I get a sense that in 21st century America, God is an abstraction. He is largely both unseen and unfelt. Perhaps some of that exists right within the church, too. People think they can basically please God by obeying His rules - going to church, serving, giving, being nice to their neighbor. But God wants to be less abstract - more real - than that.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
ABSTRACTION
I get a sense that in 21st century America, God is an abstraction. He is largely both unseen and unfelt. Perhaps some of that exists right within the church, too. People think they can basically please God by obeying His rules - going to church, serving, giving, being nice to their neighbor. But God wants to be less abstract - more real - than that.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
EMPEROR
There is an old fable about an emperor who was more concerned about his appearance than about governing his people. One day, two swindlers convinced him they could weave the most beautiful clothing ever made and fashion them in such a way that they would be invisible to anyone not fit for his post or anyone who was hopelessly stupid.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
EARLY
Monday, March 28, 2011
METRO
Saturday, March 26, 2011
LAME
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
TICKED
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
CHANGE
We have a great staff at KFA. Today we were talking about some changes we needed to make to go from ‘good to great’ in one of our church systems. It’s still amazing to me to realize that change is hard no matter who you are or where you sit. It’s especially hard if it isn’t your idea but it somehow affects you.
There are some signs that we’re not really ready for change. See how many apply to you . . .
Eight Signs You’re Not Ready for Change
- You’re afraid of the culture.
- Your life is fast and cluttered and there’s no space to dream.
- You value getting it right over getting started.
- You believe conflict is a bad thing.
- You’ve stopped asking questions.
- You think systems and strategies are the enemies of anointing or creativity.
- You’re expecting to receive credit for your ideas.
- You think you’ve already arrived.
What would you add to that list?
The question is less about whether or not your organization is ready for change – the bigger question is are you ready for change?
And be blessed.
Monday, March 21, 2011
YAHTZEE
I spoke from the book of Revelation on Sunday (www.kenoshafirst.com). I’ll confess I don’t speak from Revelation a whole lot, but Sunday was one of those days. Though it wasn’t my text, Revelation 13:18 says: “Let the one with understanding solve the meaning of the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666.”
That comes to mind because on the way home I saw a license plate with the number ‘666’ on it. It was a Ford Prius, so that probably explains it.
I read that in the 1980s some people suspected that President Ronald Wilson Reagan might be the Antichrist because each of his three full names had six letters. Six-six-six. All this was - and is - pretty ridiculous since most of us know the Antichrist will be a Democrat. Or a communist. Or both. (Just kidding.)
I also read about Mikhail S. Gorbachev, leader of the old Soviet Union block until it disintegrated in the early 1990s - that his name in the Cyrillic language adds up to 1,332, which is twice ‘666.’
And ... I read that Saddam Hussein was born on April 28, 1937, and was captured on December 13, 2003, which made him 66.6 years old on the day they pulled him out of the hole. Gasp. Of course, not much chance he’s the Antichrist, right? (He’s dead.)
I don’t really get too crazy worrying or wondering about the who, when, where, what or why of all that since I’ve got all my eggs in the Jesus basket. I’m very careful when I play Yahtzee though.
And be blessed.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
EVERYONE
Here's a question for you ... 'What do you think Jesus thinks of your church?'
"Well, I really like our church."
Sure. OK. But trust me, God has standards that are a little higher than yours.
Now ... maybe there are some things wrong with your church -- but you can’t fix all those -- you can only focus on fixing you. You can complain about your church and criticize your church, but in the end, you can’t change that. You can only focus on changing you. So, based on that, what do you think Jesus thinks of your church?
And here's an important follow-up question: 'What kind of church are you?' And maybe even more important than both of those: 'What if every person at your church was like you?'
Think about it ... what if everyone at your church served like you? Maybe you'd have volunteers coming out of your ears. Or maybe there would be absolutely nobody doing anything at all.
What if everyone at your church gave the way you do? Maybe you'd come one weekend and the pastor would say: 'Everybody needs to stop giving because we just have too much and we don't know what to do with it.' Or perhaps, if everyone gave like you, you'd come to church some weekend and all the lights would be off because they couldn't pay the electricity bill that month.
