www.joshburnham.me

Just an update: I've relocated this blog to another blogging platform, so this one will no longer be updated. You can feel free to click around and read what's here, but for any new content, please check www.JoshBurnham.me.

You may want to click on over there and update your RSS feed or email subscription. Sorry to have to give you the extra step of signing up again.

But go ahead and do it so we can stay in touch, right?

Focus, Don't Give Up

"Persons with comparatively moderate powers will accomplish much if they apply themselves wholly and indefatigably to one thing at a time."

Samuel Smiles

The Church of Tomorrow, Today

"Typically, churches have viewed adolescents as objects of mission, not as agents of mission."

Kenda Dean

Big Brother Sharing His Cereal

Take Action in the Direction of Success (However "Success" is Defined)

"Successful people are successful because they form the habits of doing those things that failures don't like to do."

Albert Gray

What Does This Picture Say To You?

Last Fall, the local library apparently got new carpet. And this was their marquee sign:

I had two contrasting thoughts on this in application to the mission of the church:

1. Have You Lost Focus?
Think about your business, organization, or local church. What are you inviting people too? Are you on target or off on something trivial? If you're a library, shouldn't you be about books, not carpet? How often might, say, the church allow vision to dissipate or the mission to creep off course? We need laser-like focus on what we're here for.

2. By All Means Necessary
Find an edge. Some reason to get people in the door. You can't see the books a library has to offer if you never walk in the doors. You can't see the merchandise if you never walk in the store. You can't hear the life-changing message if you don't listen to what the Church has got to say. The ends justify the means.

So, I need feedback.

Which perspective is right?
Convince me of one side or the other.
Please!

Sweet Tweets!

My favorite Tweets from May:

• BCooP Truth: Every decision we make is pushed through the grid of FEAR OF MAN or FEAR OF GOD.
• hotdogsladies If it's not moving, it's probably not much of a target.
• BCooP The lack of desperation in our lives is the byproduct of idolatry. Wrestle with this Truth.
• cory1013 Compassion can never coexist with judgement, because judgement creates distance, which prevents us from really being with others. -Nouwen
• RickWarren MATURITY:Feeling the wrong thing but doing the right thing.You can't always control feelings but u DO control your actions
afuturem33 Surrender must be a daily choice!!
• kevinqueen "Spiritual disciplines are not the mark of a mature Christian. Spiritual disciplines are the means by which we become mature." Charles Bello
• RickWarren Many truths in the Bible I only understand by obeying them in faith. Then later, looking back, I can see God's reasons.
• plattdavid No matter what we say/sing on Sunday morning, rich people who neglect the poor are not the people of God.
• jimthemethodist Idea for Churches: In the "who we are" section, don't tell us what you're not. Tell us what you are, what you will be ,and what you can be.
• kevinqueen Ignoring God while pretending to serve him dishonors God and diminishes the call. Faithfulness is found in keeping first things first.
• jasonyounglive People connect w/relationships & responsibility. Do you provide that for the volunteer leaders in your church?

Find me @joshburnham.

Are You On Target?

"It's not enough to be busy. The question is: What are we busy about?"

Henry David Thoreau

Passion Feels Like Play

"The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work."

Richard Bach

Some Reading

A few things I've been reading lately that I think other people should be reading too:

• Kem Meyer on stylish caring. She warns of doing good without really doing much at all. And, conversely, just because you're not flashy about it doesn't mean there's not some behind-the-scenes action happening.
• Tim Stevens on The Shrinking 40%. He suggests having amazing "come-to-us" events to share the message the church has to share while not ignoring the number of people who don't and won't respond to that type of environment.
• Tony Morgan's recent interview with Craig Groschel discussing the concept of Christian Atheists, people who claim to be Christian while living lives look almost no different than people who say they are not. (9min 14sec)
• A post from Shrink the Church about 10 Reasons to Under Program Your Church.