Why I like Catalyst

One of the highlights of my year is the 2 days I spend in Atlanta with a group of leaders from our church at the Catalyst Conference. It's fun, creative, though provoking and incredibly challenging, and I know that as a leader who loves to learn and wrestle with new ideas, few things compare to it for me personally. This was my fifth year at Catalyst and I will continue to go as long as I can hitch a ride to Atlanta.

I'm sure not everyone feels the same way about Catalyst. I can even say I understand why some people might not like it. That's not a problem for me, just like I hope it's not a problem for you that I like it. We all learn and get refreshed in different places and times and Catalyst does it for me. The 'what' and 'where' aren't nearly as important as the fact that it happens. Even Jesus had places and times that he would get away to quiet places that gave God an opportunity to stir inside of him, and when he would come back it was on!

As has been the case the last few years, God met me in a very real and spoke to me in such a way that even I wouldn't be able to miss it. Two years ago, someone gave me a passage to think about before going to Catalyst. That scripture was directly referenced in three separate sessions. Last year I was dealing with some pretty challenging things and the message was clear - God is there, don't give up, better things are ahead if I hold on. This year I came with a few prominent themes already on my mind - mentoring, discipline, and solitude. Then all day Thursday and Friday I heard different pastors and leaders share about three things - mentoring, discipline, and solitude.

So for the next couple of weeks or so I'm going to be sharing some thoughts on these three ideas and reflect on some of the more meaningful things I heard last week. You can still expect to see posts regularly on Wednesdays and Fridays, but don't be surprised if you see a few more scattered in there as well.  Just like with Catalyst or any other conference, retreat, book, podcast, or whatever you keep going back to, I hope you like it; but if you don't that's ok. There's lots of good stuff out there. Find what speaks to you, what inspires you, and keep going back.

What is your "Catalyst?"

You're so Edgy!

I literally just left a discussion about what "Edgy" means. So these thoughts are fresh and unfiltered. Should be fun. AND, to be honest, I'm really interested in hearing what others have to say about it.

What is Edgy? Like love, poetry, and sleet, we tend to recognize it when we see it but have a hard time describing it well. Which makes me wonder - doesn't that mean Edge is all about WHO is doing the perceiving rather than WHAT is being perceived? Initially, this sounds like terrible news to rock stars, skinny jean wearing worship leaders, and 45% high school students across America (not counting the 45% who are copying the real Edgies) who have carefully tried to market themselves as more Edgy than the rest. But as I think about it now, this is actually better for everyone.

If those paying attention to you (those whom you have influence with) are the ones determining where you fall on the Edge scale, all you need to do to maintain that perception is to figure out how to stay 2-3 steps ahead of what is otherwise considered normal. What I'm saying is, if you're a 35 year old leader who is responsible for a primarily 40 year old audience, you probably don't need a tattoo on your neck. But if that same 35 year old is a teacher or a youth pastor, you probably need to pierce an eyelid or drive a motorcycle to achieve ful edginess (because motorcycles never stop being cool and Edgy).

Most people want Edge. The good news (I think) is that you no longer have to figure out  what that means. Before you cut your hair like that or decorate your home office with modern art, learn from your audience where the line is between Edge and Punk. It won't take nearly as long as you think to figure it out. Ask them what the last song they downloaded was (if they respond by telling you what CD they just bought, you might respond by telling them how glad you were that Ross and Rachel wound up together). Ask where they bought the shirt they are wearing. These simple types of questions will let you know how much Edge they are ready for. Never forget, most people will follow what they perceive to be an Edgy leader because they can see that you aren't content to just accept what the majority hassettled into. But if you go too far they won't see you as Edgy. They'll see you as unstable.

How do you define Edge? And how does it work for or against you?

Think like me

Good leaders have vision and an idea of how that vision should play out. Despite that wonderful combination, people don't always choose to follow. There are TONS of reasons for this but one specifically has been impressed on me in numerous conversations lately. Because good leaders are thinkers who take action, they tend to not only think their way of getting from Point A to Point B is the best way, it's the only way. And often they are exactly right. So why is this a problem?

The problem is that we are not the only ones trying to move to Point B. There are teams, staff, volunteers, family members, etc who we are asking to go with us, and chances are most of them don't think the same way you do, thus they won't act in quite the same way as you. If we expect those around us to go with us, we have to try to understand their perspective and the way that they tend to think. Chances are, they won't have any trouble trusting you when you say Point B is a better place to be than Point A. But the reason they think that and their responses to it will vary greatly. In order to save yourself from headaches, turnover, and/or lonlieness at Point B, you have to put in the effort to get where people are coming from.

This isn't the fastest way. It takes time learn people and to figure out how to lead them well. But cut chances are, they didn't put you in the position you're in so that you would drag them anywhere. They want to want to follow you. The question is, are you willing to do what it takes to let them choose?

What have you done to learn how those around you think?

We're back...on with the DudeFest Open!

The blog is back, with an ode to an aaual tradition. Please join the conversation. Share your thoughts after the video.

What do you need to name so that it doesn't get crowded out and brings more focus?

