Books I Read in 2017

I have used Goodreads' feature for the last couple of years to share what I have read in a year.  However, I cannot distinguish specifically what types of books that I have read.  So, here is what I have read categorically in 2017.  I hope you find some inspiration here!

- Fiction

• **Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale
• *Philip Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
• Philip Dick, The Man in the High Castle
• T.S. Eliot, The Wasteland and Other Writings
• James Hannah, The A to Z of You and Me
• *Madeline L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time
• John LeCarre, Our Kind of Traitor
• Dennis Lehane, Live by Night
• Cormac McCarthy, Child of God
• *Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men
• Arthur Miller, Broken Glass
• **George Orwell, 1984
• Philip Roth, The Plot Against America
• William Shakespeare, Macbeth
• *William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing
• William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
• Jeff Vandermeer, Annihilation

- Biblical Studies

• *David Bartlett, Romans
• *Dave Bland, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon
• *Charles Cousar, Reading Galatians, Philippians and 1 Thessalonians
• **Peter Enns, The Bible Told Me So
• Beverly Gaventa, First and Second Thessalonians
• Robert Jewett, The Thessalonian Correspondence 
• Derek Kidner, The Message of Ecclesiastes
• Thomas Mann, Deuteronomy
• Bonnie Thurston, Reading Ephesians, Colossians and 2 Thessalonians
• N.T. Wright, Galatians and Thessalonians
• N.T. Wright, Romans, Part One: Romans 1-8
• N.T. Wright, Romans, Part Two: Romans 9-16

- Education

• *Lorrie Blair, Writing a Graduate Thesis or Dissertation
• Leisyte and Wilkesmann, Organizing Academic Work in Higher Education
• *Stabile and Ershler, Constructivism Revisited in the Age of Social Media
• *Ernest Stringer, Action Research
• Marshall Welch, Engaging Higher Education

- Ministry

• *Herring and Elton, Leading Congregations and Nonprofits in a Connected World
• Ron Susek, Firestorm
• **Thomas Tumblin, AdMinistry

- Preaching/Communication

• *Jeffrey Arthurs, Preaching with Variety
• Decker and York, Speaking with Bold Assurance
• Gonzalez and Jimenez, Pulpito
• *Hogan and Reid, Connecting with the Congregation
• Eunjoo Mary Kim, Preaching the Presence of God
• *Marshall McLuhan, Understanding Media
• Lane Sebring, Preaching Killer Sermons
• Frank A. Thomas, They Like To Never Quit Praisin' God

- Psychology/Leadership

• *Brene Brown, Daring Greatly
• *Angela Duckworth, Grit
• **Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning
• *Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed
• Sebastian Junger, Tribe

- Theology (Systematic, Spiritual)

• *Bland and Webb, Creation, Character, and Wisdom
• *Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Creation and Fall/Temptation
• **David Congdon, The God Who Saves
• *Zach Hoag, The Light is Winning
• Kyle Idleman, Grace is Greater
• *Kelly Kapic, Embodied Hope
• *C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed
• *Kevin C. Neese, The Gospel According to Star Trek
• John Walton, The Lost World of Adam and Eve
• Lisa Whittle, 5-Word Prayers
• *Brian Zahnd, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God

- Miscellaneous

• Harriot Castor, Starting Chess
• *Richard Rothstein, The Color of Law

The books marked with an (*) are the ones that I enjoyed a little more, and the ones marked with an (**) were my favorites from 2017.  What did you read?  Did you read any that I did?  What recommendations do you have?  Leave your comments below or connect with me on Twitter.  And happy reading in 2018!

Leadership Lessons I Learned from "Jurassic World" (With Apologies to Alissa Wilkinson)

I am luke-warm when it comes to my opinion of Jurassic World, the recent and 4th installment of the Jurassic Park franchise. I had issues with when I went to see it, issues that were validated when I saw it.  This, however, is not a review of Jurassic World. Alissa Wilkinson gave a great review of the film.  [You should listen...it is hysterical.] That being said, there are a few lessons that I learned related to leadership from the film, lessons that I offer here:

1.  Don't Lead Out of Your Experience-Level

One of the big problems with the JP storyline is that humanity is re-creating dinosaurs simply because they can. As we see in each of the films, an idealist (or greedy accountant) thinks they can control these wild, confused creatures. Then reality sets in through some form of catastrophe that eventually leads to a larger catastrophe. Let's be honest...humanity has no experience when it comes to creating, controlling or corralling dinosaurs!

Yes leaders need to push themselves to grow and develop in their craft. Yet, in order to not bring the organization down in a flaming disaster, we must lead out of our limits. There are areas of leadership that I am just not good at. I need to be mature enough to delegate or collaborate with another leader to make sure the vision stays on track. There are times for jumping off the deep-end and launching out in faith. Yet, when we do that, we are actually trusting that God will guide us. From a day-to-day basis, however, we must lead out of our experience rather than trying to convince everyone that we know how to corral man-earing dinosaurs.

2.  High Heels Don't Work in the Jungle!

Now, don't get me wrong: Bryce Dallas Howard is an excellent actress (Lady in the Water and Twilight aside...we all make mistakes). Even when playing Gwen Stacy in Spider-Man 3, she has always come across as an articulate and intelligent woman. Her pedigree is solid. However...wearing high heels in the jungle or running through corridors from a dinosaur? Uh, no. That's just silly.

