if u dont know then dnt worry bout it. this was from a long time ago. but thnks guys

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living in obedience to God

living in obedience to God is quite liberating.

God just "told" me to

God just "told" me to tell someone something and i thought it was dumb but did it and the guy almost cried.

this is all i got to say right now . . .

dont hate me bc i do werk! (some r even hand rolled on the streets son!)

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goin chicken chasin in Ybor city

So I was walking around Ybor City waiting for chruch to start and I saw chickens. Yep I said chickens. They have wild chickens here, like most places have wild dogs or cats here in Ybor you got chickens. LOL it's just too funny.

Well I saw them running around to various dumpsters, just like wild cats would in any other city.

Well I had to get a pic (dont know why) but everytime I got close enough they ran. So I kept following, blindly I might add because I was trying to sneak up on them because the "daddy" kept posturing on me. lol yep I am the "chicken wisperer." Well, I kept following and when I finally got hte pic I looked up to realize I was in a, well let's just say not so nice feelin spot of town. All the bums (who I woke up) thought I was crazy probably for chasing chickens. Oh well, that's just how I do it. Wild chickens. haha it's great.

Here's your test!

Ok. So see the building to the left? What would you expect to find in it?

First look, I'd say a bank or gov't building, right?

Let me give you some hints...

the businesses that neighbor it are a couple cigar shops, the Blue Devil Tattoo shop, Coyote Ugly saloon, a pirate bar (I guess it's a costume contest every night) and I think an oyster bar too. (oh yeah and the bum who jut woke up in the red blanket)

any guesses? If you are Paul Wirth you see a church! Yep, Relevant Church ( http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftwurl.nl%2Fdldfnx&h=fbb30046b9cc0184c495f43151c78470 )

It's located on --------------7th Ave----------------->

In Ybor City (Tampa, Fl).

I got to tell you this church's location is off the chain. If I could pick a dream location that fits my personality and interests this is it. Tattoo shops, Cigar shops (where they actually hand roll them in front of you), bars and night clubs. This place is so perfect for a church. I know a lot of people think that is just insane but I think not. Only thing they are missing are some hookers, that's why we are going to Vegas. Wait... that sounded weird. Oh well, if I have to explain it you wouldn't get it anyway.

Way to go Paul and Susie. Relevant is exactly the kind of church being started in exactly the type of place that I think honors God. I am so proud of you guys and can not wait to see what God will do through you and your staff in the coming days. God has great plans for you guys.

just fyi. now to go

just fyi. now to go to my blog u can simply type - www.tommyaltman.com

JUST THOUGHT I'D LET YOU ALL KNOW . . .

that . . .
ANY QUESTIONS?!?!?!

sushi w/ Paul and Susie (this was round 2 lol)

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we need more DISCO PIRATES!!!!

Ok Craig Groeschel was a great speaker. He spoke some great truths and visions into me today. I went to two of his tracks (by ditching the schedule I was supposed to be on... I'm a disco pirate what can I say?)

Here is some great stuff he said today that I think we would all do well to listen to.

- we do not need churches to be planted that conform to the pattern of the American church.

- we need to start movements!

but what we need to understand is that a movement is never going to be safe, predictable or clean. Our faith must become dangerous again!

So in the words of the famous Darkwing Duck "Let's get dangerous!"

Many churches and Christians have settled for safe. In doing so we inevitably invite people to come to God for a "safer" life rather than to come to him for life change.

Let me clarify some common misunderstandings for any of you right now if you are exploring my Jesus and deciding if you want to give your life to him. Choosing to follow Christ you are setting out on a dangerous path. If your "Christian life" is safe and comfy then perhaps you are not living the life God has called you to. God calls us to a dangerous life so that we lean wholly on him in life. If you want a "safe" life, a life that is with less spiritual battle and less emotional stress then perhaps you should really consider if you are ready to follow Christ. If the answer is no then ask Jesus to help you get there. I am confident he will. I do not say this to run you away from Jesus. If you are just looking for an excuse anyway then fine I gave you one (I doubt you would have let him change your life anyway.) I just want to put all the cards on the table for you upfront.

So what's the point?

WE NEED MORE DISCO PIRATES IN THE CHURCH!

the first of probably MANY appologies

OK here it goes. after hearing from Craig Groeschel I think I may owe you guys and Mr. Osteen an apology. So here it is (and I know it will not feel like a "full" apology.)

I may have been wrong to personally address Joel Osteen's stance (or lack of) on Jesus in his interview with Larry King. I do not repent of what I said about the fact that we need to stand up and speak out the truth about Jesus or the fact that preaching a "prosperity" gospel is waaaay wrong. I stand by that 100%.

