I got a chance to sit with Earl Creps in his new “office” in Berkeley.  The first thing I had to get over was my temptation to covet.  I know many church planters have their “offices” in coffee shops and cafe’s, but just walking up to Caffe Strada, on a sunny Friday afternoon made me think he’s got the best “office” of any church planter in the country.

We had  a great conversation about Berkeley and the challenges of re-presenting Jesus in and to this people group.  I asked what he had discovered to be the biggest hurdle in getting people to be open to the gospel, there was a short awkward pause and then he said simply, “Christians.”  Sadly, many of us have come to understand this one word sentiment all too well.  Then he said something rather profound that I am still pondering,  “We need to let go of the idea that we have come here to fix them and instead let them fix us.”

I wonder what the church in America might look like in 1o years if everyone who claims Jesus name was willing to live Jesus calling like Earl and Janet?