A scientist wearing sneakers or boots walking through the jungle is useful; a scientist wearing high heels walking through the jungle is a liability. When facing conflicts or challenges, leaders have a limited number of tools available, and we must use the ones that will be serve the situation. That also means that we may have to "go barefoot" because what we have with won't work. 

3.  Choose Your Team Wisely

The "alpha male" concept is huge in Hollywood. It's huge in self-help psychology. And it's huge in some streams of evangelical Christianity. However, an "alpha male" as a velociraptor trainer? Uh-huh. Let me know how that works out for you. As we see in the film, the only reason why the velociraptors allow Owen (Christ Pratt) to dominate them is so that they can gang up on Owen and the other humans and eat them (BTW, just like they did in Jurassic Park). Additionally, N-Gen are the bad guys in the JP universe. So why do these guys keep working with them?

What this means for leaders is that we must be careful in picking our teams and careful is whose support we draw from. Often leaders, especially when they are new to a organization, will fall prey to the "velociraptors" present -- those who got the last leader ousted, those who are looking to advance themselves through your failures or those who are jaded because you got the position they wanted. Additionally, we need to be confident enough in our own personality, training and experience to be courageous enough to lead. There is a place for trusting enemies, however we must always do so cautiously. Personally, I have been burned by those that I disagreed with because I thought they supported my vision only to be caught in a crossfire when their true motives came out.

I hope this list is helpful. Got another idea that you want to share? Leave me comment below or send me an email.

Like what you read? Follow me on Twitter (@DrRobOlynn)!

Membership Matters

Note: This post originally appeared as my 25 January 2015 church bulletin article.

In his wonderfully brief yet profound book I Am a Church Member, Thom Rainer, a church-based researcher in Nashville, surveyed nearly 600 congregations to get an idea of the shape of the American church.  His research demonstrated that 90% of these congregations were declining, a statistic that has been verified in other studies.  He deals with this research in his book Autopsy of a Deceased Church, which we be looking at later.

However Rainer also found six common characteristics of members (not ministers) in the 10% of congregations that were healthy, vibrant, stable and/or growing.  First, healthy churches have functioning members.  It is not just a one-man show; everyone plays a part in the work of the congregation.  Second, healthy churches have members who seek unity.  We do not have to all like or agree with what goes on around here (that’s conformity); yet we should strive to unify in our support of the vision because we believe it is where God is leading us.

Third, healthy churches have members who put the mission of the church ahead of their own preferences.  This one is touchy, I know.  However, remember the words of the Paul to the Philippians: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves” (2:3).  Our whims and fancies about what should go on should also be second to the vision that God has given our congregation.

Fourth, healthy churches have members who pray for their leaders.  I personally appreciate how many of you tell me that you pray for me on a regular basis.  Fifth, healthy churches have members who make church a family affair.  Membership is not a Sunday-only commitment but carries over in to every aspect of our lives.  And sixth, healthy churches have members who treasure their membership.  This means we put aside our sense of entitlement and live with the understanding that salvation (and church membership) is a gift that has been gracious given to us.  May we never abuse this wonderful gift from God!

2014 Reading List (I Think)

As promised on Wednesday, here is what I am looking to read in 2014.  They may inspire you, or you may think I'm nuts for reading them.  My reading plan for the first part of this year is to read 1 novel, 1 theological text, and 1 ministry text each month, since I have additional course texts to read.  Think I might like something you're reading?  Leave me a comment or sent me an email!  Happy reading!

Books I am Reviewing

• Carl Prude, Anchored in Light (ACU Book Club blog)

Books I am Reading for Classes I Teach

• David Hansen, The Art of Pastoring, rev. ed. (Introduction to Ministry)
• Timothy Keller, Walking with God through Pain and Suffering (Providence and Suffering)
• Thomas Long, What Shall We Say? (Providence and Suffering)
• More will be added, I am sure, when my Fall schedule rolls around

Books I am Reading for My LAST Doctoral Class

• Dave Bland and David Fleer, ed., Performing the Psalms
• David Fleer and Dave Bland, ed., Preaching the Eighth-Century Prophets
• Glenn Pemberton, Hurting with God
• Fleming Rutledge, And God Spoke to Abraham

Books I am Reading for Fun (Fiction/Philosophy)

• Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
• Max Brooks, World War Z
• Lewis Sinclair, Elmer Gantry
• Cormac McCarthy, The Road
• Arthur Miller, Death of a Saleman
• Jose Ortega y Gassett, Revolt of the Masses
• George Orwell, Animal Farm
• Ayn Rand, We the Living or Atlas Shrugged
• Philip Roth, The Plot Against America
• Charlie Starr, Light
• Thornton Wilder, The Bridge of San Luis Rey
• Jack Wolf, The Tale of Raw Head and Bloody Bones

Books I am Reading for Fun (Homiletics)

• Kenton Anderson, Choosing to Preach
• Charles Bartow, God's Human Speech
• Charles Campbell, The Word Before the Powers
• Lucy Hogan and Robert Stephen Reid, Connecting with the Congregation

Books I am Reading for Fun (Ministry)

• Timothy Keller, Center Church (for some consulting work)
• Melick and Melick, Teaching that Transforms (for my dissertation; yes, this is it!)

Books I am Reading for Fun (Theology)

• Timothy Keller, Counterfeit Gods
• Timothy Keller, Every Good Encounter
• Timothy Keller, Generous Justice
• Timothy Keller, Jesus the King (aka, King's Cross)
• Eric Metaxas, Bonhoeffer
• Philip Yancey, Prayer
• Philip Yancey, What's So Amazing about Grace?

