The Non-Growing Church

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Col 3:17). Have you noticed that much of our training in the local church focuses on areas where we spend very little time. The fact is we spend over 70 percent of our time in the workplace. This is where we confront the greatest mission field in our lives. Because the work place is the greatest opportunity for Biblical transformation we must be taught how to effectively integrate faith into our work life. The time has come to tear down the wall between Sunday and Monday and understand that all of life is spiritual, every bush is a burning bush, all ground is holy ground. Studies show that 90 percent of believers do not feel they've been adequately trained to apply biblical faith in their work life. Its time to take the focus off the fringes and place it on the center where most people spend most of their time. I heard a commentator talking about Sarah Palins statement that she has been saved. He stated that "She is a religious fanatic." Then he asked with a tone of sarcasm 'What is being saved all about anyway?" Someone in his "Work place" is letting him down. Some day that "Enlightened" commentator will know all about the meaning of "Saved". Lets hope he finds out before its eternally to late. Here are some ideas being tried in various local churches. Some churches are ordaining their workplace believers for their calling to the workplace. Some are committed to integrating training for their workplace believers on the theology of work. Some are integrating Sunday school programs specifically geared to help workplace believers understand their workplace calling. Lets change the 80/20 rule in the 9 to 5 window from 20% doing ministry to 80% doing ministry. Are you burdened for the workplace? Let pray that the Lord will help local church leaders understand and affirm this calling. This would slow down transfer church growth, and start building churches with new converts. That happened in the New Testament and it needs to happen today. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Creativity

Human creativity came to us as a gift from our Creator. All human creativity and innovation comes from His hand. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). God created the world in six days then He rested. He made us in His image and likeness, that includes giving us the ability to be creative. An excellent example of human creativity is found in George Washington Carver. He was one of the 20th century's greatest scientists, George Washington Carver's influence is still being felt today. As a committed Christian he asked the Lord to help him discover God's purposes for the simplest of plant life. He focused his work on peanuts, sweet potatoes, and pecans trying to produce new products. He developed more than 300 products from the peanut (including Peanut Butter), 175 from the sweet potato, and 60 from the pecan. He extracted blue, purple, and red pigments from the clay soil of Alabama. He researched the manufacture of synthetic marble from green wood shavings, rope from cornstalk fibers, and veneers from the palmetto root. During WWI, he worked to replace the textile dyes that were being imported from Europe. He ended up producing and replacing over 500 different shades. In 1927, he invented a process for producing paints and stains from soybeans. He is best know for developing crop-rotation methods for conserving nutrients in soil and discovering hundreds of new uses for crops such as the peanut Although he did hold three patents, Carver never patented most of the many his discoveries. He said "God gave them to me, how can I sell them to someone else?" If God has placed on idea in your heart to do, ask the Lord for His help in bringing it to reality. He desires to see His people create new things that can serve mankind and bring glory to God. Henry Ford once said, "Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right." Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.