Have you seen the TV drama “My Own Worst Enemy? Even if you haven’t seen it yet I am sure you get the idea just from the title.
I don’t know about you…but I cause myself more problems than any body else. Perhaps you have heard the expression, “open mouth, insert foot”. Well that’s not just a problem with George W. Bush.
The Bible is very clear about our responsibility for our thought life. The book of Ephesians chapter 4 and 5 explains the war that is going on inside each of us. It is a war between the old self,( self is the boss) the nature we were born with and the new self, ( love is the boss)the nature God gives us at the time of our spiritual birth. This war takes place in our mind, and specifically our attitude. One of the amazing things about attitude is that no one can take your attitude away from you. No matter what the circumstance of life, you get to choose your attitude.
Your attitude is your responsibility and God’s word makes it clear that we will be held accountable for our attitude. In 2 Corinthians 10:5 we read that we are to”… demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”. ( act only from a position of love)
We become what we believe. We behave in accordance with what we believe. If we want to be different we must believe different, and that process begins with our thought life and the discipline of our attitude to make sure every thought aligns with how Christ would think. The reason Jesus Christ is our highest example is because he never thought or did anything that was not from a position of love. This is the basis of the famous Sermon On the Mount in the book of Matthew.
Our actions and attitudes will be a direct reflection of what we feed our minds. If we feed our minds God’s word and discipline our attitude to conform to that word we will behave accordingly. If we feed on the words of the world’s system, we can not help but reflect that system in our attitudes and action. We are what we feed our mind.
This story says it all.
An old Cherokee chief is teaching his grandson about life:
"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.
"One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt, and ego.
"The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope,
serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.
"This same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"
The old chief simply replied, "The one you feed."
Which nature do you feed the most? The nature of self,me mine,my way OR the nature of love,others,generosity,you first.
Until we each learn to function from a position of love in our beliefs, thoughts and actions, the world will continue to be at war, neighbours will continue to fight, marriages will continue to fall apart.
What kind of world are you contributing too?
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
WHY YOU ARE THE WAY YOU ARE
Based the principles found in the bible, I wrote the following statement;
“You become what you believe. Change what you believe and you change what you become”.
Neither you nor I can act differently that what we believe deep inside of us. The bible calls that place of belief, the “heart”. If you want to behave differently you must change the source of your belief and that means you must change your heart.
Here is the problem we face: how do you change your heart? How can you be sure that you do not just change one defective set of beliefs for another? Or simply change one defective heart for another defective heart.
I realize that as a society we seem to have abandoned the notion that there is any moral truth at all. However, I believe the bible is a book about truth. The bible contains the truth about you. The bible is basically God’s story about what He intends to do with this world and with you in particular. God has a very specific plan for you. If you understand that plan and put that plan in your mind, you will be fulfilled, and satisfied. You must put what the bible says about you into your mind and into your heart ,so you can become what God has planned for you to become.
What a sad state of affairs to come to the end of life as we know it and finally realize we have been believing and behaving from a defective set of life principles.
There is an enormous amount of power in our mind, beliefs and thoughts. We would do well to be certain we have the right information in our mind.
Here are some amazing statements about the power that God has planted in your mind. They were written many years ago by a man named James Allen. He uses the term “man” to mean every person male or female.
“As the plant springs from, and could not be without, the seed, so every act of a man springs from the hidden seeds of thought, and could not have appeared without them. This applies equally to those acts called "spontaneous" and "unpremeditated" as to those which are deliberately executed”
“A man's mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind”
“The soul attracts that which it secretly harbors; that which it loves, and also that which it fears.”
“Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are.
“Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results. Bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results”.
“Men imagine that thought can be kept secret, but it cannot. It rapidly crystallizes into habit”
Let me encourage you to take the time to examine what you believe and why you believe what you believe. The key to fulfillment is in your thoughts and beliefs. This is what I believe; it matters what you believe. Your success depends on it!
Check out the pod casts on www.allnationschurch.ca and go to IDENTITY THEFT
“You become what you believe. Change what you believe and you change what you become”.
Neither you nor I can act differently that what we believe deep inside of us. The bible calls that place of belief, the “heart”. If you want to behave differently you must change the source of your belief and that means you must change your heart.