Hiatus over...almost

After a "forced hiatus" (confession, I just got around to watching '30 Rock' from a  couple of weeks ago), the blog is back.  Starting tomorrow.  After a crazy week leading up to Leader Lab - which was awesome! - and then being in SoCal last week for a workshop and vacation, I had to put this thing on ice for a couple of weeks, but that ends Wednesday. So please check back in tomorrow and let's see what happens!

In the meanitime, what's on your mind today?

Generational Tension - Me vs Technology

Alas, technology wins again and so today's video post is not to be.  But still plan on coming to Leader Lab tonight at 7:00 pm in the Well at CCCN.  If you are reading this you are invited and so are the people you talk to today - leaders, interns, possible future leaders.  Child care is provided if that helps.

I'm really excited about digging into this topic tonight with some great leaders. Hope to see you there!

Generational Tension

This week as we prepare for the first ever Leader Lab at Christian Community Church, we're going to talk about "Generational Tension" in leadership, within the church and beyond.  Show up to the Leader Lab Wednesday Night at 7:00 to hear all about it and engage in the discussion.

This tension between people of different generations is not new.  It's as old as the words "fogey" and "whippersnapper."  However, as with many issues, it seems to increase at times and, of course, it decreases as well.  Something about the time we are in right now makes me feel like this is a time where the tension is a bit heightened.  Fortunately, I think this can be a good thing if we can understand why and how we can learn to deal with it.

Tomorrow night at Leader Lab, and right here the rest of this week, we'll talk about it.  This will include the first video blog, with a special Wednesday post tomorrow.

To get the ball rolling, specifically in regards to leadership, let's start the discussion.

How do you see generational tension manifesting itself where you work?  In church leadership?

Can't...resist...Bracket...Challenge!

I give up. I can't resist the urge. The NCAA Tournament begins today (yes it does).  I did not intend to make this about basketball. I mean, you come here for more important things than that, right. Right??

But it is actually ok as leaders to have fun. And filling out brackets is fun. Unless you placed a bet with a guy named Vinny. Or you picked Vanderbilt over VCU in the Final.  So, let's have fun.  Send in your Final Four selections by the end of the day today, along with your picks for the championship game and ultimate winner.  And the total points of the championship game.  Whoever gets the most Final 4 teams right wins. If it's a tie, the first tie breaker is championship game winner.  If there is still a tie, the winner will be whoever is closest on total points in the championship game.  Make sense?

And of course there has to be a prize.  The winner gets a sweet street basketball. Brand new. And autographed!*

*Most likely the ball will be signed by me.

So, get your picks in and see if you can top me!
My Final Four: Syracuse, Duke, Notre Dame, Florida
Championship Game: Duke over Notre Dame in the Final
Total Points: 129

Who you got?

Hard Questions and the People Who Ask Them

So many places we could possibly go with this today!  Last week I wanted to weigh in with some thoughts relating to the big letdown everyone in Columbus was facing following Jim Tressel’s suspension. Then there was the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. This week March Madness hits with full force and productivity in offices everywhere comes to a screeching halt.  Then there’s the Rob Bell “Love Wins” controversy.  Since the book comes out today, he wins.

Before I go any further with this, I want to be perfectly clear about one thing: I have not read the book (nor has anyone else who has been going crazy for the past week) and so I’m not here to take a position on that right now. Maybe after reading it I will, but not today.

There is one thing that I find striking though, after reading through the interview he did last night and watching the video everyone saw a couple of weeks ago promoting his new book, and that’s what I want to get at today. 

Questions are good. Questions are healthy. Questions force us to think through what we think we know or what we’ve been told and reach a conclusion.  A lot of times questions make us uncomfortable, particularly when it comes to things near and dear to our heart.  That makes sense I guess. We’re protective. We don’t like to look foolish.  And we really like to argue, and often times a tough question is just the invitation we need to go to battle.  How you respond says a lot more about you than the person asking in most cases.

Here’s the thing though. If you ask questions, you also have to be willing to answer questions from others. You can’t simply deflect each question with another one of your own.  You have to be ready to provide some answers at some point, as Peter lays out in one of his letters. 

I don’t mind that Rob Bell is asking hard questions and making people think, even challenging their assumptions about things that Christians often take for granted. I kind of like it.  We need to engage our intellect with our faith, in part so that we can ANSWER tough questions.  What causes me some concern is that Rob isn’t answering many questions. And they are big, ready to stand up and fight questions.  Generate discussion. Sell your book.  But give us some answers.  Don’t be like every politician, who takes a question and then answers a question that we aren’t asking. Give a straight answer, whatever it is. Even if it’s unpopular. Or maybe it is popular and that would hurt your reputation? I’m not sure. I want to understand. I’ve liked a lot of Rob’s work. I want to like him. He is a person of great influence, especially with a generation that is in desperate need of people who know how to lead them.  But I feel like need to hear from him on some important issues that at the moment he’s not really talking about, he seems to be talking around it.

