Sanjaya or Bust?

For those of you who may be interested, Chris Sligh (former American Idol contestant) has a blog where he talks about his experiences and gives his insights on the current competition. You can also check out his band while you're there.

I'll go on record by stating that Sanjaya will NOT win American Idol. I've heard all the rumors, the speculation, the "vote for the worst" sites, etc. Sanjaya is only on the show at this point because the votes are still too spread out. Mark my words, Sanjaya will only be around for two more weeks. Next week I look for Phil to get the boot - not because he isn't a good vocalist - but he doesn't have a great public draw. The judges don't have too many kind words for him either.

Once the votes aren't as spread out, Sanjaya will go home. It probably won't be next week, but the week after...look out. It will be his time to go and America will celebrate. It will also depend on what type of outfit Haley comes up with in the next few weeks (thus the fitting title, "Sanjaya or Bust"). Once Haley and Sanjaya are gone, at that point that the competition will get intense. It will suddenly become a very real contest. There's no doubt that Melinda is the best vocalist, but her sheepish smile and occasional shoulder shrug have really started to turn me off.

Best performer and entertainer? Blake Lewis.

What will the future hold? Only America knows, but I see a Blake vs. Melinda showdown in the near future. But until then, it's Sanjaya or Bust.

It's A Bit Complicated...

I love this post by Mark Batterson.

Life is full of complications. This week is full of complications. But God complicates our lives to give us more blessings. Quite a different way to look at it. Are you a glass "half full" or a glass "half empty" kind of person?

I have a theology of complications. Sin complicates your life in negative ways. God complicates your life in positive ways. I believe that complications are part of God's blessing. Remember the parable of the talents? The reward for good work was more work. In other words, God complicates our lives! And it's a blessing.

~ Mark Batterson

Three Peat Baby!!

It's official. I have made an incredible comeback, and now stand as the "2007 Meadow Heights Office Staff NCAA Tourney Pool Champion!!" The THREE-PEAT has arrived! It was a tough haul this year, and Debbie gave it a great run, but in the end it came down to the final score of tonight's championship game. Thankfully it was a high scoring game which sealed the deal. Congrats to the Florida Gators!

It is such a busy week. A lot on my brain right now, and much to blog about. Unfortunately it will probably have to wait. In the event I have a few spare moments, I'll be sharing some thoughts that have been invading my brain cells the past few weeks. Stay tuned!

To My "Old" Friend (Pun Intended)

Here's to my friend, John Howser, who turns 64 years young today! In honor of his birthday, I have posted a pic of the finished (finally!) bathroom - complete with shower door!! You'll have to ask John for the shower door story...it's quite a lengthy one!

It will be great to have the Howser's home at some point in the near future - safe travels until then! Check out his blog for lots of pictures and many tales of adventures. Happy Birthday old friend!

The Road Less Traveled

Life is a journey. But most of the time we live it like a race.

Melissa and I along with our four year old, Emilee, took a few hours out last night to take a "Sunday afternoon drive" on a Thursday. I haven't taken time out to smell the aroma of the world for quite some time. I used to love to head out in the car, sometimes no destination in mind, and see what the world had to offer.

Last night our destination was unknown as well. We started down the highway, wind blowing through the windows and sunroof, hair blazing back like a crazy mane. Life was good. We stopped by an area known as Silvermines, took a walk down by the river and up the trails, and then hopped back in the car for a trip down a road less traveled - a gravel road. Not knowing where we might end up, this gravel road eventually landed us in a small community about 20 miles from here. We slowly meandered back to good ole' Fredericktown at mostly, might I add, the speed limit or under. Yes, you caught that right...I actually drove the speed limit! I haven't driven that slow in...I can't even remember when!

There are really three things that keep us from enjoying the journey of life:

(1) We're too busy. Life is always a race and we're determined to finish first. Tunnel vision ensues and life passes all too quickly.

(2) Distractions. We might start the journey, but for some reason we get distracted. Other passengers on the journey aren't going fast enough, we get frustrated, and ultimately we're distracted onto another more traveled path.

(3) It's not important. We have become intent and CONTENT on living life at a fast pace. Everyone expects us to accomplish certain things, to live a certain life, and to pass through as society deems appropriate. Simply put, it's not that important for us to live life like no one else dreamed possible. We're satisfied in an unhealthy way.

It's a huge challenge to break out of the race of life. Sometimes it's important to take a small detour, even if only for a moment, and expand your lungs with the freshness of what God has to offer. He always provides, if we'll only break free from our own thoughts and desires to enjoy His sweetness.

May you choose the road less traveled.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. ~Robert Frost (1874–1963)

Quotable Quote

"Google is not a search engine. Google is a reputation-management system. Online, your rep is quantifiable, findable, and totally unavoidable."

Chief Reputation Strategist for PR firm Weber Shandwick, Leslie Gaine Ross

Hoppin' and Shoppin'

Scott Hodge points us to an interesting site of two agnostic church hoppers! These guys (Brad and Erica) visit a different church each week and give their thoughts based on a "template formula" complete with rankings. While a bit unorthodox (no pun intended), this site serves as a great insight into the minds of those still searching for God. Churches take note!

Regional C3

I spent the day at the Regional C3 Conference from Fellowship Church. The hosting church was Faith Church in Fenton, MO. As always, it was great to hear Ed Young speak. He is a funny fellow, with lots of quirks and definitely his own style. Through the many jokes, he gave 10 reasons to be creative, as well as several great thoughts on delegation.

After lunch (a HORRENDOUS veggie burger from Ruby Tuesday's - NOT recommended!), we headed back for two breakout sessions. Session One - Worship and Media. I was really looking forward to this breakout, but unfortunately the staff member from Fellowship gave a more global philosophy of why we should worship God. I was hoping to hear some specifics on HOW Fellowship organizes their worship and media ministry, best practices, etc. We did get a few samples clips of several media projects, but only at the very end of the session when most people were leaving.

The second breakout was on assimilation, or more specifically on volunteers. Again, a good global session, but nothing really new. The best takeaway was the "volunteer tour" where a tour is given of every ministry - in action! I thought this was a great idea, and certainly a fantastic way to give people a glimpse of the different ministries available. By following up with "next steps," this is certain to increase the number of volunteers.

Overall, a great day to get away with the staff, but without a lot of new information. We're entering the stage of our organization where we have a specific vision, a focused mission, and the need to contact SME's (subject matter experts) to help us move to the next level. One thing is for sure - there is MUCH work still to be done!

Great Day to be Outside!

I'm in Nashville for the weekend visiting a good friend of mine. He just got married today!! Melissa and I came down for his wedding and it was a great experience. I'll post more once we return, but let's just say it was 87 degrees and sunny today - a great day to have an outdoor wedding!

