LRC, Houston - the weekends-free church in Houston, Texas

I’ve been a Christian all my adult life, ever since “I walked the isle”, as they say, at the First Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas when I was seventeen. No, I don’t remember the “day or moment”. The Baptists circles I used to run in made “knowing the precise moment” of paramount importance. To this day I still don’t get how they could emphasize that and miss the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

This is going somewhere. Hang on!

In my spiritual journey, that I’ve given my life (some of it at least) to, I never really thought much about the concept of TRANSFORMATION. When I started LRC nearly 20 years ago, I was “getting” the idea of change, revival, and transformation; however, it wasn’t until about a year ago that the REALITY of the spiritual concept of TRANSFORMATION began to take shape: have meaning.

Transformation has not been on the church agenda. I’m not talking about just LRC. Everywhere I’ve gone, what I’ve read, seen on TV, etc. is not about TRANSFORMATON. Church has been about doctrine, style, verbage and unique language, social vestments, and of course ultimately control (as in hierarchy).

There is little Acts 17:28 action as I see it.

How often do you see a new creation- in you, your friends? Transformation.

We’ve seen great transformation in the sciences, in the digital advance over analog devices, the internet, and yet the institutional church has remained stuck in it’s ways. Has the soul of man become any wiser in the last few decades? I think not. In fact, Richard Rohr put his finger on the problem in many ways when he said, “We institutional priests far too often connect people with church more than with a daily spiritual life.” That hurts!

I know church is to be done differently and for years now I have asked the Father, almost every day, what do you want us to do that we’re not (from an organizational viewpoint). I believe, among other things, what has to happen is we have to SLOW DOWN! Sounds easy. It’s nearly impossible though. We do live in America and a microwave society.

Bill McKibben hit the nail on the head when he did a unique study. Briefly, he watched TV for 24 hours and then spent time reflecting on what he learned. He then spent 24 hours ALONE in the Adirondack mountains in New York, and reflected on what he learned. His conclusion was more than startling. I’ll let you imagine the results.

On July 6-8 I’m inviting any and all MEN who want to get a taste of such an adventure to spend 39 hours away from the outside world in an altered form of a Rite Of Initiation. Open to anyone, anywhere.

You game: for the game of your life- real TRANSFORMATION?