What if everyone at your church had the thoughts you had?
What if everyone spoke like you?
What if everyone at your church had the attitudes you have?
What if everyone prayed like you?
What kind of church would you have if those things were true? I don’t think it’s a bad QUESTION.
And be blessed.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
WHATCHAMACALLIT
Well ... it was just a momentous day in the Taylor household today --- so momentous, in fact, that I could not let it pass without blogging about it.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
SWEAT
I was doing a presentation today for some folks - not something all that unusual for me - it wasn't like it was out of my comfort zone or anything --- but when I came away from the mike and sat down, I realized I had been sweating like a faucet under my arms. My shirt was dark green in 'those two spots' (even though I'm not Irish, I still wore green today). Embarrassing. I spent the next 30 minutes wondering how many people noticed.
Clarification: I don't really sweat much when I'm doing hard labor or working out - it just seems to be when I'm up front communicating, go figure. I admit that I can be fantastic at sweating. If you could get paid to sweat, I would be so rich. When I see someone else on a stage sweating in 'those two spots,' I admit I find it a little hypnotic.
I know that isn't very mature-sounding of me.
So in an effort to help (myself) others out there with this problem, I pass along three solutions from a sage on this topic:
Change clothes. Often.
I wonder what would happen if, in the middle of the message, I just told everybody to pause for 60 seconds - talk amongst themselves - while I went over behind the plexi-glass drummer-quarium and changed shirts. O yeah - that is see-through, isn't it?
Preach from inside the baptismal.
This is going to be the hardest one to slip by the congregation but it might be worth it. Do your next sermon series while standing inside the water-filled baptismal. Sure, you may get in the newspaper, but it would keep the sweat down.
Embrace it.
Face it. God made us sweaty. Stop fighting it.
And be blessed.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
VOICE
Monday, March 14, 2011
WISDOM
You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions. - Naguib Mahfouz
I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday. - Abraham Lincoln
As we grow in wisdom, we pardon more freely. - Madame de Stael
Saturday, March 12, 2011
THE GOODNESS OF GOD
SUCKER
Thursday, March 10, 2011
RINGTONE
My own ring tone is this nondescript 6-string guitar vamp. It's not fancy, but it works - and it's subtle.
I actually can't decide if I like the spiritual element attached to ring tones ... like when you’re hanging out with someone at Quizno's and all of a sudden their phone rings and starts blaring out 'Lord, I Lift Your Name on High.'
Some others I've heard are: 'Amazing Grace,' 'The Hallelujah Chorus' (would you PLEASE answer that?) ... 'Shout to the Lord,' 'This Little Light of Mine,' 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,' 'The Bridal Chorus,' and The Macarena' (OK, that isn't Christian; it's just annoying).
Personally, I'm considering downloading "Jesus Take the Wheel" to mine.
And be blessed.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
SUFFER
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
TONGUE
I know - it's a gross picture - but ----- a few weeks ago my ministry partner was speaking on The Tongue from the book of James and I sat there in the front row listening - and thinking - 'Oh my goodness - that is definitely the one part of my skull that I cannot consistently get a great handle on.'
Monday, March 7, 2011
MUSTARD
We were praying for miracles in people's lives this past weekend. It was an awesome way to close out the service and the series on James.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
JUICE
You were created for more than merely existing. We have redefined mediocrity as normal and too often expect that from ourselves - but God will not have it. He did not create us to be average, but unique. Being human was not intended to be a curse. It was meant as a gift.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
LAUGH
Friday, March 4, 2011
LARGE
This couple is Allen & Violet Large. They are from Canada. Allen is 75 and Violet is 78. They have been together since 1964. They retired in 1983 and since that time, they purchased two lottery tickets every single week. Last year, Violet called the lottery hotline to check out the winning numbers and it turned out they had won. Eleven and a half million dollars. Guess what they did with it? They donated it all. Benefactors of the Large's largesse were hospitals, charities and family members. They kept none of it for themselves.
They said they were content with their 1987 Dodge Diplomat and their 148 year old Victorian home.
Violet said: ”Money can’t buy happiness. What you've never had, you never miss. We have everything we need; I have Allen and he has me.“
Can it get any better than that?
And be blessed.