Let’s be clear about one more thing. These are questions I have about one guy, but this is not all about Rob Bell. Let’s not see his name and deflect everything on to him.  How do you do with hard questions?  How do you do at answering questions? How do you respond? Do you have an answer?  If not, take some time to think, pray, study, learn.  Know why you believe what you believe.

Prayers for Japan and Pacific Islands

I'm sure you're all following what's going on with the earthquakes in Japan. Just a short time ago, a second one hit about 100 miles north of Tokyo, registering at 6.6. I'm sure like many of you, I have friends around that area of the Pacific, if not in Japan then close enough by to be uncomfortable. I actually heard from a friend that they had someone come to visit who travelled through Japan's airport just a few hours before the first earthquke.  Another friend is supposed to be heading back here to the States.

So today there is no deep, poignant leadrship principle or fun creative expression. Instead, take whatever time you would normally give to reading this blog and thinking about what we're talking about that day to pray for the people of Japan and others in that region.  I'll see you back here next week.

Jeff

Guest blog: Fat Tuesday

I got a text from a friend yesterday who had an idea for the blog. I asked if they would be willing to write it and got a "yes." And so, I'm very excited to bring to you the first ever Guest Blog written exclusively for this site!!  Please comment and leave your thoughts below.

Note: The writer prefers to stay anonymous. But if this goes viral and the people demand it, we'll see if we can reveal the author.  Just kidding.  Maybe.

Fat Tuesday

So during lunch today (Tuesday) an acquaintance mentioned Fat Tuesday. Her explanation of Fat Tuesday intrigued me – a Christian practice of over eating in anticipation of Ash Wednesday, where then Christians abstain from guilty food and drink pleasures through the Lenten season. Of course this is a slightly paraphrased version, but the core point is still there. Do what you want today because you'll be good tomorrow. This caused me to ponder – do nonbelievers look at Fat Tuesday as a Christian practice? Oh my. Where did that train derail? A long time ago I'm sure, but that is not the point I'm sharing today.

How pleasing must it be for Jesus as we lead up to Easter that His people would remember Him and devote themselves to pray by giving up something, such as a favorite food. And by favorite food, I'm not referring to the “I need to lose 5 pounds, so I'll give up chocolate” favorite food. I'm referring to abstaining that is a genuine heart felt test of faith. Yet, how unfortunate does it seem that a secular/pagan holiday is now so closely associated with the Christian religion that some now view it as part of a larger piece of the Easter season? Keep the message of Good Friday and the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross at the forefront of your thoughts, prayers, and actions, showing others that faith in Him does not put you in a cycle of Fat Tuesdays and Ash Wednesdays, but rather compels you to grace, forgiveness, and kindness.   

 

When in Athens...

When Jamie and I first came to Columbus to find an apartment, we were both struck with the same thought – these people are crazy! It was toward the end of August and the town was painted scarlet and gray. Everywhere.  There was no place that we went that didn’t ooze Buckeye football.  We were coming from Iowa City, another place that loves football, but we weren’t prepared for what we found in Columbus.  It was like another planet.

It didn’t take long to realize that were going to have to learn the language, the customs, and really have an understanding of this strange new culture.  (Note: It was close to this time that I renounced all ties to the Hawkeyes in favor of Ohio St.  Jamie has not made that jump yet, but I refuse to give up on her.)  This was absolutely necessary for us to be able to function here. Football is important here, and while it may or may not be your favorite thing, you have a better chance to connect with more people and the community if you can figure out how to navigate within this parallel universe.

Paul discovered the same thing in Acts 17 when he went to Athens.  He noticed the idols that lined the streets, the store fronts, the homes, and the synagogues. He read about them. Studied them. He thought about what they meant to the people in that community.  So when he began having conversations with people all over town, he knew how to communicate in a way that would make sense to the locals.  He went to a meeting of the Aeropagus and was able to use what he knew of their culture and their idols, including the “UNKNOWN GOD,” to speak intelligently and powerfully about the story of Jesus.  Because of what Paul offered them, not just Jesus but a commitment to understand them, they invited him back to speak again, and some even put their faith in Jesus and went with Paul.

            If we really want to communicate effectively with people, have influence, and ask them to follow where we lead then we MUST get better at learning to listen and try to understand where they are coming from.  You might have the best message or product in the world (like Paul did), but if you just go in there with a script and preconceived ideas about who you’re trying to reach, you will never be as effective as you could be. 

What have you learned about your environment that has helped you to communicate and have influence?

Caption Contest Winner!



And the winner is...

"Don't be discouraged if your hands are three times the size of your head, you'll grow into them...hopefully."

-Jeremy

I can't tell you how badly I wanted someone else to win this, but Jeremy goes wire to wire.  It was creative and funny. And just LOOK at those giant hands. 

Thanks everyone for playing. We had some really good contributions in there.  Thanks for sharing your creativity.  We'll defintely do this again.

Have a great weekend!

Caption contest

I’m feeling pretty worn down today. I was up late last night working on a complete draft of my final project for the quarter. The good news is that the rough draft is done, posted, and the end is in sight. The bad news is that I got almost no sleep and I’m getting dominated by a cold (I really should have taken a picture of the mound of Kleenex that I had built up next to my computer).

