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In a book called 100% American, Daniel Weiss profiles the American populace using a variety of statistics, including these:
Here are some additional statistics that should drive us to our knees:
So,
where do you fit in those statistics? Michael
Duduit, Editor Click here to visit "I Was Just Thinking" for insights and observations about faith and culture issues.
You can't do it all In a recent issue of his Ministry Toolbox newsletter, Rick Warren said, "Every church must eventually decide whether it is going to be structured for control or structured for growth. For a church to grow, both the pastor and the people must give up control. The people must give up control of the leadership, and the pastor must give up control of the ministry. Otherwise, you create a bottleneck for growth. "This is especially true once a church grows beyond about 500 people, because then no single person or board can know everything that's going on in the church. I haven't known about everything that happens at Saddleback for years. I don't have to know about it all! "You might ask, 'Then how do you control it?' The answer is: I don't! It's not my job to control the church. It's my job to lead it. There is a very big difference between leading and controlling. Our pastors and staff are responsible to keep the church doctrinally sound and headed in the right direction, but most of the day-to-day decisions are made by the people actually doing the ministries of the church. Every lay ministry is assigned a staff liaison but, as much as possible, our staff stays out of the decision-making process in each ministry. "When Saddleback was just a few years old, I found myself running out of energy. The church had grown to several hundred people and I was still trying to do most of the ministry myself. I literally helped with every job in the church. . . . I was burning out physically and emotionally. "At a midweek service, I confessed to our congregation that I was out of energy and that I couldn't continue trying to meet all their needs myself. But I went on to say that God didn't expect me to do all the ministry. The Bible is very clear that the pastor's job is to equip members for their ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12). So I said, 'I'll make you a deal. If you agree to do the ministry of this church, I'll make sure you're well fed!' The people liked the deal and that night we signed a covenant that, from that day forward, they would do the ministry and I would feed and lead them. When we made this decision, Saddleback exploded with growth." (Click here to read the full article.) http://www.pastors.com/RWMT/default.asp?id=193&artid=7957&expand=1
Protecting your speaking voice Al Fasol offers tips on protecting your voice in an article at the Lifeway website. He notes, "A few minutes of exercise per day will preserve, protect, and give the preacher the maximum potential of his individual voice quality. The various kinds of breathing and vocal exercises are too numerous to list. Those who play brass or reed instruments are already familiar with the diaphragm and how it works. For those of us not so musically gifted, a simple counting exercise will suffice. "Stand straight, and on one breath, count from one to ten. Start with a little less volume than you would use in ordinary conversation. Increase the volume but not the pitch as you move from one number to the next. Pace yourself so that you are as loud as you can be by the number ten. At no time during the exercise should you put any pressure on the vocal cords. "If you feel vocal strain, stop. It may take a few practice sessions before you can attain the count of ten. Do not be discouraged; any physical exercise requires developmental time." (Click here to read the full article.) http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/
Are churches properly structured? At the recent Creative Church Conference at Fellowship Church in suburban Dallas, Perry Noble (Senior Pastor of New Spring Community Church in Anderson, SC) observed, "If you operated an airplane like you operate most churches, you'd have a pilot and his crew in the cockpit, and they know how to fly that plane, they know every instrument — that's their job. "But if it was run like most churches, these pilots, or this crew, before they needed to make an important decision, would have to come out of the cockpit and go into first class and meet with a plumber whose cousin was a pilot at one time, an electrician, a housewife, and a doctor and then after they met with those guys, they would take it back to the coach section for a 'business meeting' and a vote. Then after they voted they could go implement what the coach section had told them to do. Now my question to my congregation is, 'How many of you want to fly on that plane?' But you want to go to that church? That's why so many churches are crashing and burning — because they are not properly structured." Want to weigh in on this question of church structure and organization? Send me your thoughts at feedback@preaching.com. We'll share some of your feedback in an upcoming issue. (And be sure to note if you do not want your name included with published comments.)
Register now for NCP 2005 and save! The 15th annual National Conference on Preaching is slated for April 18-20, 2005 in Nashville, Tennessee. The theme of NCP 2005 will be "Preaching With Passion," and an outstanding line-up of speakers will be participating, including William Willimon, Dave Stone, H. Beecher Hicks, James Earl Massey, Ray Ortlund, Jr., Robert Smith, Jim Shaddix, Mike Glenn, Bill Self, Carol Noren, R. Leslie Holmes, and more. The annual conference is sponsored by Preaching magazine. In addition to the plenary sessions and workshops for preachers, NCP 2005 will also have workshop tracks for worship leaders, student/youth pastors and ministry spouses. So plan to bring your entire leadership team! The regular registration is $250, but if you register before March 7 the cost is only $225 — a $25 savings! Additional registrants from the same church (and spouses) can register for just $100 per person. For more information or to register, call 1-800-288-9673 (outside the US call 615-599-9889), or visit us on the web at www.preaching.com/ncp.
