Today's Word

[Judy Harder]

Today's Word for Pastors...

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:1-5

Today's Preaching Insight...

Trust the Story

Storytelling expert Steven James says that one of the keys to effective stories is to trust them to do their work, without trying to explain or analyze them for the listeners. He writes: "In nearly every book on public speaking and preaching I've read I see the same advice: 'Tell 'em what you're gonna say. Say it. Then tell 'em what you said.'

That might be a good way to teach someone how to bake a casserole, but it sure stinks when it comes to telling a good story. Maybe that's why Jesus never did it. Not once. Instead, he spoke in metaphor, story, and imagery that appealed to curiosity and imagination. He didn't preach 3-point sermons, he preached 1-point sermons — and most of the time he didn't even tell people what that point was!

Jesus rarely explained his stories, in fact only once in scripture are we told specifically why Jesus told a story (Luke 18:1), and only a couple of his story explanations appear. Jesus trusted his stories to do their work in the hearts of the people listening. This leads us to one of the great paradoxes of education: the more you explain a story the less impact it has. Think about it. Haven't you heard someone use a great illustration and then spend the next 30 minutes draining all of the impact out of it? We end up diminishing rather than expanding the impact of a story by explaining to people what we think it is supposed to mean.

I'm not asking you to leave your listeners constantly confused, just trust them more to connect the dots. Jesus trusted his story to do its work in the lives of his listeners. He almost always wrapped truth up in mystery. We can do the same."

(Click here to read the full article on Steven's website.)

Today's Extra...

Preaching

A stranger entered the church in the middle of the sermon and seated himself in the back pew. After a while he began to fidget. Leaning over to a white-haired man at his side, evidently an old member of the congregation, he whispered: "How long has he been preaching?"

"Thirty or forty years, I think," the old man answered.

"I'll stay then," decided the stranger, "He must be nearly done." (Steve Shepherd)

[Judy Harder]

Today's Word for Pastors...

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:3

Colossians 3:3Today's Preaching Insight...

'The Secret' Is Self-Centeredness

In a recent article about the book The Secret, pastor Mel Lawrenz writes: "The Secret, you see, is all about the self—it's for the self, obsessed with the self. Newsweek offers this critique: "On an ethical level, The Secret appears deplorable. It concerns itself almost entirely with a narrow range of middle-class concerns—houses, cars, and vacations, followed by health and relationships, with the rest of humanity a very distant sixth."

Professor Robert Thompson of Syracuse University says: "The Secret promises this heaven on Earth in one fell swoop by simply desiring something, by simply wanting it. It's amazing how we really are a nation of, at best, great optimists, at worst, real suckers."

What The Secret reveals is that so many people are so desperately unhappy that they will snatch up anything offering hope—or simply offering quick and easy wealth. My question is, who will be there to pick up the pieces when they discover that they bought into a lie? And who will help the people who believe that they brought every misfortune on themselves because they sent negative thoughts and feelings out into the universe like a human radio transmitter?

How different from the message of Jesus: The first will be last, and the last will be first. Lose your life, and you will find it."

(Click here to read the full article.)

Today's Extra...

Giving, Generosity, Sacrifice

Richard J. Mouw, president of Fuller Seminary, wrote in his recent article inTheology, News & Notes: "The story is told of a missionary who, after a lifetime spent serving an island community, was called back to his home country. His dear friend, a local chief, gave him a plant as a parting gift, for which he crossed the island and back on foot. The missionary was moved and perplexed: the same plant grew nearby -- why travel so far? The chief replied, 'The journey is part of the gift.'"

Sometimes it's not so much what we give, as it is how far we're willing to go to give it. (from Steve Eutsler, Springfield, MO)

[Judy Harder]

Today's Word for Pastors...

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:48

Today's Preaching Insight...

Some Things You Just Can't Do

For weeks now, our office voicemail has been "out of order." If you try to call my office when I'm not sitting at my desk, the phone will ring and ring until you get tired of listening. (We can't even offer you the chance to go on hold and listen to elevator music!)

