Don't Miss This One
Denominational people.... don't read this post from Real Live Preacher... unless, of course, you're open to being challenged. Here's an excerpt:

"Let us take care of things for you, sweethearts. Don’t worry your pretty little heads, but do keep sending your money because we did 125,247 good things for Jesus last year, the highlights of which can be seen on our 16 minute video promo. With your help, next year will be even better, praise the Lord. Next year we might do over 150,000 good things for Jesus.”

And that, my friends, is what we in the business call a denomination.

Now, I am a denominational person. I serve on our district's executive board. I see the place of denominations in issues like accountability and doing things together that none of us could do alone. (Unless we were a mega-church, which is just a mini-denomination.)

Yes. I have often felt like RLP at my denominational meetings. We too often get caught up in too many structural, legislative, housekeeping, survival issues. Too often we can be doing the denominational equivalent of rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Who has the right to vote? Who should be allowed to vote? What makes an official congregation? How much do we need to maintain our offices? These items too often take up far too much time. That and a combination of
    ~~ Wringing our hands over the decline of our denomination's witness and the lack of denominational loyalty, and
    ~~ Patting ourselves on the back at our accomplishments and unique attributes.

Yes, structure is needed in some ways from the local small group to the denominational level. A church planter friend gave me the illustration that fits that.

He spoke about the jellyfish which, in essence has not structure. That works fine in the ocean. But on land- there is nothing to support the jellyfish. It needs a structure. So it is with the church. Yes, the danger is too often that we become too structured, too rigid in our definitions and systems which is just as bad as no structure. It is, I feel, the denomination's place to give us an overall structure within which we can work together.

We must never forget that in the end is not about the denominational identity (a thing of Christendom) or even about the denomination's survival (a human fear of death). It is about the Kingdom and sharing the love of Jesus Christ in the many diverse and creative and compassionate and caring ways we can.

Sweat and then Brrrrr
Okay, maybe sixty degrees isn't sweating weather, but the wonders of Minnesota weather went from a bright, sunny 60 degree day on Tuesday followed by wind chills in the single digits after a snow blew through this morning.

Even a Boy Named Sue Sounds Good Now
From today's Star-Tribune:(free registration may be required.)

Meet my son, the car. Or hiking boot. Or can of peas.

According to Social Security Administration research, out of the 4 million babies born nationwide in 2000, 55 Chevys, six Timberlands and seven DelMontes are about to enter preschool.

And that's just the boys. Let's not forget the girls. Consider the 25 Infinitis, five Celicas, 164 Nauticas, 298 Armanis and 21 L'Oreals who turn 3 this year.