Does the Emergent movement reflect an abdication of orthodoxy? In a recent column where he reviews Brian McLaren's book A Generous Orthodoxy, R. Albert Mohler writes, "The Emergent movement represents a significant challenge to biblical Christianity. Unwilling to affirm that the Bible contains propositional truths that form the framework for Christian belief, this movement argues that we can have Christian symbolism and substance without those thorny questions of truthfulness that have so vexed the modern mind. The worldview of postmodernism — complete with an epistemology that denies the possibility of or need for propositional truth — affords the movement an opportunity to hop, skip and jump throughout the Bible and the history of Christian thought in order to take whatever pieces they want from one theology and attach them, like doctrinal post-it notes, to whatever picture they would want to draw. "When it comes to issues such as the exclusivity of the gospel, the identity of Jesus Christ as both fully human and fully divine, the authoritative character of Scripture as written revelation, and the clear teachings of Scripture concerning issues such as homosexuality, this movement simply refuses to answer the questions. . . . "The problem with A Generous Orthodoxy, as the author must surely recognize, is that this orthodoxy bears virtually no resemblance to orthodoxy as it has been known and affirmed by the church throughout the centuries. Honest Christians know that disagreements over issues of biblical truth are inevitable. But we owe each other at least the honesty of taking a position, arguing for that position from Scripture, and facing the consequences of our theological convictions. "Orthodoxy must be generous, but it cannot be so generous that it ceases to be orthodox. Inevitably, Christianity asserts truths that, to the postmodern mind, will appear decidedly ungenerous. Nevertheless, this is the truth that leads to everlasting life. The gospel simply is not up for renegotiation in the twenty-first century. A true Christian generosity recognizes the infinitely generous nature of the truth that genuinely saves. Accept no substitutes." (Click here to read the full column.) What is your take on the "Emergent Church" movement? Is it a timely outreach to a changing culture, or an abdication of Christian orthodoxy? Email us at feedback@preaching.com and share your thoughts; we'll include selected comments in an upcoming PreachingNow.
ILLUSTRATION: Relationships, Searching When Tammy Harris turned twenty-one, she began searching for her biological mother, who had also been searching for Tammy for twenty years. The Associated Press reported that what Tammy didn't know was that her mother was a coworker at the store where she worked! Through conversation, the two learned of their similar searches and began comparing backgrounds — and in a short time fell into each other's arms in a joyous reunion. America
has been called a nation of "intimate strangers." Most
people come in contact with scores of people every day yet ache
in their loneliness. How is it possible to be around so many people
without ever getting close — getting beneath the surface of their
lives? We're busy, intimidated, self-absorbed . . . so we live
alone in our crowds. But that's not the way God made us to live!
We were created to be together in meaningful relationships, especially
with those with whom we share a common spiritual Father. (Turning
Point Daily Devotional, 2-15-05)
ILLUSTRATION: Aging A group of Florida senior citizens were talking about their ailments: "My arms are so weak I can hardly hold this cup of coffee." "Yes, I know. My cataracts are so bad I can't even see my coffee." "I can't turn my head because of the arthritis in my neck." "My blood pressure pills make my dizzy." "I guess that's the price we pay for getting old." "Well, it's not all bad. We should be thankful we can still drive."
ILLUSTRATION: Predictability, Habit Chuck Swindoll writes: "A bazaar was held in a village in northern India. Everyone brought his wares to trade and sell. One old farmer brought in a whole covey of quail. He had tied a string around one leg of each bird. The other ends of all the strings were tied to a ring which fit loosely over a central stick. He had taught the quail to walk dolefully in a circle, around and around, like mules at a sugarcane mill. Nobody seemed interested in buying the birds until a devout Brahman came along. He believed in the Hindu idea of respect for all life, so his heart of compassion went out to those poor little creatures walking in their monotonous circles. "I want to buy them all," he told the merchant, who was elated. After receiving the money, he was surprised to hear the buyer say, "Now, I want you to set them all free." "What's that, sir?" "You heard me. Cut the strings from their legs and turn them loose. Set them all free!" With a shrug, the old farmer bent down and snipped the strings off the quail. They were freed at last. What happened? The birds simply continued marching around and around in a circle. Finally, the man had to shoo them off. But even when they landed some distance away, they resumed their predictable march. Free, unfettered, released . . . yet they kept going around in circles as if still tied. Swindoll says, "Until you give yourself permission to be the unique person God made you to be . . . and to do the unpredictable things grace allows you to do . . . you will be like that covey of quail, marching around in vicious circles of fear, timidity, and boredom." (Dallas Seminary Daily Devotional, 2-7-05)
ILLUSTRATION: God's Direction Most sports fans know the name of Reggie White, great defensive end for the Green Bay Packers who recently went to be with the Lord. Some do not know that he was also an ordained minister. Before signing a $17 million deal with the Packers, White said publicly that he would look to God to tell him where to play. Later a coach from Green Bay admitted that he left a message on White's answering machine that said, 'Hey Reggie, This is God. Go to Green Bay.' God doesn't leave messages on answering machines. But God is able to transform a question mark offered in prayer into an overnight inspiration about direction. When God is consulted, he can put all manner of obstacles in the way of a bad plan, and can smooth and confirm a good plan. When God is your guide, any road is good. (Bill Bouknight, Just a Thought)