2013 Reading List

Note: I realize it is a tad late, given today is January 15.  However, I have traditionally shared my reading list from the previous year, and I realize that a few of you have asked about it.  So, with that in mind, here is what nourished me spiritually and academically in 2013.  On Friday, I will post my preliminary reading list for 2014.

Books I Reviewed

• David T. Bourgeois, Ministry in the Digital Age (for Stone-Campbell Journal)
• Carpenter, Sweet and Blythe, Introduction to Applied Creative Thinking (for Teaching Theology and Religion)
• Keith Francis and William Gibson, ed., The Oxford Handbook of the British Sermon, 1689-1901 (for Stone-Campbell Journal)
• Gregory Hunt, Leading Congregations through Crisis (for Stone-Campbell Journal)
• Rita Schulte, Shattered (for ACU Press "Book Club" blog)

Books I Read for Classes I Teach

• David Fleer and Dave Bland, ed., Preaching Mark's Unsettling Messiah (Expository Preaching)
• George Hunter, The Celtic Way of Evangelism (Evangelism in the Local Church)
• Charles Talbert, Reading Luke, rev. ed. (Gospel of Luke)
• N. T. Wright, The Early Christian Letters for Everyone (General Letters)
• Philip Yancey, What Good Is God? (Providence and Suffering)

Books I Read for My Dissertation

• Karl Barth, Homiletics
• Joan Bolker, Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day
• Raymond Collins, 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus
• Edward Farley, Practicing Gospel
• Luke Timothy Johnson, Letters to Paul's Delegates
• Kostenberger and Wilder, ed., Entrusted with the Gospel
• Abraham Malherbe, Paul and the Popular Philosophers
• Andrew Purves, Pastoral Theology in the Classical Tradition
• Andrew Purves, The Crucifixion of Ministry
• Andrew Purves, The Resurrection of Ministry
• Ronald Sisk, The Competent Pastor
• Paul Scott Wilson, Preaching and Homiletic Theory
• Frances Young, The Theology of the Pastoral Letters

Books I Read for Fun

• Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting
• Bonnie Baeder, Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.?
• Augsten Burroughs, This Is How
• Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
• Ian Fleming, For Your Eyes Only
• Ian Fleming, From Russia with Love
• Ian Fleming, Goldfinger
• Ian Fleming, Man with the Golden Gun
• Ian Fleming, Octopussy and The Living Daylights
• Ian Fleming, On Her Majesty's Secret Service
• Ian Fleming, The Spy Who Loved Me
• Ian Fleming, You Only Live Twice
• Barbara Kingsolver, The Poisonwood Bible
• C. S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
• Alan Paton, Cry, the Beloved Country
• Robert Louis Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
• J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
• Leo Tolstoy, The Death of Ivan Ilyich

Books I Read for Seminars

• C. Leonard Allen, Things Unseen (Theology in Ministry)
• O. Wesley Allen, Determining the Form (Sermon Development and Delivery)
• Chris Altrock, Preaching to Pluralists (Connecting Preaching with the Congregation)
• Bartholomew and Goheen, The Drama of Scripture (Connecting Preaching with the Congregation)
• Kennon Callahan, Small, Strong Congregations (Ministry in Small and Middle-Sized Churches)
• Ron Crandall, Turnaround and Beyond (Ministry in Small and Middle-Sized Churches)
• Ruth Ann Gaede, ed., Transitions in Congregations (Ministry in Small and Middle-Sized Churches)
• Hicks, Melton and Valentine, A People Gathered (Theology and Ministry)
• Richard Jensen, Envisioning the Word (Connecting Preaching with the Congregation)
• Michael Lindvall, The Good News from North Haven (Ministry in Small and Middle-Sized Churches)
• Andrew Purves, Reconstructing Pastoral Theology (Theology in Ministry)
• David Ray, The Indispensable Guide for Smaller Churches (Ministry in Small and Middle-Sized Churches)
• Lyle Schaller, Middle-Sized Church (Ministry in Small and Middle-Sized Churches)
• James Thompson, Pastoral Ministry according to Paul (Theology in Ministry)
• Jason Vickers, Minding the Good Ground (Theology in Ministry)
• Sondra Willobee, The Write Stuff (Connecting Preaching with the Congregation)

I Am A Minister

Well, a new year is underway, although many of us may not feel very new as we are still thawing out from the Polar Vortex of 2014 or panting for fresh water in West Virginia.  Yet, the new year is in full swing, as evidenced by all of the schools starting back over the course of the next week or so.  My university technically started last night, although today marks the official beginning of a new year.  With anything new, there is a sense of anticipation.  What challenges lie ahead?  What surprises lie in wait?  Time marches on, therefore we live in the present and look to the future.

As a university professor, a new semester means new classes and new students.  Last semester is over and in the books.  Nothing can be changed or undone.  It is, as we say, history.  We have now only opportunity before us.  Opportunity to do something different, do something new, do something exciting.  One of the courses that I teach each spring is the Introduction to Ministry course for our underclassmen ministry majors.  And, as I have in past semesters, I have again assigned David Hansen’s wonderful book The Art of Pastoring: Ministry Without All the Answers as the primary textbook.

I was first introduced to this book when I was a freshman in college.  It has been an assigned text in several ministry courses that I have taken.  It is one of those books that I read every couple of years whether I am using it or not.  It is not a terribly academic work, in terms of lengthy footnotes and excessive bullet-pointed lists.  Yet it is a deeply profound book for at least one reason—Hansen claims to be nothing more than a minister.  He has made mistakes, which he discusses candidly in the book, and he has had some successes.  He has questioned his call at times, while also experiencing the rich joy of serving as God’s hands and feet.  Yet, in all that he has experienced, he is simply a minister.