I'm also getting a chance to relax and spend some time with my beautiful wife. The kids are at grandma's and we're taking advantage! I'm also catching some NCAA hoops action. My Jayhawks pulled out a close one against SIU, and tonight they will battle the tough UCLA squad. Rock Chalk Jayhawks baby!

TAG...You're It!!

I love how Mark Batterson describes church - it's a "tag team sport!" Here are his thoughts:

Church is a tag-team sport.

When you walk in, you tag me and say "go for it." And with the help of our creative team, I try to preach what God has put in my heart with as much creativity and authenticity as I can.

When you walk out, I tag you and say "go for it." And every NCCer is responsible for sharing their faith with everyone in their unique circle of influence. By the way, I read somewhere that the average person has 68 people in their circle of influence--family, friends, colleagues, roomates, etc. Not sure who came up with that number or how! But when I think about our potential impact as a church I don't think in terms of the people who actually attend. I think of our collective circles of influence!

Average Attendance x Circle of Influence = Potential Impact

Who are the 68 people in your sphere of influence? Can you imagine if the 650-700 people that will be at Meadow Heights Church this weekend became intentional about reaching their sphere of influence? We can absolutely rock the Parkland!! TAG, YOU'RE IT!!

The Multi-Site Resolution

We announced a few weeks ago that Meadow Heights Church would be launching a second campus by the end of 2007. This past weekend we announced our 2007-08 Strategic Plan to the entire church family:

Objective 1

To adopt and implement a multi-site strategy as a means of realizing our vision to “impact our world by leading changed lives into an increasing number of biblical communities.”

Objective 2

To launch a second campus.

Objective 3

To position our present campus for continued growth.

Objective 4

To acquire the necessary resources to fully implement the strategic plan.

There is much work still to be done before any of our strategic initiatives can be fully realized, but we are steadily moving forward. Our multi-site vision will become a reality! Here are some interesting statistics from the book Multi-Site Revolution:

• In 1990 there were only 10 multi-site churches in the U.S. Today 33% of all churches are currently considering the multi-site option.
• In 2000 only 5% of all mega churches in the U.S. had multiple locations. Today 25% of all mega churches have more than one site and experts are predicting that by 2010 that 50% of all mega churches will be multi-site.
• Currently 7 of the 10 fastest growing churches in the U.S. are multi-site churches.
• Currently 9 of the 10 largest churches in the U.S. are multi-site churches.

While Meadow Heights church may not fit all of the categories above, we are in the unique position to make an impact on our communities - small town communities. There are very few if any churches focusing on smaller communities (5000 or under). It reminds me of the Blockbuster strategy from a few years ago. Blockbuster had dominated the larger city market for quite some time, but felt the need to increase revenues. Their solution? To open a Blockbuster store in every community they deemed as "small town" - those numbering around the 10,000 mark. They accomplished a great deal of this goal.

What Blockbuster realized was that small town America is not that different from the larger metropolitan areas. People are still people. And last time I checked, God still cares about people. If Meadow Heights can fill this void in some manner and allow God to use us to reach smaller communities, then we are ready and willing to say "God. Yes. Amen." Some might call us crazy, some might call us a "niche," some have even said it can't be done.

We just want to be obedient. We'll do what only we can do, and we'll let God do what only He can do.

Day 3

Day 3 of the 21 Day Challenge...

Not having coffee in my system really stinks. Worse than that, but I can't really say what on this blog. I have had a headache for two days...it's finally subsiding, but now my joints and bones are aching a bit.

Enough of the whining...

If you haven't checked out the Larger Than Life Blog - why wait? When we first created this blog for the challenge, we wondered how many folks would actually use it. Well I am pleased to report that after two days we've had 278 unique visits and 1452 page views!!

Only 18 days to go...

ADDENDUM:

I forgot to mention how awesome the Reading Plan has been - the NLT version of the Book of John is amazing! The prayer guide has been phenomenal as well!

The Tourney Continues

Debbie, our Executive Assistant, is kicking everyone's tail in the annual NCAA Tournament Bracket Challenge. After a dismal start (LAST PLACE!), I am currently tied for second place. With a LOT of help, it is still possible for me to win - can you say THREE PEAT BABY!?!

On a brighter note, the Kansas Jayhawks looked great today. The alley oops were off the hook! I've been a KU fan for as long as I can remember. You may have wondered where the term "Rock Chalk Jayhawk" came from. Here's what I found:

KU's world famous Rock Chalk Chant evolved from a cheer that a chemistry professor, E.H.S. Bailey, created for the KU science club in 1886. Bailey's version was "Rah, Rah, Jayhawk, KU" repeated three times. The rahs were later replaced by "Rock Chalk," a transposition of chalk rock, the name for the limestone outcropping found on Mount Oread, site of the Lawrence campus.

The cheer became known worldwide. Teddy Roosevelt pronounced it the greatest college chant he'd ever heard. Legend has it that troops used the chant when fighting in the Philippines in 1899, in the Boxer Rebellion in China, and in World War II. At the Olympic games in 1920, the King of Belgium asked for a typical American college yell. The assembled athletes agreed on KU's Rock Chalk and rendered it for His Majesty.

21 Day Challenge

WOW! What a great weekend! Bryan, our lead pastor at Meadow Heights Church, did a PHENOMENAL job this weekend. He cast vision for a "21 Day Challenge" to our entire church family. Here's what the challenge contains:

(1) 21 Days of Fasting (Daniel Fast)

(2) 21 Days of Prayer (with corresponding prayer guide)
(3) 21 Days of Scripture (read through the Gospel of John)

There was definitely an air of excitement and anticipation as we rolled out this new challenge. Most people were totally on board and pumped to see what God will be doing during the next three weeks leading up to Easter. This is gonna be good!!

Check out our resources and make sure to comment on our "Larger Than Life Blog!"

Larger Than Life

Lots of stuff happening today. We're getting ready for a three week series called "Larger Than Life" and I am stoked! We'll be asking everyone to participate in a 21 day challenge that looks phenomenal. I'll post more details and links when we officially go "live." We're also working on a blog for this series which will be a first for Meadow Heights. I can't wait to see how many folks interact with us. A great first step!

On a side note, it looks like my reign as the NCAA Bracket Champion (two-peat actually) is already coming to a halt. I am dead last this year!! From first to worst in two short days - yikes!! But on a positive note, my Jayhawks rolled today and are looking schweet. Too bad the game wasn't on CBS - someone seems to think that we are all Illinois fans around here!

