Dealing with a signage infection

OK, I've been pretty harsh about some church signs, and maybe someone is wondering if I have anything constructive to say, and not just criticisms.  In other words, I've talked a lot about what church signs shouldn't say, but can I give suggestions for what they should say?

Maybe.

First, I have to say that church signs are a lot like church meetings - it takes a pretty good one to be better than none at all.  Fortunately, many churches do have pretty good meetings.  So, make the sign look like your meetings.  Because that's what people will think anyway - what you say on your sign is what you say in your meetings.  Like making fun of people you supposedly are trying to love in a godly way.  Making jokes about them going to hell, which you claim is so terrible you don't want anyone to end up there.  Maybe even make your sign look like you wish your meetings looked.

How about putting the name of a serviceman/woman on the sign thus, "We're praying today for PFC John Doe, in Afghanistan.  Come home safely, John."

Naturally, you'll have to actually have someone at the building praying for that person.  If you're really committed to doing good things, change the name every day and make sure that someone in the church building carries through with the promise.  Every day.

Maybe even something like this, "Come on in and join us - we're praying for PFC John Doe, in Afghanistan."

Lost child in the news? "Come on in and join us - we're praying for Amber Doe."

You could set a time frame, though it would be really cool not to have to.  "Come on in and join us - we're praying for Amber Doe.  9:00-11:00 A.M."

Naturally, this approach requires that someone change the sign frequently.  Every day would not be too often.  Someone would have to do some research to know who to pray for, and how.  Someone would have to be available at the church building to actually be in prayer, and to make others welcome should they choose to join in.  Someone would have to do some real work battling the enemy, instead of firing random mortar rounds into the enemy's already-conquered territory.  Because we aren't fighting the people who read those signs - we're fighting the spiritual lord who has taken them as a conquest.  And if he laughs at our jokes, it's only because they help his cause.

Well, that's one constructive suggestion.  Mark that off my list of things to do ...