For me it's always a great day when I read a book start to finish. Those days are rare, but today was one of them.

The book I picked up today was Deliberate Simplicity by Dave Browning.



The book itself was thought provoking. But thats not really what I want to write about. The premise was simplifying the church. If you are in leadership of any organization, specifically a church, its worth a glance. The work itself challenged to the way I perceive the ideal form of the church. But as my brain usually works, one word took my mind on a rabbit trail that lead to slightly organized expedition and eventually lead to the x on the map which I refer to as Great thoughts of my powerful mind. Maybe I am overselling myself a little...but the point is one word "electricity," got my mind going.

It raised a question in a form that I often ask questions in when I first meet someone. "Would you Rather". Its classic, and usually can lead to some pretty odd conversation (which is always fun). A favorite of mine is "would you rather sweat cheese or throw up marbles" (shout out Crystal Bennett). Again not the point of this post, but still worth lingering over.

Now to the question. This question can be read in two ways. When it poped into my head it was posed towards someone who runs a weekly gathering of believers on sunday morning. If thats not you, read it as a person participating in that gathering.

Would you rather have a the electricity go out 5 minutes before the service or lead the service (or participate in) without relying on the Holy Spirit to lead. No lights, hardly being able to be heard (or make out what the teacher is saying), the great promo video for the missions night not being shown, all the music transitions being thrown out. Just imagine the Chaos.

Now, I know what your answer will be when you think about it. After you pull out your "Answers for sunday school" book. But be honest with yourself, what was your gut reaction? Don't read to far into my words. In no way am I implying that electricity is bad. But what runs your church? what runs your gatherings? What is at the core of what makes gathering together worth while?

I dont ask this to imply you should gather with hundreds, or even thousands, in a way that the electricity going out doesn't cause a single hiccup. If you're reading this and lead any gathering of believers in any way, shape or form here is the question I hope you can ligner on. What is the conduit by which you long for God to move through? Would you be more afraid of the lights going out, or God moving out? One is always noticed in a moment, one may take much longer to be exposed in a leader.

To me its as simple as choosing a cut that can be covered by a band-aid over cancer brewing undetected under ones skin.


I'll ask it one more time. Would you be more afraid of the lights going out, or God moving out?

I pray we can be leaders that can focus on people not programs. Living Monday through Saturday, not just Sunday.