The voting is over - I don't know who, if anyone, stuffed the ballots but we had 316 total votes. That's not too shabby. I never anticipated as many entries as we had and while one of the proposed titles clearly came out on top there were several that got a lot of votes. So here's what's next. This week I will post the top six vote getter's (six because that is how many got 10 votes or more). You will be able to vote one time and only one time. I want your comments. I want to hear WHY you think the name your propose would be the best. I'd recommend you read the comments before you vote. Find out who is saying what about their favorite name. Your choices are:
1. THE VISION or VISION 20:20 - Between these two names there were 119 votes. The obvious field favorite. VISION is part of our "tag" line "Spring Meadows Church of Christ - A Place of Vision" and if we went with the 20:20 part it could denote Acts 20:20 - "Daily and from house to house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."
2. FIELDS OF GOLD: I'm not sure who nominated this one but it has gotten a very large number of votes (62). Meadows - Fields of Gold. I see the connection.
3. The Millennium Falcon - I know who suggested this one - I don't think they were serious and it is possible THEY PERSONALLY voted for it 51 times. Not sure what the connection would be - but if it wins it...no.
4. OUR CHURCH BULLETIN: Plain, simple....not exactly what we are known for, but it was a top five vote getter.
5. SPRINGBOARD: This one came from outside the our congregation but I like the concept. Our bulletin as something to "Spring" us forward.
6. PIZZA ANYONE: I also know who nominated this one. Pretty unique. It would keep folks on their heels and people might read it just out of curiosity. It comes from a sermon I preached early on here I titled "What do you want on your pizza?" Again, if it won it would be like us to come up with something that "out of the box".
There were other suggestions including: NO LIMITS! or LIMITLESS (I liked that one a lot too - a write in campaign for it could sway us. It is again another of those Spring Meadows sayings that has taken root). Spring Meadows Minutes and Foresight were also suggested.
OK, we really need to hear your voice on this one. Let us know what you think. We will be open for the next week on this one.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
.JPG)
Thursday, June 14, 2007
The Polls are Open...Let the Voting Begin!
Folks it's time to vote now! There are a full 22 potential names to choose from. Take your time and choose carefully. There are several REALLY good possibilities out there.
NOTICE: You can vote more than one time (I think a couple of folks figured that out on the last poll - we had 327 votes cast and while I wish that many people visited my blog in a week - I doubt it. We had some ESV/NIV loving folks in a friendly joust stuffing the "ballot boxes" :).
If you want to vote for two or three DIFFERENT ONES - you can't really decide which you like the most - go ahead. But please restrain yourself from voting multiple times for the same name.
If the voting is close between two or three names, we may have a runoff between those. Tell others and get them to vote. The more the merrier.
You do need to know that we may not take the "top" vote getter. i.e. if Jason's "Pizza Anyone" wins (yes, Jason, I figured out it was you!) - it may not be the new name for our bulletin (Not that that would be a good name - I'm just saying).
So...VOTE NOW. We will close the voting next Friday.
NOTICE: You can vote more than one time (I think a couple of folks figured that out on the last poll - we had 327 votes cast and while I wish that many people visited my blog in a week - I doubt it. We had some ESV/NIV loving folks in a friendly joust stuffing the "ballot boxes" :).
If you want to vote for two or three DIFFERENT ONES - you can't really decide which you like the most - go ahead. But please restrain yourself from voting multiple times for the same name.
If the voting is close between two or three names, we may have a runoff between those. Tell others and get them to vote. The more the merrier.
You do need to know that we may not take the "top" vote getter. i.e. if Jason's "Pizza Anyone" wins (yes, Jason, I figured out it was you!) - it may not be the new name for our bulletin (Not that that would be a good name - I'm just saying).
So...VOTE NOW. We will close the voting next Friday.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Ma Bell...
So I did what I've been threatening to do for 3 or 4 years now...I cancelled my home phone service! Yippee! I remember as a young family how frustrated we would get with the monopoly that was South Central Bell. They had us. As a minister I thought I had to have phone service. If the phone rang, 2, 3 in the morning I would answer it on the first ring - "of course I'm up" (In theory that was true - I had to get up to answer the phone). And there was no option except Bell. I think it was my first experience with hatred :)! She was the big bad wolf, the ogre, the big bad witch, the great evil one...perhaps those digits in our phone numbers are the mark of the beast...
