Leax.
We even have a church ashtray (Smoking won't send you to hell; it just makes you smell like you've been there).
We meet throughout the city and throughout the week
(homes, restaurants, etc);
and also have a Sunday celebration..
10:10 am at 539 W. Celeste, just se of Palm/Bullard..
Map here
Dressing up is not expected (but accepted).
We be Third Day Fresno, a bunch of saints (and a few sinners) who love
Jesus, prefer centered and fuzzy sets, and are perfectly imperfect daring dreamers, and whom you would likely like.
We are the champions, my friends/
We will we will rock you.
Oops, sorry; too many "we" statements.
Talk to us, baby.
We talk back.
We love you, and you can't do anything about it.
Oh..we also like to eat:
We will see you soon!
__________________
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Who I'd like to meet: The kind of folk/fish represented here below..
Please buy the amazing book this comes from here..
to quote the Lost Dogs:
Politicians, morticians, Philistines, homophobes
Skinheads, Dead heads, tax evaders, street kids
Alcoholics, workaholics, wise guys, dim wits
Blue collars, white collars, war mongers, peace nicks
Suicidals, rock idols, shut-ins, drop outs
Friendless, homeless, penniless and depressed
Presidents, residents, foreigners and aliens
Dissidents, feminists, xenophobes and chauvinists
Evolutionists, creationists, perverts, slum lords
Dead-beats, athletes, Protestants and Catholics
Housewives, neophytes, pro-choice, pro-life
Misogynists, monogamists, philanthropists, blacks and whites
Police, obese, lawyers, and government
Sex offenders, tax collectors, war vets, rejects
Atheists, Scientists, racists, sadists
Photographers, biographers, artists, pornographers
Gays and lesbians, demagogues and thespians
The disabled, preachers, doctors and teachers
Meat eaters, wife beaters, judges and juries
Long hair, no hair, everybody everywhere!
I really don't know when I can come visit. I would like to come soon. If God wills it he will work it out. But it is nice to know the invite is always good.
Cool. I will try to be there on Sunday.. btw that was pretty interesting how on that advertisment all the clocks were set to sunday @ 10:10. freaky! lol
Hey Dave or Sonya, I was wondering about ur guys missionary trips. I have been interested in doing something like that for a long time.. I don't think it's possible right now, because I am going to be starting school soon but I would still like to know about it.
When I thought about how to understand the situations in life, it seemed to me a wearisome task, UNTIL I went into the sanctuary of GOD; then I perceived life's destiny. Psalms 73:16-17
On the subject of HOPE: "Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us" Romans 5:5
To all my new friends at Third Day, Thank You! I don't know what more I can say other than God is REAL GOOD! Now keep in touch, send the friends request and I hope to see you again in the next year. BTW, Dave, special thanks to the family, especially Tim for giving up his bed, and Sarah for putting up with me. Blessings to all.
We have been called all kind of things (some 
..
you've been there).
to quote the Lost Dogs:
