The convention got smaller.

I went to the annual associational meeting for Southern Baptist last night. "What did you learn?" Great question. I learned that the asociation has gotten smaller. I guess the attendance shrunk around 30%.

I have made jokes that going to this meeting makes me feel young and thin. I think this statement must be more true than false because I destinctly remember people from last year that seemed to be pretty close to...well you know. And they weren't there this year.

What's the point?

1975, were not there anymore. We are in the year 2008. This year we have an african american running for president against a POW. iPhones are still cool, but are much more common. There are cars that can park themselves and most new cars have screens in the dash that can do a number of things like show you where you are and how to get where want to be. This is 2008!

Every year technology advances. Clothing styles change. Cars are reimagined and rebuilt. Music styles change and cultural relevance gets that much harder.

We can't expect to latch onto a good hymnal and nice pews and still reach the rapidly changing culture. It seems that we have gotten good at one style and way of doing things but now it is 25-30 years later and more people than ever are dying and going to hell. We need to wake up and get with the program. If Wal-Mart (the world's largest retailer) doesn't re-shape, re-align and re-order it would crash.

We need to let go of the home phone realize that cell phones are not shaped like bricks or in bags and wake up to the culture. Seriously, if someone came to you and seemed to be stuck in a time warp from 25+ years ago would you engage with them? No, you wouldn't be able to relate.

How important is Matthew 29:18-20? Our commission is to bring people to Jesus, baptize them and teach Jesus' commands. How are we to do that if we are the ones stuck in the time warp?