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the sound
un-following church
it is amazing how social media
has changed our culture
remember when facebook was just a fad for those college kids
and twitter was trivial
i remember when newscasters snickered when they used the word tweet
now they list their twitter username in the onscreen graphics
social media has allowed us to do many things
that we are not brave enough to do in person
[this is another post in itself]
here is one for today…
social media gives us the opportunity to pick our friends
we can use our discretion on who we follow
we get to choose who we listen to
folks must have our permission to be our friend
and we can un-friend
and unfollow anybody we want…
when i first started tweeting
i followed everyone
twitter was the greatest thing
and i loved everybody
then i got tired
and twitter got a bit old
i started using a more discretion
i began to do monthly clean out
un-following folks
people that i did not really want or need to follow
there were some that i un-followed
because i realized that they were not who i thought they were
you know what i mean…
folks that end up not being as funny as we thought they were
those that are too serious
those that are never serious
the ones that only promote their product
the constant braggers [yes even the #humblebrag]
how about the cat that gives constant WORKOUT UPDATES
then you have the continuous complainer
those that only tweet the great stuff happening in their life
and some that just tweet too often
or how about this one…
the fella that doesn’t do his own tweeting
i unfollow these folks as soon as i find out
i don’t want to hear what their publicist has to say
i want to hear them
in other words
we unfollow folks when they prove to be something
or someone different then we thought they were
this doesn’t apply only to social media
think about it
when folks first come to Jesus
He is all they can talk about
they love Him
and His church
then church inevitably does something to disappoint them
and they click unfollow
church gets blocked
hidden
un-friended
and if church continues this trend
they will finally unfollow Jesus
and Jesus never did anything to hurt them
here’s the deal
we connect to church
knowing full well that church is made up of people
and people are imperfect
yet we are shocked when they do not live up to our expectations
disappointment leads to un-following
well…
why not use the same logic with everything else
i cannot count the times
that onions have ended up on my burger
when i specifically asked them for them to be left off
but i still eat burgers
we have taken so many things back to target
that the lady at customer service knows us all by name
but i keep buying stuff there
starbucks has messed up my order many times
but you better believe that i still drink coffee
we give everything else multiple chances
but for some reason
we hold church to another standard
if we get hurt or disappointed
when the church does not fully represent Jesus
we click unfollow
or unfriend
here is a thought to consider for 2012
what if we gave church
and the people of the church
as many chances as we do everything else
i can promise you
the benefit will far out way
a latte
and who knows
we might actually end up following Jesus
all my ex’s… part 3
as we approach this Christmas weekend
i think it is time to “wrap” up
this series on giving
as i wrote in the last two posts
i have found that the reason we do or do not give
comes down to our ex’s
excuses reveal what our priorities are not
exposure reveals what our priorities need to be
examples reveal what our priorities can be
ex #3 – examples
it seems like everywhere we go
we have folks telling us what to do
and how to do it
in marketing – “look like if you use this”
and
in ministry – “live like this if you do this”
sometimes true
sometimes not so much
having someone tell you
is nowhere near as strong as having someone show you
and i’m not talking about a paid spokesperson
[in marketing or in ministry]
i’m talking about a real
living
breathing
example
someone
walking it out
living it out
in everyday life
when it comes to living
these folks show us how life can be
because they are living that way
and when it comes to giving…
these folks show us how life can be
because they are giving that way
the happiest people are givers
the richest people are givers
the most blessed people are givers
givers are the greatest motivation to giving
seeing someone living a giving life
examples
folks that show us that there is another way
a better way
people that show us what really matters
and what doesn’t
what our priorities should be
what they can be
they have tried this giving way of living
and have found it to be the greatest way of living
and their example
is an invitation to us
to join in this lifestyle
to see what has happened in their lives
happen in ours
so we try it
and it happens
and when it happens
it is addicting
that is the power of an example
and the only thing greater than the power of an example
is the power of becoming one
all my ex’s… part 2
during a recent study on giving i came to see
that the reason we do or do not give
comes down to our ex’s
last post i wrote about excuses
today lets look at
ex #2 – exposure
excuses reveal what our priorities are not
exposure reveals what our priorities need to be
have you ever had the weird feeling
that you were the only real person in the world
and that everyone else were just actors in your life
it is easy to do
we live our lives focused on our lives
we see our needs
we feel our wants
we focus on our desires
we are our only perspective
then…
suddenly or gradually
we find ourselves in the middle
of a circumstance
that reveals to us
there are others
and when your focus is placed on other’s lives
it thrusts you into another world all together
that is the power of exposure
people with problems
folks with feelings
individuals with issues
the homeless mother of three
the dying child
the unemployed dad
the lonely rich man
the grieving family
the ___________
even as i am writing this my focus is shifting
from me to them
first i ask why them & why not me
then i ask how could i help
which brings me to what can i give
that is the power of exposure
want an incentive to give more
just look around
Posted in musings, Uncategorized
all my ex’s… part 1
along the subject of giving…
during my study i have realized
that the reason we do or do not give
comes down to our ex’s
ex #1 – excuses
excuses reveal what our priorities are not
my buddy Mac Richard
says it like this
“if it is a priority, you will make it happen”
so
if we don’t make it happen
even with the best of excuses
it is not a priority to us
that does not mean that there are not valid excuses
but the validity of your excuse proves that
the subject of the excuse itself was worth more to you
than the thing you are needing to feel excused from
did that confuse you?