Here is the problem we face: how do you change your heart? How can you be sure that you do not just change one defective set of beliefs for another? Or simply change one defective heart for another defective heart.
I realize that as a society we seem to have abandoned the notion that there is any moral truth at all. However, I believe the bible is a book about truth. The bible contains the truth about you. The bible is basically God’s story about what He intends to do with this world and with you in particular. God has a very specific plan for you. If you understand that plan and put that plan in your mind, you will be fulfilled, and satisfied. You must put what the bible says about you into your mind and into your heart ,so you can become what God has planned for you to become.
What a sad state of affairs to come to the end of life as we know it and finally realize we have been believing and behaving from a defective set of life principles.
There is an enormous amount of power in our mind, beliefs and thoughts. We would do well to be certain we have the right information in our mind.
Here are some amazing statements about the power that God has planted in your mind. They were written many years ago by a man named James Allen. He uses the term “man” to mean every person male or female.
“As the plant springs from, and could not be without, the seed, so every act of a man springs from the hidden seeds of thought, and could not have appeared without them. This applies equally to those acts called "spontaneous" and "unpremeditated" as to those which are deliberately executed”
“A man's mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind”
“The soul attracts that which it secretly harbors; that which it loves, and also that which it fears.”
“Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are.
“Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results. Bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results”.
“Men imagine that thought can be kept secret, but it cannot. It rapidly crystallizes into habit”
Let me encourage you to take the time to examine what you believe and why you believe what you believe. The key to fulfillment is in your thoughts and beliefs. This is what I believe; it matters what you believe. Your success depends on it!
Check out the pod casts on www.allnationschurch.ca and go to IDENTITY THEFT
Monday, October 13, 2008
WILL THE REAL YOU PLEASE STAND UP
I don’t know about you, but I see very little of God in our world today. I see greed, haltered, selfishness, cruelty, emotional pain, rejection, isolation, jealousy, lies, sensuality, careless sex, aborted babies, broken promises, shame, guilt, fear and a host of other behaviours, that if taken together reflect God, I would want no part in Him.
Maybe what really freaks me out is that I see so little of God in my own actions. When I am truly honest with myself my behaviours more often reflect my selfish needs and not the actions of a loving God. I have reached a season in my life where I do not want that to be so any longer.
The key to changing any behaviour is to change what you believe in your heart. You cannot behave any differently from what you believe. Every action is a response to what you truly believe deep down in side of you. James Allen has written, “Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results. Bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results. Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are”.
What would you do if you discovered that many of the things you believe about yourself are not true? They are in fact lies. And for years you have been acting/ behaving from that set of lies and not from the truth. And, (here comes the conspiracy theory) there has been a concerted effort to make sure you never find out the truth about who you were really meant to be. I call this IDENTITY THEFT.
It is so simple. God has a plan and a purpose and a personality just for you. That plan purpose and personality has been hijacked and until the hijackers are exposed you will never find the real you, the you, God intended you to be. Until you discover Gods intentions for you, you will forever be searching in the wrong place. That is why so many people work hard all their lives, get ahead, become successful and eventually come up empty. That is why so many people never learn from their mistakes and repeat the same failures over and over again. They have been deceived, lied to, and are working under false orders.
I believe with all my heart our real personality and purpose has been hijacked. In Psalm 139 David is very clear about the fact that God has a distinct purpose and personality for each of his created children. He says in verse 14 that” We are fear fully and wonderfully made”; made in the very image of God
There is good news. God has made a way for you to discover who he intends you to be. Everything hinges on what you believe and weather what you believe is the truth or a lie. We are all on a journey of self discovery. The path we take may be different. And contrary to current popular thought, all paths do not lead to the same destination.
There is a you, which God intended. You are not a random collection of neurons and microbes and synapses and electrical currents. Most of us have been living out lies, lies that we have embodied as truths. We must replace those lies with the Truth and learn to live each day out of the truth and act from a position of love in our personalities.
God has made it possible for you to behave differently. He gave us Jesus Christ as our example. Every action, every attitude of Jesus Christ was birthed from His understanding of the truth about who he was and his purpose. He behaved consistently out of his beliefs and his beliefs were grounded in love, for he himself was love in human form.
Genuine change in behavior is possible but we must start with a tested, proven reliable source for that change. I believe that reliable source is Jesus.