Worse yet, at the time the system crashed, there were apparently a couple of messages waiting for me. I know this because every time I look at my phone, I encounter these mocking words: "Messages & Calls." They are there, I know they're there, but I can't get to them. And when a new voicemail system is finally installed, those existing messages will disappear into the ether, never to be heard from again.

I'm sure that whoever left those lurking messages has long since preached my funeral for being so ungracious as to ignore their call. And there's nothing I can do about it.

That's the way it is in life, isn't it? There are some things that, no matter how hard you try, you can't do. I can't flap my arms and fly to the moon (though I have tried on occasion). I can't outrun a thoroughbred. And I can't do enough to deserve heaven.

How thankful I am, then, that God loved me enough to send His Son to do for me what I can never do myself. And I'm also thankful that He didn't depend on voicemail to let me know about that good news!

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Integrity, Honesty

Before Tom Lehman had the chance to prove himself on the PGA Tour, he had to enter the 1990 qualifying school (Q-school, as the pros call it) for the PGA Tour. During the high-pressure, all-or-nothing event, Lehman called a penalty stroke on himself. A stiff breeze caused Lehman's ball to move slightly after he addressed it, and the rules are clear: if the ball moves, you are penalized one stroke. The result? Lehman missed qualifying for the cut for the tour by-you guessed it-a single stroke.

If the most important thing in Lehman's life was qualifying for the tour, if his values were based on success rather than faithfulness, he might not have called the penalty stroke. But his faith in Christ, coupled with the importance of living on the basis of real values, called him to honesty. His honesty resulted in waiting another year to qualify.

"If a breach of the rules had occurred and I didn't call it on myself, I couldn't look at myself in the mirror," explained Lehman. "You're only as good as your word. And your world wouldn't be worth much if you can't even be honest with yourself."

Lehman's loss at the Q-school sent him in 1991 to what's now known as the Nationwide Tour, where he set a tour record with seven tournament wins in a single season. The confidence he gained while waiting for his dream led to his subsequent PGA Tour victories. But that isn't what made his decision best. It was the fact that it reflected his values and resulted in faithfulness.

(from Rick Ezell's One Minute Uplift newsletter; http://www.rickezell.net/)

[Judy Harder]

Today's Word for Pastors...

The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid.
Psalms 27:1

Today's Preaching Insight...

Writing for the Ear, not the Eye

In a newly revised edition of his text The Practice of Preaching (Abingdon), Paul Scott Wilson reminds us of the need to prepare sermons suited for oral presentation, not as written essays. He notes, "Simpler speech is one of the things that distinguishes spoken from written communication, but the distinction is richer than that. . . . Once we conceive of preaching as an oral event, we begin to shift our ways of thinking. Instead of composing with the eye for the page, we begin to compose with the ear for oral delivery and aural reception...

"The differences are similar to those between a highly oral culture and a highly literate one. We can get a sense of this by looking at the Bible. The biblical world was predominantly oral. Whereas biblical records obviously come from skilled writers, the writer's world was specialized, not the norm for most people. Even those ancient writers were saturated with oral ways of thought...

"Preaching is oral; our sermons are heard aurally; and our rhetoric must reflect our medium. Write for the ear, not for the eye . . ." (Click here to learn more about the book The Practice of Preaching)

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh: Bulletin Bloopers

The youth group has raised almost $500 for drug abuse.
"Correction: The following typo appeared in our last bulletin: 'Lunch will be gin at 12:15.' Please correct to read '12 noon.' "
Any church member over the age of 18 is invited to participate in this lay ministry program. It requires a minimal amount of training and time. The orientation will include six weekly classes of about 200 hours each Tuesday night.
The Seniors group will have a picnic Saturday. Each person is asked to bring a friend, a vegetable, or dessert in a covered dish. Meat and drinks will be furnished.
The last day of Vacation Bible School will include a field trip to the state game farm. We could use some additional volunteers to help preparing the lunch of sandwiches, potato chips, cheese, crack, and cool aid that morning.
Remember the youth department rummage sale for Summer Camp. We have a Gents three-speed bicycle, also two ladies for sale, in good running order. 
(from Good, Clean Funnies List)

[Judy Harder]

Today's Word for Pastors...

