Back in the Saddleback!!!
Wow… returned to Saddleback on Thursday (October 18). Not to sit in the back of the room and discreetly take notes, but to sit on stage and answer questions.
It was–to put it mildly–an honor.
As you may know, Jim and I met with a few folks from Saddleback in September. Well, we had such a lovely time that Clayton Coates–pastor of EPIC at Saddleback (http://www.saddlebackfamily.com/epic/default.asp)–asked if I would mind coming up to speak to his group of about 100. And would I bring Jason, too…
So, Jason (my friend and the pastor whose home church I attended for the book) and I went to Saddleback.
There were more than a few Jim & Casper friends and fans in the house, and I got to talk with many of them face to face, which I always enjoy as so much of how we really communicate is done with our expressions and body language.
We talked about the book (of course), what it means to be an atheist (and what I consider to be the difference between my relatively agenda-less atheism and the “anti-theism” practiced by Hitchens, et al.), and–best of all–how to step outside your belief system and be friends with anyone you choose.
It went swimmingly. And Clayton wants to continue this and have another “Jim & Casper” night soon.
I look forward to it!
Matt Casper
Comment by: Clayton
1 10/23/07 11:27 PM | Comment Link |Matt and Jason,
What a great time we had at EPIC last Thursday night. It was great to see how open and accepting the EPIC crowd was of you and what you had to say. You were real with them and they respected that. I think you liked getting to know them as well. I think one interesting piece that I observed was the difference between observation and participation. Your first visit was observation, this visit you were participating. You had a vested interested in the topic or “object” of focus. It will be great to see where our conversations go and how EPIC’s relationship with you continues to grow over the weeks and months ahead. You are a great man and you are welcome in my house and in our church. God bless- Clayton
Comment by: Helen
2 10/24/07 1:31 PM | Comment Link |Clayton, thanks for your comment! I’m glad the EPIC meeting with Matt and Jason went so well.