Worship
Joy Buzzer. In that same issue of Wired I read about a new pacemaker-like
device which can administer a small electrical pulse to treat depression. (The
electrical pulses are applied to the vagus nerve on the left side of the neck,
which apparently affects "neurotransmitters involved in mood regulation."
Or something like that.) Having preached to entire congregations that appeared
to be on a corporate prescription of Prozac, I can certainly see the value of
an implant that can be activated by the preacher who sees too many folks starting
to drift off. It would also be helpful immediately before asking for volunteers
for teaching the three-year-old class, though you may have to crank up the voltage
a bit.
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Cell
Blocker. What pastor hasn't been frustrated some Sunday when, just as he is
making a powerful point likely to transform the lives of every deacon in the church,
someone's cell phone starts ringing loudly with the Notre Dame fight song? I don't
care how many pleasant-looking announcement slides you display asking people to
turn off their cell phones - they don't pay attention at the movies, and they
don't pay attention at church. How about inventing a device that emits a powerful
electric signal that blocks and cell phone transmissions from reaching a handset
within 500 feet of the pulpit. (For a higher price, megachurches can purchase
the version that blocks everything within a mile-and-a-half.) For a small additional
price, you can obtain the module that calls all your church members' cell phones
at 8:00 am on Sunday morning to remind them it's time to get ready for church.
Got
additional ideas for helpful inventions? Just send them to me at editor@preaching.com.
We'll share the best ideas in an upcoming issue of PreachingNow,
my weekly email newsletter.
And
if your idea is good enough, I might even cut you in on those future royalties.
___________________________
Michael
Duduit is Editor of Preaching magazine and President of American Ministry
Resources. You can write to him at michael@preaching.com, or visit his website
at www.michaelduduit.com.