"We simply cannot love one another as Jesus commanded if our lives only overlap in 15-minute segments before and after programmed Christian events. And we cannot reach out to those far from God if the normal flow of our lives is disconnected from theirs and channeled into church programs."

This quote is taken from the Q Short: Renewing Cities Through Missional Tribes, by Jon Tyson

This was uttered by Anna, the actress, waitress, recovering alcholholic who eventually became a Christian. Her passion for connection in the church was contagious. She served in the children's ministry, got involved in a small group, and even came to church early to greet new people. She discovered something was missing - like Francis Chan and many other Christians.

If you're filling your time up (or your church members' time) with church stuff, and not taking time to deeply know and love other members of the body, or engage with outsiders, you're probably not representing Christ very well.

How can we get out of this habit of equating church event involvement with Christ-likeness?

It's 5pm! Choosing counting comments and choosing 2 random numbers now. Stand by ....

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Today we're giving away 2 copies of Tony Morgan's new book, Killing Cockroaches.

With honest, hard-hitting insights on everything from marketing and Web site design to team building and staffing strategies—plus worship planning, leadership development, and even how to repair a rented Mustang convertible—this book of action-packed pointers will give you some good ideas to try and some even better questions to ask. Also includes interviews with some of today’s most creative ministry minds and trendsetters, like Craig Groeschel, Seth Godin, Penelope Trunk, Steven Furtick, and Guy Kawasaki.

To win:
1. retweet: "Win Tony Morgan's new book: Killing Cockroaches http://bit.ly/1ANoRI"
2. Comment below with your twitter name

At 5pm EST today, we'll choose 2 random comments to win! You must comment and retweet before 5pm EST today, July 28, 2009.

LosWhit blogged yesterday about the church who gave away their church!

Rolling Hills Church in Fayetteville, GA owns their land and building with over $1 Million in equity.
They've decided to sell their property in order to give and help their neighbors around them.

The pastor, Rev. Frank Mercer said: “We spend over 50 percent of our budget on a building that we are in less than 10 percent of the time." He was inspired by a church in New York that was contemplating buying a building, but decided not to, stating: “I’m afraid if we become a church of bricks and mortar, we’ll cease to be a church of flesh and blood.”

The fact is, buildings are very expensive, a huge investment. And if it's only used 10% of the time, is it a waste? Can a church do more good, better disciple their people, better love God and their neighbor by putting their money elsewhere? That's what these guys seem to think.

What do you think?