Good Morning.

Time flies. (Well, to be completely accurate, it doesn't, but it just seems that way.) At the risk of stating the obvious, there is a reason for that, which I'm happy to relate. Let's get into the Way Back machine and remember Christmas when you were 10 years old. (If that is a painful memory for you, I apologize...this is only a test...pick any particular Christmas, birthday, or other recurring event from your childhood, and it will serve just as well). When you were 10, the year between Christmases was one tenth of your life. Ten percent. OK, then...back to reality...oops, I mean 2008. Let's say you are 50 years old (again this is an example, try this at home with your real age). That means the year between Christmases is one fiftieth of your life. Two percent. Smaller percentage...considerably smaller, the older you are. Thus, the perception is that the time is shorter, even though, in real terms, it is exactly the same. Sort of like listesso tempo.

In any event...Time flies. A peek over the horizon allows us to see Halloween, Thanksgiving, and, probably stewardship emphasis. For those of us in music and worship leadership, though, all of that is probably dwarfed by that big looming Christmas season, and all of the attending responsibilities. Decorations have been available for sale since July 5, I think, and it won't be long before carols will be a significant addition to the playlist of your favorite XM/cable/Muzak soundtrack. Start now, and avoid the rush: it is time for the yearly reminders to your volunteers...get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, keep your hands away from your eyes, and wash them frequently when you are accepting all the thanks for such wonderful music/concerts/services/plays/pageants/run outs/banquet entertainment...well...you get the idea.

OK. This week's reminder about the many things available at our website to help you do your ministry better: We have other weekly features in addition to Monday Morning Email. On Tuesdays, as soon as it is available, we have Carl Stam's Worship Quote of the Week. On Thursdays, Randy Vader checks in with our exclusive Thinking on These Things.
And, when you are finished checking out those things, why not stay a while and explore the rest of Creator's website? Thanks.

We're continuing the process of rolling out our "new and improved" Monday Morning Email each week, and I'm happy to announce that we've added something new--the MMEBlog, which is written by...ta da...me. The MMEBlog is designed to allow those who don't want to become members of the Creator Leadership Network (and why wouldn't you be a member?) to get this weekly newsletter as well as read the actual MME on the site. So if you are reading this in your email, and are happy with that system, you don't have to do a thing. MME will continue to arrive in your mailbox each Monday. Blessings upon you for being a CLN member. There are probably two advantages to reading the MMEBlog. First, it will serve as an archive for these newsletters, and second, I may add things on other days of the week as well.

This week's MME contains some assembled bits of information from "the files" as they say, including an explanation of the Three Minute Rule, which just might increase the size of your choir, and your church. To read this week's MME, just click here.

This week, pray for those who find that time is flying out of control, and for those who find the upcoming holidays to be less than happy days, for whatever reason, and please tell your friends and colleagues about Creator and MME too.

Blessings,

Vern Sanders
Publisher
Creator Magazine