The Strangest Thing I’ve Ever Seen in a Church

Any guesses on what this is? Anyone know the history of this church?

Conference Junkies

Does it ever feel like everyone but you gets to go to any and every conference they want? Like every day you see tweets and blogs of people that are at another conference?

Well, a little of that is reality. There really are conference junkies out there. (Many of them are consultants and vendors whose “job” is to network at these events.) But part of it is because of the increase in the sheer number of conferences. It used to be there were a handful of big conferences through the year–and conference organizers worked hard to spread them out. Now days–that’s impossible. For example, last week there were two huge conferences happening simultaneously: Exponential in Florida and Catalyst West in California.

This week you could be in Baton Rouge at All Access 2010, Atlanta for Orange, or Chicago for Q. All good conferences.

But in today’s world, it’s not necessary to be there in person. Here are a few ways you can tune in without leaving home:

• Check the conference site for a live feed of their sessions. It looks like both All Access and Orange are streaming live. This is becoming more common all the time.
• Check the conference site after it concludes for uploaded sessions (like ChurchPlanters.com did for their recent Velocity conference).
• Do a Google Blog Search and limit it to your conference name in the post title to find attendees who are blogging live.
• Follow the Twitter hashtag for the conference using a service like Twubs. That sounds complicated, but you don’t have to have a Twitter account to see what people are “tweeting.” And many times you’ll hear some great one-liner quotes in real time. It’s as though you are there. Click here for examples from this week’s conferences: All Access, Orange and Q.

Of course there are exceptions. For example, you’ll want to be there in person for the AND Conference coming up in November. But then again, I’m a little biased.

Is it Possible to Disciple a Non-Christian?

In their book Untamed, Alan and Debra Hirsch talk about a time when their small community of believers was building relationships with a group of prostitutes. They would knit clothes, provide food and more for these “working girls.” They write,

“Our intention with these women was ultimately for them to know Jesus. So we began to disciple them. Did they know we were doing that? Absolutely not—I doubt they would have come at all if they did. Rather, our discipling of them was to expose them to the values of the kingdom and the heart of Jesus for the outcast. These women knew that we were believers, but we never abused our relationship with them by imposing our views or inappropriately “evangelizing” them in the narrow understanding of this term. We exposed their hearts to the issues of injustice and serving others, and helped put the poor on their radar. Most of these women started as professional women concerned with becoming affluent, getting bigger and better homes, and living more comfortable lifestyles. Discipling for them meant that over time they began to look more like Jesus by embracing values that were more in line with the kingdom, and as this transformation began questions about God and Jesus started taking place.” (pg 148-149)

The authors contend that we make a mistake by keeping discipling limited to followers of Christ. It’s as though we consider everything pre-conversion as evangelism and everything post-conversion as discipleship. Yet they say, “Discipleship is not just for those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior—it’s for everyone! We believe it is a great mistake to restrict discipling to just Christians and keep it within the confines of the Christian community. We as believers are called to disciple everyone who comes into our orbit of influence.”

What say you?

The Day I Had a Dream for My Future

Tomorrow feels like a significant day to me. Let me explain with a bit of history.

In 1986, I was right out of high school and traveling around the country with a group called Life Action Ministries. I was 19-years old and had believed since I was 12 that God wanted me to give my life to full-time ministry. But in my limited exposure, I figured that meant I had to be a preacher, a youth pastor, a missionary or a guy who waves his arms and leads music. None of those excited me, but I didn’t know there were any other options.

Then my team visited Tallowood Baptist Church—a large Southern Baptist Church in Houston. As the team manager, it was my responsibility to work with the church staff and coordinate the details of the team. I don’t know his name—but I worked with an older gentleman who ran the operations and ministries of the church. He was called an “executive pastor” – a role I had never heard of before. My eyes were opened to new possibilities.

One afternoon I was sitting in the back of the auditorium at Tallowood talking to a friend when he asked, “What would your dream job be?” At that moment, this executive pastor was walking through, and I pointed at him and said, “That. If I could use my leadership gifts to help run a church like he is, that would be my dream job.” Over the next few years I worked with dozens of large southern baptist churches, and learned more about the role of executive pastor.

It was 11 years from that day until my dream was actually realized–at which time I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. Although I’ve been an executive pastor now for more than a decade—I still wake up every day (okay, not every day, but most days) grateful that I get to serve the Church in this way.

Fast forward to tomorrow. I feel totally humbled to be able to speak for a few minutes in New Orleans on Thursday to the executive pastors from the 50 largest Southern Baptist Churches in America. I can’t imagine what I’ll say to help them—but I think God gave me this opportunity to remind me of his hand on my life.

And maybe to remind you as well…especially young leaders: You may have a dream that seems impossible. But if you are faithful every day to do what God asks for that day—you might just find that God will eventually give you the desire of your heart.

