Andy Stanley talked about New, Improved and Improving and Catalyst last month. I'm reading a book by Gene Apple and Alan Nelson called How to Change Your Church Without Killing It that has some interesting insight! Their premise is not New Churches vs. Exisiting Churches it is both! Alan planted a thriving church in AZ and Gene transitioned an exisiting church in Las Vegas into a vibrant one before leaving for Willowcreek. They pointed out something that was very enlightening. Look at all of these verses: Psalm 98:1, Isaiah 42:9, Isaiah 43:18-19, Isaiah 65:17, Lamentations 3:22-23, Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 18:30-31, Matthew 9:17, Mark 1:27, Hebrews 9:15, John 13:34, Romans 6:4, 1 Corinthians 5:6-7, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 4:22-24. Notice the use of the word NEW in each verse! God is a God of change. You don't believe me wake up every morning and a new day looks different than the one before. When we lived in Texas the joke was if you don't like the weather wait an hour it will change. Look at people they are different. They change daily. New is better! Those that reminisce on the past are missing the boat. We need new churches! But we don't need to destroy old ones. Existing churches must change and become new. Existing churches need to start new churches. New churches can help existing churches become new. We are not in competition with each other. The enemy is satan! Think of how many existing churches have become more relevant because of Willowcreek and Saddleback churches! They did new things 20-25 years ago. Flamingo Road was an exisiting church that decided to change and become new, now they are relevant to their community and have been teaching other churches across the world that they too can change and become new! Any healthy organism grows. Churches need to grow and become new. Technology is changing every day. I bought a new Palm T-5 in August. I was at the Palm store last month and now they have the Palm T/X that has wireless built in and a bigger screen for $50 less than I paid for mine a month before! Life changes! People change! Why don't we in the church change! If Paul said that we are NEW creations then why aren't we changing? I will continue to push for change. I ask that my friends push me to change. I read, listen to other leaders and study so I can change. Change is for winners! Status quo is for losers!