Here's the first billboard for the church. The idea for the billboards is to get people to think or laugh or both. The next one will be funny, but this one is for thinking.
I have received a few "anonymous" comments to this blog since starting it over 6 months ago. Usually, they are read and ignored because I feel that if someone isn't willing to own up to what they have to say, then it must not be very important. However, I received one today and decided to answer one of his/her questions. When I worked at Hewlett Packard, we would have occasional "coffee talks". These were large meetings of an organization where some planned topics would be discussed before the leader of the meeting would often ask, "what rumors have you heard that I can refute or validate?" So, in that spirit of openness, I will attempt to answer one of these questions. "Is the Church in Trouble? " This depends. I capitalized the word, Church, as the question was written. So, I will give two answers: one for the global Church and the other for the local church (Central Community). The global Church. If being "in trouble" means that ...
Actually, this quote was from a few weeks ago: "I didn't know you were a pastor. I just thought you were someone being nice." The woman who said it is genuinely kind - and I know she meant it in the very best way. The situation to which she referred concerned a pastor who helped her on her first Sunday get her kids to their Sunday School Classes. However, it got me thinking. Expectations of a pastor can be low. We're too busy to care. Or, in a more fair fashion, we have a lot on our plates and can't be bothered with something that the volunteers should be doing. Especially, on Sunday morning. Being nice - even in church - is an anomaly to some. Lord, help us (all of us) to never be too busy to act in mercy and grace. Fill us with a desire - indeed, a passion - to help. What do you think?
Spent a few days in Northern Indiana for the Innovate Conference. It's the first step in an opportunity God has provided to me to be a part of Granger's Executive Pastor Coaching Network. I'll be going there several times over the next 9 or so months to learn, think, grow, and be challenged as I seek to be the best I can be in the calling of God. At Innovate, I observed the following (some new, some old lessons): Every morning, my feet must hit the ground running toward Christ, His calling, and purpose (personally and professionally) - and away from self! Each day I must review the mission, purpose, and vision for myself - and the church. This implies, of course, that these exist for myself and the church. Within that framework, my day must be so ordered. Task cannot always trump people. My personal holiness impacts me, my family, and the church. I should care more for the effectiveness of what we do than whether we make mistakes or complaints are generated. Jesus should...
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