Ragamuffin Soul – The Journalist
I got an email late Wednesday night. Under the cover of the starlit sky. I was laying in a fetal position watching “Ax Men” when my iPhone buzzed so softly in my pocket.
It was an email.
From Rick Warren.
This was some of the note…
Hi Carlos,
I’ve read your stuff on the Internet and I think it is great! So I want to invite you come to a “stealth conference” that is unadvertised and blog about it next week.
Next week, May 20-22, I’ve handpicked about a thousand of the most effective pastors in America to meet with me for 3 days. This is a by-invitation-only event here at Saddleback. I’ve also lined up 35 leading pastors who are friends of mine to do discussion panels …
So I’m inviting a few select bloggers to attend and cover this event. Oh yeah, TIME, USA Today, Reader’s Digest, and a bunch of other media are coming but I wanted to invite you to be here and cover it. What do you think?
Next thing I know I have a plane ticket and hotel reservation.
So this next week is going to look like this around here.
More Purpose Driven Ragamuffin than you ever wanted. I am dead set on getting video of Rick Warren pimping RagamuffinSoul.com.
I look forward to covering this event with a team of 3 other invited bloggers.
Tony Morgan, DJ Chuang, Joshua Griffin, and myself.
I’m the only bald one.
Unless you count the tiny circle forming on the top of Tony’s head.
So yes. I have been invited to a conference and flown across the country because of this blog.
Because of you.
So do me a favor.
Take a look at these names and start giving me some scoop.
Who do I ask what?
I mean look at some of the names on this list!
There could be a theological fist fight that could break out at any moment.
Only kidding.
Sort of.
So I am going to watch a few reruns of Anderson Cooper tonight and watch me morph into a journalist the likes of which you have never seen.
I’ll see you in So Cal…
Oh. And that is only the first half of the week.
Then Tony, Perry, myself, and a few others there will fly to The White Board Sessions on the right coast.
Check back often this week because the blog gloves are coming off.
Who would you want to ask a question to and what would it be?
Los
It is very exciting that you get to do that….God has blessed you. I heard the Mars Hill guy rocks, I have friends that would move out there for his church. I don’t really know a whole lot about the other people. I would ask them about what do they think about the whole people worshiping the church and not God….why are people not following what God has call us to be?
Also the animated character of you looks like one of the planeteers from the TV cartoon captain Planet.
I would like to know more about this “Fellowhip” I’ve never heard anyone speak about “Fellowhip” before… there’s a typo on the rundown. What kinda whipping are we talking about, and in church?
wow, Los! I’d love for you to get Mark Batterson to talk about how they started their coffeehouse…the whole modern-day well philosophy, as well as the actual logistics of making it happen. I’m fascinated. and you can talk to Perry about anything you’d like, because he’s totally my favorite! i look forward to watching their service online every week…
Very cool! I’m eager to see what the blog has in store in the coming weeks.
Quite an honor – guess you’ll be hearing sermons about staying humble? Just razzing you – looking forward to what you glean from a diverse and godly group of ministers. Glad Rick Warren still loves stirring the pot!
i’m gonna tell jeff where you were when you posted this…
I would talk to Steve Stroope. His great-grand was one of my favorite uncles when I was a kid. Muncle used to draw pictures for me.
What is it with the Hawaiian shirts? That’s all.
My son-in-law is a gungho Christian because he is so drawn to Miles McPherson’s powerful messages. What an amazing week you’re going to have!
So it’s a sin, but I’m totally jealous! Blindly even.
Have a blast!
that tiny bald spot is getting bigger by the day. i wonder what i would look like if i was totally bald like you. hmmmmm….
tony
p.s. perry has some pretty radical thoughts to share on “fellow-hip” or whatever that topic is supposed to be. it should be interesting to hear how rick and the crowd react. (have i mentioned lately how much i love working for perry?)
tony
Will the sessions be available on DVD or online?
and be sure to ask Perry if he thinks he could take Mark Driscoll in a fight. I actually really want to know the answer to that question.
