Bashing.

August 11, 2011 in Church, Insights with Comments Off

It’s not popular to list “making fun of other churches” on a hobby list for a pastor. It just isn’t good PR. Yet, earlier this week I saw a couple videos that made me cringe. Super trendy churches mocking little country churches by describing how their trendy-ness made others uncomfortable. Bashing someone for bashing you.

Don’t get me wrong. I’ve been frustrated with small churches, big churches, traditional churches, and trendy churches. I’ve shook my head and assumed I was better than them because we were smaller, bigger, inter-generational, more missions-focused, or because we had more (and sometimes less) money.

Why do we do this? Why do we assume we are “the” way God wants Christians to be the church? Most likely we do it because we feel we need to “defend” our church or our methods of reaching people. But what if we decided to stop throwing rocks at each other, and started working together? What if we simply acknowledged that all styles of church have positive ways of reaching the lost?

What is one thing your church does really well? What demographic or group of people does your church minister to really well?

Image Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net / xedos4

Annoying.

August 8, 2011 in Insights with Comments Off

Who have you met who drove you crazy? You know, the one who annoys the crap out of you; the person who you can’t stand to be around. Here’s the problem I faced the other day. I was frustrated because of some annoying individual, and then, BOOM! God convicted me. He turned the tables, and I began to examine my own life.

I get annoyed by people who are self-centered, because I, too, am self-centered. I get annoyed by hyper-critical individuals because I’m hyper-critical. I find arrogance, negativity, and pettiness annoying. Yet I can be all of those things myself. When I get annoyed with someone it’s normally I who exhibit those traits.

Obviously we should be living a little more graciously, but here’s what I’ve started doing. When someone annoys me, I ask myself if there is anyone I should apologize to for acting the same way. I’ve learned to cut people some slack, since none of us are perfect. Plus, I’ve cleared the air with several others. I would challenge you to do the same today. Whenever you’re annoyed, ask yourself who you’ve annoyed in the same way.

What is the most annoying trait in others? Do you think you exhibit it also?

Image Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net / m_bartosch

Crowded.

August 5, 2011 in Family, Insights with Comments Off

Today our family left. For the last seven days we’ve had 8 family members visiting with us. Needless to say, our 1000 square foot house was a little overwhelmed. I’ll be honest, at first I was a little nervous about how small our house was, a little embarrassed. I wish I had an impressive house with groundskeepers, full time chef, and at least a butler or two. But I don’t. We have one bathroom, and a couple bedrooms. No atrium, or lobby, or grandiose staircase.

I know it was wrong for me to wish I was more impressive to my inlaws. I know I should be grateful that I’ve got a place to live, let alone enough space for everyone to stay here. Yet, I wanted them to know that I was doing everything to take care of Bethany. But as I thought more and more about it, I love my home, and I love the message that I hope it teaches my nieces and nephews.

I hope our small living quarters teaches them about living simply. I hope the area we live in teaches them that they can feel safe wherever they live. I hope our house teaches them to live below their means. I hope cramming 10 people into 1000 square feet teaches them that being able to spend time with them is more important than comfort. I hope our lives teach them what it means to have fun while following Jesus.

If I were to come visit, what would you hope your home would say about you?

Image Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net / Photostock

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