My original intention was to post a video, but I'm experiencing technical difficulties that I am not feeling up to correcting. Instead, I'm posting a photo and asking you to write a caption. The funniest and/or most creative entry posted here (not on facebook!) will win something.  I'm thinking a movie pass to an AMC theater and a $10 concession card. 

Have at it!

Just Talk Moment

We’ve been going through the series “Just Walk Across the Room” at Christian Community Church for the last few weeks.  One of the things we’ve been challenging people to do (and has been challenging to me) is to look for opportunities all throughout the day, wherever we are, for potential “Just Walk moments.”  The thing that we are finding is that if you look and you PRAY, those moments aren’t nearly as scarce as we sometimes think.

Yesterday, a day when I was home most of the day with Eva, I had a moment.  I was on the phone with a customer care rep from Apple to try to sort through some issues with my phone.  At one point in the call he asked for my email address.  A little later, while waiting for my phone and computer to sync, he asked me what the “cccn” in my email address meant, and a “Just Walk,” or in this case a “Just Talk,” moment appeared.  We spent the next few minutes talking about what I do, the differences between teenagers and adults in church, and had a really nice conversation. The conversation didn’t lead to any “deeper” spiritual conversation, but at the end he simply said, “that sounds really cool.”  As I replayed the whole conversation in my head over and over again, I’m pretty confident I did exactly my part.  There wasn’t some dramatic moment or invitation, just what I feel like I was supposed to say and do.

That’s what “Just Walk moments” are.  Us playing our part. Walking when we’re supposed to walk. Talking when we’re supposed to talk.  Sometimes those moments will feel more exciting and dramatic than others, but each one is significant and vital. 

Do you have a “Just Walk moment?"  Share it here!!

The Great Struggle (part 3): The Beat Down Test

We’ve had some great feedback and discussion this week through the blog, facebook, and email. Thanks for participating. I do see this whole thing, this blog as being interactive and one big discussion group, so keep your thoughts coming!

We’ve talked this week about the temptation leaders face when they start to become really good at what they do, or at least when they start drawing attention to what they do – we start to like the attention, the glory, the celebrity, and so the pursuit of those things competes with the message or the vision you are so committed to.  In Acts 14, Paul provides us with one more lesson, a test of what we are really all about.  It’s not a fool-proof test, there are some really dedicated fools out there, but it’s a pretty good one.  I like to call it “The Beat Down Test.”  After responding to being called a god by turning the focus and the glory back to God, some shady people enter the picture. They rile up the crowd, who moments earlier had been calling Paul the god Hermes, and they stone him to the point where the people think they have killed him!  So they drag him out of the city and leave him for dead. Fortunately, Paul’s friends come and clean him up, bandage his wounds and, I imagine, offered him a ticket on the next bus out of town.  But Paul goes right back into the city, right in front of the people who just tried to kill him.

So here’s the “Beat Down Test.” Paul got beat up but because he was dedicated to the message and the vision and NOT his glory, so he went right back at it.  All of us have gotten beat up, maybe not physically but definitely verbally, mentally, and in every other way.  How do you respond? If celebrity, pats on the back, and any of the other things we’ve talked about this week are driving you, you probably aren’t walking back into that city. You’ll find another city where you can find people who will appreciate how special you’ve convinced yourself you are.  But if you are 100% committed to your vision and to God, like Paul, you respond to the beat down by risking another one.  No one likes taking “The Beat Down Test,” but there are few things that better help to test your real motives.

What are some other tests, and how can we learn to overcome The Great Struggle?

The Great Struggle (part 2): Why are you doing this?

All of us struggle at one point or another with the desire to be recognized – not only to get the credit you deserve, but everything that comes with it. Confidence.  Coolness. Swag. Celebrity (not reality TV-like celebrity, usually, just the recognition that you are someone special in your context).  The kind of leader you are comes down to how you handle that temptation, because you will face it.  Do you accept it and begin to seek it out or do you turn the attention back to the One or the what you are leading people towards?

We see a great example of this in Acts 14, when Barnabas and Paul go into Lystra.  After healing a man who had been disabled from birth (apparently this guy had such an incredible hope and faith in the power of God that Paul could see it!), the crowd immediately began to give Paul and Barnabas all of the credit and the glory.  The people actually called them gods, and not just any gods, big ones – Zeus and Hermes.  Led by the local religious leaders, the people began to worship them and were preparing to offer sacrifices when Paul and Barnabas ran out yelling and put a stop to it asking the simple question and restating their sole purpose, “Why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God…”

Ok, you PROBABLY haven’t been mistaken for Zeus, but I bet you can relate anyway.  They went out doing what they loved and felt called to do. We know Paul’s story, how his life was absolutely transformed after his encounter with Jesus, and his response was to commit himself to seeing others transformed by the same Savior.  Whether you are a pastor, a small group leader, a volunteer at a shelter, or your kid’s basketball coach, you most likely got started because, like Paul, you had a vision. And it was pure and good.  Also like Paul, once you experienced some success, people started looking at you instead of the vision you were committed to.  Paul’s response provides us with a blueprint for how to respond, only instead of asking others “why are you doing this,” we need to ask ourselves, “why am I doing this?” For God and the good of others or for the spotlight that comes with success? For the good of the community or for the perks? The answer is found not so much in our answer, but in our response. Paul and Barnabas immediately turned the focus back off of them and to the vision.  You can say the right thing, give the right answer, but the way you respond will almost always give you away, maybe not immediately, but in time you’ll be exposed.

