JESUS AND POLITICS

Hey Family,

Last night we talked about Jesus and Politics. In light of the upcoming elections we thought it was necessary to address your concerns and questions. You submitted killer questions and we dealt with a good majority of them as best we could, using the Scriptures as our authority. Thanks for all your positive feedback and engaging conversation after Epic.

Well as we talked about last night, we don’t want this to be a one-sided conversation. We want you to continue the dialogue with the Epic family. If you have questions, comments, disagreements, conclusions, opinions, or thoughts about last night, feel free to contribute something. Use this blog or email us at epicsandiego@gmail.com. We hope to read some of your comments as a follow-up next Thursday. Thanks in advance for your contributions. To refresh your memory here are some of the questions addressed last night.

~ Would Jesus vote for a president? Would He vote at all? Would He want His followers to vote?
~ How will this election change the character of our nation?
~ Why should we force morality through laws example prop 8?
~Would Jesus be a Republican or a Democrat?
~ What does the Bible say about the role the government should have (their purpose)- their sphere of influence/power?
~ How involved should Christians be in politics?

Looking forward to our conversation,

Love you all,
Manny

7 WEEK CHALLENGE

At the end of the evening everyone walked to the front of the auditorium to be part of the 7 week challenge. The idea behind this challenege is that small acts of kindness done with GREAT LOVE can change the world. This challenge entailed everyone getting a card with a random act of kindness or bold witness of Christ. The goal is that every person do at least one of the challenges in the next seven weeks. If you weren't there, take the challenge with us. Here are some of the challenges:

-Tell a co-worker something you genuinely appreciate about them
-offer to wash someone's windshield at a gas station and tell them God bless you.
-ask a co-worker or fellow student for a prayer request and follow up with the as to how they're doing.
-Take time to appreciate someone we tend to take for granted. (police, fireman, nurse, grocery store worker)
-While eating, ask your waiter/waitress for a prayer request and pray for him or her while you pray for your meal.
-pack a couple sacks of goodies for a homeless person, put in your car and hand out when you see one. (socks, food bar, water, TP, tract, etc.)
-add your own act of kindness that shows the love of Christ.

If you have done one of your challenges share your experience, write about it here so that others will be inspired to partake.

The Revolution Begins

Last night was awesome. It was the kickoff of our new fall series "Revolution; we are the change we've been looking for." Our guest speaker was Terrell Fletcher, former San Diego Charger and current pastor and founder of City of Hope church in San Diego.

He spoke on the fact that revolution will not be easy. Change always comes at a price and if we really want that change we must be willing to encounter resistance. He ended the call for revolution with an appeal towards everday random revolutionary acts. This means simply being aware of the needs of people around us. It alos means showing the love of Christ in small yet meaningful ways.

The capstone of the evening was people rising up to take the 7 week challenge and small group sign ups.

NEW SEASON OF EPIC

Well Epic officially launched its Fall season last week with a fresh feel and an challenging look towards the future. The evening started with RESTORE, a time where people could enter the Sanctuary fifteen minutes early and quietly meditate, or pray or unwind from a hard days work. Then at 7 Epic began with moving worship with Dominic Nuncio at the helm. This was followed by a poetic interpretation of John 4, the woman at the well passage which also happened to be the story for the evening's message. The message focused on our God-given mission for this ministry which is "to be a community that loves others the way that Christ loved." In this example Jesus encounters a shady, struggling Samaritan woman, and He shows her unconditional and true love by accepting her unconditionally and giving her life-changing truth at the same time. When the culture of Jesus' day were ignoring, rejecting, condemning and judging people like this, Jesus was actively and lovingly pursuing them.

This is who we want and need to become! We need to radically seek to accept and love all people regardless of their lifestyle, views, baggage... In a time where religiosity, judgmentalism, self-absorption and self0righteousness plagues the church, we need to rise up and be to a hurting and broken world what Jesus was to this woman...love and truth incarnate.

Epic Week 7

What a rad thing to see Dr. J raw, up close and personal. We got to ask him questions and learn about his life. He was open and vulnerable and willing to share some life lessons that he's learned over his 50+ years of walking with the Lord. He also got to share some ministry experiences and lessons.

What stood out to me was the fact that he has struggles that he deals with too. He shared about his cancer experience and how he thought he wouldn't make it. At the same time he saw God's faithfulness through the Word, pick him up during his darkest moments.

Another thing that stood out was the fact that church ministry isn't perfect. He's had battles with people and criticisms and haters, (if I can put it that way). God has shown him that it's always best to take the high road.

He also shared how he keeps his walk strong and fresh through journaling and alone time with God.

I just touched the surface of all he shared but nonetheless it was an awesome night!

Maybe you can share what impacted you about this night.

EPIC WEEK 5

To sum this week up, all I can say is intense but awesome. Diane Szuch was our speaker. She was real and transparent as she shared her story of abuse, neglect, rejection, divorce, and other hurtful things. It touched us all because we all have hurts and burdens. She challenged people to begin the healing and recovery process by being real and revealing the junk, and not hiding it anymore. Many people responded and began that difficult but hopeful journey of healing. The scene at the end of the night was people praying together, others tacking their burdens and prayers on canvases up front, still others singing to the Lord.

