As of late Eminem, the rapper everyone loves to hate, has been reminding us that 'we need a little controversy.' I am going to hesitatingly side with Mr. Mathers and if possible throw out a little controversy.

Before I do allow me to identify myself. I am 34, of the generation formerly known as 'X'. I was not raised in the church, so I don't have 'church baggage' that I'm toting around. Although I am both a pastor and a Baptist I am not afraid of change. That being said, here's my gripe: My generation of church leaders and goers always seem to be searching for the newest new thing. If that's not bad enough, when they find this week's new new thing they tend to attack last week's previous new new thing. We seem to be worshipping at the idol of the 'latest cutting edge__________ '(you fill in the blank).

I can hear what you're thinking. "Ron", you are saying, "give me some examples what you are talking about." Gladly. Let's start with a few years ago the big thing was mega churches. They were touted as exciting and a place that could minister on a level that the ugly step-sisters of smaller churches could never do.Now, if you read the latest cutting edge publications, micro-churches are the rave. They provide community. Something that their bloated mega church step-sister could never do.

I could go on about how like sheep we followed Mr. Warren's 11th commandment 'Thou shalt not mix worship styles.' Then somewhere along the line someone has decided that 'blended worship' is the way to go. So now we blend. Do you remember running around to buy the latest power point and projection equipment only to be told that people want a moving primitive sensory experience of candles and aromas?

My point would be this...we're not cutting edge enough. We are just 'gadget guys'. The most cutting edge thing there is to do is to connect with the people whom God has placed among us. Do we realize that people get bored with our power point? It becomes nothing more than a 21st century overhead projector. We leaders are so excitedly droning on about the 'latest model' and our people just sit in the pews politely smiling while rolling their eyes at us.

Yet, there are some things within the church's reach that never seems to get to be old hat. People seem perpetually intrigued with the person of Christ. People are fascinated by others whose lives have been transformed by the power of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. Maybe, the most cutting edge thing we could do is "go into the highway and the hedges and compel them to come in."

But then again, it is so much easier to shop for the latest gadget.