I'm a vain man.

I was created to image God--his holiness, wisdom, and love. But there's something deep inside me that continually wants to parade my glory and wants for others to see my glory. It's an automatic impulse, like a dog that can't help but return to its vomit.

What's astonishing is, every time that I return to my vomit, God's Spirit again convicts me and mercifully calls me back. He is so faithful! I wish all the world would know how faithful he is. (World, come and see our merciful Lord. Treasure here!)

Given this battle inside of me, I have trouble with ministries that are built on "chasing cool." I say that not because I know that cool looking ministries are chasing cool, but because I know that if I were them I would be.

So here's my response to you, Matt. I assume that some guys in ministry are chasing cool. And they should stop. Jesus doesn't need cool. He wants faithfulness and faith, which is another way of saying that he blesses the humble. Chasers of cool, please, stop.

On the other hand, I don't think that all the guys who look cool are chasing cool. I think they're just dressing in the style of our generation. The dirty jeans and the untucked shirts that have a "cool look" to the Lands End generation are simply what they sell in the stores. That's what's on the rack so we buy them.

Bottom line: the chasers of cool should stop it. But if you count yourself among the uncool, I think we need to give the cool the benefit of the doubt and assume they're just being themselves and loving Jesus. Cool?