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8

Today's Preaching Insight...

When Sunday's Almost Here

In his "Biblical Preaching" blog, Peter Mead recently included counsel for pastors when they are not quite ready and Sunday is approaching: "While some preachers may be so structured that every preparation is perfect, most of us are not able to create such a vacuum to live in. To misquote Tony Campolo, 'it's Friday, but Sunday is coming!'  For preachers this may not be a cry of hope, but of concern.  What are those final stages of preparation that often get short-changed?  Our Lord understands and is gracious to us when life hits.  However, it would be helpful for us to be aware of these things and adjust our preparation so these things are not always cut-short or omitted altogether:

1. Conclusions matter - As someone has said, you can recover from a bad introduction, but not from a bad conclusion.  That final few moments of the sermon are critical, but often get very little preparation in a tight schedule.  Without preparation the conclusion will be forming during preaching, which often means an over-extended sermon with multiple failed landings (an experience no passenger enjoys!)

2. Cut the fat - Usually the sermon manuscript on Friday will be longer than it should be by Sunday.  While first-time preachers worry about filling the time, experienced preachers should worry about removing the fat in the sermon.  As Dave Stone put it recently, there's a huge difference between taking on a big-burger challenge and eating at a fine restaurant.  People don't enjoy forcing down two pounds of ground beef.  They would much prefer a well-prepared 7 ounce steak that they can handle.  So before you preach the sermon, cut the fat, give people a carefully prepared portion.

3. Check the balance - It is important to review the balance of the sermon to make sure the weight is distributed appropriately.  You probably don't want four illustrations in one point of the message, and none in the other points.  Make sure there is appropriate intensity and passion, but also moments of relief or listeners won't be able to stay with you.  Be careful to allow an idea (or sub-idea) to develop fully - give the necessary time to explain, support and/or apply the idea in each point.  Before preaching the message, make sure it is balanced.  Don't preach a Popeye sermon: really strong in the forearms, but lacking everywhere else."

(Click here to visit Peter's site)

Today's Extra...

Today's Illustration: Lawyers

A Rabbi, a Hindu and a lawyer were driving late at night in the country when their car expired. They set out to find help, and came to a farmhouse. When they knocked at the door, the farmer explained that he had only two beds, and one of the three had to sleep in the barn with the animals. The three quickly agreed.

The Rabbi said he would sleep in the barn and let the other two have the beds. Ten minutes after the Rabbi left, there was a knock on the bedroom door. The Rabbi entered exclaiming, "I can't sleep in the barn; there is a pig in there. It's against my religion to sleep in the same room with a pig!"

The Hindu said he would sleep in the barn, as he had no religious problem with pigs. However, about five minutes later, the Hindu burst through the bedroom door saying, "There's a cow in the barn! I can't sleep in the same room as a cow! It's against my religion!"The lawyer, anxious to get to sleep, said he'd go to the barn, as he had no problem sleeping with animals.

In two minutes, the bedroom door burst open and the pig and the cow entered...

[Judy Harder]

Today's Word for Pastors...

The word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

Today's Preaching Insight...

Contextualized Preaching Still Rooted in Scripture

In an article for the SermonCentral newsletter, missiologist Ed Stetzer points out that even as we try to contextualize our preaching for a contemporary audience, it is still essential that the message be biblically-rooted: "The Apostle Paul began where the people he was speaking to were. For the Jews, the starting point was their ancient history rooted in the Old Testament Scriptures. On the other hand, Paul connected with the Greeks at their point of relevance. Notice that he presented Christ in both cases. For us, we may start in a different place, but the context of the message needs to be Christ and the fullness of Scripture. The key is where the communication begins. Scripture sets the agenda and shape of the message, but every message must answer the question, 'Why is this important to me/us?' If there is no point of connection, the message is simply meaningless facts rather than life-changing truth.

When we begin at the point of relevance, it does not in any way nullify the importance of rightly dividing the Word of God. We think that a common mistake many seeker-driven churches made early on was trying to communicate relevant messages that had little or no biblical content. It seemed that the sermons were basically explanations of common-sense wisdom or perhaps biblical principals, but the Bible did not set the shape or agenda of the message.