What’s worked for you when it comes time to deflect the credit and the glory back to God or to your mission when it comes your way?

The Great Struggle (part 1): So it begins

One of the great struggles for great leaders, pastors, and communicators is the inner desire for credit, glory, even a bit of celebrity.  We know that’s not the right attitude, but unfortunately it gnaws at all of us, sometimes more than others for sure, but if we’re honest it never really goes away.  For most of us, probably all of us, it didn’t start out this way.  We started doing what we do because we loved doing it, because we wanted to make a difference, because no one else was doing it and that just wasn’t ok. Whether you planted a church, took a job as a teacher in an urban school, got asked to speak at a small women’s retreat, you said “yes!” for the right reason.  Before long, though, we started getting pats on the back, people wanted to buy us coffee to more spend time with us, they even tell us they brought someone to church just because they knew we were speaking or singing that week. (By the way, I don’t think any of these things are bad in and of themselves)  I’m not going to lie; all of those things usually feel pretty awesome.  And so the struggle begins.

This week we’re going to dig into this a little deeper with the help of guys like Barnabas and Paul, and talk about how we can work through this.  I’m hoping we’ll get some good discussion going together because we’ve all faced it and have experience to draw from. While no one has mastered it, perhaps you have some insight into what to watch out for and how to guard against the trap.  I’ll post on Thursday and Friday this week and I hope between now and then that we can continue the discussion.

Let’s get it started:

In your context at work, in the church, in your class, at home, etc, in what ways does this struggle come at you?  Ex: I really love it when you

lead _____.  They should let you do it more often.

                                             

Breaking Down Church Terminology: Clap Offering

If you've been in church for a long time, you probably don't realize that you say things that a lot of people don't understand.  It's not your fault really, we all do it - at work, with friends, on the golf course, wherever. We all have "insider" language and, unfortunately, that often leads to some misconceptions by outsiders who are trying to decode what we're saying.

Jeremy has been paying attention to this phenomenon within the church for several years.  A little while ago, in an effort to create a more welcoming environment at Christian Community Church, we went to work on debunking some of these misconceptions.  Below, you will find our first effort at creating such an environment:

Clap Offering

What are some other church insider terms? What are some insider terms in your context?

Reflections from a Bee

By now you all know I got to hang out at the Spelling Bee last week.  It’s pretty intense, actually, but at the same time they are still just kids, kind of goofy, kind of cute, and probably taking it way less seriously than most of the people in the crowd. I like that. It was also pretty cool seeing the reactions of a couple of parents after their kid come down off stage after spelling a word wrong. Back when I was there age, if I would have spelled the first word wrong I would have thrown a bat at the announcer. I know, they don’t use bats during spelling bees but I was pretty committed to throwing bats as a child. I would have found a way.  Anyway, when those kids came down, there was Mom or Dad waiting for them with a hug, rubbing their back when they sat down, and then everything seemed ok to the kids. It was pretty amazing.  With all of the junk that kids and families face these days, I guess it’s just nice to see when it’s done right.

Just for fun, here are a few of the words that tripped people up. See how many people you work with or talk to today can spell them: “Citizen,” “Eavesdrop,” and “Indomitable.”

And this is too good not to include. Go check out this clip from another Spelling Bee, then answer this question – is there a contest thatTom Bergeron hosted?

Big weekend at CCCN

The highly anticipated Spelling Bee blog is coming! Sorry for the delay!

CCCN'ers, you don't want to miss this weekend.  We're in Week 3 of the "Just Walk Across the Room" series. This week Pastor Duane will be sharing about "The Power of Story." Everyone loves a good story and you're going to hear some this Sunday, and you're going to get some tools to tell your story more effectively.

Following the service we'll have our annual Congregational Meeting, hosted for the second year in a row by me and Jeremy Fredell (which might mean there are a couple of videos in order!).  You'll get to hear highlights from the past year and catch the excitement about where God is leading us in 2011. Did I mention the free lunch?

It's going to be a great weekend as we look forward to what I really believe is going to be an incredible year at Christian Community Church. Make sure you are there!

What are you excited about for 2011?

A little help from Pastor Perry

It's Christian Community Church congregational meeting week, with the big event happening this Sunday starting with lunch following the service.  With many of my creative energies directed at that today, I thought I'd share a post from Perry Noble that I loved and wanted to re-post at some point.  Today's the day.  It is awesome, and I would love to hear your thoughts on Perry's "Book" of theology.

And don't forget to check back here Thursday, where I will be blogging for the first time ever from a Spelling Bee.  Ever since ESPN did that sweet "Under Pressure" promo for the National Spelling Bee Championship correct spelling has been cool.