Caller ID was a wonderful step. I could actually "decide" who I wanted to talk to and who I didn't...but with my sickness (not sure what the scientific name is :)), I still answer 95% of the calls. I always envied Mel, how she could let it ring and not even care. If they really need me, they'll call back.
Then (picture the clouds opening and music coming to a crescendo) a little light from heaven filled my soul - the cell phone was born! I loved it. I had one when they weighed more than my laptop and had to be cared in an almost backpack looking contraption.
But I still had "Ma Bell" (if you know that term you're dating yourself) with a noose around my neck. I'd advise young couples to not even have a home phone, just a cell phone.
A few weeks ago we were cutting expenses and getting ready to move (we hope anyway) and I casually mentioned something about cutting off the phone. Melanie (my wonderful, unpredictable wife) agreed that one was no longer needed.
So today (Wednesday), I called the modern Ma - now South Central Bell and proudly told the lady I wanted to cancel my service. She said, we will be happy to suspend it for you. "No, it's time to cancel". She spent the next 10 minutes trying to talk sense into my head. Trying to "talk me down". As if what in the world will someone do without a home phone. Ah, it felt nice to say "no" about 10 times! I was polite but full of joy as each time I refused her obvious "logic" as to why and how I could do something different other than cancel. It was a waste of time - I don't need them anymore. My cell phone is about all I use anymore and Melanie with hers. The dragon has been slain, the serpent sent to the sea, the giant's head cut off, the beast has been banished!
But it all got me to thinking. I've tried talking sense into people's heads before. People leaving the Lord's church, people making unwise decisions for themselves, their family, their future. But I wonder it it's not like with my conversation with "Ma". If the heart is already made up our efforts to force a change probably won't make a difference. So our real effort might be to try preventative medicine with people - help them avoid reaching the point where they don't care. If they ever fall out of love with the Lord, His church, their spouse ... it is next to impossible to win them back (See Revelation 3 and Hebrews 6).
Bye-bye Ma Bell - I don't think I'll miss you. (ERIC - change our directory info :)).
Caller ID was a wonderful step. I could actually "decide" who I wanted to talk to and who I didn't...but with my sickness (not sure what the scientific name is :)), I still answer 95% of the calls. I always envied Mel, how she could let it ring and not even care. If they really need me, they'll call back.
Then (picture the clouds opening and music coming to a crescendo) a little light from heaven filled my soul - the cell phone was born! I loved it. I had one when they weighed more than my laptop and had to be cared in an almost backpack looking contraption.
But I still had "Ma Bell" (if you know that term you're dating yourself) with a noose around my neck. I'd advise young couples to not even have a home phone, just a cell phone.
A few weeks ago we were cutting expenses and getting ready to move (we hope anyway) and I casually mentioned something about cutting off the phone. Melanie (my wonderful, unpredictable wife) agreed that one was no longer needed.
So today (Wednesday), I called the modern Ma - now South Central Bell and proudly told the lady I wanted to cancel my service. She said, we will be happy to suspend it for you. "No, it's time to cancel". She spent the next 10 minutes trying to talk sense into my head. Trying to "talk me down". As if what in the world will someone do without a home phone. Ah, it felt nice to say "no" about 10 times! I was polite but full of joy as each time I refused her obvious "logic" as to why and how I could do something different other than cancel. It was a waste of time - I don't need them anymore. My cell phone is about all I use anymore and Melanie with hers. The dragon has been slain, the serpent sent to the sea, the giant's head cut off, the beast has been banished!
But it all got me to thinking. I've tried talking sense into people's heads before. People leaving the Lord's church, people making unwise decisions for themselves, their family, their future. But I wonder it it's not like with my conversation with "Ma". If the heart is already made up our efforts to force a change probably won't make a difference. So our real effort might be to try preventative medicine with people - help them avoid reaching the point where they don't care. If they ever fall out of love with the Lord, His church, their spouse ... it is next to impossible to win them back (See Revelation 3 and Hebrews 6).
Bye-bye Ma Bell - I don't think I'll miss you. (ERIC - change our directory info :)).
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Two for one...
TWO POSTS IN ONE:
1. We plan on cutting off accepting potential names for our bulletin Thursday morning and that afternoon posting another poll for all to vote on their favorite. This is big stuff - "The Hamilton Herald" as well as Granny White's "AIM" were both named roughly 50 years ago. So let's do well with this. I've gotten nearly 50 responses so far (not all had recommendations for a name), so get yours in soon.