We must always remember that 'consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ' (Rom. 10:17) and 'the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart' (Heb. 4:12). The Bible is not simply a tool for scriptural footnoting or common-sense wisdom.

One of the cultural shifts that we are experiencing is the shift from the secular to the spiritual. This shift lends itself to biblical preaching and teaching. People are looking for a higher power, a sense of mystery, revelation, and spiritual authority for their lives. Scripture was given to reveal Jesus; therefore, all of our preaching should be Christ-centered. With this in mind, we must ask, 'How do we communicate the good news of the gospel in a way that the story of redemption is heard and experienced?'"

(Click here to read the full article)

Today's Extra...

Excellence

In the 1980s, Tom Peters, having traveled around the world interviewing heads of large corporations, put together a two-day presentation with 700 slides on the subject of leadership excellence. He was to present it to the directors of PepsiCo, which was headed by a man named Andy Pearson. But Peters knew Andy wouldn't sit through a long presentation. Mulling this over, Peters sat in his office overlooking San Francisco Bay, closed his eyes, leaned forward, and jotted down eight things on a pad of paper.

Those eight principles became the basis for the book he coauthored that changed the landscape of corporate life in America. The title of the book wasIn Search of Excellence. To this day, the word "excellence" is a buzzword in the daily life of successful businesses. Everyone wants to work with excellence.

David Jeremiah observes, "Colossians 3:23 is the only maxim we need on the subject. If we realize everything we do -- selling a product, cutting the grass, baking a cake, preparing a sermon -- is to be done for Christ, we'll do it heartily as unto the Lord, and we'll do it with excellence. Who are you working for?"(Turning Point Daily Devotional, 8-3-07)

[Judy Harder]

Today's Word for Pastors...

From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you.
Psalms 71:6

Today's Preaching Insight...

Be Careful How We Reflect Culture

In his book A Western Jesus (B&H Publishing), pastor Mike Minter argues that the western church has too often departed from biblical patterns because of our allegiance to western culture and traditions. In discussing the church, he observes, "The younger generation must learn why the older generation loves tradition, steeples, pews and hymnbooks. The older generation must be willing to see the younger generation as liking change. Good healthy dialogue in a teachable atmosphere can bring much fruit. Trying to prove that drums are of the devil or that hymns are boring become senseless arguments often birthed out of pride and a refusal to hear the other side. The truth often lies in the middle.

"I love the hymns because many of them tell a story that reflects what the church was dealing with in bygone years. 'A Mighty Fortress is Our God' should be carefully read and understood in light of the Reformation. The lyrics are a powerful expression of the intense warfare of the day. The younger generation should be thankful for past generations that ran interference for them. They were the giants upon which our churches stand today.

"But let us not forget that God has his giants in every generation, and the battles are different as satanic strategies change. The church will always have common-denominator struggles with a lust for the world, but it may show its face differently. Jonathan Edwards didn't have to raise children in a day of Internet pornography, video games, amusement parks, shopping malls, cell phones, and TVs with 350 channels. Most of our praise songs reflect a battle that is different from battles fought before us. Hymns are often about God while praise songs are often to God.  'A Mighty Fortress is Our God' if written today would be 'You, Oh Lord, Are a Mighty Fortress.'

"There seems to be more despair in our present culture, which is why we so often read about postmodernism and the emerging church, and our bookshelves are filled with titles on anorexia, bulimia, and self-image. Such topics would have been foreign to Spurgeon, Luther and Edwards. So what does the church do? It must reflect its culture. Every culture has a story, and each generation within that culture has a story - and the transcendent Christ must be the answer no matter what the generation. The story is told in its music, worship, philosophy of ministry, and literature. If the church doesn't know the story, then its music, preaching, and philosophy of ministry will miss the mark. It starts reading Shakespeare to four-year-olds and Little Bo Peep to sixty-year olds. The dialogue ceases and the church begins to die. Unfortunately, cultural change within the church is often interpreted as doctrinal change - a watering down of theology. This is usually not the case, though it can be. That is why careful dialogue must take place among generations. Each generation can learn from the other and listen for the story line."

