Lessons learned by Luaulou

Women Don't Talk More

I guess I can't use this in my counseling anymore.

A new University of Texas at Austin study debunks the stereotype that women speak 3 times more words per day than men. Both genders average about 16,000 words a day, says Science magazine. 
USA Today 7/6/07 

TRUTH OR FICTION - WHAT'S IN YOUR EMAIL?

 

Today with the ease of the Internet we can find a plethora of information on just about any subject.  What we must remember is to consider the source and do the research to be sure that the information that is out there is correct and not just dreamed up by someone. The folks at  Koinonia House had a great article on urban myths that have been circling around the internet. 

 

Which of the statements below is true?

a) Madalyn Murray O'Hair is attacking Christian broadcasting.
b) Billy Graham led crowds to spread the gospel through the streets of New Orleans.
c) President George Bush visited inner city children at Christmastime.

The third statement is true.  The others, while having been circulated to thousands of people via email, are not.  Madalyn Murray O'Hair has been dead for over 10 years, and never petitioned the FCC to ban religious programming.  While Billy Graham's son Franklin Graham did lead a Celebration of Hope crusade in New Orleans in March of 2006, Billy Graham did not lead crowds on an impromptu evangelistic walk.  President Bush did, however, visit inner city children during a Christmastime Angel Tree event sponsored by Chuck Colson's ministry Prison Fellowship in 2003.

Urban legends zoom around the Internet with great speed and tenacity.   Some stories are true and others are not, and still others are just outdated.  Yet, millions of people read email stories and send them on to others without first checking to see if they are true.  Here are a few more that you may have read recently:

The New US Dollar Coin:
"This new coin came out this month. The U.S. Mint hopes the redesigned $1 coin will win acceptance with consumers.  It does not have In God We Trust on it. Another way of leaving God out. Send this on and let consumers to decide if it will win acceptance or not. I wonder who was behind this change!!!!"

 

The Truth:

The new $1 Washington Coin was released in February, 2007.  The coin's design does have "In God We Trust" included, but not on the front or the back.  "In God We Trust" and "E Pluribus Unum" are both printed on the edge of the coin.  A large number were accidentally released, however, without either "IN GOD WE TRUST" or "E PLURIBUS UNUM" printed on them, and have been snatched up by collectors.

The Center of the Bible:
"Which chapter is in the center of the Bible?   Answer - Psalms 118

Fact: There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118. There are 594 chapters after Psalms 118. Add these numbers up and you get 1188.

What is the center verse in the Bible?
Answer - Psalms 118:8 "

 

The Truth:

Psalms 118:8-9 are in fact the center verses of the Bible, but the center chapter of the Bible is Psalm 117.

Steve Irwin's Conversion?
"I want to inform Creation Ministries International, that Steve Irwin became a born again Christian two and a half weeks ago at the Kings Church AOG Buderim, Queensland Australia, going forward publicly before the congregation to ask Christ to become his Lord and Saviour…"

 

The Truth:

A spokesman for King's Christian Church in Buderim, however, said that while Steven Irwin and family had attended the church in the past, they had not recently visited prior to his death.

God Smells Like Rain

One of the most popular stories on the Internet is the one of Little Danae Blessing.  Danae was born premature at 24 weeks gestation.  If she survived, the doctors did not expect her to walk or talk. They said the baby might be blind and would probably face retardation.  The family could not hold her or touch her in the hospital, but she slowly grew stronger. Despite the odds, little Danae eventually went home, where she grew into a perfectly healthy, happy, feisty little girl.  One day when a thunderstorm was approaching, Danae asked her mother:

"'Do you smell that?" Her mother replied, "Yes, I think we're about to get wet, it smells like rain. Still caught in the moment, Danae shook her head, patted her thin shoulders with her small hands and loudly announced, "No, it smells like Him. It smells like God when you lay your head on His chest.' Tears blurred Diana's eyes as Danae then happily hopped down to play with the other children…."

 

The Truth:

This story is true, and comes from a collection of inspirational stories called 'Miracles In Our Midst'.

There are several Internet sites dedicated to determining the truth or fiction of Internet rumors, sites like Truthorfiction.com or Snopes.com.  Before sending emails on, first check an urban legends site to make sure you are sending a true story, and not simply perpetuating an e-myth. The Bible teaches us that we are to put away lying and speak the truth with our neighbors (Eph 4:25).

There are better ways to build up and encourage the Body of Christ - without propagating a falsehood.

Leading a Large Church Isn’t As Easy As It Looks

I thought this post by Tim Stevens from Granger Community Church really says a lot about what people think of mega churches. Of course, some people hate megachurches. Others, however, think they're perfect. Tim shares in this post at his blog (LeadingSmart.com) that large churches share many of the same problems smaller churches do. In fact, some problems can only be multiplied in larger settings. Tim writes...

You know that big church? The one that makes things look so easy, that seems like they have everything together, that comes up with the greatest ideas, and always presents everything flawlessly. You look at that church with a mixture of celebration and jealousy. Okay, let’s be honest, there is a lot more jealousy than celebration in your heart. You wonder how they always get the good staff, the best musicians, the coolest equipment, and the nicest facilities. You work just as hard and only move an inch while they move a mile. Doesn’t seem right.

Here is what I know about that big church that seems to have it all together:

--People leave their church too. And they are just as loud and cruel when they leave.

--Sometimes their leaders cry themselves to sleep.

--Just like you, they have gone through the pain of firing a friend from the staff or telling a volunteer they can no longer serve. In fact, due to their size, they face this a lot.

--There are days when the pastors at that church feel very lonely.

--Every week they get letters from people telling them the stuff they are doing wrong.

--They have services where everything falls apart technically.

--There are times when the pastor is done teaching and he isn’t sure anyone connected with his message.

--Their leadership team has had very passionate and animated conversations about their vision, style, music and methods.

--They sometimes go for weeks, even months, without receiving enough offerings to cover the budgeted expenses.

Leadership is tough, whether in a small church or a big one. It may look easy from a distance, but it’s not. Next time you think about that church, whisper a prayer for their success.

 

What does your plate look like?

When it comes to doing ministry it is so, so easy to fall into the "we've got to do everything" trap rather than just doing what we were called to do.

LifeChurch.tv's Craig Groeschel talks about cutting back church ministries. What?! No VBS? No choir? No women's ministry? (gasp)

I love his simple and calm reasoning that churches should do what works to spread the gospel, not just what other churches do and not just what keeps Christians entertained:

• "We stopped doing church sponsored sports. Why take believers out of corporate leagues to put them together in Christian leagues?
• We stopped VBS because we reached more kids for Christ each weekend than we did during VBS (and with a lot less money and effort).
• We stopped doing concerts because we were basically providing entertainment for Christians."

And it's not that these things are wrong, it's that they weren't working for LifeChurch.tv. Are they working for your church?