Great quote

I read this quote in some store I was in today — but it really made me think, actually I am still thinking about it.

“Life is not about finding yourself; life is about creating yourself.”

What does this mean for you?

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Mind struggles…

I have had some mind struggles lately with the way of doing church, and I’d love some feedback and insight.

We’re moving into a time of churches pulling out all stops to be a place for the unsaved to come to. We spend money on lights, staging, sound equipment, video equipment, props, top worship leaders, children’s ministry resources, etc. Lots of money. We see Sunday mornings as an opportunity to reach the “lost” or “unsaved.” Some say that Sunday morning worship isn’t necessarily even a time for those who are already Christ followers, it is the front door for the ones who aren’t. We need to do the “right” things, make the “right” impression, and share the greatest message there is.

 I get this. I am not a traditionalist at all. I am right there with the North Point way of thinking, the Hillsong worship, and the environments. My struggle is here: are we supposed to wait for those to come to us, or has Christ called us to go into the world?

I understand why the church has taken this turn to be a place for the unsaved to come to – and why we place so much emphasis to getting them there and with what we do with them once they are there — society has dealt us the cards of big, loud, attention getting, entertaining, etc. Our brains are even wired differently today for these types of things in learning as opposed to generations ago. We need to use these tools to spread the message we know – but have we forsaken going into the community and to the people with the message we have?

What social issues does the church take stand in? What do we do as a church to reach the truly poor, the sick, the needy, the lost? What do we do with the families in the neighborhood that deal with gang violence and illiteracy? Do we really think they are going to come into the door of our church on a Sunday morning? Just like in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (educational jargon) people have to know their physical and safety needs are met before they ever can enter into a sense of belonging, morality, or even a spiritual relationship.  

What can we do as a church, as a Children’s ministry to reach these social needs of our famlies, of the communities? What do you think about all this I have spewed above? I’d love to start some conversation…

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I think I may be back, but in a new way…

Does anyone still read this old dusty volume of creative work? My stats tell me I do stil have faithful readers, although for what reason? i don’t know!

I’ve been busy and restless. Busy with the family and restless with life. So, as I process and sort through some things in my view at the moment, I will try to journal the lessons learned here. If you are professional reader i.e. children;s minister – this blog may show more of the side of my family and personal life. If you are a friend or family – this blog may have snippets of ministry tossed in. Who knows!

 Anyways, we’ve been through a lot in the past month – our precious baby boy hospitalized and in surgey with a yucky infection, a vacation to FL to see family and Mickey Mouse, the moving of God in our present and possibly future, introduction of new friendships, revival of old, birthday parties, additional jobs, holidays, and the joy of our boys, although relizing time passes way too quckly.

I am ready to blog again, to sort through my thoughts. It may not be as frequent as it once was, but I’ll be here!

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