help me emerge

i am a pastor of a smaller church, in a small town where everybody knows everybody, and people just really like things the way they are. change is almost seen as a bad word. you know the places where people always look back to what were the "good ol days" and think that there can never be good days again. i however am not of that mindset. i am always looking forward to the better days still yet to come, i almost find it unhealthy to always think back.

anyway, i am trying to take a church that is deep rooted in a denomination and teach it to truly follow the teachings of jesus. it can be a difficult task. i mean the church knows all about jesus and what to do and say at church as do the members of the community, but when it comes to putting it in practice there seems to be a disconnect. we talk and talk about these things but when situations arise we just don't seem to make strides in the right direction.

i like to try new things all the time and bless the people they always go along with what i want to do, as long as i am the one doing the work. they will donate money and sometimes they will show up to help, but rarely do they get involved. i want to create a community that is a true community, that truly follows jesus and his teachings. i want our church to be known for doing crazy radical stuff that jesus told us to do. how do we get to that place? can we get to that place? what do we need to do to emerge?

there are many things going on and my mind goes 100mph on what to do and how to do it. i would love to hear some thoughts or similar struggles as maybe we could help each other along the way.

on a side note today we passed out halloween candy with cards that said that we were showing trying to show the love of jesus (which always generates a great response, from the people receiving the treats), however little response from our church people. i dont want to sound like i am knocking my church, they are great people, and i love them all, i just wish they thought like me!!lol!!