Here's Perry's post:

My “Book” Of Theology February 2, 2011

Whew!  Been looking at a lot of theological papers and books lately…so, just for fun I decided to write my own theological position paper right here on my blog, here goes…

GOD – He’s awesome!

JESUS – See above…same person

HOLY SPIRIT – See above…same person

SALVATION – It’s awesome, includes the package deal off all three above, which are really one…but they are three…but one…uh…

MANKIND – We suck (translation, we’re not awesome!)

END TIMES – It’s going to be awesome (and people who try to predict it are stupid!)

CREATION – It was awesome, then mankind, who sucks, messed it up and have been doing so ever since.  BUT…one day God is going to make it awesome again!

SIN – People think it’s awesome, but it sucks…but God saves us from it, which is awesome!

THE BIBLE – It is a story about a God who is awesome!

There you go…probably will not be quoted in a lot of theological articles…but it works for me!  :-)

No power, no problem

I was sitting in Starbucks having a cup of coffee and studying yesterday and the place was packed. Usually on Wednesday mornings there are steady streams of people coming and going but this was different.  Every table, every seat, every counter was occupied.  In talking with the manager and just listening to people as they stood in line, the story came more into focus: not only were these people without power, but several other Starbucks and coffee shops were also and people were looking for someplace to work, recharge batteries, and stay warm.  So I formulated a plan to open up the café in the church, serve coffee and muffins and make our WiFi, heat, and electrical outlets available to anyone who wanted to come by, logged on to Facebook and posted a message that we were open.

This story isn’t about opening up the church though. I did all this in a city where many were without power and cable/home internet.  And the message still got out. In fact it wasn’t until late last night that it even occurred to me that some people might not get it until their power was back on. Sure, that was probably an oversight on my part, but just a minor one.  Most people did see it. Or could have seen it. We live in a world now in which we are so connected, where information is so easily attainable that downed power and cable lines barely cause a blip on the radar.  More and more people are updating statuses, getting their news, submitting assignments from their phone or fancy tablet that fits in super cool backpacks.

The opportunity to connect has never been greater, and that’s a good thing.  But not always.  Let’s not let the convenience of accessibility and connectedness ever totally replace a phone call or even better, sitting across a table from one another over a cup of coffee.

How has increased "connectivity" helped you? What are the potential dangers for you?

More from Ananias

A couple of nights ago I shared some thoughts about Ananias from Acts 9 (the one who met with Saul/Paul, not the one who dropped dead).  As I’ve continued to think about him and his story, there’s just a couple of new thoughts I want to share.

Ananias went for it, and because he did he left an impression. He made a mark.  He took a chance and did something that still has implications today.  That’s what leaders do, not for their own glory or credit necessarily, but because it’s the right thing to do.  And because a leader is wired differently.  They don’t wait for things to happen.  They help make them happen.

 Ananias saw the big picture, with a little help from Jesus.  Paul would lead a breakthrough for Christianity around the globe.  Ananias understood that his part was not to lead that change but to set the ball up so that Paul could get it rolling.  If Ananias didn’t see how his part might connect to something bigger he might not have been able to convince himself to risk everything to go see Paul. 

The other thing that I’m reminded of here is that leaders take chances when they believe in something.  If he didn’t go and meet Paul, it’s hard to say how that would have affected the rest of Paul’s story, but it’s easy to know what it would have meant for Ananias – we wouldn’t have any idea who he is.  Some people would have waited for Paul to knock on THEIR door before recognizing it as an opportunity.  Ananias recognized that a leader doesn’t wait for timing to be right or the circumstances to the most convenient.  He went for it. He took a chance.  If you think about anything truly great you’ve ever done, I’m guessing it took some risk, some action, and some initiative on your part.  The opportunity for great accomplishments rarely drops in our laps while we’re watching a CHiPs marathon on a Saturday afternoon. 

What opportunities are waiting for you to take the lead on?

Laugh it up

I read something yesterday that’s had me thinking. Psalm 37:13 says “the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.”  How can that be?  You’re telling me that with everything going on in the world, God is laughing?  Shouldn’t He be spending time on more important, serious matters?  That’s what you and I would do when “the wicked plot against us,” right?

Maybe this is God’s way of telling us to lighten up.  True, there are unspeakably horrible things going on.  And there is a time to cry, to fight, to put in 14 hour days. But God also wants us to enjoy Him, the world He created, and the people He has put in our lives.  Sometimes we get so serious about whatever it is that God has called you to lead – your family, your Life Group, your business – because we think that if we stop to laugh or enjoy it even a little, people won’t think we’re committed. Yet God laughed, and He was pretty committed to His mission.  

If you are having trouble taking the time to stop, breathe, and laugh you’re heading for trouble. You’re going to burn out and then you really won’t be effective.  Yes, you are probably involved in some really serious business, at home or in the church or in your community.  But trust me, there is plenty out there to enjoy and laugh at.  And if you can’t find it, make something up.  God’s good for a laugh now and then.  You should be too.

Big Series starting this weekend!

