Near and Far Faith

I've been seeing a lot of things in our society lately - and the american church - that are done because they've simply been done before.

I can't remember where I heard this story, but it's about a newlywed couple that goes to make their 1st turkey and the wife insists that that you must cut the top half of the turkey off. After arguing for a while about the purpose for it, the wife calls her mother to ask why she always cut the top of the turkey off, since that's who had always done it. The mother-in-law couldn't remember why, except that her mother had always done and since the turkey was always so good, it must be a necessity. So they get grandma on the phone and let her know about the discussion that has held up thanksgiving. The Grandmother simply responds, "Oh my oven was always too small so I had to cut the turkey in half so it'd fit."

How much do we do at the church and in our lives with outdated purpose? We must, as leaders, be constantly reevaluating and asking "Is this still working?" We must do things for real - because they work and are effective and not energy-drains.