The Family Table

As I was pouring out my gratefulness, the Spirit gently nudged my heart and reminded me:  “I love the Family Table, too.”

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Divine Distribution

I remember thinking at the time, “What are we missing? Why the rush on Sam’s to line our storage with toilet paper? If the world comes to an end tomorrow, will we truly be grateful that we at least had toilet paper?”

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Crisis + Competition

If we aren’t careful, though, the western Church will tragically miss an opportunity to put out a clarion call that loudly blasts, “Jesus saves! Jesus saves!” because we are already busy competing for the “who’s got the greatest idea” trophy.

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Be our guest! But wait…

Are we, as the Church, guilty of doing the same thing with our “guests”? We polish the church facilities, groom the grounds, make all the grand preparations, and hang out the banner, “Guests Welcomed Here”! But as soon as the guests show up and the unchurched crowd behaves “inappropriately”, we are quick to start in with the complaints.

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Musings of a Secret Church Shopper

Are we looking to make great church attenders? Are we genuinely after the bragging rights for most experiences per weekend with record-breaking giveaways? Or are we after eternal results?…what will it take to keep them in a frenzied culture wrought with anxiety, stress, scheduled events and obligations from here ’til kingdom come…and no sense of obligation to fit church attendance in to the mania?

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WE win!

As the swimmers get set for each heat of competition, our 11-and 6-year-old daughters are on the edge of their seats, making sure they’ve been able to spot all of the American flags digitally floating in their perspective lanes. The beeper that signals for the race to begin sends a wave of energy throughout the pool, the Olympian arena stands,…and our living room. “Go! Go! Go!” “We’re ahead!” “WE are winning!” And then finally, “WE won!”

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