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So now I sit at a window seat of the second floor of the Raleigh Morning Times - an incredible coffee shop in downtown Raleigh. We've been here for 2 days, and already it's been great.

Our first contact was a group of guys from Vintage 21 church (yes the church that did those famous Jesus videos on YouTube - check 'em out). We've been staying with Jared Mercer, Director of Social Justice Efforts at the church.

The church is self-described as "Biblically conservative and culturally liberal." The name comes from "Vintage faith for the 21st century. Basically they strongly believe in opening the doors of their church to the community - artists, musicians, friends, seekers and doubters - regardless of they are members or if they are even believers. What a revolutionary thought - a church with an open-door policy, and people focused on loving and serving their community by being entrenched and active in it. All this without compromising scripture for the social gospel or something.

So we stayed with a group of 4 guys from Vintage in their 19th century downtown Raleigh house - looks like all the old houses in the "Historic" Adams District around USC. Felt right at home.

The screening at Vintage last night was great - incredible people. New faces....and old. We had a great chance to hang out with my good friend Kevin Kirkland from Fallbrook, who now lives in Raleigh with his wife. He took us out to an incredible lunch, came to the screening and then did pizza with us after. His wife is gone on business, so we have plans to spend more time together. When the cats away...

Oh and Raleigh is even warmer then Norfolk. There are buds on the trees and we have to use the A/C from time to time. Praise the Lord.