They Won't Listen if You're Not Interesting

Every now and then I come across a snippet that wows me. Here's one I just read:

The truth isn't the truth until people believe you...
And they can't believe you if they don't know what you're saying...
And they can't know what you're saying if they don't listen to you...
And they won't listen to you if you're not interesting...
And you won't be interesting unless you say things imaginatively, originally, freshly.
- William Bernbach, Advertising Guru

Reminds me a little of Paul's words in Romans 10.

Thank you, Idea Sandbox, for bringing this to my attention.

To Be Remarkable, Involve Others

Here's the finial snippet of my article 7 Ways to be Remarkable from the January 2008 issue of Pentecostal Messenger:

7. Involve Others

During late spring and early summer, I see crowds gathered around the little league ball fields in my home town. The crowds do not gather because of the athletic ability of the players. They gather because they know someone involved in the game, and that someone wants their family to see them play. Something remarkable occurs, because parents tell others, "you should have seen...!"

I think involved people remark more often than the non-involved. Choir members invite their friends to hear them sing. Musicians invite other musicians. Pastors bring more people to district events if they're involved in the event. Involvement breeds excitement and ownership, causing people to make remarks. And if they're remarking, then it is obviously remarkable -- at least to them.

Note: If you don't already receive Pentecostal Messenger and you'd like to, the Pentecostal Church of God is offering free subscriptions for the remaining 2008 issues. For details, go to www.pcg.org.

To Be Remarkable, Be the Best, Really

Here's snippet #6 of my article 7 Ways to be Remarkable from the January 2008 issue of Pentecostal Messenger:

6. Be the Best, Really

The best of anything is remarkable. People talk about the best - whether it be the best bargains, restaurants, or sports teams. People also talk about excellence in churches, but congregations are silent if a church is average.

To be remarkable, find something you could be the best at, and then do it. Have the best preschool program in town, the best worship services in the city, or the best Vacation Bible School. You could love the best, teach the best, or work better than anyone to improve your city. The key is to find an area where you could be remarkable, and then work on that area.

Note that you cannot simply say you're the best, but you must be so. As Margaret Thatcher once said, "If you have to tell someone you are, you aren't."

Note: If you don't already receive Pentecostal Messenger and you'd like to, the Pentecostal Church of God is offering free subscriptions for the remaining 2008 issues. For details, go to www.pcg.org.

To Be Remarkable, Create, Don't Copycat

Here's snippet #5 of my article 7 Ways to be Remarkable from the January 2008 issue of Pentecostal Messenger:

5. Create, Don't Copycat

Mark Batterson www.evotional.com often says, "The church ought to be the most creative place on the planet." I agree. We serve the Creator of the universe, and we are made in His likeness. So why does the church have such a hard time coming up with original thoughts?

When churches do sermon series on 24 or Desperate Housewives, the world does not respond with awe. When T-shirt designers "christianize" secular slogans (e.g. Tommy Hellfighter, Jesus Died for Pedro), the world responds, "That's cute," or, "That's lame," but never, "That's remarkable!" The church continues to be easily dismissed because we fail to achieve the remarkable.

We say we're not creative, but we used to be when we were kids. All children are creative. I cannot count the times I've seen my kids do things I never imagined -- beans up the nose, playing in toilets, standing on hampers to reach door locks. Creativity reigns!

Adults are simply afraid to let themselves loose. What if it doesn't work? Should we let the people vote on this first? Kids have no such fears, not in the beginning, not until adults start to say, "You can't...."

To be remarkable, be an original, not a copy. Pray for ideas, dare to do them, and see what remarkable things come about.

Note: If you don't already receive Pentecostal Messenger and you'd like to, the Pentecostal Church of God is offering free subscriptions for the remaining 2008 issues. For details, go to www.pcg.org.

To Be Remarkable, Eliminate Distractions

Here's snippet #4 of my article 7 Ways to be Remarkable from the January 2008 issue of Pentecostal Messenger:

4. Eliminate Distractions

One of my all-time favorite restaurants [I use the term loosely] was an Indianapolis eatery named Taquiera Los Amigos. Their Tacos de Lengua were the best I've ever had, and I drove 70 miles one-way more than once just to eat them. To me, Taquiera Los Amigos was remarkable, and I often remarked about it.

I brought my sister there once. She did not find it as remarkable as I did. The stickiness of the floor proved an insurmountable distraction to her Taquiera Los Amigos experience.

Christians must look out for insurmountable distractions. Whining PA systems, 1970's carpet, and off-key musicians detract from worship. Weeds in the flower bed repel visitors. Some waitresses detest Christians because of the poor behavior of the Sunday-after-church crowd. Such distractions must be eliminated so our remarkable message may shine through.

