Crocs, Beanie Babies, and other ramblings

For so many years, my experience as a Christian showed me churches that were primarily focused on developing relationships with the people already inside of the church. The main ways to attract outsiders was to have a weeklong "revival" (which...ironically implies that your church is dead) or by "Vacation Bible School." Don't get me wrong...I saw a lot of close knit relationships develop through the church, but there just seemed to be something missing in the development of the church.

I have been thinking a lot about innovation lately. Why is it that most churches are some of the least innovative places and so resistant to change? It's not just in traditional churches. It's "contemporary" churches as well. While the methods used may have been considered innovative 15 years ago, it's definitely lost it's effectiveness now (Some things of note in 1993: Sega Genesis, Beanie Babies first released, and Leonardo Dicaprio in What's Eating Gilbert Grape).

Let's face it, we have to seek ways to be on the cutting edge of innovation. It's bigger than Facebook, Twitter, or text messaging (if you don't know what those are...look them up). Sure we can use those things now (and should). But we need to create ways of ministry that are constantly fresh and innovative. Let's think outside of the proverbial box. Heck...we should be nowhere near the box. Let creativity be more than simply filling in a template for a weekly worship service. Let creativity be more than a clever joke in a sermon. Let creativity be more than an email prayer chain.

Here's my prayer today: God...not only now, but when I'm 85 years old (let me make it that far please)...I hope that I am open and searching for new ways to teach about you and introduce people to you. Oh...and please let Crocs go out of style. They are so ugly.