User:Rockhopper
From Neoredemptive
Hey everyone!
For the sake of convenience, and to hopefully build up some type of community-based familiarity, I'll introduce myself. My name is Travis Jarrett. Officially, Reverend Travis Jarrett, as I am a licensed and ordained minister of the Gospel. Feel free to call me what you like, but most people just refer to me as Travis. Or Jarrett. Or some mis-pronounced combination of the two. Kids at church call me Pastor T. I have one time been known as Charles (the story behind that, while interesting, is best suited for another place and time.)
My education is firmly centered around theology/pastoral studies and music. Much of my time is spent trying to keep those two lines of interest a good distance from each other, but occasionally they cross (a supernatural encounter where revelation meets inspiration that we often refer to as worship - and I don't mean the latest chart-topping single from the most recent compilation cd offerng - but that's a rant for a different page.)
I am the lead pastor of NewSong Community Church in Westford, MA.
In my off time, I operate a small project recording studio that occasionally produces something worth listening to, but mainly serves to indulge my eclectic musical tastes and doodles.
I love crazy churches - the kind that make people scratch their heads and wonder, "Are they doing that right?" I especially love culture-shaping churches: when a church finally sets aside the stereotypical template of what a church is "supposed to be" and gets down to the dirty business of achieving its God-breathed mission: bringing redemption to the planet through Jesus Christ. By all means. Through every avenue. This mission is primarily based on reconciling to God a portion of creation known as humans, but what about humanity's derivative works and accomplishments? What about the rest of creation? What about the brokeness of the world? Doesn't redemption mean more than "Christian"?
Redemption is a bit of a deep subject - and better minds than mine have given more time, energy and thought to the subject - but as a participant in it, I feel my opinions and experiences on the work of redemption should have some interest to someone. My friend Adam and I have spent too many late nights discussing the paradox of being human while experiencing the divine, the process of "becoming", and the subjects of restoration, redemption, and reconciliation as they pertain to our spirituality for those thoughts to stay with us, so we share them with you. Hopefully, at some point you'll scratch your head and wonder, "Are they doing that right?"
Anyway, more on that can be read throughout our wiki.
In the meantime, if you feel like understanding a bit more of what makes me tick, here you go:
Playing on the iPod:
Viva La Vida - Coldplay
Fee - Steve Fee
Remedy - David Crowder Band
Books I'm Reading
Fusion - Nelson Searcy
Crazy Love - Francis Chan
Wide Awake - Erwin McManus
The Next Generation Leader - Andy Stanley
Books For Fun
A Field Guide to Evangelicals - Joel Kilpatrick
Lord, Save Us from Your Followers - Dan Merchant
