Failure is not an option

I don't believe a person can fail a system, I think it is the system that fails the person. Don't get me wrong, I don't think that absolves a person of wrongdoing. Nor do I think it endorses laziness. How I mean it is that a good system has a method for making sure everyone is able to play their part, and if they are not playing their part the system should have a method for helping that person better themselves.

I think this may be what is most wrong about our society today. We endorse personal success and condemn personal failure. In fact there is nothing personal about either. The star athlete isn't solely responsible for their success. They are the product of their parents support, their coaches expertise, their teammates assistance, and even their own random genetics. Personal effort comes to play, but it isn't the be-all-end-all that us humans want to think of it as. In like fashion failure isn't accomplished alone but has many, sometimes very many, accomplices. Personal character flaws come into play as well, but they also are not the be-all-end-all that we would like them to be.

When I think of Family of God as a system I ask myself how can we best help everyone to play their part, and if they aren't how can we help them to better themselves. In particular I have been considering the exceedingly important task of outreach and evangelism. As pastor I hardly am able to, lone ranger style, single handedly grow Family into a healthy worshiping body. I need all of your involvement. But, in like fashion, the system has to be such that folks have a way to participate in outreach that works. I would love to just say, "Go and invite!" and know that everyone can show up next Sunday with 2 or 3 new families. But that does not take into account the burning question of "How?".

So, to help the system best work for everyone, next Sunday you will all get a "Press Packet". I talked a blog posting ago about recruiting everyone to the Family of God Press Corp. This Sunday I want to start equipping you to carry out some of those Press Corp missions. It isn't fair to tell you all to just go out and talk to folks about Family of God without giving you some tools. That would be the system failing you. Sunday you will receive a packet with some posters to put up random places (your favorite coffee house, at work, on the bulletin board at Circle K, you name it), A few Family of God business cards, for when folks ask you about your church. A couple of brochures that you could give to a friend or just leave lying about, say, at your doctor's office. A Family fridge magnet, slap that one up at home or wherever. We want you to be successful Press Corp members. So get ready for some equipment, it is one of the first of many things we will do to help you.

God bless.

Pastor Rus