2. "The Blog That Binds" welcomes a new, sister blog - "101 Good Words" It can be found at http://dalejenkins2.blogspot.com/
OK, here's the premise...we hear and read thousands of words each day: good words, bad words; words we wish we hadn't heard. This blog will be about giving you a good word. In fact exactly 101 good, uplifting, encouraging, positive words per post. They may be faith-building, or reporting. They may be about a positive program of work. It's a quick read, it'll take you a minute or two tops to read . I invite your thoughts-we'll occasionally share the thoughts of others . Visit often! If you'd like to be notified of new posts, contact dale@edge.net! That's 101 words - enjoy!
1. We plan on cutting off accepting potential names for our bulletin Thursday morning and that afternoon posting another poll for all to vote on their favorite. This is big stuff - "The Hamilton Herald" as well as Granny White's "AIM" were both named roughly 50 years ago. So let's do well with this. I've gotten nearly 50 responses so far (not all had recommendations for a name), so get yours in soon.
2. "The Blog That Binds" welcomes a new, sister blog - "101 Good Words" It can be found at http://dalejenkins2.blogspot.com/
OK, here's the premise...we hear and read thousands of words each day: good words, bad words; words we wish we hadn't heard. This blog will be about giving you a good word. In fact exactly 101 good, uplifting, encouraging, positive words per post. They may be faith-building, or reporting. They may be about a positive program of work. It's a quick read, it'll take you a minute or two tops to read . I invite your thoughts-we'll occasionally share the thoughts of others . Visit often! If you'd like to be notified of new posts, contact dale@edge.net! That's 101 words - enjoy!
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Name our bulletin contest...
I LOVE CHURCH BULLETINS...
The best of them keep us up to date...let us inside a little even if we are not there...give a congregation a personal touch and a personality...tell us the good stuff.
I’m sort of a church bulletin aficionado. When I first started preaching I thought that was a great place to get material, articles, ideas, and just to keep up with our brotherhood. So I wrote the 10 largest congregations in every state and then every congregation of over 400 members. When I would be speaking somewhere or on vacation or traveling I would carve out about an hour and call churches in that area and request to receive their bulletin or newsletter. At one time I used to get over 350 bulletins a week. Of course I didn’t read every word of every one but I would scan each one for ideas and over time I learned which ones typically had good stuff in them. I had several favorites (other than one’s written by family members, who’s I naturally enjoyed). I only knew the man by reputation and didn’t know a single member there but I would read Brother Jim Bill’s every week – what a writer! And then there was Paul Roger’s in Centerville – another favorite. Then there were some that the design and graphics were fabulous.
I’ve been editing a church publication now for 25 years. There was the Kossuth News, The Informer at Eva, also The Informer at Hamilton Crossroads in South Alabama, The Hamilton Herald in Hamilton, of course AIM at Granny White and finally our little bulletin here at Spring Meadows.
BUT our bulletin doesn’t have a name. So here’s your chance. What would you name our bulletin? Be creative. Have fun with it. Give me two or three of your best suggestions. I’ll pick some from there and we’ll take a poll.
The winners will get a free online subscription to our bulletin :) at http://www.smcoc.net/
I HOPE WE GET A LOT OF SUGGESTIONS. You can post anonymously.
Log in and fire away!
The best of them keep us up to date...let us inside a little even if we are not there...give a congregation a personal touch and a personality...tell us the good stuff.
I’m sort of a church bulletin aficionado. When I first started preaching I thought that was a great place to get material, articles, ideas, and just to keep up with our brotherhood. So I wrote the 10 largest congregations in every state and then every congregation of over 400 members. When I would be speaking somewhere or on vacation or traveling I would carve out about an hour and call churches in that area and request to receive their bulletin or newsletter. At one time I used to get over 350 bulletins a week. Of course I didn’t read every word of every one but I would scan each one for ideas and over time I learned which ones typically had good stuff in them. I had several favorites (other than one’s written by family members, who’s I naturally enjoyed). I only knew the man by reputation and didn’t know a single member there but I would read Brother Jim Bill’s every week – what a writer! And then there was Paul Roger’s in Centerville – another favorite. Then there were some that the design and graphics were fabulous.
