Blue Collar Church

You may NOT be a blue collar church if . . .

#1 Y'all wear them toboggans to hide who you are!
So many churches have people that put on masks. They are afraid people will find out who they really are. The problem is that God doesn’t like people who wear masks.
He calls them hypocrites.

#2 Y'all are only concerned about who people is!
So many churches play favorites to people who have a pedigree. They may have money. They may have prestige. They may have power. Whatever they have, the church just wants them to walk through the door. James warned us not to play favorites.

#3 Y'all do things cause y'all always done it!
So many churches cannot connect to the people of their culture. They like the way they do things at church and aren’t about to change. We might hurt someone feelings. We might break a tradition. We might cause people to be impacted by God.

#4 Y'all think you’re at a the local diner!
So many come to church services thinking they are at the local diner. They sit and someone caters to them like a waitress. They even like the show - the preaching could be better and the karaoke isn’t that bad. They like the show and leave a tip. They say they may even come back, if the service stays the same.

#5 Y'all only flock with your kind of birds!
Some churches are like a bird house - all the same kind of birds flock together. You’ve got the same kind of job. You’ve got the same age children. You’ve got the same kind of income.
You’ve got the same kind of interest. There is nothing wrong with flocking with those you like, but what about the rest of the family of God that you have chosen to be a part of? What have you done to get to know them? What have you done to reach out to them?

Be God's church. Act like God's people. Be real!

Sid

End of the Spear

Last night, Tuesday, I along with my wife and one of my shepherds attended a premiere showing of the story of five missionaries who gave their lives trying to share the gospel with the Waodani tribe of Ecuador. The movie, based on this true story, is called "End of the Spear."

I had heard Steve Saint speak twice before and knew something of the story, but to see the story played out on the screen was tremendous. You see, Steve's dad was one of the five missionaries that was speared to death by the Waodani. To love, live with, travel with and to nurture the man that killed your father is beyond belief. Mincayani, the man that killed Steve's father, is now the "grandfather" to Steve's kids. What a powerful story about reconciliation, forgiveness and love.

It is worth your time and money to see this movie that begins showing across the nation on January 20. Take friends and family (physical and spiritual). It will renew your belief that people can change, life is a journey and that God can make a difference in people's life.

It is a movie that rivals the Passion of the Christ, but in a different way. It shows the power of the gospel. Where the Passion showed the reason for the gospel. The End of the Spear makes you want to sell all you have and go tell the story of Jesus to a lost world.

I pray that some of us will.

Sid

Updates

Every time I get something electronic, it seems that the very next day the company comes out with a better product or an update. I get a new cell phone and then they come out with a new phone that allows you to network/conference call with your friends. I want a simple MP3 player that will play CDs and MP3 files on a CD. I buy one and then there is the IPOD (not that I could afford one).

My laptop is outdated when I got it. My TV is outdated when I got it. My PDA is outdated when I got it. I need this gadget to make my present gadget work or just work better. My . . . you get the message.

But with God - I am never in need of a new or better deal or an update. Sure I have to have self reflection, self analysis, and constantly strive to be a better servant by the power of His Spirit. But there is not a better deal waiting out there for me tomorrow. Salvation is it. Heaven is our
reward. Being with God is our destiny - it don't get any better than that.

Give your life to God with the confidence that you won't regret it. You see, nothing better will ever come along.

Sid