Note: If you don't already receive Pentecostal Messenger and you'd like to, the Pentecostal Church of God is offering free subscriptions for the remaining 2008 issues. For details, go to www.pcg.org.

To Be Remarkable, Improve on Strengths

Here's snippet #3 of my article 7 Ways to be Remarkable from the January 2008 issue of Pentecostal Messenger:

3. Improve on Strengths

I am a half-way decent musician, having played piano and bass over 20 years. I also know a little about roofing, having worked on several roofing projects. But I am a better musician than I am a roofer because I spend much more time working on my music.

If I did things the other way around, instead of "knowing a little" about roofing, I might become a half-way decent roofer. I would then be half-way decent at both roofing and music, but not remarkable in either. I prefer instead to work on music, so that I might move from "half-way decent" to "downright awesome" or "flat-out remarkable."

Jacks-of-all-trades do not attract attention, but virtuosos get invited for private performances with presidents. Common laborers risk lay-offs continually, while top performers not only keep their jobs but also make better money. I think when Jesus promised "life more abundantly," he was saying that Christians should abound in everything they do. They should be found among the best scholars, musicians, and athletes. They should be like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah whom the king found "ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm." That's remarkable, and it will only happen when you commit to improve on things you're already good at.

Note: If you don't already receive Pentecostal Messenger and you'd like to, the Pentecostal Church of God is offering free subscriptions for the remaining 2008 issues. For details, go to www.pcg.org.

To Be Remarkable, Pray Remarkably

Here's snippet #2 of my article 7 Ways to be Remarkable from the January 2008 issue of Pentecostal Messenger:

2. Pray Remarkably

Older saints tell how they used to pray past midnight and not leave the alter until they saw the Holy Ghost move. They tell about seeing the Shekinah Glory and literal tongues of fire, about hearing the Holy Ghost rush in like a tornado.

I hear today of Korean pastors who pray all night every Saturday for Sunday's sermon, and I hear of Africans who go into the bush for days at a time to pray and fast. Their prayers result in miracles, healings, and masses of people getting saved.

Remarkable prayers bring remarkable results.

Note: If you don't already receive Pentecostal Messenger and you'd like to, the Pentecostal Church of God is offering free subscriptions for the remaining 2008 issues. For details, go to www.pcg.org.

To Be Remarkable, Prophesy Genuine Prophecies

Here's a snippet of my article 7 Ways to be Remarkable from the January 2008 issue of Pentecostal Messenger:

1. Prophesy Genuine Prophecies

Genuine prophecy is always remarkable. Paul wrote of unbelievers falling down on their face, worshiping God, and knowing that God is in the church, all because of prophecy that exposes the secrets of their hearts. (See 1 Cor 14:24-25). Remarkable!

Compare that to the common God's-going-to-bless-you "prophecies" that excite Christians, but rarely affect sinners. We need prophecies that bring sinners to the alter - genuine words from God that bring remarkable responses. We must desire to prophesy, covet to prophesy, and despise not prophesyings (1 Cor 14:1, 39; 1 Thess. 5:20).

Note: If you don't already receive Pentecostal Messenger and you'd like to, the Pentecostal Church of God is offering free subscriptions for the remaining 2008 issues. For details, go to www.pcg.org.

Work on Strengths or Weaknesses?

I am a half-way decent musician, having played piano and bass for nearly twenty years. I also know a little about carpentry, from helping my grandpa roof houses for a few summers.

I am a better musician than I am a carpenter.

Now say I have a choice of two books to read. One is on music theory. The other is on carpentry. I have to read one or the other. Which do I choose?

Do I choose carpentry, because my carpentry skills are weaker?

Not if I want to become remarkable.

If all I do is work on my weaknesses, then eventually I will become average at everything.

But if I take time to hone my strengths, then my strengths will move from "half-way decent" to "pretty good" and then, perhaps, to "downright awesome".

If you're wondering what this has to do with disciplemaking, let me explain.

You, as a preacher or teacher, will choose which books you want to read this year, which conferences you want to attend, or which video curriculum to watch. If you're given a choice between communications skills and, say, end-time prophecy, which do you choose?

What is Remarkable?

Seth Godin defines remarkable better than anyone, including Webster... remarkable means people are going to make a remark.

Here's a snippet from his post How to be remarkable:

Remarkable doesn't mean remarkable to you. It means remarkable to me. Am I going to make a remark about it? If not, then you're average, and average is for losers.

This applies to churches, classes, preachers, teachers, and even members. Folks don't "go into the highways and byways and compel them" when their church, class, preacher, or teacher is average.

If people remark, then the church is remarkable. If not, it's average.

Somebody, somewhere may be thinking, "I need to tell my people to start remarking."

Wrong.

Understand that people naturally remark about the truly remarkable.