Troy Gramling (Speaking on Preaching) is the Lead Pastor at my church. You can check him out at his personal blog. He also did My Naked Pastor and ivescrewedup.com.
My prayers will go with you.
Your sphere of influence here is immense.
Please ask Kerry Shook if he is naturally bald, or does he shave his head.
And if he is considering a comb over, please remind him that loving wives have left their husbands for this reason alone.
What an awesome opportunity! Wow!
I’d like to hear more about Perry’s thoughts on fellowship too.
thats so incredibly cool. maybe one day everyone in the world will read my blog and rick warren will email me!
orrr maybe not =]
Way to go Carlos! Ask Perry Noble when he plans on opening the Newspring Knoxville Campus. Ok probably never, but I can always hope!
Hey Los! Wow! Very exciting! I’m jealous that you get a chance to interact with Tim Keller. His passion for the church in the city and what they’ve got going on in NYC is incredible. He was the one who first introduced me to the thought of “if the church left the city, would the city notice?” concept…anyway, I want a first hand report of any time spent with him when you get back. Have fun!
McLean Bible Church is the closest thing I had ever experienced to North Point (7:22, to be precise) when I moved to Atlanta. They had the most kickin’ singles group around when I was just hitting my 20’s. Lon Solomon was raised Jewish, and he used to have these little one-minute spots on the radio in the 90’s that my mother actually liked. MY MOTHER!! I KNOW!! Anyway, he’s funny, insightful, and he’s still the only Christian name I would be able to mention to my mom that would raise her respect…
Wow Carlos. That… is… awesome.
Can’t wait for the reports.
My question is: can my Twitter take it?
Could you ask why they misspelled our last name? There’s 2 t’s in Surratt.
Lon Solomon = AMAZING.
Wow, that is quite a line up, you may really see a verbal fist fight.
Tim Keller is a great thinker. Mark Batterson is one of my favorites. Perry Nobel has the second best blog on the web
Stoval Weems is a dear friend of Dino’s and from baton rouge, so he’s a cool guy. Mark Driscoll is a smart butt who’s really smart. I don’t know any of the other guys.
I say ask them what they are doing to motivate their churches to help Orphans, address the AIDS crisis in Africa and what are their churches doing to encourage Fair Trade purchasing.
Yea, I know..
I just ate a second dessert b/c I am so flippin’ sinfully jealous! That is truly awesome. What tremendous influence Warren has. I will be praying for all of you. Ask Batterson and Driscoll ways they suggest young ministers protect their families and their purity. I expect your world to be rocked – yet again! God obviously expects tons from you!
Oh wait, I just saw Larry Stockstill on the list! He’s such a great man. We love him here in Baton Rouge.
you’ll be so close! are you going to have time to come visit? i miss you guys.
Congrats on the invite. However, I wonder how “stealthy” a conference is when there are 1000 invitees.
Kent
Los,
I also got an invitation and will be there. Would love to take you to dinner one night with my lead pastor and talk shop for a few. Let me know. Hit me up on twitter (@cadillaczak) or on e-mail: zak AT zakwhite DOT com
Why didn’t he invite Andy Stanley?
Ask Tim Keller why he charges to download his sermons.
thats a huge gig man. (im a little offended they don’t have a creative panel for all the above) not really. kinda.
what concerns me the most is being relevant but not for fitting being biblical. Each one of those topics may or may not hit on that but getting so culturally driven (and not keeping the temptation that it sometimes trumps the Gospel in mind is a dangerous thing) how do they foresee the church protecting its “posts” from that over the next 5-10 years?
may be too vague, but I know Beesen (GCC) and Driscoll (Mars) do things very different but both see growth and fruit from their ministries. Just looking for balance, thats all.
los
Great opportunity…congrats…I’m looking forward to reading your posts.
coming from a Seattle guy (that is not on staff at MH with Driscoll)…I think Mark Driscoll is a stud. Great guy…I love what he’s doing. I really like his boldness…I think that’s what the Seattle culture embraces in his is that he calls it like it is…and continues to be relevant and in touch with reality. Great guy.
