I Hate Slogans on Church Signs

Hey All,

Long time no talk. Got hooked up with Facebook and have been swimming in the "new" technology of staying in touch with people 24/7. It's crazy. I just keep waiting for someone to post "Andrew is pooping".

Anyhow, we had campaigners tonight at Turpin and I had the pleasure of sharing with our students (8 in all) the amazing truth that the Bible says that they are precious, honored, delighted in, sung over, quieted with love, and love beyond measure by Jesus Christ. I only came to Christ when I finally understood that He did love me. Not just "Jesus loves everyone" because He's Jesus, but Jesus love Ryan Keith Ventura.

So the Title of this blog is spurred on by a lifetime of hating the signs outside of churches that carry those "witty" messages and slogans. Here are list of some of my favorites:

1. "Want a treat? Come try our Sundays!"

2. "Have a Merry Chirstmas" *Take note that they actually mispelled the word Christ. I worked at this church by the way.

3. "God answers Knee Mail"

4. "Come hear the (insert random name here) Family in Concert" Nobody knows that crazy singing family besides the people in your church who invited them.

*****Though I do have a wife and 2 daughters so some day we may be the VENTURA FAMILY QUARTET.

But recently I saw 2 church signs that were fighting with each other. The first, a contemporary church, had "A Church for People Who Hate Church" written on their sign. The second, an old school church, had "A Church for People Who Love Church" written on their sign a week or two later.

I sort of liked the first sign and sort of agreed with it in some respect; though I would never advertise in that manner. The second sign I found puzzling. I don't love CHURCH. I love Jesus. If there were no buildings that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to worship Jesus in I would be OK. I wish they would have put "A Church for People Who Love the Church" because I could have agreed with that. Church is us, we our the church. As Keith Green put it, "Going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than going to McDonalds makes you a Big Mac."

I guess it just brought back bad memories of growing up in "church". Going without understanding, without knowledge of Grace, without Jesus.