Stick a fork in it. This blog is done.

Well, not really. I’ve just moved to a new location: http://www.rickypatrick.com/blog

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I hope to see you there!

My Church is a Cult

AND SO IS EVERY OTHER CHURCH IN THE WORLD!

No, I haven’t finally lost it…and I’m not demon-possessed or backsliding. Just let me explain:

By definition, a cult is a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies -or- a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.

So if you go strictly by definition, it is ‘a truth’ that my church and every other church in the world are cults. But, if you think about all the connotations that the word ‘cult’ carries with it, my church is most definitely NOT a cult. It’s ‘a truth’ but its not ‘THE truth’.

Somewhere along the line, we as believers started thinking that any well-crafted sentence (especially with alliteration) had to have come straight from the mouth of God. Somebody stands up and says “Everything rises and falls on leadership” and we all dive for our notebooks and go into a writing frenzy. As a leader, that statement has brought lots of clarity to me in my time of self-pity…but its still ‘a truth’ and not ‘the truth’, meaning it doesn’t ALWAYS apply!

So filter some of these one-liners. Most of these slick and well-crafted quotes will serve as reminders of concepts that you want to put into practice…but they may not always be “THE truth” all the time. There are so many times when everything DOES rise and fall on leadership…and there are times when its no more true than your church being a “cult”. Knowing THE truth will set you free. You won’t be expending all your energy trying to do what Rob Bell, Andy Stanley, John Maxwell, and Seth Godin tell you do. Instead you will let ‘a truth’ that they present lead you to ‘THE truth’.

As I’ve mentioned, this blog will be shut down in the next few weeks and moving to this new location. Please take a few moments and go to my new location and re-subscribe via RSS or Email. If the above links do not work you can visit the new site at http://www.rickypatrick.com/blog . Thanks!

“Green” By Ted Dekker

“Green” is an apocalyptic story that fuses our history with another world’s history. The parallels and symbolism that are used are amazing. It’s completely impossible to explain it in such a short review and do it any justice. This book is fiction…but its not just fiction.

This book is absolutely amazing. This series was recommended to me in the past by a good friend and I’d always shrugged it off with “I don’t read fiction, its a waste of time”. I have already made plans to go and buy the rest of the series this weekend…because this book made my head spin! You will find yourself reading late into the night and in the middle of the day because you just can’t put it down. I was originally intrigued by the claim that “Green” was the beginning AND the end to this series, and was curious how an author could even make that work…but it makes perfect sense now. I definitely give this book 5 stars! Highly Recommended.

Season-itis

As I’ve mentioned, this blog will be shut down in the next few weeks and moving to this new location. Please take a few moments and go to my new location and re-subscribe via RSS or Email. If the above links do not work you can visit the new site at http://www.rickypatrick.com/blog . Thanks!

I love the fall season. The chill in the morning just gives me a certain energy that I don’t get any other time of the year. I also love to listen to people’s reactions whenever the seasons start to change. Just weeks ago, I listened as people complained about the heat and Georgia humidity and said “I can’t wait ’til cooler weather gets here.” Some get excited about football season, leaves changing colors, or the preparation for holiday gatherings with the family. But I suspect a large portion of us (myself included) fall into another category: Seasonitis.

“No matter what season you’re in, the next season usually looks better.”

These same people that weeks ago were saying “its SOOOO hot, I can’t wait for winter to get here!” will be the ones you hear in March saying “I’m so sick of cold weather, come on SUMMER!” In whatever season you’re in in your life right now, the temptation is there to look to the next season and think “if I could just be there already, I’d be fine” but there is never as fulfilling as it appears from here. We live from one green pasture to the next, always convincing ourselves that our circumstances are our problem. “One day when I’m married…” or “If I had more money” or whatever the excuse…we spend our energy and time looking for a different season. This is not the best way. Bloom where you’re planted. Find out how to make the most of the season that you find yourself in right now.

You can complain and whine about Summer all you want, and you can think that Fall is the only answer to your prayers…but be honest with yourself and realize that one day Summer is going to come back around. And you’re going to have to face the same set of obstacles that you faced last Summer.

So what will it be? Wait til the seasons change, or bloom where you’re planted?

You Nasty Thing!

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I helped my brother move into his new house today and it got me thinking about my past moving experiences. You can probably relate: Before you start to move your furniture, bed, and appliances your house looks pretty normal. Everything is in its place and its easy to move around. The tipping point for me was always the washer and dryer. As you start to slide the washer and dryer out it almost looks like there’s an entire civilization growing under there. You think “where did all this nasty crap come from?” and if people are around it can actually be kind of embarrassing. It’s easy for them to look at you like you don’t know how to clean, but you could probably go look under their appliances and find their own mess is even worse.

Often, change brings out the nasty stuff in us. That dirt, grime, and filth has been there all along…its just been covered up.

“In order to move from one place in your life to another, you’re going to have to come face to face with your nasty self.”

“Thankfully” there are always people watching to help you point those areas out. Now would you not move into that nice new house with your family just because of the nasty stuff under the washing machine? Of course not. Then why are we so reluctant to change? The nastiness is already there, let it be exposed…scrub it down…and move on! Remember, everybody is nasty…they just may be better at hiding it.

Looking forward to Catalyst

I will be attending the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta this Wednesday 10/7 through Friday 10/9. Hopefully I will get the inspiration needed to blog more often, or perhaps the inspiration to do something else and shut down this blog. Either way, we should have something interesting to talk about. See you on the other side!

Book Review: “The Hole in Our Gospel” by Richard Stearns

“The Hole in Our Gospel” is about social justice. The work that Mr. Stearn’s & World Vision are doing is inspirational, however, this book is not. And with all due respect, I will be as candid as I can.

The cover design and quality of the book is exceptional, but this was one of the toughest books that I’ve had to read in a long time. It is filled with biblical terms, scriptures, and principles that are taken completely out of context. I fundamentally disagree with a lot of what Mr. Stearns presents in “The Hole in Our Gospel”. I do appreciate his integrity in that all royalties from the book’s sales will go to World Vision, at author’s request (it says so inside the front cover).

As always, if you think you might be interested in this book, read it for yourself. Mr. Stearns obviously has something to say and maybe you will have better luck than I did. God Bless.

Word

“And without faith it is impossible to please God…” – Hebrews 11:6

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God…” – Romans 10:17

Without the Word, it is impossible to please God.

So where is your Bible right now? In your seat at church? In the car? On a bookshelf?

Challenge yourself to make the Word of God a priority this week. Commit to read through a short book or to memorizing a verse by the end of the week.

Graphic Blog Post

Forgiveness

What does it mean to forgive someone? When God forgives He also restores.

So is true forgiveness an acceptance of an apology?

A mutual agreement that a wrong was done?

A clearing of the air?

Forgiveness probably starts with these things.

But, maybe you haven’t truly forgiven someone until you are willing to give them the same place in your life that they had before they wronged you.

Maybe for safety, legal, or logistics reasons, you can’t literally give them their position or their relationship back. But, are you willing to?