So here is my IDENTITY THEFT CHALLENGE, start to read about the life story of Jesus. Get an easily readable translation of the bible like The NIV, The Message, or CEV. You will find the translation short forms on the cover. Start in the New Testament section the book called John, then go back and read Matthew, Mark and Luke. One thing you will notice is the incredible consistency with which Jesus behaved. He behaved the same no matter what the circumstance. He also behaved in complete agreement with his source. (You will understand what I mean by the time you have finished the book of John). Getting grounded in understanding the personality and purpose of Jesus is the first step in discovering who you really are.
Next time we will look at the sources of what you believe about yourself. We will examine them and test them in a writing called “Why You are the Way You Are”.
Maybe what really freaks me out is that I see so little of God in my own actions. When I am truly honest with myself my behaviours more often reflect my selfish needs and not the actions of a loving God. I have reached a season in my life where I do not want that to be so any longer.
The key to changing any behaviour is to change what you believe in your heart. You cannot behave any differently from what you believe. Every action is a response to what you truly believe deep down in side of you. James Allen has written, “Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results. Bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results. Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are”.
What would you do if you discovered that many of the things you believe about yourself are not true? They are in fact lies. And for years you have been acting/ behaving from that set of lies and not from the truth. And, (here comes the conspiracy theory) there has been a concerted effort to make sure you never find out the truth about who you were really meant to be. I call this IDENTITY THEFT.
It is so simple. God has a plan and a purpose and a personality just for you. That plan purpose and personality has been hijacked and until the hijackers are exposed you will never find the real you, the you, God intended you to be. Until you discover Gods intentions for you, you will forever be searching in the wrong place. That is why so many people work hard all their lives, get ahead, become successful and eventually come up empty. That is why so many people never learn from their mistakes and repeat the same failures over and over again. They have been deceived, lied to, and are working under false orders.
I believe with all my heart our real personality and purpose has been hijacked. In Psalm 139 David is very clear about the fact that God has a distinct purpose and personality for each of his created children. He says in verse 14 that” We are fear fully and wonderfully made”; made in the very image of God
There is good news. God has made a way for you to discover who he intends you to be. Everything hinges on what you believe and weather what you believe is the truth or a lie. We are all on a journey of self discovery. The path we take may be different. And contrary to current popular thought, all paths do not lead to the same destination.
There is a you, which God intended. You are not a random collection of neurons and microbes and synapses and electrical currents. Most of us have been living out lies, lies that we have embodied as truths. We must replace those lies with the Truth and learn to live each day out of the truth and act from a position of love in our personalities.
God has made it possible for you to behave differently. He gave us Jesus Christ as our example. Every action, every attitude of Jesus Christ was birthed from His understanding of the truth about who he was and his purpose. He behaved consistently out of his beliefs and his beliefs were grounded in love, for he himself was love in human form.
Genuine change in behavior is possible but we must start with a tested, proven reliable source for that change. I believe that reliable source is Jesus.
So here is my IDENTITY THEFT CHALLENGE, start to read about the life story of Jesus. Get an easily readable translation of the bible like The NIV, The Message, or CEV. You will find the translation short forms on the cover. Start in the New Testament section the book called John, then go back and read Matthew, Mark and Luke. One thing you will notice is the incredible consistency with which Jesus behaved. He behaved the same no matter what the circumstance. He also behaved in complete agreement with his source. (You will understand what I mean by the time you have finished the book of John). Getting grounded in understanding the personality and purpose of Jesus is the first step in discovering who you really are.
Next time we will look at the sources of what you believe about yourself. We will examine them and test them in a writing called “Why You are the Way You Are”.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
THE GLOBAL MONEY MELTDOWN
Greed has raised it's ugly head in the USA sub-prime mortgage crisis. What else but greed could have mortgage brokers, bankers and other lending institutions convince naive consumers that they can borrow money they can never hope to repay. Why are consumers so naive? Greed! They want to be naive! They want to believe they can buy that bigger house, car, pool and ATV. And what about the lending institutions who took those worthless mortgages and packaged them up into Real estate Investment Trusts that consumers in the stock markets thought were backed by real solid real estate? Deception, greed, naivete; the worlds monetary system at it's best.
1.8 million homes in default. Over 8 million homes with no or negative equity. Investment Banks falling like house flies. And with the massive 12 trillion dollar devaluation of the housing market, comes a major loss of real estate taxes which impacts every local community.