I’m so excited about the new series we’re starting this week, “Just Walk Across the Room,” based on the book of the same name by Bill Hybels at Willow Creek.  We have been planning for and praying about this series for about 8 months and it finally begins on Sunday.  I believe that in the next 5 weeks God wants to do something that will change our relationships with our neighbors, co-workers, soccer coaches, kids, spouses, and our church forever. Think about how the Holy Spirit could move through our church if each and every one of us made the Great Commission our personal mission!

I love what Bill says on the inside flap: “What if you knew that by simply crossing the room and saying hello to someone, you could change that person’s forever?  Just a few steps can make an eternal difference. It has nothing to do with methods and everything to do with taking an interest in another human being.”

CCCN, this is going to be awesome! Start praying. Get the book this Sunday. Get in a Life Group to dig deeper into the message. And let’s start Walking Across Rooms!!

Who was it that shared the gospel with you the first time? Do you remember the first time they walked across a room and began the relationship?

Hot Zones

For some people, really talented people, I imagine where you are matters much less than it does for others. An idea or an image of what could be oozes out of you regardless of environment. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a crowded room or listening to music or on a long car ride.  You are awesome.

For me and many others, there are creative hot zones. Creative hot zones are those certain places, times of the day, specific songs, etc that seem to stir up your creativity. Sure, it can happen outside of one of your hot zones, but you know when you’re in when you are much more likely to find a creative groove. If you are someone who works most effectively in a hot zone, guess what? You’re awesome too.

For you the key is to spend time there. We need the discipline to schedule times to dream and create. Make a point of getting to your creative hot zone as frequently as you’re able. And depending on where or what it is for you, it may need to happen more often. One of mine , oddly enough, is the shower, usually at night. Some of my best ideas happen there, and often I’ve got an idea completely mapped out by the time I get out.

We need you to create. We need your unique perspective. If you know where or what your creative hot zone is, do us a favor and spend time there. If you haven’t found it yet, don’t be discouraged.  Pay attention. Ask yourself questions. You’ll find it. And we’ll all be better off when you do.

Where or what are your creative hot zones?

Mad props to your team!

One of the "tools" of leadership that has become foundational for me started by accident. When I was first starting in youth ministry with a new team of leaders, I would make sure to publicly praise them every chance I got.  Aside from truly believing they were great leaders, I was also trying to help establish trust and confidence with parents that their students would be in good hands with us. I think I succeeded in that goal. However, it had broader implications than I ever intended.  Those leaders worked harder. They trusted me more. They granted me permission to lead and influence them. And because of what they offered, the youth ministry grew and became more effective at impacting the lives of students.

In most of his letters, Paul made a point of turning the spotlight on those who were serving under him or around him. Romans 16 is basically a big thank you card being broadcast to the church in Rome. Paul couldn't have been an easy guy to work with, if for no other reason than people were always wanting to arrest or kill him. Yet people followed him and fought for him because he was leading a cause they believed in, and because he recognized the value they added to the minisrty and let everyone know about it.

Leaders, we must learn to value the contributions of those who serve with us and under us. We need to improve in this area. I need to improve. In fact, I put it in writing and will share it with all of my leaders and volunteers. Whatever you are doing, you can't do it as effectively alone.  People are looking for something to give their time, talent, and treasure to.  If you can cast a compelling vision and create a culture of honoring those who come on board, you will never lack followers.

What are some things you've done (or had done for you) to recognize and honor those serving under you?

Raising expectations (and then dashing them) by Seth Godin

Something we'll do every once and a while here is to take a look at what other leaders are saying.  Seth Godin is one of my favorites.  He had a post yesterday that had me thinking, so I thought I'd share it with you.  After reading it, I'd love to hear from you about whether or not you think there are any parallels to the church - how we program, promote, budget, etc.

Raising expectations (and then dashing them) by Seth Godin

Have you noticed how upbeat the ads for airlines and banks are?
Judging from the billboards and the newspaper ads, you might be led to believe that Delta is actually a better airline, one that cares. Or that your bank has flexible people eager to bend the rules to help you succeed.
At one level, this is good advertising, because it tells a story that resonates. We want Delta to be the airline it says it is, and so we give them a try.
The problem is this: ads like this actually decrease user satisfaction. If the ad leads to expect one thing and we don't get it, we're more disappointed than if we had gone in with no real expectations at all. Why this matters: if word of mouth is the real advertising, then what you've done is use old-school ad techniques to actually undercut any chance you have to generate new-school results.
So much better to invest that same money in delighting and embracing the customers you already have.

It's January, it's cold. Let's talk about something else.

I was having lunch the other day with a friend. He's a guy I like to get together with because he's fun, we've been involved in a lot of the same activities, and he says what he thinks. It's a good combination. At some point, the conversation changed direction a bit. We started tossing around ideas for the future. Along the way, there was a convergence of passion with potential opportunity to serve others in a new way. When that occurred, he came alive and it became probably the best lunch meeting we've ever had.

Two things I took from this: One, there's nothing like spending time with someone when they are sharing about something they are passionate about. Second, we've got to be more intentional about discovering people's gifts and passions and then find a way to encourage and equip them wherever they are -  in church, in their neighborhood, at work, at school, etc.