However, I do not want to be known for what I am against. Rather I want everyone to know what I believe and stand for. So in that respect I should not have personally "attacked" Joel Osteen. I know that in the future one day I will be on the other end of some idiot's (like me) ranting about what I have said or done. Sorry Joel and sorry everyone else.

In the future I will try and articulate what I believe and stand for and know or am struggling with about God and humankind. Let me also put out a caveat now as well. God is constantly challenging the presuppositions I have about him and how he interacts with us all. So with this being said, I may in the future disagree with some of what I wrote in this post as well. lol

exponential conference

ok well I'm here at Exponential Conference (http://www.exponentialconference.org/)and it's sick. There are a ton of great speakers and making some great friends. I listened to Erwin McManus and Gary Lamb today just to name a few. Erwin Mcmanus wrote some great books you def should check out any of them. Here are some quotes from McManus:

- don't develope academia in church but rather an activist movement [tommy paraphrase]

- we were relevant until the church took us out of the "world" and made us irrelevant [again tommy paraphrase]

- people are open to talk about Jesus they just don't know who they can talk to and trust.

- Jesus died the most heroic death so we could live our most heroic lives.

- Is it possible that Christianity has rejected this because it demands too much of us?

YES!!! it is possible and unfortunately all too true. ouch! if that doesn't sting a little then your not listening go back up and read it again.

and Gary Lamb had a great point that I think everyone (especially pastors) need to here:

- The Vision for a church is NOT for sale.

this is huge if you stop and think about it. If God gives you a vision for your church (or life for that matter) it is not for sale or even for you to change. It is God's vision he is giving to you. You only get to decide if you want to follow it or not.

ok I do not know how to add the audio (i recorded it on my sweet Smartpen) but if I find out how I will post the audio.

Shalom

dont hate me because i have a smartpen (vince) lol

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Brodie's first time assisting in "Surgery." it was a success! lol

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Easter Egg huntin

Brodie found the "golden egg" and was pretty happy bout the 5 bucks in it.

Happy Jesus Day!!

Happy Jesus Day everyone!

Does satan exist?

Nightline hosted an awesome debate on the topic, Does satan exist? It is well worth watching.

Mark Driscoll, in his opening statement, clearly articulates some great truths about Jesus and satan.

Way to go Mark! Keep hitting 'em out the park!

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Nightline/FaceOff/#


(by the way I know satan should be capitalized but as I have stated earlier he is a jerk so gets lower cased! that's just how I roll.)

WOW! This sucks!

So think we should be concerned about the future of our faith yet?

Check out this link that my awesome wife sent me!


http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=84268541413&h=q9r9v&u=nRpak

back to the Osteen topic. . .

Ok sorry I have not been on in awhile. I disconnected from the tech world for a bit to get the rest of my life "under control," (about as under control as a hurricane but at least I got to spend some time with my beautiful wife and wild son.)

But back to the topic of Mr. Osteen. . .

First let me say the "nice" stuff. Joel Osteen is unarguably a great public speaker, and of course he has some really perfect hair too. He is the pastor of the largest church in America with 47,000 in attendance. This is more than double the next largest church, of 23,000 which is Willow Creek lead by Bill Hybels (who is outstanding, just in case you were wondering.) So with numbers like this it is clear that he is a great leader (or has great leaders under him, likely both) and hopefully his church is positively impacting peoples lives.

So there's the good stuff.

Now the issues I have with Osteen.

I believe he focuses only on half the gospel message. He talks all about God is love. And well, he is but God is also just and demands justice. I have listened to Osteen on T.V. a couple of times and he will not even say satan but rather just calls satan our adversary or the enemy, which is also said in the Bible but why do we have to make satan so "mysterious"? Satan is the devil our Lord Jesus Christ's enemy and therefore ours as well. Anyhow, I digress. . .

In the interview with Larry King, Joel Osteen was given a perfect opportunity to clearly speak what the Bible says about Christ. John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." That pretty much sums it up. I know there are great theological discussions out there about what if a person searches after God and obeys his conscience (our "internal" law) but this is all speculative and can not be proven. The Bible, and Jesus himself, specifically says you have to come through Jesus to get to God and eventually heaven.

I know this is a divisive point with other faiths but that's just the way it is. Sorry. I can not tell someone they are going to hell but God can and he clearly laid out the rules. Maybe there are some extenuating circumstances that we will find out when we stand before him but until then we have to follow what we know.

I believe it is time we take a stand for what we know is true and quite being so wishy-washy. We will offend some, but why can we not say they are offensive? (oh wait, because then we are narrow minded and not being sensitive to their beliefs. What about mine?!?!) We must take a stand, if not for us then for our children and our children's children (see the post above if you don't believe me.)

Well, that's as concise as I can make it.