What follows is more of the truth. You may not want to hear it...but it is the truth!
National and Consumer debt is sucking the life out of our economies. If you want to survive difficult economic times…reduce your debt.
The most current figures I could research about debt are as follows… USA Debt today: $9,789,490,720,019. USA per Person: $32,119. Canada Net Debt 2007: $508,109,000,000. Canada per Person: $15,217
While some economists are telling us that the Canadian economy is strong enough and regulated enough to survive the US monetary meltdown, we will experience the aftershocks of a global economic crisis.
As the USA economy attempts to weather this recent storm of greed and deception in its financial institutions, massive infusions of cash will be needed. While the American government is proposing millions of dollars in bailouts for these institutions (and nothing it seems for the consumer) foreign governments and corporations are coming to the rescue.
According to the latest data, I was able to find, 785 U.S. businesses were acquired by foreign investors for $129 billion this year through August.
A few of the foreign investments now buying up the USA are:
Abu Dhabi's bid to buy 20% of the NASDAQ
Abu Dhabi's $7.5−billion bailout of Citigroup
China's $3−billion purchase of the Blackstone Group
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority's purchase of 9% of U.S. private equity
firm Apollo Management for an undisclosed sum.
While foreign investment is regulated some what here in Canada, Canada and Canadian assets continue to be purchased by foreign interests (Vale INCO as an example).
The Bible is so clear about our obsession with money. It says that "the love of money is the root of all evil." Bigger, better, more, is at the heart of our consumptive society. We must reduce unnecessary consumption, learn contentment and invest in our world rather than make withdrawals from our world. It is imperative that we teach our children how to add value to the world through serving and giving rather than take value from our world through constant consumption.
The values I have just expressed are so counter-cultural...but they are the start of healing our devastated economy and following God's economic principles as outlined in the bible. Do not be in debt. Be generous. Save some. Live off the rest of your money.
While economists debate, we as people must become much more disciplined and directed in our spending. As people we must learn to trust in God as our source of supply and not the world’s monetary system. We could at least, check our Bible as much as we check our stocks.
1.8 million homes in default. Over 8 million homes with no or negative equity. Investment Banks falling like house flies. And with the massive 12 trillion dollar devaluation of the housing market, comes a major loss of real estate taxes which impacts every local community.
What follows is more of the truth. You may not want to hear it...but it is the truth!
National and Consumer debt is sucking the life out of our economies. If you want to survive difficult economic times…reduce your debt.
The most current figures I could research about debt are as follows… USA Debt today: $9,789,490,720,019. USA per Person: $32,119. Canada Net Debt 2007: $508,109,000,000. Canada per Person: $15,217
While some economists are telling us that the Canadian economy is strong enough and regulated enough to survive the US monetary meltdown, we will experience the aftershocks of a global economic crisis.
As the USA economy attempts to weather this recent storm of greed and deception in its financial institutions, massive infusions of cash will be needed. While the American government is proposing millions of dollars in bailouts for these institutions (and nothing it seems for the consumer) foreign governments and corporations are coming to the rescue.
According to the latest data, I was able to find, 785 U.S. businesses were acquired by foreign investors for $129 billion this year through August.
A few of the foreign investments now buying up the USA are:
Abu Dhabi's bid to buy 20% of the NASDAQ
Abu Dhabi's $7.5−billion bailout of Citigroup
China's $3−billion purchase of the Blackstone Group
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority's purchase of 9% of U.S. private equity
firm Apollo Management for an undisclosed sum.
While foreign investment is regulated some what here in Canada, Canada and Canadian assets continue to be purchased by foreign interests (Vale INCO as an example).
The Bible is so clear about our obsession with money. It says that "the love of money is the root of all evil." Bigger, better, more, is at the heart of our consumptive society. We must reduce unnecessary consumption, learn contentment and invest in our world rather than make withdrawals from our world. It is imperative that we teach our children how to add value to the world through serving and giving rather than take value from our world through constant consumption.
The values I have just expressed are so counter-cultural...but they are the start of healing our devastated economy and following God's economic principles as outlined in the bible. Do not be in debt. Be generous. Save some. Live off the rest of your money.
