If we always do what we've always done...

The above axiom used to end with these words: ..."we'll always get what we've always had." And while that is still true, these days it's been changed to say, ..."we'll go out of business." And that's true as well.

Read this article in today's Virginian Pilot newspaper. I could write a book in response to the reasons why these churches are "going out of business". Maybe I will.

Do these churches pastors even wonder why their churches are about to close when other churches in the area are exploding with growth? Is there something to be learned from the growing churches? Could it be that a lack of vision (so eloquently stated in the article) has something to do with it?

When you're conducting more funerals than you are baptisms you are in trouble. But to resign yourself into accepting there is nothing that can be done to right the ship is a sad commentary on an institution about which Jesus said, "The gates of hell will not prevail" against.

This article touches really close to home here. I want to grab these churches and say "Change or die - but don't blame it on demographics or the economy. You're going under because you've lost whatever relevance you had to the culture in which you're planted."

I'll step off my soap box for now.

"Where are the adults?", I wondered...

Last night I was sitting in the waiting room at our local hospital ER, waiting for a wife to arrive whose husband was being treated. In walked three teenage girls. One apparently was old enough to drive. The other two might have been 15 or so.

The older looking girl went up to the desk and said she needed to see a doctor. She had a sore throat. The other two girls continued on to the vending machines. After filling out a form and presenting her ID, the girl seeking medical attention was then told by the Triage Nurse to come in for her evaluation. At the same time one of the other girls started to follow her in. The nurse said, "You can wait out here" (referring to the waiting room), "but if you're going to be in the hospital you need to put on some shoes. Do you have some shoes in the car?"

The girl was barefooted. In December. Obviously she had no clue that shoes might be required attire in a hospital. And just as obviously, she didn't care. But she went out, and came back in with some shoes on her feet.

In the mean time, the third girl came back in to the waiting room with a Mountain Dew. She asked the girl with the shoes why she went outside. "To get some shoes on." "Why did you have to put on shoes?" "Because the f____________ b_________ woman in there is stupid!".

She pushed my button. Yanked my chain. "Hey. You think they might have some rules in the hospital? And there is no reason to call her what you just did. You're not old enough to be using that kind of language. Show some respect."

"You don't know how old I am", she smartly replied. "No. But you obviously are older than you act."

A couple of questions.

Where were the adults in these kids' lives? Why is a minor coming to seek medical attention without a parent? And what's with her bringing along a couple of friends to the hospital? Why hasn't someone taught this foul mouthed girl some manners and respect of authority? Does she have any concept of why there are rules?

It was pretty sad. Respect is a value that begins to be understood at home.

We have to reach this generation. Somewhere the passing on of values is being interrupted. Witness last week's trampling death of a Wal-Mart employee on Black Friday by me-first consumers.

Being relevant...

I have to confess. Not too long ago (in the 21st century) I found this in a church literature rack and had to take one. This was there for the taking, presumably by the uninitiated and/or curious.

At first I couldn't resist laughing. But it's really not funny.

On the back of the brochure is a date. 1971.

Now, I remember 1971. I turned 16 in 1971. And I'm sure a lot of men in my church looked like these two. But you gotta wonder what the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention (yes, my denomination...) was thinking with this pose and these models. Who were they trying to attract with that?

It's kind of scary!

Even more stupifying is trying to figure out why a church 30plus years after this tract was published still has it out for the taking? Is anyone there paying attention? I mean not just to their literature, but to the world that has passed them by?

I know the answer, because I know the church. And if you take a look at their dwindling congregation, guess who you'll see? The guy in the picture is still there!

Unfortunately his children and grandchildren are nowhere to be found.

Hail to the Redskins: Green and Monk thrill once more

Maybe you got to watch the induction ceremony of the National Football League Hall of Fame tonight. I hope you did, but probably you didn't. Two of my favorite past players from my favorite (and hometown) team were among those enshrined in the Hall.

Now, if you're not a football fan, please don't give up on me just yet. What was said by these men was little about football and much about faith and character.

Darrell Green (#28) was for 20 years a starter at cornerback. Twenty years at the position demanding both speed and the ability to make a hit when it counts. For many of those years Darrell Green was the NFL's fastest man. I'll never forget the Monday Night game against the hated Cowboys when, in his first game, he ran down Tony Dorsett from across the field, preventing a touchdown. I'll never forget listening to a NFL playoff game in 1988(?) against the Bears when he returned a punt for a TD, hurdling over a Chicago player. And he was hurt while he did it.

Art Monk (#81) was the most solid, consistent wide receiver who never show-boated; never embarrassed his team; who quietly played the game with dignity, commanding the respect of everyone on the field. How many times did I hear Frank, Sonny or Sam yell out "First down Monk" or "Touchdown Art Monk"? Today's ego-centric gangsters who seem to be the typical NFL player today could learn much from Monk. And after 8 years of not being elected to the Hall, tonight's induction was especially sweet. The standing ovation he received was over 4 minutes long.

But if you heard their sons present them to the Hall and then heard their acceptance speeches you heard beautiful testimonies of their faith in Jesus Christ. Gail was listening from another room and commented, "I'm hearing sermons!". Talk about powerful.

Here were two black men boldly telling of their Lord, their love for their wives, their roles as fathers to their children and their calling by God to use their gifts for His glory. Talk about role models.

I'm sure their speeches will be up on Youtube pretty quick. It's worth watching. Heck, I'm tempted to show them in church instead of preaching myself!

In the background was their old coach, Joe Gibbs. I know he had to be busting his buttons with pride, not only because two of his players were joining him in the Hall, but because they represented his Lord Jesus so well.

The burgundy and gold never was better than tonight.