NCAA Tourney Bracket:  Make your picks…fill out your bracket.   Then pray.  Pretty sure I’m going to win it all this year…

Invite your friends.  Let’s see if we can get 50 people–

Click here to sign up. Click “Join group” then Enter info. Group ID: 17900.  Password: michigan

Friday, March 19th. NCAA Party at Ken’s House!

In this month’s crossroads (soon to be published), I talk about inward and outward postures that churches can take.  The inward posture focuses mostly on meeting our own needs while the outward posture focuses meeting the needs of others. 

Part of the reason why inward postures thrive in many churches is because of our consumeristic culture that has crept into the church.  Brian Mosely, president of the RightNow Campaign, writes about this in his fascinating and cutting article: Outsourcing Your Faith

What do you think?  Have we “outsourced our faith” too much? Are churches too consumeristic? Is this what Jesus had in mind for His church?

Had a good turn out at our Chili cookoff.  25 chilis entered the competition.  There was chili everywhere!  Oh the diversity!

Congrats to Ben Kelly for taking home the gold! He definately seemed proud as he wore the blue ribbon on the neck of his guitar while playing on Sunday morning!

Journal news was there to catch some of the action.  Check out these pics.  Looks like I was trying to rap in that first picture. 

Also, thanks to Ray for snapping more pictures (we’ll post them on our facebook page, soon)

Chili cookoff is tomorrow night!  Believe it or not, I think it’s supposed to sunny that day and clear night!  Getting some interesting feedback from the community about it.  Festivities begin at 7.  (10 high street, South Lebanon.  Enter on Section Street).

We’ve just finished week 2 of our series called “shift.”  Thought of the week as we look forward to Matthew 5:27-30 on 2/21/10:

Sin is not limited to simply what you do, but also what you think and feel in your heart.

So apparently we’ve got some Chef’s at KingsWay.  This Chili cookoff thing we’re doing has brought out the competitive spirit in everyone.   I’m looking forward to the “Call 911 Chili” and the “Wooley Mamoth Chili.”  Even heard rumors of some osterich chili?  Also looking forward to being with people in the community– what’s better than a warm bowl of chili and good conversation?  We may even have some corn hole set up. 

Come on out!

Exponential Conference is coming up… It’s part of my ”work on it” plan, among the shelf of books Im dying to read.  Not definate yet.  Feeling guilty that it’s in Orlando. Would rather it be closer to home to save some $$$.  Trying to arrange for some cheap housing.  Ideas, anyone?

New show came out.  Undercover Boss.  Only caught the last 20 minutes of it and hope to catch some more later.  The premise:  Bosses and CEO’s of companies go “undercover”  and see what it’s like on the front lines of their business.  I think it illustrates a powerful leadrship axiom.  Beyond being aware of the happenings at all levels of your organization, take a step away from the day to day responsibiities to see how the systems (that you put in place) are actually working (or not). 

Ministry leaders get caught in a dilemma: Sunday comes so quick (and frequently) that its easy to just work at the main thing that you do. Preaching. Vistitation. Follow up. Marry. Bury.  If you get so busy that you can’t take time to challenge the processes and systems in order to improve them, ultimately, your organiztion can’t reach it’s potential.  Some leaders say it concisely: Don’t just work in your church, work on your church.

Some examples:  *Don’t preach one sunday and pretend you are a guest.  Show up 2 minutes late.  Are the greeters still greeting?  what does the parking situation look like? How are the signs placed (if you are a portable church).  What’s traffic like when the “normal” people are showing up? 

*Spend the whole hour in your children’s minisry. Change a diaper in the nursury.  See what you volunteers give up (and gain) when they miss the worship service.

*Go to another church.  See what wow’s you.  And what makes you cringe. 

*Go to another person’s work.  See how other people make their living and how that might influence their relationshp with Jesus and commitment to church.

*Go to a conference. Read. Sharpen the ax. 

Work on it.  Not just in it.

Started a new series last sunday called SHIFT.  Talking about how Jesus needed to make some intense shifts in the mind of the disciples in terms of how they thought about God.  You’ve probably heard the launguage that Jesus used to help make these shifts:  “you have heard it said… but I tell you.”  Here’s the big shift– It’s not about your external expressions of religion that God cares about.  He doesn’t care if you look the religous part… It’s your heart that God cares about.  How’s your heart towards God?

This huge shift changes everything! Murder isn’t so much the point anymore as it is the anger in your heart that causes you to murder.  It’s not so much about adultery as it is lust in your heart that precludes the external act. 

The shift in emphasis away from the external, observable, empiracle world to an internal reality changes the game… and ultimately points the way towards salvation through a broken and contrite heart, forgiven by Jesus as an act of grace through faith.

This shift is huge.  People need to know this!