While economists debate, we as people must become much more disciplined and directed in our spending. As people we must learn to trust in God as our source of supply and not the world’s monetary system. We could at least, check our Bible as much as we check our stocks.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
WHO I AM GOING TO VOTE FOR!
Well it's time for another Canadian election. I often get asked who I am going to vote for. As a "kinda" public figure and deeply into religion I have avoided answering that question for years. Today I am coming out of the "secret voter closet." You see, the other week I read an article in the Sudbury Star that quoted the late (and might I say great) Tom Davies answer to this very same question. In essence he encouraged people to vote for the candidate in our community who will be with the party that forms the next government. Now that's different!
Imagine Sudbury with a Federal representative who is actually on the governments side. Just think of the attention( read potential dollars)that our community could receive. Look at what "Wrangling Rick" has done for sudbury since his transformation from scrapping with the government to being able to scrape together millions for this community from the government. Now imagine what we could accomplish if we had both provincial and federal representation.
In my opinion it's time for us to get selfish. That's right! No more ideological voting for me. I have given up on the notion that there is any practical difference in Liberal economics, Conservative economics or NDP economics (if there is such a thing)and may the good Lord help us, Green economics. Show me the money.
I want attention for Sudbury. I want Sudbury to finally, be on the winning side. I want no more excuses for coming in second, or maybe even third in this election. Sudbury needs a federal representative from the governing side.
So who am I going to vote for? Simply put I am going to vote for the candidate from the party most likely to win.
You may ask me, "What party do I think is most likely going to win the election?" My reply,( said kindly and gently, of course) "non of your business".
Imagine Sudbury with a Federal representative who is actually on the governments side. Just think of the attention( read potential dollars)that our community could receive. Look at what "Wrangling Rick" has done for sudbury since his transformation from scrapping with the government to being able to scrape together millions for this community from the government. Now imagine what we could accomplish if we had both provincial and federal representation.
In my opinion it's time for us to get selfish. That's right! No more ideological voting for me. I have given up on the notion that there is any practical difference in Liberal economics, Conservative economics or NDP economics (if there is such a thing)and may the good Lord help us, Green economics. Show me the money.
I want attention for Sudbury. I want Sudbury to finally, be on the winning side. I want no more excuses for coming in second, or maybe even third in this election. Sudbury needs a federal representative from the governing side.
So who am I going to vote for? Simply put I am going to vote for the candidate from the party most likely to win.
You may ask me, "What party do I think is most likely going to win the election?" My reply,( said kindly and gently, of course) "non of your business".
Sunday, August 24, 2008
The Power of Doing "One Thing"
Here is what I have discovered about life. You can only do one thing exceptionally well. People who succeed have an uncanny ability to drill down into their lives and find the "one thing" that will bring them home the "gold".
Most of us have too many irons in the fire. We have too many competing interests. We do too much in too many areas. Successful people bang on only one drum. They bang on it and bang on it and bang on it. They get better, and better and better until they are the best. They will not be deterred or deflected. Nothing gets in the way of the person who has decided that they will give their life entirely for the attainment or achievement of that "one thing".
They do not blame external forces for their failure neither do they give credit to external forces for their sucess.(i.e.luck)"One thing" people are disciplined to the 1/100Th of a second. Every action counts.Every thought is controlled.
Their environment is irrelevant.Their focus comes from a force within a purpose that originates with the Divine Architect. They have a mission and they will achieve that mission at all costs.
To my mind, Jesus The Christ is the great example of a "one thing" kind of guy. His focus, mission and goal was to provide a way for you and I to have an unobstructed, relationship with God our Father. The political machine of his day, the religious system of his day, his own very team (of disciples)and their blunders could not stop Jesus on his mission of sacrificing himself for us so that we would not need to be sacrificed. He made it. He got the 'gold". He stood on the podium of history, on a cross in the centre spot. He died. We get to live.
God has an intention for your life as well. God has a purpose for placing you in the sphere of influence that you are in. He has a mission for you. It is worthy of your life, your effort, your focus. It is worthy of stripping yourself from all unnecessary causes to pursue the "one thing" that will make you spiritually,emotionally and physically successful. You can read about it in bible in the book of Philippians Chapter 3...check out the 13Th verse on the "one thing".
So now it is time to do the inventory. What are the competing interests or loves in your life? What would you be willing to give up....to go up!