Quotables: Rob Bell

Rob Bell's take on criticism:

Some people simply have questions, and simply want to discuss. Wonderful. But some people are miserable, and they use religion as a crutch to avoid dealing with their misery and their pain. And what gets masqueraded as Christian faith is not. And we need to be careful spending all sorts of energy engaging with people who don’t have any interest in coming along on the journey with us.

For a VERY GOOD listing of Rob Bell resources on the web, check out this link.

We're Not Normal

“I started preaching this life-change—this radical turn to God and everything it meant in everyday life—right there in Damascus, went on to Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside, and from there to the whole world.” Acts 26:20 (MsgB)

I was challenged by a blog I read the other day that talked about churches that were normal. Meadow Heights is not a “normal” church. Our attendance isn’t normal. We continue to grow because people experience God and their lives are impacted and changed forever. We’ve already baptized 33 folks and added 68 new members this church year. That’s not normal!

Our volunteers aren’t normal. They show up way too early and stay way too late. They work hard and are willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish God’s mission for our church. And all of that with a humble heart and a fulfilled spirit. Our giving patterns aren’t normal. We’re not broke. We’re blessed. We give – sacrificially and joyfully. We have folks that give not because they have to, but because they get to. We give because God has blessed us and is showing us a vision that can literally change thousands of lives forever.

I challenge you to be here this weekend as we engage in a new series called “Larger Than Life.” We’ll spend the next 21 days getting ready for Easter and preparing ourselves for the miracles that lie ahead. I truly believe that God is preparing us in advance for what he has planned for our church and for each and every one of us. Things are getting ready to heat up around here!

That’s not normal. But then again, neither was Jesus.

A Wild and Crazy Guy!

This guy is absolutely crazy - but in a good way. Steven Furtick is the lead pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, and he tells it like it is in this recent post. I'm not sure that I exactly agree with HOW he says things, but I agree with WHAT he's saying. My favorite quotes?

If you’ve been attending Elevation for a while, and are a Christian who is already going to heaven, and are treating our church like American Idol, waiting to decide whether you will vote us in for another week based on whether you like the show this Sunday, please find somewhere else to take up space.

We need your seat.

Otherwise, roll up your sleeves, invite your unchurched friends, plug in as a volunteer, give financially, pray for God’s continued favor, and let’s rock this city.

This guy has some really great things to say. I encourage you to check out his blog, but be warned...religious people just might be offended at what he has to say!

It's Tourney Time Baby!!

It's that time again...NCAA Basketball Tournament Time!! I've always been a HUGE fan of college basketball and this time of year really gets me pumped up - three weeks of competition!!

We've had a "friendly" tourney bracket competition the past few years, and I don't want to sound like I'm bragging, but I've been the champion for the past two years running. This year I'm looking for the three peat baby! Will my Rock Chawk Jayhawks pull out a championship? Will the Gators dominate again this year? Stay tuned as I'll update the standings over the next few weeks!

To Those Who Have Come Before Us

Craig Groeschel, lead pastor of LifeChurch.tv recently asked five "twenty-somethings" five important questions:

• What do you think God wants to do through our church that I’m not seeing?
• What are we doing that stopped working two years ago?
• What should we be doing to reach people that we’re not?
• Where have I lost effectiveness but those closest to me are afraid to tell me?
• What vision do you have about ministry that no one will listen to?

As leaders, there are many opportunities for us to mentor the younger generations, but how often do we let them mentor us? I love the fact that Craig took time out to listen - something most leaders don't make time to do.

He also took time to honor those folks who had invested in to his life. You can read more about the questions he likes to ask those who have come before him here.

As I reflected on his post, I began to think about those people who have had a major impact on my life. Of course none of this would be possible without God. I am a different person today because of my relationship with Him. But it doesn't stop there. God created us to live in community with one another, or as we fondly call it at Meadow Heights - sharing life together. There have been lots of folks who have made a difference in my life, but I'm talking about those who have made a MAJOR impact:

John Howser
What can I say? John made an impact in my life the moment I met him. He taught me to love music and to love life, and for that I will always be thankful. We have always considered ourselves "soul mates" and we still love to share our thoughts on life (and a cup of coffee!). Life is good...and I hope to you as well!

John Patterson
While we only had the chance to spend about five years together, this other "John" taught me a lot about teaching others. His passion for students stemmed from his work in education and administration, and he took time out to share his knowledge with me. He's retired now, but I know the kids (and other faculty) still miss him.

Bryan Mills
Nope, not another John. I have no doubt in my mind that God totally arranged for Bryan and I to meet. There is also no doubt that I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for Bryan. He spent countless hours answering my endless questions and helped lead me down an incredible path. Today I stand as a follower of Jesus because of those conversations, and I am so thankful to share in this new journey of ministry together.

My Family
Besides God, THE most important part of my life. I am so incredibly blessed to share life with my family!! I could write for days on the many experiences, joys, heartaches, worries, laughs, adventures and many, many more. To Melissa, Kayla, Seth and Emilee - thank you for loving me when I act like Jesus and more importantly, thank you for loving me when I don't. I LOVE YOU GUYS!!

My Mom
What list would be complete without your mom? But seriously, my mother is awesome!! She has always been an advocate for me, no matter what. She was strong in troubled times, shared a smile just when I needed it, and showed unconditional love. My life is a direct result of what she instilled in me, and I'm proud to call her my mom.

I know that this list is far from complete. There are so many I would like to give props to, but just like a good awards show, my time is limited and the music is playing. It's time to get off this stage. If you haven't put thought to those who have made a lasting impact in your life, why not? It's never to late to let someone know what they meant in your life, and you might be surprised at how much your thoughts will leave a mark on their life as well.

Techno At It's Best

There are some very innovative churches doing some cool stuff online right now. Check out these two links:

SatanHatesLife.com - a simple but effective website from LifeChurch.tv to support their new series. They have utilized websites similar to this in the past. By the way...their billboards are awesome!!

My Life Story - an incredible site from Granger Community Church! They asked folks to submit their life stories via postcard and they have posted them on this site. Very effective and VERY cool! Check it out!

I love how these churches are leveraging technology to reach people. Who isn't connected nowadays? What a great way to target an audience in an effective and creative way!

It's Sounds Diffi"cult"

From time to time we'll hear of someone labeling a church as a "cult." I've never heard anyone refer to Meadow Heights as a cult, but I'm sure those folks are out there. Perry Noble did some research on the definition of a cult, and he blogs about it here.

