Musings

#1. My sister and I went to see James Taylor in concert last night in Charlotte. It was interesting to observe the crowd. It's fun for me to be in a group of people who are in the main, older than I. I remember listening again and again to Mud Slide Slim when I was a mere slip of a girl. Clearly many in the audience were in high school or college during the Mud Slide Slim days. JT put on a really fine show and I was struck by his humility and humor. JT's looking and moving sort of like an old man (which I suppose he's becoming). It's pretty cool that JT still draws a big crowd despite his age and the fact that he's avoided the celebrity spotlight. You don't hear about his life, only his music.

#2. This probably should have been #1, but the concert was fresh in my mind... My cousin Bill preached at my church last Sunday (designated Mission Sunday). Bill founded The Open Arms Foundation in Medellin Columbia. For the last 18 years Bill and his wife Wanda have been rescuing street children. Bill gave some startling statistics:

- The USA is the third largest mission field in the world (behind China and India). That's right. Missionaries from around the world are being sent here to evangelize.

- While it was previously believed that 40% of Americans self identify as Christians and attend church regularly, a new study shows the figure to be closer to 15% - 20%.

- The growth of the Mega church has not been primarily from converts, but by the ecrection of members from other churches. So... the pews in regular churches are emptying, while the pews in mega churches are filling.

- The mega church appeals to our consumeristic tendencies. One can attend and witness a slick performance, frequently on a stage. There may be audio visual effects and professional performances. My sister attends a church in Charlotte with satellite campuses and the main pastors sermon is usually broadcast there... Did you know that 85% of Christians believe that the church exists to meet their needs?

Bill made the pretty obvious (to me) point that the church exists to serve Jesus Christ. Think of a battle ship or aircraft carrier in WWII being built and commissioned and sent off to fight, only to turn into a cruise liner... Where would be be had that happened during WWII? In order to be what it was intended to be the church must be missional. It must be continually reaching out to the lost and the marginalized.

That's all for now.