Pastor’s Blog

Mark,

I would say that the greatest challenge facing most churches is what one author called the “curse of knowledge.” I’ll try to paraphrase what I read in an article a few months ago. WE are cursed with the knowledge of what’s going on around the church. We know when to sit in church, when to stand, when to clap. We know that you sing verse 1, chorus, verse 2, chorus, skip verse 3 and go to verse 4 before singing chorus twice. We know what “the glory” is and that “when God closes a door He always opens a window” and a million other religious cliches. In short, the church world doesn’t know what it means to not know.

Solution? Think really hard and try to consider what it would be like to come to your church if you’ve never been to a church before in your life. This philosophy will change everything: sermons, classes, architecture, programs, songs, activities… If, by chance, the pastor can get this kind of a vision, THEN the true journey begins…trying to convince the current membership to change its vision. BUT – it can happen. And it is happening today in churches all over America.

Bring it on, Richie. I really think 2009 is going to be my year to break the curse of tyranny that you and Kip have held over me these many years! You’re the only former youth member that beats me in golf. You gotta’ go down, man!!!