Here are the four main points he makes:

#1 - In a cult everyone is expected to talk, look, act and believe the same thing
#2 - In a cult people strive to keep things the way they are
#3 - A cult’s main concern are those who are insiders
#4 - A cult is passionate about man-made rules

What's interesting are the very "religious" claims that a cult makes about itself. These are the antithesis of what it means to follow Jesus. If you take even a glimpse at the life of Jesus and what He is asking the "big C" church to do, it looks totally opposite of the values of a cult. That sounds a lot like the "religious" leaders of the Bible- more focus on them than on God.

Is there anything in your own life that you focus on more than God?

Frustrated!

By the way...can anyone tell me why sometimes my posts are double spaced, but other times they are single spaced?? This is driving me nuts!! I can't wait to officially launch my new blog...stay tuned for more details!

May I Have the List Please...

Lists. It seems like everyone is doing a list these days. Here are some examples (funny...this is a list!):

• The "to-do" list
• The grocery list
• The Christmas list
• Forbes richest list
• David Letterman's Top 10 List
• Time's Most Important List
• Mr. Blackwell's "best and worst" dressed list

and on...and on...and on...

Churchrelevance is getting in on the action as well. They recently published the "Top 22 Churches In America." This list is based on 7 other lists (HEY! Another list! Kind of ironic isn't it?):

• 07 AMIC = Outreach magazine’s 2007 America’s 25 Most Innovative Churches
• 06 FGC = Outreach magazine’s 2006 100 Fastest-Growing U.S. Churches
• 06 LC = Outreach magazine’s 2006 100 Largest U.S. Churches
  
• 06 MIC = The Church Report’s 2006 50 Most Influential Churches
• 05 FGC = Outreach magazine’s 2005 100 Fastest-Growing U.S. Churches
• 05 MIC = The Church Report’s 2005 50 Most Influential Churches
• 04 FGC = Outreach magazine’s 2004 100 Fastest-Growing U.S. Churches

They also have a list of over 250 "churches to watch." Obviously they haven't checked out Meadow Heights (insert smiley face here)! The bigger question is this - why do people love lists? Do you enjoy reading "lists?"

For the record, there are many folks out there who don't enjoy lists. You can check out two from LifeChurch.tv - this post by Bobby Gruenewald, and this post by Craig Groeschel.

Can I get a list anyone?

The Best Is Yet To Come

I'm sitting here unwinding on the couch typing this entry. It's been a long weekend but I can't sleep. I think my body is in the "over-tired" mode where you're so tired that you can't sleep.

I had the opportunity to teach at our five gatherings this weekend (not to mention our CLASS night!), and as always, God works in incredible ways. It usually feels like God has taken me on an incredible journey, and while He might be impacting others, I come away feeling like He's given me so much more than I've given Him or anyone else. It's really hard to explain unless you've gone through that experience. It is both an awesome and humbling experience all at the same time. I learned so much today about the importance of miracles - it's been a recurring theme of our series - not the importance of the miracle itself, but having faith that God can do the miracle if He chooses. The REAL miracle, regardless of the outcome, is how our lives are changed as a result of our faith.

So as I prepare to drag myself into bed, I am thankful that God has given us the promise that despite our difficult circumstances, or the crisis in our life, or our unmet expectations, He is always working and that His best is yet to come.

Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. So if you find life difficult because you're doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he's doing, and he'll keep on doing it.

1 Peter 4:12-13, 19 (MsgB)

The Umbrella Of Mercy

I remember teaching my Music Appreciation students about the subjectivity of art. I would always start by asking them to describe what they thought art was. Most would give examples from traditional forms of art such as paintings, sculptures, ceramics, etc. But then we would get into the discussion about other items such as chairs, tables, chalkboards, etc. Are these considered art? A great debate would ensue until we would all usually settle on the following:

ANYTHING can be considered art. Art is in the eye of the beholder.

My wife is setting beside me as I type, and I'm sure when she reads this that she'll get a good chuckle over the statement above. I mean, think of it this way. If God created us and anything is considered art then by definition, humans are all considered art (remember the old math adage a=b=c?). If that's the case then I'm sure God is the only one who appreciates this work of art (meaning me). At least I hope He does.

So what's the point of this discussion? Eric recently posted about the subjectivity of art. Eric is the Creative Arts Director at Community Christian Church in Naperville, IL (think Chicago!). Eric had me rolling with this description:

At CCC, we pretty much have a "free reign" policy on such matters. Everyone here pretty much says whatever the heck the feel like regarding someone's art. We often mock the concept of an "umbrella of mercy." We say things like "there are no bad ideas, only bad people." and one time, we shattered an umbrella, hung it in the corner, and treated it like an umbrella of mercy "shame corner" for when a bad idea was uttered. As I recall, by the end of the brainstorming session, creative types were sending themselves into the corner when bringing up an idea that falls flat.

During the creative arts meetings at Meadow Heights Church, we'll often unleash the "umbrella of mercy" before throwing out an idea. Eric's peeps take it to another level! But I love it! Make sure you read the rest of his post however, as he talks about how there are times a leader must make a decision. I love that about our church - we aren't afraid to talk about the concepts or ideas, but in the end, the leader makes the decision, and we all walk away with three things:

(1) Everyone knows the decision has been made
(2) Everyone accepts the decision and backs the leader 100%
(3) After all is said and done, we still love each other

You won't find too many environments where you can have healthy conflict, arrive at a solution that everyone agrees is the best decision at the time, and you walk away loving and respecting everyone in the process. Simply amazing.

I'm a Mac...No Wait...I'm a PC

I never thought I would say this...

I'm considering a Mac for my next computer. Eegads (cue Oklahoma music here).

I swore for years and years that I would never own a Mac. After many years of experience editing video, creating music, and creating graphics, I have come to the conclusion (and after much reading) that a Mac might be a better choice for my current career path.

I know, I know. You diehard PC fans (and I would still number myself among them) will spout fact after fact about how PC's are superior to the Mac, and how you can do anything you want on a PC. I used to agree. I'm not quite sure how I'll process the situation if it comes to fruition.

I did find an article on "switching" - one man's honest take on his journey from PC to Mac. You can read his thoughts here.

I'll close by asking the opinion(s) of my faithful readers - what are your thoughts on the PC vs. Mac? I'm anxious to hear from you!

Impotence (Keep Reading!)

Perry Noble has a phenomenal post on "impotence." Don't be too alarmed, the post will make sense when you read it. After reading the report on the rise of aethism in America, I loved Perry's take on the state of the church. Perry hits it on the head - it's all about passion.

Hit the Shower!

Tim Sanders hits on a topic I've posted on before - why your best thinking is done in the shower. Each and every morning I take a hot shower while my brain begins to percolate and ideas start to flow. I've always said that most of my best ideas have originated in the shower.

