ESPN. Entertainment Sports Programming Network. ESPN2. ESPNU. ESPN Classic. ESPN Deportes. ESPN News. ESPN Radio. ESPN.com. ESPN360.com. ESPN Mobile TV. Ten delivery systems for sports from one piece of the Disney family of networks (which includes ABC). Six broadcast TV options. One radio option. Three internet options. And there are options within the options.
Do you remember when it all began? Take a guess. I would tell you to scroll down but this is not an email. Ready. 1979. On a limited basis, ESPN as a lone entity began broadcasting 30 minute shows with the sports news of the day as well as events never seen on TV before. In 1980, they went to 24 hours a day 7 days a week. And from there it has grown into its present form covering every sport, professional, college, and high school. It has been an amazing 30 year growth curve. And many asked, "Who wants to watch only sports 24 hours a day?" And this is only ESPN. There are four or five more networks devoted to full time sports programming. Why so many?
The church needs to be on the same type of learning/growing curve or we will not be delivering our message in enough ways to reach a variety of people with differing needs. There are so many ESPNs because there are so many people wanting sports and the "suits" at the network have decided there are essentially 10 ways people want to receive sports. Live. Delayed. Reruns. Etc.
Jesus modeled many different ways to deliver His message. He told stories. He physically demonstrated the message. He used parables. He sang. He prayed. He preached. He had so many people to reach and He counted each one as the most valuable person alive. He didn’t want to miss one. So He developed as many delivery systems as possible.
We must ask two questions. Are we delivering the message of Christ in a variety of effective ways to reach the maximum number of people? How are you allowing the message to be delivered into your life.?
We then ask two more questions. Where does the church need to learn/grow in relation to its delivery systems? Do you need to be open to a new delivery system so that your relationship with Christ remains fresh and alive?
And two final questions. What will you do to grow/learn in relation to the above questions? Who will emerge as leaders of a movement? The answers help determine the future of Christianity.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
March Madness - College Basketball
This is most definitely my favorite sports time of the year. I enjoy college basketball more than any other sport. (FYI: I can't/don't watch or follow any professional sport.) I am playing 3 bracket games. Heading into the Sweet 16 next weekend, I am in last place in one and first place in the other two. Makes little sense, I know. It can only begin to make sense because the brackets were not exactly alike. I made a few changes on the games that were close. But those minor changes made a BIG difference.
Life seems to work that way. We can make minor changes in attitude, outlook, commitment, etc., and it will often times make a monumental difference. We can go from the bottom to the top with minor adjustments. More importantly, if we make changes, big or small, in our relationship with Christ, in our love relationship with our Heavenly Father, we can radically change our life. From hopeless to hopeful. From despair to delight. From bottom to top. Find that small change to make a BIG difference.
Life seems to work that way. We can make minor changes in attitude, outlook, commitment, etc., and it will often times make a monumental difference. We can go from the bottom to the top with minor adjustments. More importantly, if we make changes, big or small, in our relationship with Christ, in our love relationship with our Heavenly Father, we can radically change our life. From hopeless to hopeful. From despair to delight. From bottom to top. Find that small change to make a BIG difference.
Monday, March 9, 2009
American Idol - Why Change? What can the Church learn?
I watched American Idol last week and noticed several things, all of which involve change. They added a fourth judge, changed the way the final 24 were selected, added a "wildcard round," and finally allowed a 13th finalist.
Why would American Idol change anything? We are talking about the show with the largest viewing audience in the history of network TV. Only the Super Bowl has attracted a larger one night audience. It is off the chart in popularity and without question, successful. Why change? Seems absurd, doesn't it?
American Idol introduced change because the producers understand a simple principle: changing and improving ahead of the moment of necessity creates a healthy environment for growth. In our culture, its too late to change when you have to change. In American Idol's case, they will have lost viewers if they wait to be creative when ratings are low. They will have already switched to the next entertainment excitement.
Apply this to the church. We wait to take a risk, we wait to try something new, we wait to change. We wait. And we wait. We wait until attendance is poor, until income drops, until fear and panic take over.
The church should be ahead of the curve in an effort to be relative. The church should always examine the ways it is offering hope and help, of sharing good news. Waiting is death. Creativity is birth. We are people of the Resurrection. We are Easter people. We are about birth.
Why would American Idol change anything? We are talking about the show with the largest viewing audience in the history of network TV. Only the Super Bowl has attracted a larger one night audience. It is off the chart in popularity and without question, successful. Why change? Seems absurd, doesn't it?
American Idol introduced change because the producers understand a simple principle: changing and improving ahead of the moment of necessity creates a healthy environment for growth. In our culture, its too late to change when you have to change. In American Idol's case, they will have lost viewers if they wait to be creative when ratings are low. They will have already switched to the next entertainment excitement.
Apply this to the church. We wait to take a risk, we wait to try something new, we wait to change. We wait. And we wait. We wait until attendance is poor, until income drops, until fear and panic take over.
The church should be ahead of the curve in an effort to be relative. The church should always examine the ways it is offering hope and help, of sharing good news. Waiting is death. Creativity is birth. We are people of the Resurrection. We are Easter people. We are about birth.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Ministry Center
The roof trusses and decking went on our new building this week. The steel frame for the walking track is being erected right now. The electricians and HVAC folks are busy creating a tangled mess of conduit and duct. The brick is being laid from daylight to dark. (Which by the way gets longer beginning Sunday.)
