I am in Granger, IN attending Innovate 08 at Granger Community Church. Today I get to feast on the communication skills of Mark Beeson, Shawn Wood and Tim Stevens. The theme of Innovate 08 is Stop Talking and Start Doing.
A few note-worthy highlights: GCC is an amazing place. If you have been to Willowcreek which is Nasa then Granger is more like NASCAR, and I have so much respect for that. Truth be told, Granger takes more risk and sees more reward than many other churches in America. They take their fair share of criticism but the laser focus they display to see people surrender their lives to Jesus Christ is undeniable. My cup is being filled this week.
Today Mark Beeson opened Innovate; humble, thoughtful and with the energy of a man in his youth.
- If we are in the church bubble too long we disengage culture--the world.
- Churches can get bogged down in their own stuff and loose site of God's stuff.
- Church Committee/Church on fire drama
- Mark and wife Sheila encountered a tree across the road and what could Mark do with his "little sissy preacher hands?" He helped organize people, gave direction, made friends, encouraged people to get out of harms way and then got out of the way and let people do their jobs.
- We need to realize that we are not the General Manager of the universe.
- Balance is static and no one makes progress in a static position.
- GCC Staff salaries frozen for a year but the staff leans in...meals...
- The book of Mark is useful/practical...do it now... sense of immediacy.
- Jewish culture love theology, genealogical relationships
- Romish(Mark's term) culture values immediacy.
- Mark stated that American culture is a blend of the two leaning toward the Romish side.
- America is a bottom line country, cut to the chase, and make something happen.
- When God reaches down shouldn't it change things?
- Bring the up there down here.
- We value You-tube moments.
How does this change our culture in the church?
