I have to ask the question, “Do you know where you come from?”  And I don’t mean this in the sense of your physical being.  I am talking about your life in general.  Do you know the heritage of your family?  Do you know the heritage of your church?  Do you know the heritage of your faith?  I think these are very important questions to ask, because we all need to know the sacrifices that were made by those before us who ultimately helped us get where we are.  And not only should we know where we come from, we must also be aware of those coming after us.  What will the church in America look like for our great grandchildren?  We must think about this, because it is what we are doing today that will pave the way for those who will come tomorrow.  We must know our heritage, but we must also recognize the legacy we are leaving behind.

Why is it that the church is losing people left and right?  Why is it that the church is struggling to meet the needs of the people?  Why is it that the church has become so ineffective, to put it in bluntly?  I believe one of the main reasons is that the church comes off as being fake.  People can see right through us if we are being fake.  The world NEEDS the church to be authentic.  We need to be authentic in our worship, in our relationships, in our purpose, in our identity.  We need to realize the needs that are around us, and do the best we can to meet those needs.  That will be authentic to the world.  We need to care and love for each other and for our neighbors who are outside the walls of the church.  That will be authentic.  We need to gather in our communities to worship our God with our entire being.  That will be authentic.  Those outside the church are looking in saying they want nothing to do with us, because we aren’t real.  God is the ultimate reality.  It is the church’s purpose to show that.

My passion is for the church.  I want the church to step up and be the world-changers that we are called to be.  If any group of people has the ability and power to change the world, it is the church.  The church is the vehicle in which God displays His goodness and mercy to all.  It is time for the church to make a difference and to create a culture of love and hope in which the world finds peace, the peace of God.