Here's what Tim has to say:

When you shower, your body produces chemicals such as DHEA, a powerful enzyme that boosts your ability to leverage your brain's capacity. I've visited a tech R&D lab that had showers as part of the bathrooms just because of this phenom...Take your shower at a time when you have loaded up your head with today's problems to solve. We get dozens of those a day. If you shower first thing, do your daily do list and circle the ones that require problem and solution thinking.

Tim addresses this further in his book, "The Likeability Factor." I haven't had time to read this book yet, but it's on my short list.

When do you do your best thinking? What types of things do you do to generate ideas?

I (Still) Need A Hero

I'd just like to say that Heroes is STINKIN' AWESOME!! This show ranks up there with some of the best ever. If you haven't had the opportunity to check it out - DO SO IMMEDIATELY! You won't be disappointed. The characters, plot development, special effects - all are top notch. Tonight's episode was unbelievable - next week's looks even better. Until then!

The US - A Religious Melting Pot?

A recent survey conducted by the Institute for Humanistic studies claims that "aethism" is increasing in the United States:

A new survey in the U.S. shows that the number of 18-25 year olds who are atheist, agnostic or nonreligious has increased from 11 percent in 1986 to 20 percent today. Meanwhile a survey of the United States and the five largest countries in Western Europe reveals that religious belief continues to plummet in Europe, with Italy being the only country with a majority believing in any form of God or supreme being. And even in these overwhelmingly godless countries, the young are still significantly less religious than their elders.

While I have not seen the statistics from the actual survey itself (or how they conducted it), I would agree that America is showing signs of becoming a religious "melting pot." The article continues:

Overall, the US looks a lot like Western Europe 30 or 40 years ago. At that time most Europeans still believed in a god, but younger generations were more atheist and agnostic than their elders. That trend has continued with religion steadily declining, generation by generation.

I have to say that I too am against "religion." You read that correctly. But I am for a relationship with Jesus. When we try to cram religious principles down the throats of the younger generation, their immediate reaction will be one of contempt. Religion didn't work 2000 years ago either. But when you build into a relationship while discovering what it means to follow Jesus, everything changes.

The Church (Big C) needs a wake up call. Fortunately, I firmly believe that many churches have already answered the phone. They are finding creative ways to impact their communities; discussions have been generated and technology has been leveraged. I don't know what "religion" will look like in a 100 years, but I do know that Jesus will never change...and that gives us all hope. Let the battle begin...

Beatboxing flute inspector gadget remix

For my buddy Jeremy, who loves the flute! Thanks to Greg at Church Video Ideas for the link.

Blogging In the Forest

Seth Godin poses an interesting question on his blog - "If no one reads your post, does it exist?" This is similar to the old adage, "If a tree falls in the forest..." Why do we write? There are very few blogs that have an active readership, so Seth's question is a valid one.

Here are my reasons for writing "Bucketology":

• It's an outlet for me to describe how God is affecting my daily life - as I mention in the description, they are snippets from my life experiences.

• I have never enjoyed "hand writing" in a journal, log, or other paper method. I enjoy leveraging technology in an effective way.

• I enjoy sharing what other's have written. What a great way to give props to the creative thoughts and ideas of others! Blogs are an incredibly effective way to learn a lot of information in a short period of time (unfortunately, because of Seth's insight, a lot of great information is buried in "cyberspace.")

• It's a way for me to leave a legacy for my family and future generations. Granted, it might not be much of a legacy, but it's mine, and for some reason, my family enjoys getting to know me.

Even if no one reads my blog, or reads it once and doesn't enjoy it, it's still a great way for me to "empty my head" and process what's going on in my life. A blog doesn't replace personal relationships or communication, but sometimes it's difficult to strike up a conversation at two in the morning!

So, is anybody out there reading this blog?

Volunteers - The Backbone of An Organization

Volunteers are a very important part of any organization. That's why we take great care to honor our volunteers and to let them know they're doing a great job. Of course we also hold them accountable when needed because we feel that God wants us to lead our volunteers and to help them discover their giftedness and unique contributions. Sometimes that means difficult conversations. Ultimately, we want to help our volunteers find their giftedness, in the area of their heart's desire, using their abilities, accommodating their personality, while building experiences.

While we find ways to recognize our volunteers throughout the year, we also have a special celebration once a year to give public recognition to all of our volunteers. This has been a great event in the past, but we are trying to brainstorm some creative ideas on how to celebrate with our volunteers. Mark Batterson describes how they honor their volunteers in this post. Very cool.

How do you recognize your volunteers? What are some creative ideas that you would recommend?

C3 - Turning What If Into What Is

Tony Morgan has posted his thoughts about the opening day of the C3 Conference. Several of us will be attending the regional C3 site in St. Louis in a few months. Ed Jr. is the main speaker, with an afternoon of breakouts. It should be a great mini-conference!

JT and the Virtual Memory Machine

Props go out to my buddy JT on his new blog, or what he fondly refers to as his "virtual memory." Jason has some incredible insights and his writing is phenomenal. Definitely check out his post on the recent miracle he experienced - it will blow you away!

Monday Funny

Mark Batterson points out some interesting differences between men and women:

A man will pay $20 for a $10 item he wants. A woman will pay $10 for a $20 item that she doesn't want.

The average man has four items in his bathroom--a toothbrush, an electric razor, a bar of soap, and a towel from the Holiday Inn. The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 437. The average man is able to identify four of those items!

A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams. A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.

If Emma, Suzanne, Debra and Michelle go out for lunch, they will call each other Emma, Suzanne, Debra and Michelle. But if Mike, Phil, Rob, and Jack go out for lunch, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla, Peanut Head and Useless.

Women love cats. Men say they love cats, but when women aren't looking, men kick cats.

Sean Michel

American Idol is about to heat up! The top 24 have been announced and I can't wait for it to get started. The field seems to be very even this year with lots of great talent once again. I did notice their isn't an "oddball" this year - the one person who stands out (good or bad) and sets themselves apart from everyone else.

You might have seen Sean Michel on the show recently. He made it to the Hollywood round, but unfortunately was cut. I loved his initial audition and his unusual look. Check out this interview with Relevant Magazine. You can also visit his MySpace page and listen to his band.

By the way, Chris Sligh (I posted about him recently) made it through to the top 24!

Catching Up with the Catfish

It's been a busy past few days. We had some friends from Illinois in for a four day visit. Catfish (a long time nickname), Angie and their three kids hung out, ate lots of food and played the Wii - we had a blast. Catfish and Angie have been friends of ours for 20 years. Angie watched my oldest daughter Kayla my freshman year in college and we've been friends ever since.

