Signs of the Times!

I am sure that at least a few readers of these humble ramblings remember a song by Five Man Electrical Band. The song was called “Signs” and it told about some warning signs that dared to tell us what to do.

Sign Sign everywhere a sign
Blocking out the scenery breaking my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign

I remember the opening part of the song quite well.

And the sign said long haired freaky people need not apply
So I tucked my hair up under my hat and I went in to ask him why
He said you look like a fine upstanding young man, I think you’ll do
So I took off my hat I said imagine that, huh, me working for you

woah!

What struck me most is that the official Five Man Electrical Band website actually has that last word spelled “woah”.  Hearing that song recently on an oldies station made me think about the mixed blessing of church signs. Some are clever and thought provoking. Most, sadly, are embarrassing or even harmful. I really dislike some of the signs that I have seen on display. Like this favorite that we see every summer in my state of Texas…

church-sign-6All I can say is…woah! That should bring hurting people in for sure. I imagine attending the church depicted by the sign below would be a grace filled laugh fest.

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No Devil drums, dancin’ or fancy pants translations here. And stay off the grass!

Personally, I would be more drawn to this church.

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I can honestly say that this sign does not apply to Pastor Jeff or Pastor Stephen at my home church, Waterbrook Bible Fellowship.

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Some church signs are just clever.

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That just makes me chuckle.

This sign might be a bit too obtuse for the casual passerby but it does contain the message of grace.

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God grades on the Cross, not the curve. Indeed. Paul said it like this to the Ephesians.

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,  that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved! (Ephesians 2:4-5, NLT)

As for me, I have one goal. I want to live my journey with such scandalous love, grace and abandon for Jesus that this sign will be true about my life.

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I leave you with this bit of encouragement for the week.

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