Most of us have too many irons in the fire. We have too many competing interests. We do too much in too many areas. Successful people bang on only one drum. They bang on it and bang on it and bang on it. They get better, and better and better until they are the best. They will not be deterred or deflected. Nothing gets in the way of the person who has decided that they will give their life entirely for the attainment or achievement of that "one thing".
They do not blame external forces for their failure neither do they give credit to external forces for their sucess.(i.e.luck)"One thing" people are disciplined to the 1/100Th of a second. Every action counts.Every thought is controlled.
Their environment is irrelevant.Their focus comes from a force within a purpose that originates with the Divine Architect. They have a mission and they will achieve that mission at all costs.
To my mind, Jesus The Christ is the great example of a "one thing" kind of guy. His focus, mission and goal was to provide a way for you and I to have an unobstructed, relationship with God our Father. The political machine of his day, the religious system of his day, his own very team (of disciples)and their blunders could not stop Jesus on his mission of sacrificing himself for us so that we would not need to be sacrificed. He made it. He got the 'gold". He stood on the podium of history, on a cross in the centre spot. He died. We get to live.
God has an intention for your life as well. God has a purpose for placing you in the sphere of influence that you are in. He has a mission for you. It is worthy of your life, your effort, your focus. It is worthy of stripping yourself from all unnecessary causes to pursue the "one thing" that will make you spiritually,emotionally and physically successful. You can read about it in bible in the book of Philippians Chapter 3...check out the 13Th verse on the "one thing".
So now it is time to do the inventory. What are the competing interests or loves in your life? What would you be willing to give up....to go up!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
NOW THAT'S AGRESSIVE,what do you think?
7 Ways We Keep Church Hoppers from Staying
Reposted from Brian Jones.com
I think two of the most dangerous influences any church faces are: (1) Spiritual leaders who have lost their first love and (2) the onslaught of church hoppers. Having wavered before in my faith and flirted with losing my first love with God, I know firsthand how dangerous the first one can be. But that's something we spiritual leaders have control over. The second one...not so much.
I call church hoppers “connoisseurs of fine churches” because they’re continually on a quest to find the church that is spiritual enough for them, will endlessly engorge themselves on the “services” of the churches they attend, and always have a critical word to say afterwards whenever “church” doesn’t meet their standards.
Here are seven things we try to do to keep church hoppers from wearing out their welcome.
#1 Ask church hoppers to commit to tithing and serving in your 101-201-301 classes
That usually takes care of it right there. Because church hoppers are consumers by nature, anything that strikes them as sacrificial will surely turn them off. As a ministry friend of mine used to tell me, “At the first sign of trouble, raise the bar.”
#2 Tell your people to stop inviting their Christian friends to church
This past Sunday I may have been one of the few pastors out there that stood up and said, “Please DO NOT invite your Christians friends to our Easter services. We want other churches in the area to know we have their back. Also, we want to grow this church through conversion growth, not transfer growth. Let’s pack this place out with people who are keeping God up at night because they are living far from him.” I strategically do that 3-4 times a year.
#3 Preach short sermons
Howard Hendricks used to say, “Keep them longing, not loathing.” I buy into that philosophy. I try to speak anywhere between 21 and 26 minutes max. That drives church hoppers nuts because they want to “be fed.” I’m not interested in “feeding people” unless they are in the early stages of their spiritual journey. Church hoppers as well as Christians further along their spiritual journey need to be feeding themselves. Anything I provide on Sunday morning should be in addition to their own self-directed spiritual nourishment. One point, one scripture, 21-26 minutes, that’s enough.
#4 Don’t sing 9,345 worship songs
Church hoppers, 9 times out of 10, came from a church background where they were taught they needed 5-6 worship songs to really connect with God. That needs to be re-taught. Where did we get the idea that worship = singing anyway? That’s part of it, but only a small part of it. Every part of the service is worship. Every part of my life is worship. Limiting your worship songs except for occasions when you are led by God to expand the repertoire forces people to recognize this or leave.
