I had the chance to observe and interview various members on staff at Mosaic in Los Angeles, CA, lead by a well-known author and Christian leader Erwin McManus.  They're a prominent young church with an amazing story.  They've done a phenomenal job of renewing a declining anglo congregation and are now connecting with the diverse community of 20-30 something's (a group that seems currently turned off by Christianity).  I hope to post more formal reflections later. 

Scot McKnight's article, Future or Fad? A look at the Emerging Church Movement provides a helpful overview of what's going on with it as of Feb 2006.  My main comment is on the hyper-femininity of the guy on the cover of the article.    If that's what being Emerging means, count me out.  I can't believe that was the picture that was chosen for the cover of the Companion.  Now I'm all for being in touch with my feminine side, and would be the first to tell you that it takes a real man to sing like a girl (i.e. some of my favorite bands do: Mars Volta, Coheed and Cambria, and Led Zep) or cry in church (which I've done too much, ask my wife) and that there is need for balancing the tendencies towards hyper-masculinity, sexism, grunting, and any other negative male stereotype you can think of propogated within the church.  But come on, does the poster child for everything emerging have to be some guy high on incense questioning his own sexual preference?  I'm all for being in love with our Savior, but I'm quite confident that when I meet him (as the judge, jury, and executioner of my soul), I'll probably be facedown in tears humbled by my own inadequacies, not drifting off into space, with visions of sugar plums dancing in my head.  If a picture's worth a thousand words, then there's volumes left to be written to overcome this image.  At this time in the life of the church, with soldiers on the battle field, and the church in the Silicon Valley getting it's head handed to it, it's images of courage, strength, struggle and conviction that ought to matter most.  That's real devotion, and dare I say the type of worship I hope to see emerging more in the future.