Beginning the new year provides a great opportunity to look at the year behind and the year ahead as a church.  I am always curious about churches that "get it."  You know what mean,  when I say "get it."  I mean they understand what Jesus meant about being an incarnational church.  I really love the story Rick Warren gives illustrating how God can sometimes move within a church. 

Southern California is well known for its beaches.  It’s part of the country that popularized the music of the Beach Boys, beach party movies, and of course, surfing.  Although the surfing fad has evolved into skateboarding for most American kids, the real sport is still popular in southern California…  If you take a class on surfing, you’ll be taught everything you need to know about surfing… But you’ll never find a course that teaches “How to Build a Wave…”  Surfing is the art of riding waves that God builds… A lot of books and conferences on church growth fall into the “How To Build A Wave” category… But growth cannot be produced by man… Only God can create waves.

I loved going to the ocean with my 3-girls.  They were an absolute ball to body surf with.  Now, as a parent, I didn't always get the chance to enjoy the experience as much as they did because I was to busy watching to make sure they were still right-side-up, but I still look back with laughter.  What I especially remember is how we would all lump together and look for the next best wave.  Sometimes we would see one to the north and other times to the south, and sometimes we got lucky being in the right place at the right time.  Nevertheless, it was always fun to watch my girls chase waves.  

I find the same principle to be true in the church today.  Sometimes we get "lucky" and happen to be in the right place at the right time when that amazing wave comes in, and sometimes we need to look around and chase a wave.  I look at chasing waves as it relates to the church and her health.  You see, just like waves come in at varying levels so God's activity comes in, in ways that are not always consistent.  Communities change, environments change, ministry needs change, and the church needs to be aware of these changes so that we can minister to people where they are.  Though our building may be permanent and stationary our legs and handiwork are not as we connect to the needs of people.  

Most people assume if you go to the ocean there will be waves, just like if you go to a church there will be ministry happening inside.  Not always true!  Ministry is GOD INITIATED and CHURCH ASSEMBLED.  We just need to be consistently looking out for waves.