I resonate with Hansen. . .a lot.  We both entered ministry hoping to become one of the guys that everyone looks to and idolizes.  We wanted the baptism notches on our belts and to be invited to all the big conferences as a keynote speaker.  Yet, although that has happened to some extent for Hansen, it has not been the norm for either of us.  For all of our hard work, all we can basically say is that, well, we’re ministers.  No accolades, no endorsement deals, no front-page spreads or interviews.  Just being a minister.

And you know what, thanks to my friend David Hansen and his book, I think I am starting to finally be okay with that.  And I think God is okay with that as well. 

Hosting God and the Church

In an essay aptly entitled "Preacher as Host and Guest," John McClure, a preaching professor at Vanderbilt Divinity School, talks about how we who preach fulfill the ancient role of "host" in that “we welcome all with a word to share into dialogue so that the word and wisdom of God might be discerned for the community.”[1] In short, our pastoral presence through word and deed sets the stage for experiencing a divine encounter. Yet, how do we serve as “host”? My practice has always been to greet as many people as possible before, during and after the service. Yet, try as hard as I might, I cannot shake every single hand or hug every single shoulder. Most people, I have found, understand this--there is only one of me and 100 (or 150 or 200 or whatever) of them. . .and the line at Applebees' is only getting longer.

However, some take great offense when I do not speak with them or shake their hand. At a previous congregation, I was criticized for not being "friendly" enough. When I probed the criticism, I discovered that there was one wealthy couple that did not think that I was giving them enough attention (meaning, ALL of my attention). My focus had been on welcoming the new families who had been attending and encouraging our new, young leaders rather than “buttering my bread.”

Yet, there are some who are quieter and more reserved who are personally appalled by the thought of talking to the minister, of "wasting his time." If I am not attuned to this, he/she will come to think that I am excluding them from my circle and, conversely, from the congregation. We should and must shake the hands of our friends and benefactors. Yet we should not forget that we are the host of the party and should make sure that all feel welcome and accepted, even if that means catching up with someone later in order to be pastoral to the other.

_______

[1]John S. McClure, “Preacher as Host and Guest,” in Slow of Speech and Unclean Lips: Contemporary Images of Preaching Identity, ed. Robert Stephen Reid (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2010), 123.

A New Direction

I’ve been thinking about this blog and how to make it as helpful as possible.  To be honest, I’m not sure if anyone actually reads it.  (If you do, whether you are a regular or just passing through, leave the occasional comment or send me a message and let me know what you think.)  I guess this is one of the great values of blogging—this can be just as much for me to process in a digital journal, thus making public what has often been private. 

I heard someone say once that good writers write for themselves.  And, to be honest, that’s all that I really want to be.  There are some great blogs out there.  If you want some great insights into ministry and leadership, you should really check out Jim Martin’s blog “A Place for the God Hungry.”  Interested in daily spiritual growth?  Check our Chris Altrock’s “True North” blog for his “Ten Minute Transformation” posts.  Want to read about the intersection between faith and culture?  There is probably no one better guide in the digital frontier than Josh Graves.  These are some of the blogs that I read that I find helpful, and I think you will enjoy them as well.

So, here’s what I am thinking: Instead of trying really hard to make this blog deeply profound and come with daily devotionals, I think I am going to alter course just a little.  Mondays are now going to be known as “Meditation Mondays.”  I will offer a devotional for the week that will hopefully give you some encouragement.  Wednesdays will be known as “Writing Wednesdays,” and I am going to just write.  Who knows what will come up?  It may be personal.  It may be profound.  It may be profoundly personal.  It may be personally profound.  The point is that Wednesdays will be about writing.  Then Fridays will be “Fun Fridays.”  I think the name says it all here.  It may be a movie review or a funny story.  Yet it will be within the context of faith, life and ministry.

I say this now because I will be taking the month of October off from blogging.  I am doing this to open up my blog to one of my preaching classes.  They will be posting original pieces of their own.  So, come by and say “Hi.”  I really do appreciate the support.

Lessons Learned from Daniel

Note: This is an edited version of my final sermon preached at the Westmoreland Church of Christ on Sunday, 15 September 2013.

The prophetic book of Daniel is a fascinating book for a number of reasons.  There are the stories of profound faith in a secular society.  There are the apocalyptic visions that continue to plague the minds of scholars.  There are the unique historical comments that give both validity and texture to the narrative.   Yet, as is often the case with prophetic literature, we often miss the lessons related to spiritual development and leadership that are present in Daniel.  As we walk through the text, it seems to me that there are four lessons that Daniel teaches us:

1.      Take advantage of opportunities (Daniel 1-2)

Daniel and his friends were stellar young men, spiritual and political leaders in the making.  However they soon found themselves being carted across the sand to the massive capital city of the Babylonian empire.  Daniel and his friends were quickly enrolled in a leadership training program, preparing them to be governors and administrators.  Yet, part of the training meant eating food from the king’s kitchen.  This was unthinkable for Daniel and his friends.  They chose instead a kosher vegetarian diet and were ultimately judged “better than all the magicians and enchanters in [the] whole kingdom” (1:20).  As a result of his faithfulness, Daniel was granted the opportunity to interpret the king’s dream.  Daniel’s words were so pleasing that Daniel was promoted all the way up to the king’s chief advisor.  What opportunities are being presented to you that you need to take advantage of?