Have fun man.
LL
My question is for Los. Need an assistant? Note taker? Video editor?
Have fun dude. Looking forward to the posts. There’s a couple names on there I’d love to just sit down for lunch and hang out with. Not sure what all I’d ask em yet though.
sweet. congrats. warren gets it.
Just one question for Greg Surrat. Why and how is he such a stud?
However, you may want to join the “Short-tie society” to look a tad more professional before you go > theworstblogger.com
it has nothing to do with this post, but I can’t see what the lime green words say…am I lime green blind or is it pure torture?…u can delete this comment…
I would like to ask Los Whittaker – Where can we have a get together for fellow Ragamuffin followers in California, keeping in mind off course that AI finals are this week !
Welcome to California and my church!
I’ll be there too!!! He asked all staff to attend! So I’ll see you on my turf this time.
Oh… Rick Warren would totally pimp ragamuffin and yeidy is so cool!! I would try for a Rick square pimping… see if you can get Warren and Muchow at the same time.
wear something pink and see if Driscoll says you look chickified!!! actually your tatoos will probably neutralize any notions of that !
Wow, what a great opportunity for you to merge blogging with mainstream Believers… I think you will also represent us “bald, Believing, bloggers” like myself (hey that’s kind of catchy, the BBB group).
For all you jealous types, join us in Reston, Virginia this Thursday!
Some of the speakers Los will see this weekend will be there at the Whiteboard Sessions. (aka WIBO)
http://thewhiteboardsessions.com/pages/page.asp?page_id=25542
Mark Beeson is the pastor of the church I attend. Amazing energy, great vision caster, willing to let other people use their talents to serve the body of Christ instead of controlling everything. Have a great time and can’t wait to hear about it via blog & twitter.
I used to attend The Rock church occasionally when I lived in San Diego, and I would love to ask Miles McPherson how God called him to become a pastor after playing in the NFL. I always love to hear about the journey God takes us on that leads to somewhere we never thought we’d be.
Los,
You need to ask Lon Solomon if he will start a blog and twitter and get his team to as well. I’m working at the base level, you work at the top. The most personal contact I’ve gotten with him is when walking into church and he walked out and told us we had a beautiful family.
Excited to follow along your journaling of the event!
steve stroope is the man. if you get a chance to talk to him please say hi. he was a great pastor to chris and me when we were at lake pointe. i love his family.
i stick with the question about the women in leadership missing, but then i remembered how SBC this roster feels to me.
such is life.
Wow. That pretty much covers it, doesn’t it? Jentezen Franklin and Mark Driscoll. Ha.
I don’t know a lot of those pastors, but I’m sure that’s going to be a pretty awesome event. Can’t wait to read your take on it. What an honor!!
Dude, where are the women speakers?
Wow, just to think that Rick Warren knows your number. That’s ridiculous.
I’ll be waiting and reading for updates.
http://www.vagabondrunn.wordpress.com
wow! that’s awesome.
My question is this…
are you supposed to look like the rock in your cartoon?
Speaker lineup looks like a sausage fest.
Ask Miles McPherson if he still thinks the mega crusade outreach model is still relevant.
Upon reviewing the list there are several I know about and have met. Gotta wonder why, giving the diverse topics / themes, Rick Warren has not included even one woman in the line up… Seriously clueless here, but seriously inquiring.
This is awesome!
Hey, not sure if you’re still taking questions, but might as well hope so.
For Driscoll: “How come you wear so many ripped jeans?”
For Keller: “Seriously, how did you become so cool and how do can i be like that?”
broalmanone.com