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Hula Hoops, Post-it Notes, And Other Ideas
Posted by SelahV in Uncategorized
About 20 years ago, I wanted my husband to help me invent something to clean off bathtub soap scum. “We’ll call it a scum-buster. We could make a fortune,” I encouraged. “Especially for women like me who have to crawl inside the tub because our arms won’t reach the backside of the tub. And it would be such a blessing to ladies with arthritis.” I was giddy.
I told him the device needed to be like a jack-hammer only easier to hold, and preferably the length of a toilet brush. I wanted it to have short coarse bristles that went round and round like an electric sander. “Battery-operated and with the force of a power drill.” My man just shook his head, rolled his eyes and stared at the Comet-coated sponge I had in my hand. I tried harder. “Surely we could come up with something. Think of how the dentist cleans our teeth with his thingy.”
I don’t know when I stopped nagging him about an invention to make my drudgery of cleaning bathtub scum, but I do remember when electric toothbrushes came out and I remember saying, “See? This is what I want only bigger.” He nodded and said, “Unh hmmn.” Well, wouldn’t you know I saw one of those things late at night on a paid-advertising commercial not too long ago? And there were attachments to clean tile grout, too!! All for the low, low price of $19.99, yada, yada. Such are my ideas. I’ve come up with bunches of them. I could have written a little book of ideas which could change the world had I had those post-it-notes throughout my life. I just am not very good at implementing what pops into my mind.
I love people who get an idea and do not let go of it till it becomes a reality. A perfect example of this is Les Puryear and the Small Church Pastor’s Conference. It started with an idea. He wrote a post to test the waters of interest. Brainstorming began, phone calls, and conference speakers were selected. And now his idea is reality.
From frivolous to practical, ideas are what drive and push us forward. Sometimes backwards–remember the Susan B. Anthony dollar-piece? I can’t tell you how many times I gave one of those away thinking it was a quarter. But you have to admit the folks who invented hula hoops, light-bulbs and post-it-notes were brilliant. Ideas are amazing things. Some spark the engine that drives itself all the way to the finish line. Some never get past the starting line. For the most part, the latter is my legacy.
Indulge me as I test another idea for June. Small church pastors and laity often do not go to the Southern Baptist Convention in June because of financial restraints. We are a convention of thousands of churches. Why not this year, and if not, next year, could there be a call for mega churches to sponsor those pastors who can take the time to go? Is it not important enough for all these ministers to be part of the inner-workings of the convention? Is it not needful for laity to grasp the relevance of thousands of pastors and other laity doing the business of the SBC once a year? I think so, but then, it’s just an idea.
Don’t roll your eyes, now. selahV
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okay…so I guess it was a dumb idea, huh? actually, the more I thought about it, the more I could see how difficult it would be to implement. Who would be in charge of getting the block of rooms? who would coordinate the cash flow?
it would have to be set up on a first-come first-served basis, but only to those pastors of small churches with membership under what amount?
oh well…I just hope more pastors are able to attend some day. Or perhaps the idea a few bloggers had last year to have internet Convention would be a great idea when all the bugs from multiple voting could be worked out. that could come from the convention assigning specific codes to specific churches, I think. kinda like a church ID number. selahV
Hariette,
It’s not such a dumb idea…
I just don’t think that money is the single issue that keeps many pastors (esp. small church ones) away. I think it’s a little bit more an issue of time, and a lot more an issue of interest.
But, then, I’ve never been to the SBC … I’ve always had far too many weeks of summer camps and mission trips going on. Still do. I considered going this year. I even made a reservation. But I canceled as I have given some thought to going back to school.
I think it is more about interests and priorities, not just economics.
SelahV,
I’m all for more pastors attending the annual SBC. Maybe a layman can recommend their church include convention expense for the pastor; any amount can help. Pastors can plan a family vacation around the convention. One advantage is that the convention moves from city to city each year. Sooner or later it will be within a reasonable distance.
The annual SBC provides fellowship, inspiration, and can give you a great education into how the convention works. We also need to be there in the business sessions to keep them pointed in the right direction
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Oh, and just think – if your husband had cooperated and built the soap scum cleaner, you all would be rich today
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David R. Brumbelow
Geoff, You are so right. there are probably as many reasons folks don’t go to convention as we have people. And the busy-ness of the summer season in churches is one which tests the pastor’s availability. I think it is a matter of the church understanding the importance of their pastor going and even to send messengers from the church to represent them. Everyone is so busy in the summer months with family, activities, vacations and so on. Maybe too busy as far as the Pastor goes, though.
David, Hey! Good to hear from you! Unfortunately, I think the convention must be made relevant to the people who make up the churches before they will ever see the need to share their pastor with the convention at large. It’s really quite sad, because I know that many pastors would probably love to go, but most pastors do not live near their families so when they have a vacation week, they want to spend it with family and are quite divided emotionally. Most times the family wins out. This may be why a ‘virtual-convention’ may work really well someday. I do think the internet is sparking more people to be interested in the convention and how it does business. It’s just a matter of making the issues relevant to what they understand is important to the furtherance of the Gospel. If that is not clear, nothing will matter–no matter how they interact, don’t you think? selahV
Selah,
I am one who appreciates your idea, and have advocated for it for many years now. It would seem to me to be in the interest of the Convention to desire the greatest amount of participation at the annual meeting. For many reasons, finances have burdened me from going – being at a small church and having to pick and choose those things that are important or not, I have determined that my Convention Expense is not as important as ministry – therefore it is $150 per year. This year I will probably use it in going to the Small Church Conference – Les has generously allowed me to be “on scholarship” and so I am looking forward to it (with the exception of the plane ride). I have always been concerned that Larger churches (I have no evidence of this admittedly) have not really concerned themselves in the desire to see small churches involved in Convention matters – they prefer that dominion for themselves. Thus we have a denominational publisher more concerned about the bottom line rather than catering to the majority of churches which are SMALL. Just my thoughts – and if any of you “big” guys object, then it is fairly simple: Put your money where your mouth is; sponsor a few small church pastors in your association and send them to the Convention this year.
Rob
Rob, I hope you get to go more often as years progress. While you are at the Small Church Conference, broach the subject to Frank Page. Maybe he’d have some suggestions. Maybe all you fellas could put your minds together to come up with a solution? selahV