Under the Sun.

This past weekend I went to a ministry training conference cleverly entitled MTC. It was great to see friends and make new ones. What stuck out to me and what I wanted to share was a simple phrase that completely changed a thought process.

"There is nothing new under the sun, an idea that you've had...someone else has had it too."

The first part is a phrase I have heard a lot but never in the comparison to leadership and ideas. I began to think how true this is. The disciples took messages from what Jesus had already said and made them their messages, so really the only original speaker was Christ, from him on it's just been repeats in different ways.

This concept doesn't just apply to messages, it can also go with plans and ideas. Of course you can't say you are going to make a carbonated beverage and call it coca-cola, but ideas for leadership, strategic plans, stage ideas, whatever...they can come from anywhere. If you think of it on your own then cool, but I guarantee someone else somewhere has done it. When we realize that we are all in this together then that is when we see the kingdom advance and change everything. You and the local baptist church are not like the bloods and the crips...we are a body together. Be willing to share ideas with everyone even if they don't go to your church. An idea that you have that worked great for you could possibly be something another church in your community needs to reach someone you will never have the opportunity to reach.

There is nothing new under the sun, so I challenge you to use someone else's ideas sometimes because they may be better and more successful than yours, and to share your ideas with someone outside of your church. This might do something unimaginable in your community...you might change it. How crazy would that be? Churches working together for the same common purpose??? Different churches united in the community. When you can get that nothing new is under the sun...it changes everything.

Who can you help? Who can help you?

peace be the journey.
///tres