Keep it simple stupid.

Keep it simple, stupid! I think we all remember that phrase from many years ago. So how many of you out there live complicated lives? How did they get complicated? Did you over time get yourself involved in so many things that now you feel trapped? Take heart, you have a lot of company. Americans are some of the busiest people on the planet and now if we could just figure out why? Christians are unfortunately no exception to that rule. Are you sometimes confused by the church when it tells you that you should spend more time with your family and out living your faith in front of your friends and neighbors, and then it schedules four events during the week which you are expected to be at? Is there just something wrong with that picture? Yes, I think we can say that there is.
Some churches confuse activity with getting things accomplished. And some churches confuse getting things accomplished with spiritual growth and discipleship. Unfortunately spiritual growth is measured by the number of hours you spend at the church. Particularly if you are not quite sure why you are there in the first place. Isn't there a better way? Isn't there a more practical way to meet with God, grow in faith and share his love with unbelievers around you?
Yes, yes there is! Keep it simple, stupid! Sorry didn't mean to call you stupid, it's just a phrase. My point is you can do more sometimes by doing less. Okay now, you say, that made no sense. Well maybe it just takes a whole new way of looking at things then.
I put to you that you can accomplish more by doing less if you center your focus and only do those things that fit what you are called to do. In other words do less, but do it much, much better than you did before. Get rid of all things that you don't need to do in the church, in life for that matter, and just concentrate on what you actually need to do. Make every move count.
Paul compares it someone running and boxing to win the prize. He tells us to not run aimlessly or swing at the air, but focus as someone who wants to win. My brother is an eigthth degree black belt in Karate. He has told me that as he has gotten older he is a little slower than he used to be, but he is twice as accurate. In other words he doesn't throw as many punches and kicks anymore but when he does, he hits his target everytime. He doesn't swing aimlessly.
Now think about the church. We haven't lost any of our speed at all, now if we could hit the target everytime and not just swing at the wind. Think how effective we could be by doing less to accomplish more and have a bigger impact.
Something to think about as look at the Revitalization Process.

Pastor Fred