2.      Stand up for your convictions (Daniel 3)

How strong is your commitment to God?  It’s a question that all of us think we know the answer to.  “I would be willing to die for you,” and, “I swear that I do not know Jesus!” came from the lips of the same person.  This same man, the apostle Peter, would late write that we must be confident in our commitment so that we can answer those who challenge us about our faith (1 Peter 3:14-17).  This happened to three of Daniel’s friends.  The king set up a big statue of himself that could be seen for miles around.  When music played, everyone was to bow down and worship the statue.  Daniel’s friends, however, did not.  When questioned, they stood firm in their convictions and told the king they only worshipped God.  Upon failing to bow a second time, they were tossed into a scorching furnace.  However, an angel was sent to protect them.  When the king saw this, he asked for forgiveness from Daniel’s friends and made a proclamation that their God would be worshipped instead of the king.

3.      Endure Suffering (Daniel 6)

And while worshipping God was allowed in Babylon, it would not last forever.  Eventually a new king came to power who did not recognize Daniel’s God.  And although Daniel served this new king as faithfully as he had the previous king, he was once again forced to worship God in secret.  Well, sort of.  Some of this new king’s advisors knew that Daniel was religiously different.  They came up with a plan to remove Daniel from power.  They would propose that the king sign a decree that states that people can only worship the king (sound familiar?).  If they did not, they would be thrown into a den of hungry, angry lions (again, sound familiar?).  The new king agreed, and Daniel was arrested almost immediately.  The king’s hands were legally tied.  Daniel must die for his faith.  Yet, during the night, Daniel was protected from the lions.  When the king discovered this miracle the next morning, he proclaimed that Daniel’s God was the only true God!  Jesus said that we should count ourselves blessed when we are persecuted for our faith (Matthew 5:10-12).  It is not fun.  Yet, in enduring suffering, we proclaim our faith.

4.      Stay Faithful Until the End (Daniel 12)

The book of Daniel ends with a prolonged report from an angel that reminds the reader that “mortals are not in control of their destiny but God, who alone determines times and seasons.”[1]  This report ends, as does so much of the Old Testament writings, with a hopeful message regarding the future.  We often miss it amongst the chaos and crisis that we often see.  Yet it is there.  “Blessed are those who persevere. . . .But you, go your way, and rest; you shall rise for your reward at the end of the days” (12:12-13).  The theme of reward and resurrection are interwoven throughout Scripture.  It is a comforting reminder that all of this stuff that we endure is worth it.  We may never face a furnace or a firing squad, yet we are still commanded to remain steadfast in our faith.

---

[1]C. L. Seow, Daniel, Westminster Bible Companion (Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press, 2003), 167. 

#Priorities

What is important to you?  All of us have values.  All of us ideas and attributes that are important to us and that provide our lives with meaning.  These values are often how we define our life mission to ourselves and how we are defined by those around us. 

How do you communicate those values to others?  In his book on digital ministry, David Bourgeois argues that “We are no longer in the broadcast era.  We are in the digital era. . . .This powerful ability to connect people as never before should draw us, as followers of Christ, to the Internet.  It is not about the latest gadget; it is about relationships.”[1]  We are more connected to each other than ever before. 

Therefore, what message are we sending when we send that text or that tweet?  When I send out a tweet, I have the opportunity to expand my influence rather than my image.  Priorities make up our “platform,” that concept that defines who we are.  Michael Hyatt argues that two of the principles of a platform are to have something to offer people and to be willing to generously give it away to others.[2]  In doing so, we will connect with more people who can, then, spread our influence.

I noticed recently that when I use a hash-tag with my tweets, I regularly use the same three.  When I use all three in a tweet, then I have probably had an epiphany (or my head popped off and flew around my office).  These three hash-tags are more than that, however; they define who I am and what I do.  And if you follow me, they will tell you what I am about:

·         #PresenceBeforeProclamation—This is who I am.  This is how I live.  You will not care how much I know until you know how much I care about you.  This is who I am.

·         #Preaching—This is what I do.  This is what I teach.  This is the channel through which I trust that God will continue to expand the borders of the Kingdom.  This is what I do.

·         #Productivity—This is what I am about.  This is how I define success.  There is an old proverb that asks how we can define a person unless he or she makes the world a better place.  This is what I am about.

What are your #priorities?  What is your platform?  What influence do you have on others?

---

[1]David T. Bourgeois, Ministry in the Digital Age: Strategies and Best Practices for a Post-Website World (Downers Grove, IL: Praxis/IVP Books, 2013), 18-19.

[2]Michael Hyatt, Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2012), 202-203. 

Measuring Effectiveness

Over the weekend, a friend of mine posted a picture on Facebook that brought back some memories.  When I was in college, I launched and directed a Christian theatre troupe that traveled to youth rallies, retreats, camps, and even Sunday night devotionals to talk about our faith through sketches.  It was great fun, and an early crucible for me to learn about leadership.  This particular picture was taken 15 September 2001 at a congregation just outside Pittsburg.  The congregation had invited us to perform for a small youth rally.  However, if you noticed the date, the nation was in a moment of crisis.  The question was raised of whether we should go, given the circumstances.  I decided that we should go, and I asked who wanted to come.  It was a difficult decision, one that I really struggled with both before going and after returning.  We went and did our thing, having a great time in the process.  Also, about a week later, we received word that some teenagers who had been at that rally had decided to become Christians afterwards.  In the end, it was a missional win.