it did me when i wrote it
you should have seen me looking at the sentence
with my head tilted like a puppy
read it this way
“i could not make it to the party because my child was sick”
it proves that your baby was more important than attending a party
valid excuse to anyone
the same logic works for
“i could not attend church on sunday because ___________”
whatever you place in the blank is more important to you than church attendance
“i could not [or] do not give because _________”
the blank outweighs the need
when it comes to giving
we have heard some good excuses
“i don’t because i do not have enough to give”
according to scripture you would have enough if you gave
[this does not just refer to money]
“my little bit would not make a difference”
tell that to the widow with one coin
or the boy with 2 fish
“i don’t give to the church because
i don’t trust that they will give it to those in need
so i just give it directly to the needy”
is the same accountability used for those in need
i hardly imagine that the needy are asked to convene a yearly business meeting
to show where the money went
or required to send out a monthly donation statement
accounting for each penny
do we really need to know exactly where the money is going in order to give
the blessing is not in the going
but in the giving
look
this whole giving thing is law
what you sow
you will reap
but even more than law
it is life
a way of living
our excuses do nothing but keep us from living abundantly
it is time to tell this ex goodbye for good
what excuses keep you from giving?
Posted in musings
just imagine…
as i mentioned in my last post
we are in the middle of a series at the hills fellowship
called “wise guys”
we are studying the story of the wise men
2 weeks ago we focused on the fact that wise men follow
this past sunday our subject was wise men give
during studying for this message
it was alarming to find how few believers actually give
Christians in America on average give only 1.7% of their earned income
imagine the great things we could do if each believer just tithed
and how much more if we gave offerings as well
just imagine…
there are a couple of authors that have dreamt about this
one incredible book on this subject is
“The Hole In Our Gospel” by Richard Sterns
during my study for this message
i received some insightful revelations
for example
Malachi 3:10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.
lets look at the word storehouse
i feel that the storehouse represents your local church
the storehouse has several purposes
here are a few:
the storehouse provides for the needy
it is great when individuals help the needy
but imagine what good we could do if we pooled our resources
the hills fellowship is helping to provide winter wear
to needy children in school in our neighborhood
we are making a significant impact for a church our size
but i am believing that next year we will back a truck up to that school
what if the storehouse was full
just imagine…
the storehouse provides for the ministry
imagine what our pastors & churches could get accomplished
if there was enough in the storehouse
to provide for support staff to release him/her to focus on prayer
the word & providing vision for the church
most pastors are overwhelmed during the week
then are expected to show up with a fresh word each weekend
plus provide vision and leadership for the body of believers
what if the storehouse was full
just imagine…
the storehouse provides for the giver in time of need
where are you sustained, challenged, encouraged?
where will you celebrate births, dedications, graduations,and marriages?
where will you be memorialized?
this is your storehouse
while we are giving to some families in our community this year
the hills fellowship is also giving to several needy families
that attend our church
this is their storehouse
how many could we help
if the storehouse was full
just imagine…
now…
how about we stop imagining
and get this thing done
be a star
we are in the middle of a series at the hills fellowship
called “WISE GUYS”
we are studying the wise men and learning lessons from their story
this past sunday i focused on the fact that the wise men followed
Matt 2:9 the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
in the age of blogs, facebook & twitter
it is easy to “follow” a lot of people
but if they upset or disappoint us we can just as easily “un-follow” them
however the wise men followed this star
from the east [it was quiet a trek]
and they followed for a long time [it is believed to be up to 2 years]
and they never “un-followed”
plus when they finally reached their destination
and came face to face the child
they did not seem upset or disappointed
instead they gave gifts and worshipped
why?
because the star lived up to it’s purpose…
want people to follow you?
follow your ministry?
follow your business?
and do you want them to keep following you?
then live up to your promise and purpose
lead them to where you promised you would lead them
and if you really really want to be a star
lead them to Jesus.
COME TO NASHVILLE
i would like to invite you to
join the Ragsdale family
on January 22, 2012
at 10am CST
for the official launch / grand opening
of The Hills Fellowship!
our goal is 300 in attendance
you can help us exceed that goal!
here is an idea…
take a weekend
come to Nashville
enjoy the city for a day or two
and then help us celebrate big on Sunday morning
just think about…
then do it
thehillsfellowship.com
The Hills Fellowship
Sunday 10am
Knowles Center
174 Rains Avenue
Nashville TN 37203
[Across from the Tennessee State Fairgrounds]
DIRECTIONS FROM I-65
Southbound from Downtown Nashville
Take Exit 81 for Wedgewood Ave
Turn left at Wedgewood Ave
Destination will be on the left
Posted in THE HILLS
