OK, so it’s not such a new thing. In fact, it turned six today. It’s name is iPod. So you’ve heard of it? Yep, thought you had.

On the internet, there is a forum thread known as “Thread 500″. It is on MacRumors.com. Initially, people ridiculed it. Some of the comments made were:
“I still can’t believe this! All this hype for something so ridiculous! Who cares about an MP3 player? I want something new! I want them to think differently! Why oh why would they do this?! It’s so wrong! It’s so stupid!”

“Sure the iPod is cool, and yeah I’d love to have one, but only for half the asking price of $399.”

“The iPod requires me to change my lifestyle to meet it’s needs… I need round holes, not square holes. For $99 I might buy the toy, for $399? Why?”

Consider that the iPod sold 110 million units internationally as of September. All of this gloom and doom from those looking at the situation in 2001, but it turned out to be the most successful MP3 player on the market. And in the opinion of some, it became the best MP3 player.

You’re probably wondering at this point, “Evan, what in the world does this have to do with ministry?” Here’s what this has to do with ministry: this happens all the time in ministry. Someone comes up with an idea that sounds crazy, sounds like it has already been done, or that sounds impossible. For most people, that is where they would stop. They would decide it was too crazy, too redundant, or too hard. Others have convinced them to give up.

And sometimes, giving up was the best decision. And then there are the times when they pursue their ideas, continue to do what they know is right, what they know is God’s will. If they were really in God’s will, their idea will flourish, and God will bless.

So what can we learn? If you have an idea that you are convinced is God’s will, and not just your desires speaking, go for it! If it is what is right, it will be blessed. The results may not be immediate, but they will come. Just go for it. And you may find that you have the next iPod on your hands.