As I looked at the picture and reminisced over that particular trip, I started thinking about how we define effectiveness in ministry.  What defines a “win”?  How do we measure “success” in ministry?  For all practical purposes, this particular trip was questionable.  We traveled from Searcy, Arkansas, to Pittsburg during a national crisis when travel was being discouraged.  As I mentioned, it was a small rally.  The recruiting quotient was really low.  Only a few teenagers accepted Christ’s offer of salvation and were baptized, and even this was after the rally.  Was this trip “effective”?  Was this trip “successful”?  I know many who would say that we wasted our time going.  (In fact, another theatre troupe has turned the rally down, noting that it was “too small” for them to perform at.)  Yet, the Gospel was proclaimed and some accepted the call.  Why can that not be enough success for the Church?

I spent four years working as a hospital chaplain.  During that time, I came to the conclusion that no area of ministry is more emotionally, psychologically and spiritually challenging than chaplaincy.  During my first year, I was the pediatric chaplain, serving the Pediatric ICU and outpatient pediatric oncology unit.  Yeah.  The next three years, I spent working in the hospital’s Emergency Room.  Yeah.  My days were simple: Visit and pray with as many people as you can; complete your consults; make your unit meetings.  My days were difficult: Visit and pray with as many people as you can; complete your consults; make your meetings.  A “win” in chaplaincy is not being thrown out of a room.  In four years, I think that happened twice.  The question never was how people had I visited; it was had God been present to those in crisis.  And for that person or that family, being present and offering a prayer was, often, enough.

I have been in full-time ministry since 2001 (1997, if you count the theatre troupe).  Although I have done some consulting, I have yet to be invited to headline a national conference, although I speak at 2-3 conferences a year.  I have yet to serve a congregation larger than 200, unless you count those where I did my internships.  On paper, I would judged by many to be an ineffective and unsuccessful minister.  Yet, Jesus did not call us to build big churches.  He called us to “go” and “teach” and “pray” and “forgive” and “baptize” and “make disciples,” and leave the kingdom-building up to Him, His Father, and the Spirit.  To that end, I think I have been effective because I am fighting the good fight, running the race, and keeping the faith.  And so are you.  Brother and sister in ministry, I hope you find this encouraging.  Grace and peace.   

Your Church: Monument, Museum, or Mission?

Note: I realize that it has been some time since I have posted.  The goal of the plate-spinning trick is to make sure that the audience concentrates on the plates in the foreground and that they are still spinning at the end of the performance.  Over the past couple of months, this blog has been one of the background plates.  This is not an apology, merely a statement.

I woke up to a thought this morning: “Monument, museum, or mission?  Which best describes my congregation?”  I have traveled professionally more this year thus far to conferences, speaking engagements and consulting appointments than I have ever before.  And the number one question that I have been asked is what my vision is for the local congregation.  As Christians, we know that the Church will continue through God’s grace and the Spirit’s guidance. 

However that does not mean that local congregations are automatically going to continue opening their doors each week.  Now, most of these people who have asked to pick my brain assumed that I would automatically herald the bountiful blessings of the mega-church movement, validating that they—and only they—are the answer to the Church’s future.  “Bigger is better and better is forever,” I heard one leader say in a consulting session.  Yet, the longer that I work with congregations and the more research that I read, the less and less convinced I am that megas are the answer.  If you will hold one for a moment, let me explain what I mean.

I am not saying that mega-churches are unnecessary.  I think they were an evangelism trend that, in many cases, has seen its day.  However, they are here to stay.  What I am saying is that building a massive religiously-affiliated recreation complex in the middle of a cornfield in Indiana is not the answer.  What is the answer?  Simple: “Go, find someone who does not know about God, and tell them.  Teach them, pray with them, minister to them, baptize them, and disciple them to go and do likewise” (my paraphrase of Matthew 28:18-20).  The answer to unlocking the future of the local congregation is mission!

Think about your congregation for a moment: How would you describe it?  What goes on from Sunday to Sunday?  What values does your congregation hold?  What is the institutional ethic that powers your congregation?  Earlier this summer, my family and I drove to San Diego for vacation (they are still there).  Along the way, we saw a few monuments, some museums, and a mission or two.  Here is how they relate to the local congregation:

•  Monument—The congregation is large, large enough to attract people simply with its presence.  It did not start that way, yet neither did the Lincoln Monument.  And neither did the story behind the monument.  It is open certain times during the week, inviting passersby and season-pass holders to come in and hear again the monument’s tale: “We started off small.  But we decided to reach out to the community, so we built a gym.  Then we added (a food pantry, daycare, outreach clinic, etc.).  And before you knew it, we built this big wonderful building!  Enjoy the coffee shop, and make sure you buy a CD or book from the gift shop on your way out.”  Like all monuments, some congregations have become testaments to the great things we did.  Yet they do not look to the future.
• Museum—This congregation comes in all sizes.  Yet the defining mark of a “museum” congregation is that it is locked in the past.  Museums tells story, whereas monuments are simply for show.  Museums invite people to learn history, and perhaps be inspired to retell the story to someone else.  Living museums, like the Mormon Battalion in San Diego, are great at this.  “Museum” congregations have not experienced change in years, opting to stay locked into the “glory years” of their history and acting as if nothing has changed around them.  Fewer and fewer people come, dust collects in the corner, and the symbols become tarnished.  Yet the faithful continue to gather each week to retell their story in the hopes that someone new might be impressed enough by the show to drop a coin or two in the collection plate.
• Mission—Whether they were in Ireland or San Antonio, missions existed for one reason: to serve as a central location for evangelism.  The monks and preachers would find their way to the mission, receive their “marching orders,” then go out and proclaim the Gospel to all they could find.  Today, “mission” congregations are not Sunday-only operations like “museum” congregations.  Nor are they like “monument” congregations where people must come to the building to take advantage of the membership perks.  “Mission” congregations are active and actively involved in their community.  For example, small groups are popular in “monument” congregations.  However, they have become focused almost primarily on fellowship.  The reason is because fellowship and community have been sacrificed on the altar of “bigger is better.”  Yet, “mission” congregations continue to effectively use small groups as evangelistic and discipleship tools because unchurched people are not going “to church” on Sundays.  Yet, they will meet at a pizza buffet or burger joint on Thursday night because they have to eat.  In short, “mission” congregations do not exist for the sake of an expansion project or to entertain the tourists.  They exist to proclaim the Story to as many people as possible.