(Click here to learn more about the book A Western Jesus)]

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh: Employers Wanted

Here are actual excerpts from real resumes and cover letters. Think you'd hire them?

Am a perfectionist and rarely if if ever forget details.
I was working for my mom until she decided to move.
Marital status: single: Unmarried. Unengaged. Uninvolved. No commitments
I have an excellent track record, although I am not a horse.
I am loyal to my employer at all costs... Please feel free to respond to my resume on my office voice mail.
I have become completely paranoid, trusting completely no one and absolutely nothing.
My goal is to be a meteorologist. But since I possess no training in meteorology, I suppose I should try stock brokerage.
I procrastinate, especially when the task is unpleasant.
Personal interests: donating blood. Fourteen gallons so far.
As indicted, I have over five years of analyzing investments.
Marital status: often. Children: various
Reason for leaving last job: They insisted that all employees get to work by 8:45 am every morning. I couldn't work under those conditions.
The company made me a scapegoat, just like my three previous employers.
Finished eighth in my class of ten.
References: none. I've left a path of destruction behind me. 
(from the Daily Dilly)

[Judy Harder]

Today's Word for Pastors...

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
1 Timothy 4:1-2

Today's Preaching Insight...

Catastrophes

The Sunday after Sept. 11, 2001, pastor Craig Barnes (then at National Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC) shared these comments: "Sooner or later every individual ends up in the emergency room. Something happens that you were not planning on, something that permanently alters the plans you had. Maybe a loved one dies, a deadly disease is discovered, or a cherished relationship unravels. When that happens, you realize you will not leave the emergency room the same person you were when you entered. That is exactly where our nation is today. Wounded with a broken heart and certain only that things have changed.

"As we leave the emergency room and make decisions about how we get on with life, let us remember that the nation is strong. It is strong enough to survive this atrocity. Actually, it is strong enough to do more than survive. It can become a different, better nation than we were on Monday. But that all depends on the choices we make in the days ahead.

"The French Philosopher Paul Ricoeur has written about the creative possibility of "limit experiences." A limit experience is an experience that is beyond the limits of normal life. It's the one you spent most of life avoiding, dreading, defending yourself against, like death and separation. Beyond the limits of those things, we think there's nothing but emptiness, loss, and anomie. But as Dr. Ricouer reminds us, there is more. There is also God, whose creative love knows no limits.

"Watching enormous skyscrapers crumble into dust is beyond the limits of comprehension. It doesn't matter how many times we watch the video, it's still beyond comprehension. As is seeing a gaping wound in the side of the Pentagon. And imagining how men can be so evil as to crash full airplanes into these buildings. And understanding how thousands could so easily die on our own well-protected soil. It's all beyond our limits.

"Be clear. None of that was the will of God. It was not a judgment against us, retribution for our sins, or God teaching us a lesson. Rather the will of God is always that evil be redeemed and not given the last word. That is why God can always be found at work beyond the limits of evil's destructive powers, waiting to bring us back to new life.

"The greatest catastrophe of history happened not on Tuesday, but two thousand years ago when we crucified the Son of God. That was the ultimate experience beyond humanity's limit. But it was then that history was given the possibility of resurrection. When Jesus Christ defeated death, He did so that we may experience something beyond our limits — to rise with Him into a new life. After every cross, the resurrection remains a possibility. The stone that covers the tomb is rolled back, but it is up to us to emerge as a new nation. It all depends on the choices we make."

Today's Extra...

A Joyful Noise

Author Pauline Fraser relates a story that happened to her over a decade ago. She and her daughter ducked into dimly a lit thrift shop to keep dry from the rain pounding outside. The clerk smiled and said, "Hi, today is stuff-a-bag-day."  Pauline inquired what that meant and the helpful clerk replied, "Stuff as much stuff into the bag and you can have it all for three dollars."

Thinking that was a good deal, Pauline and her young daughter began putting "stuff" into the bag. As they wandered around there was an abrupt tug on her hand to get her attention to the shoe section of the store.  Pauline writes, "My daughter shares my weakness for shoes, so we stopped for a minute to look. I let go of her hand and she reached out to touch a pair of shiny black shoes with a strap and silver buckle."

