You are currently browsing the category archive for the 'Uncategorized' category.
(I originally found this story on www.good.is )
In reaction to a Christian marketing campaign, a group of British atheists have launched a media blitz of their own. The “British Humanist Society” has purchased advertising space on 800 buses rolling through streets of London and 1000 posters perched in retail districts and subways. Their slogan, “There’s Probably No God…Now Stop Worrying and Enjoy Life,” wages holy war with church propaganda on bumper stickers and billboards.
I think it’s amazing!
I don’t know what church the Atheist organization is reacting against, and I have no idea what the offensive message was, but I am thrilled. People are listening! People are reacting! People are joining the conversation!
How long has the church been ignored? For how long has our message fallen on deaf ears? Thank God that people are listening again. I can only imagine the financial investment it must have taken to purchase ad space in London on such scale! I wonder how many good people with real questions got together to plan the bus adds and billboards. It only happened because the church opened the door for conversation. Let’s meet them where they are and dialogue! Let’s get real with our own worries, and then sit down and listen to theirs. Let’s take their advice and enjoy life! Really love and laugh and wonder and experiment and LIVE!
Let’s listen.
And let’s join the conversation.
-PR
This Sunday, August 17th, we begin a new discussion at Dialogue Church. ‘E’lympics or “Evangelism Olympics” is a study that questions our motivation for evangelism. We will ask ourselves why we go to such extremes to bring other people into relationship with God. Are we driven to win souls for the kingdom of God, or have we let ulterior motives sneak in? Do we truly and honestly care about the person we target, or are we just trying to put butts in chairs? Do we see a soul or a statistic?
Join us as we look at the “games” churches play and discover ways we can partner with God to love people into their future!
So what do you think?
- Has the church become obsessed with salvation and forgotten the soul behind the sinner?
- What pulled you to Christ?
- What has helped you engage the people you love in spiritual dialogue?
Hit the comment button below and Join the Conversation!
There was a mistake on the reverse side of our business cards!! Luckily I caught it before it went to print!!!
Here are the new images:
Front
Back
They should be here on the 10th!
I heard someone say, “the method is the message”. That’s deep. I wish I understood it better…
But I’ve thought a lot about it and I really think that guy was on to something. So many times I’ve tried to say something with words but what I said was completely sabotaged by the condescending tone in my voice or the roll in my eyes. You know what I mean. When your son or daughter hand-made you a card in kindergarten you hung it on the refrigerator because it came from the heart, not because of the words on the card. The fact that it was made by the hands of someone who loved you–the method–spoke louder than the message itself.
So what does that have to do with shopping bags?
A lot actually. And Gaby helped me see it. We began to wonder what message we send to the world around us when we market Dialogue Church with “Business Cards and Banners”? Lots of churches do that. Are we trying to say, “we’re just like them”? Or are we trying to show the culture around us that we are somewhat different? If we claim to be different how do we show it?
There isn’t anything intrinsically wrong with business cards or banners–and we’ll use them when we need to, but how can we get the word out in a way that reflects who we are and what we believe? I suppose that there are lots of good answers (and I’d love to hear them), but one thing that we are doing is giving away Eco-friendly shopping bags.
One of our core values at Dialogue Church is that followers of Christ must live a life of social and ecological responsibility. We, as followers of the Creator of the Earth, should esteem and value the health of God’s creation. One way we can do that is by cutting back our use of plastic shopping bags. Here are some facts about the ecological impact of plastic shopping bags:
* The raw material of plastic bags is oil. Therefore, the more we use plastic bags, the more we waste oil – a non-renewable energy source.
* The petroleum-based plastic bags take up to 100 years to break down, so if they are not recycled they litter. It creates visual pollution: in the streets, on the beaches etc.
* They endanger wildlife and particularly sea life such as sea turtles and dolphins which can die of entanglement, suffocation, and ingestion because they assume that these bags are jellyfish.
So we are giving away Eco-friendly bags as a way to get our name out to the public, but more importantly, it is a way to demonstrate to the world who we are and what we believe.
So what do you think? How else can we demonstrate our core values to the world around us?