So, which type of congregation best describes the one you attend?  Now, let me make something clear: Every congregation should be a “mission” congregation, regardless of size.  Smaller congregations are actually better-equipped to be “mission” congregations, yet that does not mean that mega-churches cannot be.  The problem is that smaller congregations operate out of a desperate need to stay open and mega-churches operate out of a consumerist mentality.  Yet both can and should be “mission” congregations.  The answer to whether we are a “mission” congregation is found in this question: Where is our focus?  Is it in here, or is it out there?

Go Means Go!

I recently heard veteran preacher Ben Merold open a sermon with a startling revelation—every preacher will be out of a job someday.  Yes, that’s correct!  Every preacher will be out of a job someday.  Now, it’s not what you might be thinking.  We leave one ministry for another.  However, Ben’s revelation had more to the Revelation than real estate.  He stated that someday we will be gathered together before God’s throne.  And what will we do before God’s throne?  Sing!  With the Word standing before us, we will have no more reason to preach.  We will only worship.  So, for those of you who lead worship, consider this time practice time for eternity.  Some of us are going to need the help in Heaven.

However, for those of us who preach, time is of the essence.  We have work to do.  Preachers and teachers prepare people for Heaven.  Regardless of how we might define it, we are in the fishing business.  When I was in college, I launched a traveling theatre troupe called “Fisher’s Men.”  Our purpose was simple—to use theatre to share the Gospel with (primarily) teenagers.  We traveled to Pittsburg following 9/11 and performed at a youth rally.  It was a modest youth rally, and we were able to bring comfort and laughs to a grieving community.  About a week later, we received an email from one of the teenagers who had been at the youth rally.  He informed us that he appreciated us coming from Arkansas and sharing our faith in Jesus.  As a result, he became a Christian the Sunday after the rally.  Jesus once said, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people” (Matthew 4:19).

However, going is not simply going a long way.  Going simply means “progress” or “advancement.”  As long as the Gospel is advancing, we are fulfilling Christ’s command (Matthew 28:18-20).  Going also means going across the street or going across the hall.  We often confuse global evangelism with world travel or relief work.  Now, there is nothing wrong with either activity, especially relief work which is desperately needed in many parts of our world.  However, sharing our faith requires us to tell another about our faith.  The question is, will we share our faith with our neighbors, co-workers and classmates?  It is easier to share our faith with a total stranger.  Yet, we are called to go.  Jesus said that the church’s mission would start in a city, then move to a state, then to a country, then to the four corners of the world (Acts 1:8).  Yet, it starts locally.  Go on mission trips, yet do not neglect those who are spiritually stubbing their toes in the darkness at home.  “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people” (Matthew 4:19).     

Being a Change-Agent, 42-Style

Note: This is the final post in a 3-part series focusing on the recent film 42, which chronicles the early baseball career of Jackie Robinson.

What does it mean to be a “change agent,” one who enacts change in a system?  How does one bring about change in an organization or institution or culture?  What does it take?  To be honest, I have wrestled with this idea of being a “change agent” for a number of years.  I come from a religious tradition that abhors change, more so than most.  “We’ve never done it that way” and “We’ve never tried that” are not defensive mechanisms or organizational checkpoints; they are doctrinal dispositions that must be adhered to in order to be considered orthodox.  Yet, had a change in the religious system not been enacted, bacon would still be illegal to eat and the Christian religion would have never left Palestine.  Change is not a bad thing.  It is only bad when it is brought about for the incorrect reason.

There are plenty of good books on change and leadership dynamics already circulating.  You may want to pick up Os Hillman’s Change Agent: Engaging Your Passion to be the One Who Makes a Difference, John Ellett’s The CMO Manifesto: A 100-Day Plan for Marketing Change Agents, David Hutton’s classic The Change Agent’s Handbook: A Survival Guide for Quality Improvement Champions, or Agents of Change: Strategy and Tactics for Social Innovation by Sanderijn Cels, Jorrit De Jong and Frans Nauta.  There are also plenty of good web-based leaders, such as George Couros and the folks at Global Grassroots, who are encouraging and implementing cultural and social change.  My purposes here are simpler.