I was hoping they would come to church with us this weekend, but they just wanted to hang out at the house. Catfish did go to our Life Group with us, and I think he had a blast. Once again, our Life Group had some phenomenal discussions about God and life. We had a chance to digest some questions related to Miracles, our current series at Meadow Heights Church. I'm always amazed to hear how God is at work in the lives of people I love and care about. He is truly a good God.

Mission Accomplished

I just finished an email to an old friend. I miss our conversations. He has been through the thick and thin of my life, but always with a helping hand and a positive outlook. I love that about him.

It started me thinking about accomplishments. For so much of my life I was building a resume of experiences and accomplishments. The theory was that these accomplishments would help to further my career. I have always said that I had accomplished everything I wanted to do when I left the field of education. But then it hit me...why do we strive so much for our own accomplishments?

I posted a few days ago about how we accomplish something only to forget about it a short time later (it doesn't take others nearly as long to forget our accomplishments!). If we so easily forget what we done, it begs this question - What types of accomplishments last a lifetime? Is it really important to accomplish anything?

Too much of my life has been focused on me. What things can I do; what things can I experience; what things can I accomplish...When the focus is directed towards God and not towards self, everything changes. I am slowly starting to figure that out.

I think Jesus summed it up best in John:

"I came down from heaven not to follow my own whim but to accomplish the will of the One who sent me." John 6:38 (MsgB)

Mission accomplished.

The Versus Game

I've posted quite a bit lately on how Meadow Heights Church is working through many systems and processes. I've also noticed that several key leaders of other churches have posted about similar things as well. A key thought we've ingested at the staff level is that we have to continue to replicate ourselves. In other words, work our way out of our job so that we can truly focus on leading others. Systems and processes will help us achieve that goal.

Craig Groeschel has a great post on "Don't Do It All." He's titled this as part one of a five part series. I'm anxious to see how the rest of his posts develop. This is an issue that many leaders (and I'll put myself smack dab in the middle of this one) struggle with. Many leaders I know are very driven people. That's one of the characteristics that make them a great leader. But it can also be the downfall of a great leader if their focus is in the wrong area.

Most of the time it becomes a versus. God vs. Family vs. Work. Who will win? It depends on the day, or the time, or the situation. I'm going to say something very bold - most leaders fail to put their priorities in the right place. I am one of those leaders. God has impressed upon me a great deal lately that I have to be the one to initiate change in this area of my life. Only I can't figure out how to do that very well. I'm continuing to play the versus game even when I don't want to.

I talked with someone the other day that said something I really relate with. He said this, "Even when I try to disengage from work, I find myself thinking about work. When I'm at home with my family, my mind is really back at the office." While I have overcome much of this mental battle, I can truly relate to this "versus" in my life.

I would welcome any comments from those of you who struggle or have struggled with the "versus game." Does the game ever end?

A Life Worth Living

My youngest, Emilee, turned four on Saturday. We had a great time hanging out, had some cake, presents, etc. Then we went for lunch and finally ended up at the bowling alley. It was Emilee's first time to bowl and she had a blast! Many times I take for granted all of the wonderful experiences I have had, and I simply forget that my kids have not experienced some of the basics of life. Bowling is only one example. Last spring I flew a kite with my son. He had never flown a kite before.

I wonder if many of us who would claim to follow Jesus take our experiences with Him for granted. Have we forgotten what that feels like? Is that why we forget that others haven't had the same incredible life changing relationship that we have experienced? Has anyone else got caught up in the "I'm only looking out for me" so let me do everything I can to get my "own" experience moment? We do everything we can to "accomplish" something, only to forget about it within a few moments of our achievement.

Has God become that forgotten achievement in your own life? Has it been relegated to an event that happened rather than a relationship that happens? And what does that matter if we don't help others find that same joy? You've heard the expression that "he who dies with the most toys wins." What if we lived life by a different mantra..."he who dies after sharing the most toys wins?" A trite saying? Perhaps. A life worth living? That's for you to decide.

Hurry Up and Wait

I've not posted in awhile. And on purpose.

Do you ever feel like you're in a funk? I'm not sure what God's up to, but I'm praying He hurries up with me. Can I pray that? That might explain the funk.

We have a two-story house with heating units in both the upstairs and downstairs. Our bottom unit went out Saturday. The repair guy tells me I need a new part - a $200 part. YIKES. Can you say "wreck the budget?" But you can't go without heat, right? Especially when it's 20 degrees outside.

But, as a wise friend once told me, "winners find solutions, losers make excuses" so I'm fighting my way out of the pity party. But God, if you're listening...can you please hurry me up? Thanks.

A Good Example of BAD Customer Service

Our satellite internet has been slowly degrading in quality over the past few months (we live in a rural setting and don't have any other means available). After many phone calls, the satellite company agreed to send someone out to take a look.

PROBLEM #1 - Subcontractors don't always have the same values as the company that hired them.

The technician was supposed to arrive last Thursday. He didn't - and he didn't call. Friday, someone called that didn't know much about our issue and claimed he would come next week. He came on Monday - our main tech guy is off on Mondays.

PROBLEM #2 - Don't say you're going to be somewhere at a specific time and on a specific date and then not show up. It's not professional. Refer to problem #1.

The guy looked at our satellite and determined that we need a new "radio" part. He doesn't let us know that he won't be able to re-establish any type of service when he makes his diagnosis. HENCE, our entire satellite goes down.

PROBLEM #3 - If you're going to make something worse than it already was without a backup plan, let someone know before you do it. Refer to problem #1.

After "demolishing" our satellite, the tech put our part on order. Little did he know that the part is on backorder - no apparent arrival date in sight.

PROBLEM #4 - Don't order something and tell the customer you'll get it fixed right away if you haven't checked whether or not the part is actually available. Refer to problem #1.

The subcontractor was actually contracted by another subcontractor who won't return our phone calls.

PROBLEM #5 - If you have a business, answer the stinkin' phones!! If not, customers will stop calling - that means you won't have any more customers. Refer to problem #1.

After an hour on the phone with the satellite company, they don't have any solution. They do not have any "radio" parts anywhere. If I want to know when they might be in, I'll have to call the distributor myself. Oh yeah...I had to work for an hour to get to someone who could make a decision to help me TODAY. It's hard to make a rational point to someone who is simply reading a script and won't vary from it.

PROBLEM #6 - Don't ask your customers to do your work. If you promise a particular service, then provide it. Don't shirk your responsibilities.

I end up calling the distributor. They can't tell me any information because I'm not a wholesaler, even though that's what the satellite company told me to do. After much prodding, they finally tell me that some parts are in, but are already being filtered out and they are expecting more - sometime in the future.

PROBLEM #7 - If many people are experiencing the same problem with the same part, it just might be defective. Fix the part or order more of it just in case. Economics 101.