This Book is Worth Buying–but I’ve Got 100 Free Copies

A couple months ago I had the chance to read an early draft of a book that was released just this week. It’s written by Shannon O’Dell–a man whom I love and trust. He leads an amazing church in central Arkansas, loves his wife and family, and walks with integrity. (You may remember me writing last year about Shannon and the amazing turn-around at his church).

The book is called Transforming Church in Rural America. I was previewing it for pastors I know all across America who lead churches in small to mid-sized communities. I figured the book would be for them. And it is. But it is for me also. And every pastor I know. Many manuscripts I skim–but this one I read word-for-word, from beginning to end. Here is a note I wrote to the publisher after I finished…

“I’m captivated by Shannon’s story, challenged by his witness and moved by his resolve. As I read, I found myself turning the pages quickly and anticipating what was coming next. Shannon sounds a clear call for leaders of the church in rural America–but the principles translate to any leader trying to move a congregation toward life change in communities of all sizes. This is a rare book…one that I’ll be buying several copies of to hand out to encourage pastors every chance I get.”

If you’ve followed my blog very long, you’ll notice that I don’t do very many book reviews. I get several books a week from publishers, but rarely have the time I’d like to give them an extensive review. The ones that I read are those which catch my attention or are especially relevant to my life. And then I don’t always give a review. But this book is seriously very good.

UPDATE: The 100 free books went very quickly–but that’s not a reason not to get one. It’s only $12 on Amazon and you will be glad you got it.

Every Conversation Matters

Yesterday I got a message on Facebook from a friend from long ago. She said…

Just the other day I remembered something you said at least 25 years ago and it changed my life, to you it was probably insignificant but it was HUGE to me. Someone on the team had said something to you about me and my ‘control’ issue. Instead of agreeing with them you told them that “yes, it was amazing how far God had brought me in the couple of years you had known me.” It was one of the first times someone had seen (and put into words to me) where I was going instead of where I was and it gave me hope. I try to speak that hope to others, especially my kids because I know what a difference it made to me that day.

I don’t remember that conversation–but I am struck once again by the power of words. Even the little ones, in seemingly forgettable conversations, can have huge, life-time impact. I wonder how many things I have said where I will never know the impact—for good or for bad? Not a lot I can do about the past. But I can determine today to use my words to give life.

“A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire.” (James 3:5, MSG)

Get Rid of the Performance Review?

In yesterday’s paper there was an AP article about a new book called Get Rid of the Performance Review! by Samuel Culbert. A couple quotes from the article stood out to me:

• Want to lower morale, reduce productivity and undermine the relationship between the boss and his or her subordinates? Give an annual performance review.
• Pay and performance are merely tools used to intimidate employees.
• “It is the most pretentious, fraudulent, ill-advised exercise taking place at companies, and I can’t understand why,” Culbert said in an interview with the Associated Press. “It does nothing but cause angst and anxiety.”

I must say this article has me interested in reading the book. We haven’t mandated annual performance reviews at Granger for several years for many of the reasons cited above. But I’ve been contemplating bringing them back.

I’m curious–what do you think about these statements? Tell me your positive or negative experience with performance reviews.

Four Words Worth Considering

As you watch this video, what are you thinking? Does it compel you to be different? Do something? Love better?

Please Tell Me I’m Wrong!

I saw a news report last night showing hundreds of cots lined up at JFK and Newark airports and I was hollering at the TV, “What the heck?” These passengers have been stranded for five days–and they are still sleeping on cots in the airport? I can’t believe that not one church in the area stepped in to say, “We will help! We will house the stranded passengers until their flights are rescheduled. We will help with clothing and personal care items. We will cover needs for those who are running out of money.” Surely there was an attempt to help–right?

I realize I’m making assumptions based on watching a news report–and generally those types of assumptions are incorrect. So I really hope I’m wrong. Because it seems like such a lost opportunity for the church to be the church! This news report says people are bathing in sinks, sleeping on cots under fluorescent lights, and trying to survive while running out of money.

Since the church was apparently MIA, thank goodness the Red Cross showed up. Even the city of New York was helping as the mayor was sending “community outreach workers” to help the stranded passengers.

I was glad to hear of a European church that was helping on the other side of the ocean–I heard from @TommyTenney: “I am stranded in Belfast N Ireland and being well taken care of by a church, Green Pastures. They rock!” That is the way it should be.

If these people had been sleeping in warm beds, cared for by loving followers of Christ, their kids helped and entertained by people who care–can you imagine how they would have been marked forever? They would have had stories to tell about people in America who truly loved them.

Again, I’m really hoping that someone will tell me that churches tried to jump in and fill the gap–and were denied by the Port Authority or some other government organization. That would help me sleep better.

“I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.” Jesus (Matthew 25:35,36)

UPDATE: Thanks to Jonathan Anderstrom who let me know on Facebook of a church in Houston that housed stranded passengers…yeah!