Listen to the part about metrics.  What does YOUR church measure?  (and why?)

Todd

(Thanks to Cynthia Ware for the post!)

How many of the people at your church just think heaven WILL look like your Sunday morning?

I know, I know... we can't even imagine what heaven will be like.  But don't most of us, at least on the surface, think it will be just like what we want it to be?

People who love traditional worship dream of a great organ (maybe with golden pipes or something).  They think heaven will be a Lawrence Welk type worship extravaganza.

People who love contemporary worship dream of the ultimate worship band and experience.  Like maybe all the Rolling Stones will get saved on their deathbed and be the headliners or something.

Preachers dream that heaven will be filled with great sermons (mostly made by themselves) and that people will actually stay awake and listen.

Kids think that heaven will somehow be made of candy, puppy dogs, and ice cream.

If heartfelt worship and a real encounter with Jesus is what people are thinking heaven will be like, that's awesome.

If music and goodies are what people are envisioning when they think of heaven, then we're not doing a very good job of explaining things while we're here on earth.

So... when you think of heaven, what do YOU think of first?

Todd

You can read Seth's post here.

So... what do YOU do with your cognitive surplus?

Todd

William is working with my friends Tony and Carlos to provide a valuable service to churches all across the country looking for key leaders. 

As William puts it, searching for your next key leader is serious business... as serious as an organ transplant.  "Transplants are critical enough to warrant help. If the operation goes well, your ministry will find a new level of life. If the operation is rushed, goes poorly, or ends in rejection, things can get downright unpleasant."

An outside perspective brings a new set of eyes and ears to the table.  That outside, objective input allows you to determine what kind of person you really need to hire rather than the type of person you THINK you need to hire.

William has some pretty impressive letters of recommendation as well.  You should check them out.

Here's the website for Vanderbloemen Search Group.

Todd

According to a CNN article:

Wallis says Beck perverted Jesus' message when he urged Christians last week to leave churches that preach social and economic justice.

Wallis says at least 20,000 people have already responded to his call to boycott Beck. He says Beck is confusing his personal philosophy with the Bible.

"He wants us to leave our churches, but we should leave him," Wallis says of Beck. "When your political philosophy is to consistently favor the rich over the poor, you don't want to hear about economic justice."

Wallis says he wants to go on Beck's show to challenge the contention that churches shouldn't preach economic and social justice.

Social and economic justice is at the heart of Jesus' message, Wallis says.

"He's afraid of being challenged on his silly caricatures," Wallis says. "Glenn Beck talks a lot when he doesn't have someone to dialogue with. Is he willing to talk with someone who he doesn't agree with?"

I love the line that Glenn Beck talks a lot when he doesn't have someone to dialogue with.  Don't we all.  Don't we all.

What do you think about Beck, Wallis, and this new boycott?

Todd

Here's the article

I realize this is just one sentence from a larger conversation Jerry Jr. had with USA Today (talking about social justice).  In the interview Jerry also said this:

Pastors that preach economic and social justice are "are trying to twist the gospel to say the gospel supported socialism... Jesus taught that we should give to the poor and support widows, but he never said that we should elect a government that would take money from our neighbor's hand and give it to the poor."

What do you think?  If we all did as Jesus did when he helped the poor, we wouldn't need the government.  True or untrue?

If it's true... why aren't churches stepping up to do this?

I just left an elder's prayer meeting this morning where we 'prayed' for people who needed work and money to make ends meet.  But, to be honest, we'll never do more (or at least we haven't in most cases in the past).  That's a matter of personal responsibility and the unemployment system (government), right?  (insert sarcastic tone here).

You see, I think it's one thing to say that we wouldn't need the government if we acted like Jesus.  It's totally another thing to act like Jesus.

Thoughts?

Todd

You can read more here.

EMBED-The Goat Bag Pipes - Watch more free videos

Check out this reporter. Evidently he gets a little frustrated when his words don't come out right. I'm wondering if any of you have ever lost your cool while preaching. Gotten ticked. Lost control. Thrown something. I'd love to hear about YOUR technical difficulties below!

I'd love to hear about YOUR technical difficulties below!