I say both.
Sunday School and Community Groups are normally thought of as either/or. Based on the historical function of SS I believe CG would compliment Sunday Bible teaching.
More to come…
Are you enabling guerrilla ministry?
My definition of Guerilla Ministry is, “Enabling the body of Christ to quickly, nimbly, and fearlessly try new ideas to reach the people around them. Being empowered with the knowledge that failure can happen, the church members understand that failure will not hinder future support and new efforts by leadership.”
How can we create a culture of innovation, effort and fearlessness? I believe there are three keys to create a guerilla ministry culture.
1. Ideas should be welcomed and acted on quickly.
We all know an idea person. They love to share ideas. In an organization where the leadership makes all decisions and actions, this person may seem like an annoyance; like a busy body who never follows through.
What if the organization welcomed the ideas and collaborated with that person quickly changing the idea into an action? You have just taken this annoyance and turned them into a producing follower of Christ.
2. Instead of sales pitches, institute creative meetings.
Sales pitches are a crap shoot. The person being sold the idea will catch the vision, feign interest, or dismiss it and redirect the conversation to something about which they are passionate.
Let’s imagine that there is a monthly scheduled event on the calendar for a creative meeting. In this meeting outlandish ideas could be expected. What if the only thing you were expected to bring is a problem and some crazy ideas? Instead of trying to sell an idea that you alone thought up the entire group could collaborate on a God-sized idea!
3. When failure occurs, the response is, “What’s next?
Failure is going to happen. What should an organization say in response to a failed idea? Should that originator of the idea be an outcast? No! Chances are, the person who came up with an idea will have another ready to go. Let the ideas flow and guerrilla ministry happen.
Let’s encourage innovation, not by doing the work by ourselves, but enabling people to dream and implement crazy, God-sized ideas.
Do you have any crazy ideas?
How can I think it is cute and want to eat it at the same time?. 2011. Acrylic on canvas, 10″ x 10″.
A companion piece to BACON PAINTING. 2011.
How Can I Think This is Cute and Want to Eat it at the Same Time, 2011
August 19, 2011 in
art with
BACON PAINTING, 2011
August 16, 2011 in
art with
On how I love physical books and e-books
With the rise of e-readers I have heard many people say one of two thing; “I love real physical books and I will never like e-books,” and “I love having my books available whenever and wherever like I do with e-books.” Both are valid choices, but I have yet to hear someone give a good account of how someone can live in both camps.
I choose to love both e-books and physical books. Both formats, for me, occupy and define certain uses. Below you will find six reasons why I choose to use both formats.
1. I use e-books for most newly published material. This enables me to carry with me dozens of current books of varying interest to me.
2. New e-books do not take up any space in our house. A dream of mine is to have a home library with thousands of volumes. But I do not wish to have a library of mediocre reading material. This brings us to the next point.
3. If an e-book makes an impression on me, I buy a physical copy for my library. I do not mind buying a book twice because it supports the author.
4. Hardback books, especially old ones, are beautiful pieces of design. From the spine to the page layout books are laid out by an individual that took into account how it would be pleasing to the reader.
5. I am a collector. There is a part of me that just likes to hold onto items. E-books do not have collector or sentimental value. To hold a physical book and flip through its pages as a reminder of your ownership is an experience that is not satisfying on a tablet or e-reader.
6. A large library is a goal of mine. Yes, the Internet is the largest source of information, but having a personal library is a testament to an inquisitive mind. I am always impressed when I see a personal library. As I peruse someones bookshelves I can see what interested the individual. The most impressive personal library I have seen was Dr. Paige Patterson’s at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Bookshelves that need a ladder to reach the tallest heights and rows that could lost in for hours; that is the kind of library I seek.
There you have it. The six reasons why I choose to read e-books while still reading old literature and collecting old hardbacks. If you have any old hardbacks you are thinking of tossing out, give me a call.
What are your thoughts on e-books and physical books? Have you taken the plunge to an e-reader? If you have let me know what you think below.
Vacation Food Adventure: Day Three