To borrow from a song, it's beginning to look a lot like a building. OK, quit laughing.
As I walked through it this afternoon taking pictures and making people nervous because the site was recently visited by OSHA, I could begin to see ministry happening. Prior to today it has all been images in my head, now it is beginning to be images on a floor, in a room, around a table. I can see lives being changed. I can see hurting people be helped with meals, a warm room, a place to connect their brokenness. I can see fun and frolic. I can see the church gathered enjoying real koinonia. When we broke ground, the vision started becoming reality. And now its beginning to have a heartbeat.
It's cool. It's faith. It's blessing.
To borrow from a song, it's beginning to look a lot like a building. OK, quit laughing.
As I walked through it this afternoon taking pictures and making people nervous because the site was recently visited by OSHA, I could begin to see ministry happening. Prior to today it has all been images in my head, now it is beginning to be images on a floor, in a room, around a table. I can see lives being changed. I can see hurting people be helped with meals, a warm room, a place to connect their brokenness. I can see fun and frolic. I can see the church gathered enjoying real koinonia. When we broke ground, the vision started becoming reality. And now its beginning to have a heartbeat.
It's cool. It's faith. It's blessing.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
The Bachelor
I have to admit, I watched the last hour of The Bachelor last night and then the after the rose hour. Actually I watched while carrying on three conversations on Facebook and one with Lori.
If you watched, you know that Jason picked Melissa, then decided they weren't right for each other, and now has asked Molly to reconsider their relationship. Are you surprised? Even mad?
A thought. I am amazed at how the women cannot understand the decisions Jason makes and they cry and cry and cuss and cuss. Melissa just couldn't understand how Jason decided the "feeling" wasn't there and that he may be in love with Molly after all. Don't forget this is a game. It is a game played to narrow a large group of potential spouses, in this case ladies, down to one in a very short period of time. And these two are supposedly to marry and spend the rest of their lives together. It is a game and everyone knows the rules from day one. Someone wins. Someone loses. A game.
And its reality TV. The problem is that reality TV is the farthest thing from reality there is. This is make believe. And in make believe, you play games.
Did God design marriage to be a game? I don't think so. I believe God designed the marriage covenant to be the result of a relationship built on love, not a game played which manufactures love. You cannot manufacture a relationship that is to last a lifetime. It has to be nurtured and built. Definitely not a game where you literally pick and choose over several one night, or one weekend, stands. Relationships are ruined by playing silly games. Godly relationships which result in a covenant of marriage are developed as two people learn each other and grow together in love.
I'm not surprised at all that the Bachelor is in a mess. It was designed to fail.
If you watched, you know that Jason picked Melissa, then decided they weren't right for each other, and now has asked Molly to reconsider their relationship. Are you surprised? Even mad?
A thought. I am amazed at how the women cannot understand the decisions Jason makes and they cry and cry and cuss and cuss. Melissa just couldn't understand how Jason decided the "feeling" wasn't there and that he may be in love with Molly after all. Don't forget this is a game. It is a game played to narrow a large group of potential spouses, in this case ladies, down to one in a very short period of time. And these two are supposedly to marry and spend the rest of their lives together. It is a game and everyone knows the rules from day one. Someone wins. Someone loses. A game.
And its reality TV. The problem is that reality TV is the farthest thing from reality there is. This is make believe. And in make believe, you play games.
Did God design marriage to be a game? I don't think so. I believe God designed the marriage covenant to be the result of a relationship built on love, not a game played which manufactures love. You cannot manufacture a relationship that is to last a lifetime. It has to be nurtured and built. Definitely not a game where you literally pick and choose over several one night, or one weekend, stands. Relationships are ruined by playing silly games. Godly relationships which result in a covenant of marriage are developed as two people learn each other and grow together in love.
I'm not surprised at all that the Bachelor is in a mess. It was designed to fail.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Sunday Snow
Sunday, March 1, 2009, pm
Snow on Saturday night or Sunday morning is both a blessing and a curse. It is blessing for its simplicity, its beauty. And the kids love it. And adults. It is a curse because it creates havoc with worship services. Do we, don't we? Safe, unsafe? Phone ringing. Text messages firing off. My cell phone was just blowing up. We decided to have both services as usual, just asking people to be careful as they drive. We made all the necessary adjustments.
I told the small, intimate gathering at both services that we are promised that where two or three are gathered together in His name, He will be there also. What a wonderful promise. Its matters not if there are five, fifty, or five hundred, HE will be there. And if He is there, He has a gift for each one. Worship is an encounter with God that transforms our heart and life and will happen no matter the number.
My first reflections on my newly created blog.
Snow on Saturday night or Sunday morning is both a blessing and a curse. It is blessing for its simplicity, its beauty. And the kids love it. And adults. It is a curse because it creates havoc with worship services. Do we, don't we? Safe, unsafe? Phone ringing. Text messages firing off. My cell phone was just blowing up. We decided to have both services as usual, just asking people to be careful as they drive. We made all the necessary adjustments.
I told the small, intimate gathering at both services that we are promised that where two or three are gathered together in His name, He will be there also. What a wonderful promise. Its matters not if there are five, fifty, or five hundred, HE will be there. And if He is there, He has a gift for each one. Worship is an encounter with God that transforms our heart and life and will happen no matter the number.
My first reflections on my newly created blog.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
