Last week my son who (when we are driving together) has graduated from the back seat to the front seat of the car, asked a profound and curious question. He saw something for the first time and didn’t know what it was for. At first I was a little taken back that he wouldn’t have known but as I thought about it, why would he.

I had plugged in my phone and in doing so had pulled the lighter andcigarette lighter dropped it into the coin tray. We aren’t smokers, so we don’t use that very important, standard vehicle feature. In all truthfulness, I can understand how it had been a truly valuable addition to a car. With smoking becoming so “out of vogue” and known to be so dangerous, it is a little surprising to see them as standard features in cars today.

Every car I have ever owned has one. I have no idea what kind of expense having ashtrays and lighters add to the purchase price of cars. I would guess it is fairly nominal but multiplied by every vehicle sold; I am guessing car companies have spent millions and millions over the years.

This has me thinking about what the churches ashtrays and lighters are. What programs, or additions do we keep insisting needs to be part of the church. I am committed to really think this year about some of the ways we structure, program and deliver resources.

As a new church, we have the ability to more easily adapt than some more established churches do. But we face the same danger that every car company does. Doing what has been done without being conscious of important cultural changes.

2008 is a year to evaluate where we have come from what our future will look like. I expect some exciting changes before we turn five. Whatever else is true, I am committed to get rid of things that aren’t working and replace them with things that make sense.