The distributor told me to call the subcontractor again. I did. The subcontractor doesn't have any idea when they'll get the part. They were told by the distributor that they don't really know that information anyway.

PROBLEM #8 - Passing the buck is a dangerous tactic. If you can't answer the customer's question, find someone who can. Don't pass it off on someone else.

The distributor then assigned a tech to come to our church on Friday - just in case. They probably won't have the part, but they scheduled one anyway.

PROBLEM #9 - If you can't do anything productive, doing something stupid does not make up for it. THINK PEOPLE, THINK!

After several hours, we are still no closer to any type of solution. The satellite company did tell us that we could have a dial up account until the problem is resolved. Oh yeah. That one line on dial up will work well for 10 people. And at those blazing speeds!! YIKES!

PROBLEM #10 - If you have any other option besides satellite internet, GO FOR IT! (And hopefully they will speak English)

On A Wing and a Prayer

A great new resource for churches that use video clips in church. It's called WingClips, and allows the user to download medium or high resolution videos. You can search by theme, and all clips are available for download in quicktime or windows media format.

Rob Bell In England

One of my favorite authors and speakers, Rob Bell, recently completed a tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland. You can read more about his trip here.

There is also a fascinating video interview with Premier.tv that you can watch here.

Gone But Not Forgotten

A good friend of mine, Steve Marchbank, had this thought on his blog today:

Isn’t it amazing how we go through life, and make connections and form relationships, and then time goes on, things change and people and paths diverge, and those thoughts/feelings/memories are sort of ‘stored’ – not forgotten – until at some point in the future, it may (or may not) be referenced or called upon?

Steve and I went to college together and had some great times playing jazz there as well. Then we both ended up in Columbia, MO where we continued to gig on a regular basis (remember good ole' CC's Broiler?). Steve is not only a phenomenal jazz guitarist, but a gifted pediatric physician as well.

Needless to say, Steve and I lost touch for the past few years until a few weeks ago when we reconnected. During that time, both of our lives changed in very significant ways. His insights above really struck my heart tonight. What paths will we cross today that God may bring back tomorrow?

The Leadership Challenge

A phenomenal post today by Gary Lamb. He describes the transition he and his church (Ridge Stone Church) have been going through as they continue to grow. He specifically mentions the leadership transition that happened as their church grew from 500-700 people which is EXACTLY where Meadow Heights Church finds itself today.

We are also in the middle of much transition, mostly in terms of systems and processes, but along with that comes structure and organization as well. Our lead pastor, Bryan, is also working through the "leadership challenge" or as we have fondly come to know it as the "3 month leadership experiment." I am pumped about nailing some of these things down (although I don't enjoy the process to get there!) and know that we are doing exactly what God is asking us to do.

There are some exciting changes upcoming - stay tuned for future updates!

A LONG Weekend

It was a great weekend - but a LONG one. We launched our fifth gathering @ Meadow Heights Church this weekend (you can now worship at 5:30 and 7:15pm on Saturday or 8:00, 9:30 or 11:15am on Sunday) which was new territory for us. We had a great response, with nearly 200 people joining us in our auditorium on Saturday alone. PLUS over 60 of our students and their leaders were away at the Clarity Conference in Nashville! Sunday also filled up, and I fully expect we will break the 700 mark very soon and never look back.

It was also my first time to teach on a five gathering weekend. It really wasn't that much different than teaching four times, but your mind does start to wander a bit by the last time through the message. Overall though, I was digging every second - I HAD A BLAST!!

And finally, it's official. My daughter is now in Orlando, Florida! She will arrive at Disney World tomorrow for her official "check in" and assignments (apartment, job, etc.). I know she is excited, but I could also tell today that she was a bit nervous on the inside. She is so much like me that it scares me sometimes. She keeps her emotions so close to her - always afraid to let people know how she's feeling. The same goes for me, although God is really challenging me in that area. I'm just not sure how to really open up yet.

It was a very tough goodbye for some reason this time. We had already gone through the "mourning" stage when she left for college, but having her home for an extra month or so this time only added to the sadness when we said our goodbyes. My wife Melissa held it together very well, but by the time we got back to the car, the entire family was in tears. I know this is an incredible opportunity for our daughter, but it is always hard to say goodbye.

I will close (with a very tired brain!) tonight by giving God thanks for helping us overcome this storm in our life. It has been a very tense and draining week for many reasons, but God is always faithful, He is always with us, and He will always help us through our storms. I thank Him from the bottom of my heart - my family would never have made it without our faith in Him. Here's to the next storm!

Blogger Survey Results

Saddleback Church recently conducted a "Christian Blogger Survey" solicited from bloggers all across America. Mark Kelly, the news and editorial director for Saddleback and Purpose Driven ministries has compiled the results. Along with a few "notable names" you'll also find this blog. Yep, that's right! Scroll down about a third of the way through and you'll find me (along with hundreds of other blogs)! Thanks to Mark and the Saddleback staff for putting together this list.

You can find the results at Mark's blog referenced above, or this Rick Warren blog site.

American Idol Worshiper!

If you've been following this season of American Idol, you may have seen a Jack Osbourne look-a-like on the show. This cat is none other than Chris Sligh, the worship pastor from Seacoast Church. This guy totally rocked and was VERY funny as well. Good luck to Chris in Hollywood!

What's the Big Idea?

The gang at Community Christian have published their first collaborative book entitled, "The Big Idea." These guys are working hard to impact the Kingdom through their multi-site vision. Our staff had an opportunity to spend some time with these guys a few months ago and they are doing a fantastic job!

You can visit their new website: The Big Idea Online

I haven't had a chance to read their book yet (I'd love to review it for you guys!), but I know it will be packed full of information you won't want to miss!

You can also check out their blogs:

Dave Ferguson - Velocity
Jon Ferguson - Viscosity
Eric Bramlett - Eric's Eddyfications

Serving God Knows What

God. Spouse. Family. Work.

God gave us a plan to a fruitful and fulfilled life. Are the words above the order you find yourself serving? If you're like me, it's easy to turn everything around - the beginning becomes the end and the end becomes the beginning. After a long period like that it feels like everything is the ending! That's because God didn't create us to live our lives in an unhealthy way. I constantly have to remind myself of that because by nature I'm a "workaholic."

I love this post by Perry Noble. He talks about honoring his wife in a very Godly way. It's not like we haven't heard it before, but Perry is actually living it. God, spouse, family, work.

Where are your priorities?

Just Like Grandma Used to Say

A great quote from Len Sweet courtesy of Mark Batterson:

"Ask the grandparents in your church: how many of you would lay down your life for your grandchildren? Every grandparent will raise their hand. Then ask them: how many of you would lay down your musical preferences for your grandchildren?"

