Two Worlds, One Nation

Two conversations hit me strongly in the last two days.

The first was with another Pastor in a rural area (not far from Washington) who has been helping people with food. He indicated that in several cases he has provided groceries for families with multiple children who are sharing mobile homes. But they still have dish network and multiple cell phones in each family. Their need is drastic, but some of their spending is suspect. Would people people rather have cable TV or food?

The second conversation was overheard in the coffee shop. Three ladies talked about makeup and how horrible it must be to have a cell phone with buttons, when the really stylish phones are i-phones with a touch screen (Isaiah 3:16-18).

Have we lost all sensitivity? Most Americans have insulated themselves from any hint of pain and suffering.

Both conversations proved one thing. We have been completely brainwashed into believing that non-essentials are essential. It is accomplished through the imaginary/virtual picture of what normal is. It is a virtual picture that is promoted in television, print, and electronic advertising. It is a virtual picture that is impossible to maintain in reality.

We are one nation united not in liberty, truth, the constitution or cultural identity. We are one nation united in the need for cable TV, and a text package on our phone (God forbid it has buttons)! At the same time we are are two worlds. One insulated by wealth from the pain of the other world that is nearly starving. There is not better time for the love of Christ to shine through us.

United in blindness, divided in apathy.

Back in town

I have been on a week of vacation. Went to Ohio to visit family and then returned to work on the house for three days. The house is still not finished. I will post some pictures of the before and after stuff soon.

Image

We are made in the image of God. But that image is marred by sin. So, what image do people around us see? Image is not everything, but it is something. Often Christians are so principal minded that they hate the idea of having to keep up a good image. On the other hand there are some who have a confession and no character of Christ and thus they are all image and no content.

Talking with a business marketing instructor yesterday he gave me a great marketing triad. You need three things to market your business (for us God's kingdom).
1. Build Excitement
2. Differentiate
3. Create Perception

For First AG we have done a few of these things, but not all of them well.
1. We are certainly excited about our church and our particular Small Group. But, that excitement is mostly contained in our church. Let's break out!
2. We have made ourselves different from other churches in Washington, but most people don't know about it.
3. The perception that people have about us is not who we really are due to our building, its location and the length of time our congregation has been in it.

We need God's help to build excitement, be a Spirit filled, contemporary kind of different church, and have an image in our town that is pleasing to the Lord because it is drawing all kinds of people to Jesus.

Heading to Ohio

I will be gone this weekend in Ohio. I will visit my grandmother and Stephanie's grandmother and family. looking forward to a change of pace and different setting.