At its core, 42 is more than a baseball movie.  As I mentioned earlier this week, 42 is a sports film in that its uses sports as a metaphor for life.  42 is not just a baseball movie that chronicles the “box score” of Jackie Robinson’s life; it narrates the struggle against injustice and oppression.  In many ways, Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson, at least as they were portrayed in the film, were kindred souls.  To that end, they teach us 4-5 lessons about what it takes to be a change agent:

1. Awareness—Leaders and change agents have an awareness that something is wrong with the system.[1]  In 42, Rickey tells Robinson that he has always felt that something was wrong with the way that African Americans were treated, especially in sports.  He recounts a story from his days at Ohio Wesleyan College when he regretted not doing more to help a black teammate that had deeply impacted him.[2]  Although it would be forty years before he could finally do something about this, Rickey never forgot the awareness that was stirred within him.
2. Tough—One of the most compelling scenes in 42 is not when Phillies manager Ben Chapman lashes Robinson with a profanity-laced verbal tirade that forces Robinson into a rage in the dugout only to be calmed by Rickey.  That scene is powerful, yet not as powerful as when Rickey stirs up Robinson earlier in the film in their famous 1945 meeting.  It pains Rickey to use such derogatory language, yet he does so because he needs Jackie to understand the gravity of the situation.  Edwin Friedman says that leadership breaks down and change stalls when we fail “to define a position.”[3]  Rickey did not spare cultural sensitivity, as we are so prone to do today.  Change would not come by being sensitive; it would only come by having “the guts not to fight back.”
3. Humor—In my experience, humor is the trait often least developed in leadership.  Yet humor can defuse a tense situation or rally an audience behind a speaker (Proverbs 25:11 anyone?).  Sherly Sandberg writes, “Humor can be an amazing tool for delivering an honest message in a good-natured way.”[4]  When criticized by his own advisors about the legitimacy of his idea to integrate baseball, Rickey simply replies, lighting up his cigar with a smile on his face, “Robinson’s a Methodist.  I’m a Methodist.  God is a Methodist.”  Situation defused.
4. Vision—Vision and awareness are not the same thing.  Awareness is realizing that something is amiss; vision is actually doing something to resolve the situation.  Rickey had a vision—racial integration in baseball.  However, he could not simply pick any ballplayer.  He had to pick the right ballplayer, the one who could stand the jeering and the hatred and the threats.  He had to pick the ballplayer who would respond with soaring homeruns and fantastic fielding rather than balled fists and vicious words.  “Preparation is a major part of vision,” writes Dan Southerland.  “Vision is not just a destination; it is a journey.”[5]  Leaders lead not only for the moment but also for the long haul.
5. Empowerment—Max DePree says that leaders who bring about change “enable others to express their own gifts.”[6]  As I mentioned above, Branch Rickey needed the right ballplayer.  He needed someone with strength, skill, speed, stamina, and a smile.  Jackie Robinson had all of these things.  Rickey trusted Robinson and Robinson trusted Rickey in return.  Leaders who want to bring about change in their culture or system must empower others around them. 

Malcolm Gladwell says that change is never more than a “tipping point” away, and that it is the little things that will push change over the edge.[7]  I think he’s correct.  Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson proved it.

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[1]Ronald A. Heifetz, Leadership without Easy Answers (Cambridge, MA/London: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1994), 207-208.

[2]Chuck Landon, “Robinson Celebrated Thanks to Ohio Native,” www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/x1925881800/Robinson-celebrated-thanks-to-Ohio-native; accessed 19 April 2013.

[3]Edwin H. Friedman, A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix, new ed. (New York: Seabury Press, 2007), 133.

[4]Sheryl Sandberg, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2013), 86.

[5]Dan Southerland, Transitioning: Leading Your Church through Change (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999), 20.

[6]Max DePree, Leadership is an Art (New York: Dell Publishing, 1989), 78.

[7]Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference (New York/Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 2000), 12. 

Massaging the Thorn

Have you ever been called on to fulfill a role and your immediate thought was either “Have we given up completely?” or “Was there no one else?”  Two different friends of mine have voiced such a concern when asked to fulfill administrative roles at the particular institutions where they served.  In both cases, there was an immediate need, and these individuals were selected because it was believed that they could work appropriately and effectively in the position, even if it was for only a short time. 

When confronted with such a challenge, I think we respond the way that we do for one of two reasons.  First, we think that we are not ready for such a position.  Perhaps we are new to the institution or organization.  We do not feel comfortable enough in our role in order to lead effectively.  Perhaps, we are not completely familiar with the rules and regulations that we must live under.  Perhaps an extended period of adjustment to the new role hampers our effectiveness.  Whatever it may be, we think we are just not ready to take on such a role. 

Second, we realize that we are deficient in the area of leadership or administration that we are being called to.  Perhaps we simply do not have the adequate training or experience.  Perhaps we are not credentialed enough.  (I experience this one quite a bit—both appropriately and inappropriately--as one who is currently pursuing his doctorate.)  Perhaps we are simply not skilled, and our leadership is less than stellar.  I have been tackling this concept recently in the congregation that I serve.  I am tone-deaf.  I cannot read music.  Thus, I am a natural candidate to lead singing, right?  I made it through over a decade of professional ministry without leading more than a verse or two of a hymn.  Now, I am the regular evening song leader.  Well, at least it is the evening service.

First, pray for the patience of my congregation.  Second, it has been a learning experience for me.  No, I have not miraculously learned to read music or carry a tune in a bucket.  The learning experience has come in confronting this “thorn” and experiencing God’s grace each week.  In 2 Corinthians 12:6-10, Paul writes, “But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth.  But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, even considering the exceptional character of the revelations.  Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated.  Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’  So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.”  Do I enjoy leading singing?  Not at all.  Am I willing to lead singing?  Absolutely, for in my weakness I am made strong through the grace of Christ expressed through God’s people.