Her daughter asked, "Buy me?" Pauline told her daughter that they were tap shoes and she wasn't taking tap lessons. But the daughter insisted, so Pauline finally told her to try them on.  Perfect fit!  So they bought them, and her daughter wore them out of the store with a click, click, click all the way down the street.  Continuing their shopping at another store the shoes made the same click, click, click as before, and people turned their heads as they entered the store.

As the clicking continued some shoppers gave a disapproving stare, but for Pauline it was music to her ears. One lady approached her and said, "Excuse me, dear. Is your daughter in tap this year?" "No," she replied. "Well, why on earth would you allow her to wear tap shoes, here, of all places, in a store? They make so much noise."

Pauline told her how wonderful it is to hear. The lady asked, "How can it be wonderful?" Pauline replied, "Because when she was a baby, we were told she would never walk or talk. It has taken a lot of hard work and patience but she asked for the shoes and the click, click, click says that she can walk."

Her daughter is now 18 and will graduate from high school this year. Pauline states, "It has not always been easy, but it has all been worthwhile. She has taught me that it doesn't matter what others think. They don't walk in your shoes." (Derl G. Keefer, Friday Evenings newsletter)

[Judy Harder]

Dangers of Isolation

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:2

You hear it from almost every corner: American culture is becoming increasingly marked by loneliness and isolation.  In one way it's understandable.  There is a sense of safety and control in isolation and disconnection; but it's a false sense of safety.  In fact, living lonely is anything but safe.  It's a dangerous lifestyle because it allows a person to overlook real life, real people, and all the benefits and rewards that go with growing relationships.

And probably more important, our character has little chance to grow when we live life in isolation from others.  It allows our thinking to go unchallenged, and allows damaging issues we may struggle with to grow and thrive in the fertile soil isolation provides.

If you're feeling isolated, do what an old commercial on television used to say, "Reach out and touch someone."

"You can make more friends in two months by becoming more interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get people interested in you." - Dale Carnegie (1888-1955)

[Judy Harder]

Today's Word for Pastors...

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
Psalms 139:17-18

Today's Preaching Insight...

Innovations Churches Should Embrace

The Summer 2007 issue of Willow magazine (published by the Willow Creek Association) included a feature on "15 Innovations the Church Should Embrace NOW!" Among the items listed:

"Podcasting - circuit riding at the speed of light. In addition to your weekly messages, how about spicing it up with special editions? Try doing interviews with church neighbors, the mayor, volunteers, staff intros., etc. If it's worth preaching it's worth podcasting. Any church of any size can exponentially increase its impact via MP3 technology.

Blogging - digital discipleship. Don't blog for an audience, blog for you. The more you write about what's on your head and heart, the more people will respond. Blogging increases your bandwidth and allows you to digitally disciple just about anybody, anywhere, anytime.

Viral Video - get contagious quickly. Use YouTube to spread the love. There's even a first-time visitor orientation. Use it creatively for things like behind-the-scenes sermon prep, church staff meetings, or videos created by the congregation. There's a reason why this is one of the top visual communication sites on the Web.

Web Site - your church portal. Guests can watch a Webcast, read your history, and get as much information on your church as they want. And they can do it from the comfortable confines of their computer. Most people will visit your Web site long before they visit a service. Your Web site is your first impression. FREE BONUS TIP: Ruthlessly eliminate lame Web sites (you know who you are!)

E-Mail - word of mouse. Churches should avoid spam at all costs, but an e-letter is an easy and affordable way to keep the church connected. An e-mail is a simple way to keep a ministry team on the same page or evite a friend to church. Think of it as word of mouse. Many pastors preach to more people via e-mail than they do via voice. It's a form of e-vangelism."

(To read the full article, including the other 10 innovations, click here.)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Clarity

Proper attire is required in the cafeteria at the University of Maine. To enforce that rule, the management posted this notice:

"Shoes are required to eat in this cafeteria."

Next to it, a student added, "Socks can eat wherever they want."