#5 Keep your services short
We keep our services to 55 minutes, period. That’s it. That’s because we believe “church” is more than the official service that happens on a Sunday morning. It’s what happens before, during and afterwards. It’s what happens during the week when 2-3 gather. Experiencing a well-conceived 55 minute service to the church hopper is like spending your whole life overeating and then sitting down for a healthy, well-proportioned meal that someone else serves you. “Hey, I’m used to eating 16 pieces of fried chicken for dinner and 8 servings of bread! Why do I only get two? Waah.”
#6 Eliminate Christian “insider” language from the way you talk on the stage
The fact that I say “Leader” and “forgiver” from the stage drives church hoppers nuts. “You meant to say ‘Savior and Lord,' didn’t you?” At issue is an old mission’s word called “contextualization,” which basically means we need to speak in the language and culture of the hearer, not the speaker. The Greek word “kurios” doesn’t mean “Lord” in 21st century American idiom. Your old Bible translation from 50 years ago may read that way, but people aren’t talking that way today. Challenge your “insider” language and watch how church hoppers and their friends file right out of your services.
#7 Sing Non-Christian songs in your services on occasion
This past weekend we opened our service with Jet’s “Are you Gonna be My Girl?”
On Monday I promptly received an email about it…
This past weekend, I could not believe my ears. When worship opened up, I heard the opening chords for Jet’s- "Are you going to be my girl?" I was expecting the Apologetix parody version, “Are you gonna be Ike's girl?”
But in listening to the lyrics it sounded like they were covering the actual Jet Song – a song about figuring out how to get a one night stand, for a girl who came to some club or party with another guy.
I am hoping that I was mistaken and they were playing the Christian Parody version because I am having a real issue with wrapping my head around why it would be remotely ‘OK’ to play this content in a worship service.
There is a line between having a light fun service to reach the new/non-believer and cheapening the value and truth that the gospel can stand alone to reach out to someone. This may have crossed it.
Frustrated…
Name Withheld
Here was my response…
Frustrated,
I got your email and appreciate you taking the time to shoot me your thoughts.
I must say that while I appreciate your concern, this is certainly not the first nor will it be the last time we sing non-Christian music in our worship services.
We do this because we are trying to reach both non-Christians as well as Christians in the same service, and playing a non-Christian song up front in the service, we have learned, puts people far from God at ease.
Our philosophy has always been that Christians should be the ones that should be made the most uncomfortable in church, not the non-Christians. The way I put it is this -- we will always choose to offend the Christians before the non-Christians.
Seeing that you are frustrated, and given the fact that I talked with a bunch of people far from God on Sunday who loved the energy of the song and felt connected to the service because of it, it appears that we have achieved our goal.
My suggestion is this -- weigh carefully whether or not you want to be a part of a church that sings music like this, and plays difficult to watch video clips, and a host of other things to reach people far from God. If not, then now would be the time to look for another church before you put down roots too deep.
If on the other hand this is the kind of church you want to be a part of, I would welcome you to join in with everything you have and start reaching out to people far from God.
I hope this helps.
Thanks!
Brian
Church hoppers can be a lethal bunch, so don’t make them too cozy. However, and I’ll blog about this at another time – please remember that God can also be leading some of those people to your church too. But that’s a post for another day.
Reposted from Brian Jones.com
I think two of the most dangerous influences any church faces are: (1) Spiritual leaders who have lost their first love and (2) the onslaught of church hoppers. Having wavered before in my faith and flirted with losing my first love with God, I know firsthand how dangerous the first one can be. But that's something we spiritual leaders have control over. The second one...not so much.
I call church hoppers “connoisseurs of fine churches” because they’re continually on a quest to find the church that is spiritual enough for them, will endlessly engorge themselves on the “services” of the churches they attend, and always have a critical word to say afterwards whenever “church” doesn’t meet their standards.
Here are seven things we try to do to keep church hoppers from wearing out their welcome.
#1 Ask church hoppers to commit to tithing and serving in your 101-201-301 classes
That usually takes care of it right there. Because church hoppers are consumers by nature, anything that strikes them as sacrificial will surely turn them off. As a ministry friend of mine used to tell me, “At the first sign of trouble, raise the bar.”
#2 Tell your people to stop inviting their Christian friends to church
This past Sunday I may have been one of the few pastors out there that stood up and said, “Please DO NOT invite your Christians friends to our Easter services. We want other churches in the area to know we have their back. Also, we want to grow this church through conversion growth, not transfer growth. Let’s pack this place out with people who are keeping God up at night because they are living far from him.” I strategically do that 3-4 times a year.