The most amazing thing however, was people dropping their masks and making themselves vulnerable to each other. I admire the people I talked to and respect them so much because they shared with me and were willing to admit that they have crap in their lives just like I have crap and everyone else too. They were real and came as they were. In the process they realized that no matter what, they were loved and accepted. I can picture Jesus saying to each and every one of them what he said to the woman caught in adultery...

"who condemns you?" to which the woman answered, "no one Lord" and Jesus handing his hand and helping her up says to her, "neither do I condemn you..."

What a beautiful picture of what were going for here at Epic. Remember, no perfect people allowed!

EPIC WEEK 4

Week four was awesome as we continued the breakout sessions. The topics were helpful and practical. Dr. Nichols spoke on how we can know the will of God. Dr. Ron Barnes spoke about how to live now in light of tomorrow. And Fred Blackburn spoke on the subject of Buddhism from the perspective of a Buddhist.

to finish the evening we had an amazing art show. People from Epic brought their artwork and many people came early and stayed late to enjoy it. Thanks to all who were a part of it and thanks to Steve Lucero who put it all together!

What did you think of week 4? What did you get out of the breakouts? Talk about something you learned, agreed with, disagreed with, whatever...this is your forum.

EPIC WEEK 3

This last week was amazing. As yall know, we are taking these first few weeks of Epic to test out different things. We don't just want another stuffy, cookie-cutter service to go to. So we tried something new; breakout communities. We had worship in the main building together and then for the message we broke up into three different rooms. Each room had a different speaker and a different lesson going on.

-In Room A we had a very lively discussion about the existence of God with Philosophy Professor Fred Blackburn.
-In Room C we had a conversation about Demons, Angels, and Exorcism titled, Emily Rose fact or Fiction? with Pastor and College Prof. Steve Whitten.
-Then in the Choir Room we had a very funny yet frank discussion with Dr. Ken Nichols revolving on the topic of what do I do when my world falls apart?

The three sessions were received well and people mentioned that they would like to see these become a regular part of what we do at Epic. The consensus leaned most heavily on doing it once per month. Thanks to all for your great feedback.

TO end the night many of us made our way to the solid rock cafe for the Open Mic Night.

This was uh-maz-ing!!! During the pinnacle of the night there were probably around 120 people hanging out, lots of energy and the craziest duo hosts, Gerdy and Nick Hooge. We had a total of 12 performers ranging from original songs on guitar, to original poetry, stand up comedy, classical guitar performances and various covers of popular songs from the Jackson 5 and the new Disney movie Enchanted. We gave away a free ipod shuffle to the winner which was ultimately decided by the loudest applause which was measured by a guy who just happened to have a decibel reader on his cell phone...random but so cool. Anyway if you weren't there check out the pics on the website. http://www.epicsandiego.org/

It was an awesome night. Hope to see ya at Epic this week!

EPIC WEEK 2

What a great Thursday. The band was on fire and our speaker was phenomenal. He was funny and energetic and most importantly spoke a very relevant message on why is it so easy to love Christ but so hard to love Christians? The message challenged all who were present by bringing them to account. Are Christians representing Christ well? Or are we tainting the name of Christ to a broken and searching world?

He explained how Jesus was the kind who loved and spent time with all people, including those who opposed Him, those who lived contrary to His values, those who were of a different social and economic class than him etc. He didn't demean, exclude, turn His back on those who weren't like Him. He had compassion on them, He loved them, He gave them hope, He gave them truth...all without condescencion and judgmentalism.

The church on the other hand, has gained the reputation of being judgmental, homophobic, right-winged political zealots, sitting on our self-made throne condemning and judging all who don't fall in line with their beliefs.

Albert pointed to the fact that it seems a little bit different than how Christ behaved...okay a lot different. The answer is a call to action. Will the real Christians please stand up and start representing Jesus as He really is. Perhaps then people will be attracted to His gospel and His people rather than be repulsed!

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF ALBERT'S MESSAGE?

EPIC WEEK 1

What a great night of worship and community! Just under 250 people gathered to see what Epic was all about this last Thursday. The night began with Candolyn leading us in energetic praises to God, followed by a panel of six young adults candidly talking about where this generation and the church is at. Love was the theme of the message as Manny spoke. A vision was cast as all agreed that Epic needs to be a place where people are loved and accepted as they are, and a place where people don't feel the need to pretend.

Thanks to all who were a part of this Epic kickoff especially for the encouraging and constructive comments. We can't wait till next Thursday night for Epic week 2! Here's what's happening next week.

DON'T FORGET TO TELL US WHAT YOU THOUGHT OF WEEK 1.

Loving People

During this first week at Epic, a couch discussion took place where six young adults shared their raw, uncensored thoughts regarding the negative effects that the church and Christians have had on the gospel. Much was shared about how in many ways we have been bad misrepresentations of Christ to the world.You heard from them. Now it’s your turn. Let us know what you think. Let’s keep the conversation going!
Here are a few questions to ponder. Feel free to answer one or all.

- What are your views on the comment made about going drinking andpartying in order to witness to unsaved friends?

- How can one be accepting and loving, and at the same time beforthecoming about the fact that people are separated from God and inneed of a Savior?

- How do we accept a homosexual person without condoning the lifestyle?