Say 'No' to Merchandising

The First Church was a strange place. Thousands joined in the first few days, fire fell from the sky, crippled people walked, people talked in languages they'd never learned...

...and not one film was made...

...no book rights signed...

...ok, I know what you're thinking, they didn't have TV and Books in those days.

But they still had legends, stories and heroes.

What sticks out when you look at the First Church is how they avoided the celebrity status that blights the 21st century church. It's just not there. What was it about these first followers of Jesus that allowed them to keep in mind that they worked for heaven and not themselves? What was it about they're style that stopped them from buying their own hype? Why was there no hype?

Ah, you say, things were different back then?

But they weren't - The First Church leaders encountered attempts to turn them in to 'celebrities'. They even had people try to join them to gain celebrity status (Acts 8) and the First Church hated it.

Strangely one of the leaders, Peter, called the seeking of 'Celebrity' status as a limit on a person, he called it 'Chains' on that persons life, which sounds excessive.

Although I wonder if there are any celebrities out there who might agree? Paparazzi, Women's magazines, Fashion police and the terminally insane chasing you for everything their worth.

Since when did people become commodities that are only worth the success of their last album or how much weight they have (or haven't) lost. Sounds like a lot to carry. doesn't it.

So maybe that's why the First Church avoided this? Maybe it's because they remembered Jesus' words about seeking to elevate yourself as something special (Mt 23) - read it yourself sometime, although be prepared for a version of Jesus that you didn't find in sunday school.

He calls the celebrity seeking religious people 'Sons of Hell'.

Is that because of where they came from or is it because that's where seeking that life will lead you.

And I'm sure you'll find a few celebrities who agree.

So let's be followers of Jesus who are in this for a reason other than how famous it'll make you.

And say no to merchandising

A lawyer you might not want

A friend made the comment recently that Stephen (Acts 7) is not the sort of person you would call on if you ever needed a lawyer or defence attorney!

When falsely accused, Stephen, instead of arguing his point, uses the situation to makle a different, more important point. He sacrifices the opportunity to save his own skin (remember Acts 6 tells us he could out argue all his accusers) and instead chooses to argue for the truth of the church and what it is doing.

How often do we choose to defend ourselves without seeing the opportunity to effect change. How often are we more concerned about our own reputation than the mission we're called to promote? How often do we choose selfish instead of selfless?

What difference does it make?

What did Stephen really gain?

Is there such a big impact?

Well, is there...?

...Ever heard of a guy called Paul?

How rich am I?

Sorry, I forgot to post this last week.

Check it out - it's humbling

Global Rich List

What does it make you think about?

Jigsaw Peace

Do you ever notice that we struggle from an ego crisis?

We all assume that we can do whatever we want...
Have you ever had to tell a friend they can't sing?
Ever failed an exam that you needed to pass?

Many of us live in a culture that perpetuates the idea that we can be whatever we want to be, which if you think about it, is a heavy burden to carry. How do you make life, career or relational choices when you believe that every possible path is an option to you?

Sound's tiring doesn't it?

The Bible ticks to a different beat - it advises a better way:
Only do what only you can do.

We're talking big picture here, holistic stuff, this is not an excuse to get out of washing dishes. Regarding the substance of life, commit yourself to the place where you have most significance (notice the word significance and not success was used).

In Acts 6 the first Christian leaders were trying to do the whole thing themselves.
And it wasn't working.

So they decided to live to a different beat, took the step down from believing that they could do anything (isn't it nice when we join reality) and committed to only doing what only they could do. Because life is so much better when you do.

What was the effect?

Well, the church is still here isn't it?