#3 Preach short sermons
Howard Hendricks used to say, “Keep them longing, not loathing.” I buy into that philosophy. I try to speak anywhere between 21 and 26 minutes max. That drives church hoppers nuts because they want to “be fed.” I’m not interested in “feeding people” unless they are in the early stages of their spiritual journey. Church hoppers as well as Christians further along their spiritual journey need to be feeding themselves. Anything I provide on Sunday morning should be in addition to their own self-directed spiritual nourishment. One point, one scripture, 21-26 minutes, that’s enough.
#4 Don’t sing 9,345 worship songs
Church hoppers, 9 times out of 10, came from a church background where they were taught they needed 5-6 worship songs to really connect with God. That needs to be re-taught. Where did we get the idea that worship = singing anyway? That’s part of it, but only a small part of it. Every part of the service is worship. Every part of my life is worship. Limiting your worship songs except for occasions when you are led by God to expand the repertoire forces people to recognize this or leave.
#5 Keep your services short
We keep our services to 55 minutes, period. That’s it. That’s because we believe “church” is more than the official service that happens on a Sunday morning. It’s what happens before, during and afterwards. It’s what happens during the week when 2-3 gather. Experiencing a well-conceived 55 minute service to the church hopper is like spending your whole life overeating and then sitting down for a healthy, well-proportioned meal that someone else serves you. “Hey, I’m used to eating 16 pieces of fried chicken for dinner and 8 servings of bread! Why do I only get two? Waah.”
#6 Eliminate Christian “insider” language from the way you talk on the stage
The fact that I say “Leader” and “forgiver” from the stage drives church hoppers nuts. “You meant to say ‘Savior and Lord,' didn’t you?” At issue is an old mission’s word called “contextualization,” which basically means we need to speak in the language and culture of the hearer, not the speaker. The Greek word “kurios” doesn’t mean “Lord” in 21st century American idiom. Your old Bible translation from 50 years ago may read that way, but people aren’t talking that way today. Challenge your “insider” language and watch how church hoppers and their friends file right out of your services.
#7 Sing Non-Christian songs in your services on occasion
This past weekend we opened our service with Jet’s “Are you Gonna be My Girl?”
On Monday I promptly received an email about it…
This past weekend, I could not believe my ears. When worship opened up, I heard the opening chords for Jet’s- "Are you going to be my girl?" I was expecting the Apologetix parody version, “Are you gonna be Ike's girl?”
But in listening to the lyrics it sounded like they were covering the actual Jet Song – a song about figuring out how to get a one night stand, for a girl who came to some club or party with another guy.
I am hoping that I was mistaken and they were playing the Christian Parody version because I am having a real issue with wrapping my head around why it would be remotely ‘OK’ to play this content in a worship service.
There is a line between having a light fun service to reach the new/non-believer and cheapening the value and truth that the gospel can stand alone to reach out to someone. This may have crossed it.
Frustrated…
Name Withheld
Here was my response…
Frustrated,
I got your email and appreciate you taking the time to shoot me your thoughts.
I must say that while I appreciate your concern, this is certainly not the first nor will it be the last time we sing non-Christian music in our worship services.
We do this because we are trying to reach both non-Christians as well as Christians in the same service, and playing a non-Christian song up front in the service, we have learned, puts people far from God at ease.
Our philosophy has always been that Christians should be the ones that should be made the most uncomfortable in church, not the non-Christians. The way I put it is this -- we will always choose to offend the Christians before the non-Christians.
Seeing that you are frustrated, and given the fact that I talked with a bunch of people far from God on Sunday who loved the energy of the song and felt connected to the service because of it, it appears that we have achieved our goal.
My suggestion is this -- weigh carefully whether or not you want to be a part of a church that sings music like this, and plays difficult to watch video clips, and a host of other things to reach people far from God. If not, then now would be the time to look for another church before you put down roots too deep.
If on the other hand this is the kind of church you want to be a part of, I would welcome you to join in with everything you have and start reaching out to people far from God.
I hope this helps.
Thanks!
Brian
Church hoppers can be a lethal bunch, so don’t make them too cozy. However, and I’ll blog about this at another time – please remember that God can also be leading some of those people to your church too. But that’s a post for another day.
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