Running Sideways
I’m not sure how long it’s been since you’ve tried to Run Sideways (or run at all), but it is a wildly awkward endeavour. Like 7th Grade Boys at their first Basket Ball Practice. Just clumsy, awkward, and utterly ineffective.
As the focus and intensity of Soul City Church intensifies, I find myself daily battling my incredible ability to Run Sideways. I am amazed at my ability to not only distract myself, but BUSY myself with little things that feel like work. They FEEL like work and may even be connected to the work that God has created me to do, but often times they are sideways distractions and decisions that keep me from running into the work that God has given me this day to do.
Here are just a few completely fabricated numbers to reiterate my point.
- 87% of the time you spend coming up with your most clever Tweets is time spent running…walking…gazing Sideways.
- 63% of the time you spend composing, reading, and deleting Email is sideways.
- 42% of the time spent in Meetings is spent talking about what you should talk about at the next meeting – Sideways.
- 138% of checking Facebook Status Updates is Sideways (although it is important to know that Samantha had a rough time falling asleep).
- 62% of time spent Reading Blogs Posts is time spent Sideways (48% if you use an RSS Feeder).
- 54% of time spent Writing Blog Posts is time spent Sideways (Irony just gave me a very disappointed look).
- 63% of looking at your Google Analytics is time spent sideways (and can mess with your head and heart).
- Oddly enough, 2% of time spent Reading the Soul City Blog is time spent Sideways (the numbers don’t lie people).
None of these things are innately bad in and of themselves (with the exception of Status Stalking). It’s just that they distract. They derail. They fool you into believing that you are getting something done.
I say all of this by way of confession. I am a master of looking busy and convincing myself that I actually am. And the crazy thing is – I May Actually Be Busy…Running Sideways. I don’t have time in this day and in this life to waste it Running Sideways. Neither do you.
I commit today to moving (yes, even running) FORWARD. As an act of Stewardship. As an act of Gratitude.
When is a Blog more than a Blog?
We get that many of the people that come to the Soul City Blog aren’t Blog Nerds. Neither are we….BUT…There are ways to get the most out of this Blog without having to call the IT Department. Here’s a few ideas.
Subscribe
Instead of having to constantly keep coming back here to see if there’s a new post, have it automatically inform you through a Feed Reader. You can do that by going HERE
Or, if you’d rather have each post delivered to your Inbox, simply Click HERE and paste this – http://soulcityblog , add your email, and Voila! Instant Inbox Love!
Comment
We are so much more interested in Connection and Conversation as opposed to one way rants.. The best way to do that is to chime in with your thoughts and comments. We use Intense Debate on our blog, you can sign up and login HERE and let the comments roll.
Sign Up For Our Monthly Soul City Snapshot
Look to your right. See that little box that says Receive Monthly Soul City Snapshots? You should do that. You’ll receive a monthly email with all that you need to know about Soul City Church from a glance. It’s quick and easy and we promise not to sell your email address…unless of course they offer us LOTS OF MONEY! You can grab October’s Snapshot HERE.
Support Soul City Church
The BE Campaign is one of THE best ways for you to be a part of Soul City Church. You can be a part of Building and Extending the Kingdom of God by coming alongside what God is doing at Soul City Church. You can click the Box to your right to get started. It’s SAFE and SIMPLE and makes a HUGE Difference. You can Support Soul City by
BEing Creative (Non Monetary Gifts in Kind)
BEing Contagious (Give $100 invite friends in your network to give $100)
BEing Consistent (Monthly commitment of 2 years – $50, $100, etc.)
BEing Courageous (One Time Substantial Monetary Gifts)
We are so grateful for those who have already Lovingly and Sacrificially Given to be a part of Soul City. You may never be able to attend, but you can always be a part!
Take a Look, it’s In a Book.
Did you know that Soul City has it’s own Book Store? That’s right, we don’t even have a building yet and we already have a Book Store. It’s filled with Great Resources that have shaped the DNA of Soul City. Check it out. Every purchase you make through our Store automatically gives 10% back to Soul City Church. So go ahead, buy those 10,000 books you’ve had your eye on. And if there are any books you would recommend, leave them in a comment below.
So there you go. We hope this helps and we are so excited to be a part of this Divine Adventure with you. We honestly believe that
EVERY FOLLOWER OF JESUS DESERVES THE RIGHT TO BE A PART OF STARTING A CHURCH AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIFE.
Soul City may just be that church for you.
Soul City Launch Party
Thursday Night, July 23 Soul City Church gave a sneak peak to friends, supporters, and partners of this blog, SoulCityChurch.com, and the BE campaign. It was an incredible party and an incredible night.
We shared our story of how God invited us into this season of faith, vision, dependence, and sacrifice. We share the Vision of Soul City Church. We talked about what God is doing at Soul City right now as well as what we sense God is inviting us into next. We also spent time praying, thanking God, and dreaming about what’s next for our lives and for this church. It was the perfect way to make this little dream we’ve had for years become a full fledged reality.
We are so grateful for this incredible group of friends (and the many more who couldn’t be there). While some of them may never regularly attend Soul City Church, EACH of them is already a part of it.
You can experience some of the night HERE.
((Big Ups to LosWhit for playing paparazzi. The pictures look amazing.))