ILLUSTRATION: Responsibility "Have you ever gone to a restaurant, hung up your coat, and noticed a sign warning that the management is not responsible if it gets lost or stolen? Ever read the small print on your airplane ticket? The airline takes no responsibility for any delays or missed connections, and if your baggage is lost, they only have to pay an amount agreed upon at a convention they held in Warsaw in 1955. Park your car in some high-priced garage or lot, and a sign will tell you that management is not responsible for any items lost or stolen from your vehicle. Do those 'Not responsible for...' disclaimers bother you? They do me. It seems no one takes responsibility for anything anymore. "I read about a man who was suing a hospital. A doctor had performed staple surgery on his stomach to help him lose weight. A couple of days after his operation, he raided the hospital refrigerator and stuffed himself with everything he could find. This tore open the staples and forced another surgery. He was suing the hospital for having a refrigerator near his room. He claimed the temptation was too great. Thus, his complications were not his own fault but the hospital's fault!" (David E. Leininger, Collected Sermons, ChristianGlobe Networks, Inc., 2005)
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ILLUSTRATION: Understanding, Magic A brilliant magician was performing on an ocean liner. But every time he did a trick, the Captain's parrot would yell, "It's a trick. He's a phony. That's not magic." Then
one evening during a storm, the ship sank while the magician
was performing. The parrot and the magician ended up in the
same lifeboat. For several days they just glared at each other,
neither saying a word to the other. Finally the parrot said,
"OK, I give up. What did you do with the ship?"
(eSermons.com)
ILLUSTRATION: Preaching A minister was called away unexpectedly by the illness of a close family member. He entrusted his new assistant with filling the pulpit. The Pastor's wife stayed home. When he returned, the minister asked his wife what she thought of the young man's sermon. "The poorest I've ever heard," she said. "There was nothing in it, nothing at all. It didn't even make sense. It was very unorganized. I was disappointed." Later that day, the concerned minister met his assistant and asked him, "How'd the Sunday service and sermon go? Did all go well? How did you manage?" "All went very well, sir, absolutely wonderful," he said. "I didn't have time to prepare a new sermon of my own on such short notice, so I got on your computer and pulled up one of your old sermons from last year." (from Pastor Tim's CleanLaugh List)
"When you get to heaven, God won't ask you why you weren't more like Billy Graham. He may ask you why you weren't more like you. Get in touch with who you are. Lead with your own unique style. Be yourself and let God use you." (Rick Warren)
ILLUSTRATION: Temptation As the Union Pacific Railroad was being constructed, an elaborate trestle bridge was built across a large canyon in the West. Wanting to test the bridge, the builder loaded a train with enough extra cars and equipment to double its normal payload. The train was then driven to the middle of the bridge, where it stayed an entire day. One worker asked, "Are you trying to break this bridge?" "No," the builder replied, "I'm trying to prove that the bridge won't break." In the same way, the temptations Jesus faced weren't designed to see if He would sin, but to prove that He couldn't. (Today in the Word, 3-14-91)
How Many Christians Does It Take to Change a Light Bulb? Charismatic: Only 1 — Hands are already in the air. Pentecostal: 10 — One to change the bulb, and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness. Presbyterians: None — Lights will go on and off at predestined times. Baptists: At least 15 — One to change the light bulb, and three committees to approve the change and decide who brings the potato salad and fried chicken. Episcopalians: 3 — One to call the electrician, one to mix the drinks, and one to talk about how much better the old one was. Unitarians: We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey you have found that light bulbs work for you, you are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your light bulb for the next Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, 3-way, long-life and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence. Methodists: Undetermined — Whether your light is bright, dull, or completely out, you are loved. You can be a light bulb, turnip bulb, or tulip bulb. Bring a bulb of your choice to the Sunday lighting service and a covered dish to pass. Nazarene: 6 — One woman to replace the bulb while five men review church lighting policy. Lutherans: None — Lutherans don't believe in change. Amish: What's a light bulb? (from Beliefnet newsletter)
And finally . . . Trekkers unite! Fans of the TV program "Star Trek: Enterprise" are combing the galaxy for an opportunity to save their beloved program, which is scheduled to end its mission in May. The program, which appears on UPN on Friday nights, has been drawing about 2.9 million viewers weekly — about half the number of its first year, according to a Feb. 15 Associated Press story. "Save Star Trek" was the headline on a full-page ad that appeared in Tuesday's Los Angeles Times. The ad called on fans to help the show find a new TV home through a petition campaign and rally, proclaiming, "Captain Archer and the crew of the NX-01 need your help to continue their journeys!" Program supporters are asking viewers to commit to watching "Enterprise" on the Sci Fi Channel — "its logical home," according to the ad — if the cable network agrees to pick it up. (No word from the Sci Fi folks.) "Star Trek: Enterprise" debuted in 2001 as a prequel to the original 1960s series, which has since spawned a series of movies and three other sequel series. A rally is planned for this Friday, February 25, outside the Paramount lot in Los Angeles. Beam us up, Scotty!
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