They are ordered and on the way! Here is the final design:
Front:
Back:
We had the cards printed without personalized contact information so that we all can personalize and use the cards to connect people to Dialogue. We also didn’t print a meeting location or times so that we are free to move as God leads us.
I’m actually excited that cards don’t have a bunch of info on them. Sometimes tools can become crutches. We’ve all been to churches that did a lot of cool things and wondered if all the cool stuff is really a “tool” to accomplish a larger purpose or if cool had become a purpose unto itself. It won’t do any good to leave an information-less Business Card with your tip at Denny’s. It is pointless to stuff a blank business card into magazines at the doctor’s office. These cards–these tools–require a personal touch. They need you and me to make them come alive as we enter into conversation with the world around us. There’s room to write your phone number–so you can give someone a ride or meet them for coffee before service. There is room to add your name so that our guests can look you up when they come.
They aren’t Business Cards; they are a tool to help others join the conversation.
We are SO blessed to have Ashlee lead us in worship every Sunday! This is the song she sang Sunday night at our meeting (performed by the author Brooke Fraser).
“Hymn”
If to distant lands I scatter
If I sail to farthest seas
Would you find and firm and gather ’til I only dwell in Thee?
If I flee from greenest pastures
Would you leave to look for me?
Forfeit glory to come after
‘Til I only dwell in Thee
If my heart has one ambition
If my soul one goal to seek
This my solitary vision ’til I only dwell in Thee
That I only dwell in Thee
‘Til I only dwell in Thee
Thanks to Jim, I now know that Martin Luther posted 95 These on the church door in Wittenberg.
Jim is now Dialogue Church’s honorary historian!
We are official! Dialogue Church is now a state recognized non-profit organization! That means we can officially begin receiving tax deductible donations. If you’ve been waiting to make a donation to Dialogue Church, the wait is over!!
If you’re really bored, you can download a copy of our Articles of Incorporation here.
As you are all aware of, we have a budget to meet (check it out here). $45,000 is a lot of money, but with God ALL things are possible! We are excited to do our first Church fundraiser—and all church Rummage Sale Saturday, June 14th. We have set a goal of raising $2500 during the sale. The Spieldenner’s will host as a part of their annual neighborhood rummage. Every year this sale attracts thousands of bargain finders, and we are going to ready to meet their demands. We are asking everyone on the team—or who believe in this vision—to give generously. We all have junk in the garage or attic that we could part with, and we all have more than we deserve. Let’s put it to good use!
Here a few things you might need to know:
1) All proceeds are going to Dialogue Church’s budget.
2) All donations need to be at the Spieldenner’s by Thursday, June 12th.
3) If you need help getting your stuff to the sale, contact Kyle at 765.
4) Amanda will be in charge of pricing all items (but I’m sure that she’d love your help!).
5) Jamie will be organizing the sale of food and drinks.
6) Kimberly will be overseeing some fun activities for kids!
7) We will be passing promo materials for Dialogue Church to sale patrons.
If you have any ideas, comments, or questions use the comment box below!
Got Questions?
April 26, 2008
Got Questions?
So you’re sitting there at work, or in the car heading over to grocery, or maybe having dinner with your family when all of a sudden, it hits you…a question! Not just any question, mind you, but the question. This question you must ask! You’ve got to remember to throw it out next Sunday night at the Start Up Team Meeting. Surely others have wondered the same thing! Everyone will profit by shedding light in this important area!
Sunday comes. The team is assembled. Everyone is poised for enlightenment. Now is the time to unleash the full force of your query.
If only you could remember the question…
Ever been there? I have…often. The worst part is that we know we’ll remember later—probably right in the middle of the news or while taking out the trash.
[In best announcer voice:] “Well, have I got a deal for you!”
Post your questions here on my blog! It’s easy. You don’t have to register, sign-up, pay for anything, or spend any money, and best of all: IT’S FREE!
1) Click on the Title of the Article.
2) Scroll down to large “Comment Box” .
3) Type question in box.
4) Click on submit.
5) Voila! You’re done.
Then, I’ll look over the questions and address them next week at the meeting! How cool is that?
