A few minutes before midnight on April 14, 1912, 1,500 hundred people faced their cold watery grave in the icy waters of the North Atlantic. The infamous iceberg was the start of the end. Or was it?
This historical disaster didn’t begin at 10:55 pm when the ship received a wireless warning (the sixth warning that day) of ice less than 20 miles North. The Wireless operator responded, “Keep out! Shut up! You’re jamming my signal”. (The Titanic by Tom McCluskie)
It also didn’t start at 11:30 pm when a slight blue haze appeared ahead.
It didn’t start at 11:40 pm when the fact was confirmed that the Titanic and it’s 3,500 passengers and crew had hit an iceberg.
The start of the end of the Titanic disaster inevitably began and continued in the minds, dreams and strategy of the owners, builders and passengers of the day. The Shipbuilder, (the trade magazine of its day) articled the Titanic as “Practically unsinkable”.
“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the future.” (C.S.Lewis)
What will Church historians say about our churches 100 plus years into the future? Will they debate our buildings, budgets, manpower and love for independence? Will they read, analyze and debate the impact, accomplishments, programs and sermons of our day? Will they focus on the Televangelists, the Mega Churches or the average local community of believers? Or, will they decry our inability to make a phenomenal difference to our generation based on God’s love for his people.
Here’s my challenge for each of us. We all have a tradition and a church culture (the way we do it around here). My challenge is to define which of our Christian habits are really Biblical, glorifying God and leading people to worship.
Leadership is … changing our future by ensuring everything we do is God directed and glorifying to Him.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
Jethro Group
ldkjethrogroup@gmail.com