Steve Havey's Introduction of Jesus...

This is....AWESOME!

Fighting Christian Temptation

I'm not even sure how to start this post but to say that I fight this temptation everyday is a profound understatement. It's the temptation to have the "right" answer or seem to have it all together. If there is one thing that drives me crazy it's the Christian who has an answer for everything. They are never without a comment, they have the latest corner marketed on doing church, everyone wants their advice, and the list goes on. I think the real reason I have a problem with people like this is because I find myself trying to be that person. I mean why not, I've been doing ministry for 15 years and not just that but I've done it well and big leading a youth ministry of over 800 students. Why shouldn't I have all the answers? Yet His word, which I have stuck in my head and heart says, "God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble." I am finding that one thing rings true in my life, that experience can leverage much influence with the opportunity to give answers to other ministry leaders, business folks and the like, but grace and humility, while the tougher road to haul, bring meaning to life and ultimately make me a better follower. And when the rubber meets the road, that is really what I want and long to be...a better follower, not a better answer giver. What did Paul say after giving all of his accolades, being one who adhered to the law, knowing the scriptures like no one else, a scholar, and an over all popular guy? He counted it....rubbish.

All of it, rubbish, compared to knowing Christ. The more I am aware of Him and my great need, the more I realize my answers pale in comparison to just knowing Christ. I don't want to have all the answers, I just want to have Christ. I pray for more of Him and less of me. That will be all the answer others need.

The church should go green and save some trees

If I could have a nickel for every time I've had the conversation that goes something like this:

church goer: when did we start doing 'xyz' ministry

me: 4 weeks ago...we've had it in the bulletin for 6 weeks

church goer: Wow, how did I miss that

and then I hit them on the forehead and say "you could of had a v8". ok, not really but occasionally I've wanted to slap a few people before...just being honest.

I'll admit, this post isn't of the spiritual variety but more practical. But I have to say each day I'm learning something new about God and myself in this new season of church planting and it is awesome and I promise to blog about it soon. So back to the church becoming a tree huger.

The church bulletin has gone through many face lifts from it's early days of a box of 500 preprint with a nice picture of the cross on the front so someone could print some notes on the inside all the way to some graphic savy intense catcher that doubles as an invite card.

Our church has made the decision to say good bye to the bulletin and embrace the digital era through online database, social media like facebook and twitter and yes we are still doing the throw back email to. So after 10 weeks what have people in our church been saying about not getting a bulletin? Nothing, not a peep. Nobody really misses it and yet we are still communicating and getting information out. Of course it can and does get lost in translation sometimes, that's just human, but we are finding success in doing it a new way. What about your church? Still doing a bulletin? How effective are you finding it? Maybe it's time to save some trees.