On the Road Again

I just got back from a weekend trip to Nashville. Bryan, Greg and I visited LifeChurch.tv's Hendersonville campus. Props go out to Andrew, Brandon and the rest of the gang for hosting us and answering a LOT of questions. The Hendersonville campus has grown from approximately 50 to 200 in the past six months. The campus is located in a tiny strip mall that has been retrofitted into a cool new space. These guys definitely know how to make a small space work!

We've been visiting several churches that do "multi-site" to find out what principles work best. We're also really working hard on systems and processes to help us get organized. Lots of questions have been answered as well as some new possibilities - I can't wait to see what direction God sends us in next!

On a side note...if you ever have opportunity to stop and eat at Patti's Settlement DO IT!! The food is incredible - from the bread to the desserts, you won't be disappointed!!

She's Off To See the Wizard...I mean, the Mickey

Well, it's official. My oldest daughter, Kayla, is now the newest member of the Disney World College Internship program. After a year and a half of a challenging pharmacy school, she has accepted an offer at Disney. We have been praying over this decision for the past two weeks, but things are finalized and she is preparing to leave. She has to arrive by Monday, February 5th, where she will check in and find out her apartment (which they provide) and where she will work, etc. She will also take classes while she is there (which they provide) and will be able to transfer them wherever she wants.

She qualified for the extended internship which runs from now until August. It will be a long time before we see her again, but I pray she takes this time to reflect on life, prepare for the future, and develop some new networking opportunities. The world is wide open if she'll only take time to breathe it in.

I booked a flight tonight (finally). I don't know if you have ever tried to book a one way flight, but the prices change DAILY. Sometimes more than once a day. I had been "eye-ing" a non-stop flight with American Airlines, but the price had hovered at $250 for the past two days. Tonight however, it sunk to a mere $77!! Talk about a God send...we are very carefully watching our finances and this was just what God ordered!

So here's to Disney and Orlando - let's see what the future holds!

Never Too Late to Say Hello

Dave Ferguson points us to Donald Crowdis (not David Crowder) - a 93 year old blogger who still has a lot of life in him. I found some solace in his latest post about not being ready to go. I thought you might find some of his comments interesting as well:

I've floated on the remark "Been there, done that" for some time now, but the notion that the moment is approaching when I can no longer say this bothers me. The truth is, I don't want to go.

There are many reasons. For too long I have behaved as if I could postpone going indefinitely, and thus have so many things that I must do first. I don't want my successors to find out how much I could have done that isn't done, not by a long shot. There are numerous notes and letters I must write. There are places I've wanted to travel, but never had the chance. Actually, each of you can, if you think yourself into my age, fill out the list. At least you can try to understand why I say that I hate to go.

I have been toying with the idea lately of making a list of 100 things I want to do before I die. I guess there's something a bit morbid about actually writing the list down, but I have read several books or blogs lately (coincidental?) that have spurred my thinking. Has anyone ever made a list like that? And what happens if you actually accomplish all of those things?

There is definitely power in writing things down, especially goals. Putting pen to paper from thoughts in the mind has a very sobering effect - you either accomplish them or you don't. A lot of people I know never write their goals down. I think they really fear failure. Once you write it down you've committed - especially if you share it with someone else. Most people never open themselves up to that level of accountability.

I heard Mark Batterson say in a podcast recently that it finally hit him that he would rather live with his failures than with the "what if's" that never came to be. Some wise words.

I thought it fitting to close with a quote from Theodore Roosevelt. Enjoy his words.

It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

From a speech given in Paris at the Sorbonne in 1910

Leaders as Learners

Meadow Heights has always followed a simple mantra for all staff members: Leaders are learners. We learn in many ways, but one of the most important ways is through reading. I am always interested in what other leaders are reading, so with this in mind, I wanted to list the last 10 books I have read:

• The E-Myth Revisted by Michael Gerber - a great book with some practical insights for church leaders. Written as a business book, the discussion of systems and processes are key to any developing organization.

• Confessions of A Pastor by Craig Groeschel - a very enjoyable read with some great insights into the life of a pastor. Thanks to LifeChurch.tv (and LifeChurchOpen) for sending me a free book.

• In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day by Mark Batterson - Mark's first "official" book is an easy and fascinating read. I promised Mark a review after he sent me his book, so I'll post a review soon.

• Black by Ted Dekker - the only fiction book on the list. First book in a trilogy, Ted is a wonderful writer with an intriguing style of writing.

• The Secret Message of Jesus by Brian McLaren - I am a HUGE McLaren fan, but I must say I was quite disappointed in this book. There were a few great moments in his writing, but not nearly the mental wrestling readers had with the "New Kind of Christian" books.

• Simple Church by Rainer and Geiger - one of those books that reinforces your views of how church can be organized. A fresh perspective on how "simple" church can really be.

• The Multi-Site Church Revolution by Surratt, Ligon and Bird - a must read for any church thinking about going multi-site. Great stories and statistics throughout.

• Sheet Music by Kevin Leman - if you're married, this book is a must. What can I say? It's full of, how should I say this..."revealing" information?

• Communicating For A Change by Andy Stanley - another "must" read for any communicator. Andy's thoughts on the main idea are wonderful suggestions. An easy read chocked full of great information.

• The Radical Reformission by Mark Driscoll - an interesting read, but not nearly as good as his first book, "Confessions of a Reformission Rev." Mark has his own unique style and is VERY, very funny.
  

What books have you read lately? What would you list as "must reads?" Feel free to leave a comment for some future reading suggestions!

We Delight

Here are some great thoughts from Seth Godin that the church could really use:

Our mind is prepared for what we are about to receive. If it's a sales pitch, we're ready to ignore it. If it's on a familiar blog, we're ready for it to be familiar.

Real memories are created by surprises.
Real change is created by unexpected juxtapositions.

If God were to evaluate your church today, what would He say? Would your "sales pitch" be one He would ignore? I love this fresh perspective on how to view church - REAL memories are created by surprises. Isn't that so true? Think about it...when was the last time your were "surprised" at church? Is it "business as usual" or is God showing up in fresh and unexpected ways?

I am so thankful that God has challenged us to be a different type of church. Meadow Heights focuses on honoring God through the creative arts, balanced teaching, and sometimes thinking way outside the box. Let's face it - society lives outside the box. Why can't we use the same philosophy at church?

I pray that this week God will show up in your life. He might possibly show up as a surprise, in a little way, or with a great big bang. Whatever it is, never lose the delight (or take for granted) when God reveals Himself to you.

"Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart's desires."

Psalm 37:4 (NLT)