Sales people understand the concept of territory. They are given an area of responsibility by their business to cover. But do we, as Christians on a mission, think in terms of territory? Is "everything" your territory?

God has a specific territory for you to work within. You will be called to reach new people for Jesus Christ in a specific way (instructions on technique) and in a specific location (territory).

Listen to what God said to Joshua.

"I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates--all the Hittite country - to the Great Sea on the west." -- Joshua 1: 3-4, NIV

That's God speaking. Catch the territory idea?! 

So, I was thinking today about territories. Where's my territory? Where are the boundaries where I am supposed to focus? Is territory just "land mass"? Or can it also be something like "addictions," "children," "divorced," etc.?

God has a specific territory in mind for each of his servants. So, how do I go about determining that territory?

Jim Griffith (of Jim Griffith coaching) said something basic, yet profound last week. You should not go out on a limb if you haven't heard a very clear call from God himself. He believes in the closet! Lock yourself into that closet, until you hear from God and hear specifically about what you are called to do and where you are called to go.

Go to the closet, friends!

CNN jumped into the middle of a battle - Is the online church a good thing or a bad thing? How do they come down? Neither side. Oh come on - they're just reporting guys!

But they didn't report on this. Jim Griffith recently stated that "multi-site" churches are a "bad idea"! He says they are started for the wrong reason - space. (@ the New Church Leadership Institute in Richmond, Nov. 11, 2009)

Why would anything built to make room for the current congregation last beyond a few years? Answer: They probably won't.

Now, what about the Internet Church?

This year our Christmas theme is about wrapped up - truly amazing, but very close to our "go" moment in getting promotional stuff done. Yikes! I'm excited about the "big idea" this year because it scratches that itch for getting close to God. I've decided to call the 5 week series, "Christmas: Sacred Steps." Knowing that the feel needs to give that "peaceful, centered" kind of pull, I've been thinking.

Oh, and this will be our "Advent" series, but since a lot of people don't know what "advent" means I'll use the word "Christmas" instead.

I look at other graphic sites for spunnky fodder in the old fun tank of type and graphic combos. I want to share with you some great, free sites if you don't have them in your bookmarks.

Here's where I went for my Christmas idea: openresources.org. The guy who keeps this up is out of Fellowship Community Church, Fairfax, VA and his heart is big to share multiple formats of resources for free! I'm taking one of his ideas, called him up and asked for permission to tweak it some and I'll share it when it's done. This is the idea I'm using.

The other great place to get ideas: open.lifechurch.tv/. Now they also have ideas on content, not just graphics.

May God bless your Christmas/Advent ideas.