Esslesiastes 4: 7:12

Dos, due, deux, zwei: these are the Spanish, Italian, French and German words for two. In English, we have other words for two: pair, duo, tandem. Two are better than one. We find this explained in Ecclesiastes. Chapter 4 discusses oppression and the comfort needed to strengthen the oppressed. Who are the oppressed? Christians – countless verses in the Old and New Testaments describe the oppression believers in Christ will face.

Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 give us a great picture of how important it is to have a partner. In elementary school, we learn to have a buddy or partner on field trips so no one is lost. Remember your teacher asking you to hold hands with your buddy or stay with your buddy? Keep that in mind while reading.

Vs. 7 – Then I looked again at vanity under the sun.
Vs. 8 – There was a certain man without a dependent, Having neither a son nor brother, yet there was no end to his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, and for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure? This too is vanity and it is a grievous task.

Vs. 9 – Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.
Vs. 10 – For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.
Vs. 11 – Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?
Vs. 12 – And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him.

Wow! These verses clearly show us a picture of how important it is to work together. Two are better than one. When we labor alone, we labor in vain. This can be applied to marriage, friendship, or other relationships. Think about it, isn’t this a great picture of the relationship between pastor and church?

Verse 9 describes teamwork. Verse 10 outlines help and encouragement. Verse 11 mentions comfort and verse 12 discusses protection. In marriage or parent-child relationships, friendships or other relationships, shouldn’t we strive to work together, provide help and encouragement? We should comfort and protect each other. Working together as a pair, due, deux, zwei, tandem or duo is essential to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives – RIGHT!

WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! It’s not about two! The final sentence in verse 12 destroys this myth!

Vs. 12 - A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

In verses 7-12a the writer thoroughly describes two, two, two, two, two and all the sudden at the end something crazy is mentioned – a cord/rope of three strands. Why is he now throwing in three instead of two? It sounds like a contradiction. How can he say two are better than one and then throw out a sentence about three? Duh! You’re way ahead of me, aren’t you? It takes three not two. Why are ropes braided with three strands? Simple – it makes them stronger. Two may be better than one but three cannot be easily torn apart. No further explanation is needed. It’s not about you and someone else. It’s about you, someone else and God.

Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th

Four of the movies bearing this name were released on Friday the 13th’s. Dollhouse premiered on a Friday the 13th and the new film 2012 is being released today.

Superstitions captivate our attention and change our behavior. For some reason, Friday the 13th causes us to be more cautious and aware; being careful to not walk under ladders, look into broken mirrors or cross paths with black cats.

Although, the history of the Friday the 13th superstition is relatively young, it has become an international phenomenon. Superstitions are passed from generation to generation through oral tradition – old wives tales. Paraskevidekatriaphobia, or the fear of Friday the 13th, comes from the Greek words for Friday, thirteenth and phobia. Isn’t it strange we let a certain day dictate our actions?

Come to think of it, sometimes we base decisions on how we feel or what we think. On our own, we usually make the wrong decision. However, by allowing God to lead our hearts, we choose His will. Typically, His will seems to work better, doesn’t it? Choose to follow Him.

Prostitute Attorneys

I'm not sure who this post is really about. Someone in this story is an idiot - one of my daughter's or her parents. The other day, one of my daughter's, who will remain anonymous, was talking with her mother about becoming an attorney. YES, we are now discouraging her pursuit of this profession. De, oops, I almost wrote her name, said she didn't think she could be the type of attorney that defended criminals but she might like to be the other kind. And then she asked, "Aren't they called prostitute attorney's?" We think she meant prosecutors. I guess I shouldn't be surprised because this is the same child who thought we were going to the mosquito rodeo. A few months ago we were in the DFW area and decided to go see the Mesquite Rodeo. Once we arrived and she realized the name was Mesquite, she told us she had been wondering what would be fun about watching mosquito races. Maybe I shouldn't complain. I'm sure she inherited this from her grandparents.

Becoming a Why Not Church

Local Church congregations must become vigilant in recognizing cultural and sociological trends. Church leaders need to develop and maintain critical public relations skills necessary to diplomatically navigate the lost world. Our 24/7 world of continual communication and conversation greatly effects expectations and strategies. Old-fashioned, one-size-fits-all church may no longer work in area’s once dominated by traditional methods of soul-winning. Our society has been greatly influenced by global cultural and economic factors that have forced us to change rapidly.

Clearly, the message of the Gospel must remain unchanged. However, reaching the facebook, twitter crowd requires a more unique approach. People are not the same today as they were 15, 10, even 5 years ago. Brand loyalty is a marketing concept major company’s held onto in the previous generation. That loyalty no longer exists. The days of buying a particular brand because you have always bought that brand are gone. The typical customer may believe they can get a better deal with the company down the street. If so, they may disregard any loyalty to their current company and take the better deal. Customers are in search of value. A company’s brand name is important. It can lead to new customers and help retain current customers. However, a company’s name only can no longer hold market share in today’s world.

What does this have to do with church? Church members are people – the same people who make decisions about which products to buy. Church growth seems to be occurring only when church members move from church to church looking for that better deal. Successful church leaders are the ones who understood current cultural trends as they relate to soul-winning. Not staying abreast of current trends leads to communication gaps with your communities that are difficult to close. Successful churches cannot rely on business as usual thinking. Leaders must become more sophisticated and learn to demonstrate real, tangible and credible evidence they are willing to enhance their ability to serve by exceeding expectations.

As church leaders, we must be willing to re-focus our mindset and re-tool our behavior. Behavior is influenced by attitude. The difference between a positive attitude and a negative attitude is one word – NOT. Churches with negative attitudes constantly ask Why. Why should I work with the community? Why should I go the extra mile in regard to helping the needy? Why should I witness? Why do I have to invite the lost to church? Why, Why, Why? Successful church leaders with positive attitudes constantly ask themselves Why Not?

Churches need to introduce some creativity into their ministry approach. However, creativity must be relevant. Creativity for the sake of creativity is exhausting and unfruitful. Relevant creative soul-winning that commands attention and creates positive results is what the Church is about. The exact path we take to achieve this varies from person to person and community to community. Our mission is to creatively communicate Christ’s message through responsible evangelism, by all possible means.

Have you heard that thinking outside of the box is what is needed for innovation and creativity? Successful church leaders must realize this way of thinking is flawed. Forget thinking outside of the box. There is no box! Embracing this should awake church leaders to explore their creativity. The following is a list of ideas for Relevant Creative Soul-Winning. Let your imagination take over while reading:

1. Do the unexpected and imaginative.

2. You must understand that breakthrough ideas may seem radical at first.

3. Creativity doesn’t mean new. It may be a new viewpoint on an old idea.

4. Soul-winning is not a monologue, it is a dialogue.

5. It’s okay to be off the wall, as long as it is within your strategy.

6. The truth is the most powerful tool.

7. Fear is the enemy of great soul-winning.

8. Surprise works.

9. Do what gets talked about.

10. Successful churches zig when others zag.

11. Dare to be different.

12. Be remembered.

13. Always keep score.

Think about these statements as they relate to becoming a successful church with a positive attitude. Continually ask yourself – Why Not?