The next time you're having lunch with someone, try talking about something other than the weather (unless you're eating with Al Roker). Ask questions. Find out what's stirring inside them. The dreams and ideas God is placing in you just might intersect with their passion. When that happens, look out!

Managing the Clock

Watching some of the NFL playoffs this weekend, as well as the endless bowl season in college football, got me thinking about time management. Think about a football game. Both teams get the same amount of time to try to win the game. There is no advantage one way or the other, but so often a game comes down to whether a team manages the clock well or poorly.  (Note: I am not intentionally taking a shot at your coach. If you think about it, there is something funny about someone sitting in front of a TV for 3 ½ hours screaming at a coach for mismanaging the clock at the end of a game. And yes, I’m guilty.)  Have you ever noticed that the best coaches are the ones who know how to use the clock well? You don’t see a lot of 4 – 12 coaches who are amazing at using the clock.

It’s the same for leaders. We all have the same amount of time, yet good leaders consistently get more out of theirs than others (Ephesians 5:15 – 16).  It’s not because they aren’t busy.  Think about the best leaders you know. I’m guessing that they are among the busiest people you know.  Do you know how they got to be great leaders? They put in the time. They worked harder and longer than most people. There’s no way around it. To become more effective leaders, we have to put in the time.

Use our Life Groups (small groups) at CCCN as an example. If you were to go to each one and assess which ones have people who seem the most engaged, the most open, and are seeing God move regularly, they are being led by people who have put in the time and energy it takes to develop that kind of group. They aren’t less busy than anyone else. They are managing their clock well, finding time to make calls during the week, to show up at a kid’s recital, bowling together on the weekend, praying and thinking about the best way to get people to share what they really think and how they actually feel each week.

The good news is that, if God has called you into leadership somewhere, none of what those great leaders do is impossible for the rest of us to do with practice and time. Like it so often does on NFL Sundays, it all comes down to how we manage the clock.

What’s one thing you can do this week to help manage the clock better?

Wake the hamster

I had a lot of fun with the first real post yesterday. Thanks for the feedback and encouragement. Right now the plan is to post something new 2 - 3 times a week. Probably Tuesdays and Thursdays, give or take a day now and then, plus bonus postings whenever.  The best way to keep track is to subscribe or, better yet, make it your homepage (ok, probably only my mom would do that...if she knew what it even meant). Also, you can track it on Twitter by following me at twitter.com/jeffkuhne.

Since you've taken the time to check in, here's a quick thought. I love writing, but there are times when I write almost nothing. I'm not talking days, I mean months. Maybe more. For me it's two issues: discipline and wondering if I actually have anything to say. Discipline is too big to tackle today, but as for stuff to write about, the amazing thing is that once I start to write I actually enjoy it and suddenly the hamster in my mind that controls the creative process starts the wheel moving. It's similar to running, working out or, spiritually, praying and reading your Bible. More often than not, once we get started we tend to enjoy the process, whatever it is for you. The challenge is getting started.

So, maybe just for today, pick the guitar back up. Get on the treadmill. Find a quiet moment or two to talk to your Heavenly Father. Then try it again tomorrow and see what happens. You might just wake up that hamster.


What hamster do you really want to wake up, you're just having trouble getting started?

New Creation (or, don't pull a Lucas)

There is a question I've been wrestling with for the last several days. It's not new and it may not be incredibly profound, but for whatever reason it has caused me to stop, think, and pray differently than it ever has before:

Am I trying to become more Christ-like or just a better version of myself?

This is a question all Christians should probably ask themselves frequently, but for leaders it is way more important to come up with an answer. Why? Because by definition you are having an impact beyond just your own life.

What I'm discovering is that it's much easier to try to be a better me. Trying to be more Christ-like, well, that's going to take some work. Unfortunately, as leaders and as followers of Christ, that's what the Bible demands. Paul lays it out in 2 Corinthians 5:17 when he calls us a new creation. Fortunately, Jesus has done most of the heavy lifting already.

The cool thing about being a new creation is that it means we are a blank canvas; we can become just about anything and do almost anything if we let God lead us rather than us trying to lead Him. Trying to improve on the existing version is what got George Lucas in trouble and basically destroyed Star Wars and Indiana Jones (at least for me!). Instead of channeling his creativity into something new, exciting, and unknown, he just tinkered with the previous formula and the result was Jar Jar Binks and a much less intimidating Darth Vader.

Hopefully this new creation, this blog, will be a canvas where we can help one another to think, to grow, and to create. You may not find the answers you would if you were reading Andy Stanley, Perry Noble, Seth Godin or any number of more accomplished leaders, but hopefully together we can share ideas, ask questions, and see what happens. This will also be a spot where leaders within our church, Christian Community Church, can go for important information, tools, and fun as we grow and build something special together.

So here we go. Let's see what happens. What are your thoughts on the question,
"Am I trying to become more Christ-like or just a better version of myself?"

Kickoff this week!

The new blog starts this week! Go aheaf and subscribe now so you don't miss a thing and follow me on twitter too!