I’ve been editing a church publication now for 25 years. There was the Kossuth News, The Informer at Eva, also The Informer at Hamilton Crossroads in South Alabama, The Hamilton Herald in Hamilton, of course AIM at Granny White and finally our little bulletin here at Spring Meadows.
BUT our bulletin doesn’t have a name. So here’s your chance. What would you name our bulletin? Be creative. Have fun with it. Give me two or three of your best suggestions. I’ll pick some from there and we’ll take a poll.
The winners will get a free online subscription to our bulletin :) at http://www.smcoc.net/
I HOPE WE GET A LOT OF SUGGESTIONS. You can post anonymously.
Log in and fire away!
Friday, June 01, 2007
EPIC!
If you only read one book this year---my, if you only read one book the rest of your life! WOW! "EPIC - The Story God Is Telling" is stupendous. I’ve read hundreds-try to read 65 a year.
I most always read with a highlighter and pen in my hand. Marking, making notes, agreeing, arguing. When I find a quote I like I put a "star" out beside it. If it a real good quote I put 2 "stars". If I think I may use it sometime I will put 3 "stars". 4 and 5 "star" quotes rarely come along. In 25 years of reading this was I've NEVER a six star quote before now! I think in this book I put 3.
This is a book that men will enjoy (most every man I know would thrill at this one). I don’t know how women will respond to this but every man NEEDS to read this! WOW.
I want to buy a copy for everyone I know!!! You can find it pretty inexpensive on Amazon BUT you may want to spend a couple of extra dollars and go buy it NOW. And you will read it - you will not want to put it down. It is a short read - you'll be most upset because this tremendous story ends too soon. A small format and about 100 brief pages.
EPIC has the potential to help you understand what God is doing in your life. It is a story - a powerful one at that.
I must say EPIC is a grand book.
IMHO - Good stuff...
Just some random thoughts that I've collected in a file over the last year or so that seem "blog-worthy"- what are some of your favs - sign in and add on!
My Favorite Sermon – People can change. The easy thing is to give up – write them off…but the God thing is to keep on.
Everybody has the ability to invite somebody
Nobody visits by mistake
The 3rd largest unchurched nation in the world is America
Where’s your list - who are your trying to influence for the Lord?
If we weren’t here tomorrow would the community notice?
Ask around: “Do you know where the (Insert your congregation's name here) church is?” People cannot visit a place the don’t know exist!
Only one opportunity to make a good first impression. We must always be friendly, we must always greet people warmly -the one that gives us only one chance may be the one that needs the Lord the most that day!
Hit them from every angle we can - word of mouth, publicity, advertising, door-knocking, warmth!
Is your congregation a place where people want to bring their friends? If not, why not? Change it or find a place you can bring your friends to. If you can't bring your friends where you worship how are you ever going to lead them to the Lord's church? If you don't believe in it why would you ever expect your friends to.
Don't limit God! He is able to do incredibly more than you can ask or even imagine. Now imagine - then add to that! God will always stay one step ahead of you! I don't think I know of a more amazing thought.
The future is as bright as the promises of God.
I loved Trae because he always believed the best was yet to be!
My Favorite Sermon – People can change. The easy thing is to give up – write them off…but the God thing is to keep on.
Everybody has the ability to invite somebody
Nobody visits by mistake
The 3rd largest unchurched nation in the world is America
Where’s your list - who are your trying to influence for the Lord?
If we weren’t here tomorrow would the community notice?
Ask around: “Do you know where the (Insert your congregation's name here) church is?” People cannot visit a place the don’t know exist!
Only one opportunity to make a good first impression. We must always be friendly, we must always greet people warmly -the one that gives us only one chance may be the one that needs the Lord the most that day!
Hit them from every angle we can - word of mouth, publicity, advertising, door-knocking, warmth!
Is your congregation a place where people want to bring their friends? If not, why not? Change it or find a place you can bring your friends to. If you can't bring your friends where you worship how are you ever going to lead them to the Lord's church? If you don't believe in it why would you ever expect your friends to.
Don't limit God! He is able to do incredibly more than you can ask or even imagine. Now imagine - then add to that! God will always stay one step ahead of you! I don't think I know of a more amazing thought.
The future is as bright as the promises of God.
I loved Trae because he always believed the best was yet to be!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
