Over Superbowl weekend, I was able to visit two area churches: Crossroads Church and St. Anne's Episcopal Church. Visiting churches of various backgrounds and philosophies has long been one of my favorite hobbies. I love to study the church and am interested in learning first hand the variances, great and small, between churches, great or small.

I attended Crossroads Church at their 5 p.m. Saturday evening service. Admittedly, the service was different than a usual weekend service at Crossroads, because it was their Superbowl Weekend Event. This was their 6th year of hosting the Superbowl of Preaching (a parody that combined both the football game and snipets of 'preaching').

In terms of entertainment and technology, Crossroads blew Willowcreek out of the water. Their auditorium rivals none. Three levels stacked on top of each other on three sides of a square place the people right on top of the stage. The lights and music will leave you astounded by their up-to-date technology. Their video production, including the use of ESPN analyst Solomon Wilcots, remained among the best I have seen.

In terms of the gospel and theological depth, Crossroads leaves a vacuum as wide as the Grand Canyon. Though wowed incessantly by the technology and production, I stood appalled at their blatant disregard for the gospel. They meet with people on their terms and admit that, "We both believe that Jesus was a great teacher," yet they failed to take Him any further. They admit that there are things about Jesus that are 'difficult' for humans to accept. Yet, they define them as 'his commands for us to love each other unconditionally' not the cross to which humans must submit themselves as sinners.

At the other end of the spectrum, the following morning I visited St. Anne's Episcopal Church's 8 a.m. service. There were two reasons why I wanted to visit this church. First, I knew little about this particular denomination, other than the liberalism that has swept across it. Second, the church at which I am currently serving holds football events with them in order to share the gospel.

Unlike Crossroads with its inviting and warming atmostphere, St. Anne's remains the last place you would want to go if you desire to be served at hand and foot. The entire ceremony, which resembles a Catholic service, consists of liturgical prayers, synchronized chants, a homily, and the Holy Communion. As a first-time visitor, I remained lost for the majority of the service.

Of course, my first desire was to know where they stood concerning the gospel. My question was quickly answered after the rector (their 'pastor') absolved all of our sins at about the half-hour mark.

It is always an interesting experience to visit other churches. There is some good and some bad that you take away. The good keeps you fresh and the bad keeps you aware. If one thing needs to be true in the churches that I am or will be a part of, it is the clear message of the biblical gospel.