Asking the right questions

Why would I?

Why would I do that? The question can be a compelling heart cry, an honest reflection, or perhaps cause one to pause and consider with another’s eyes which may bring a fresh perspective. I wonder if that perspective may come through other questions. Sometimes questions reveal more than answers will and sometimes answers lead to further questions.

Why would I do that? Why would I come to that event? What value will I receive by participating in it? What will I be missing if I don’t come? What are three good reasons I should be there? Who else is going to be there? Will there be anyone like me there? Why is this more important than the two or three other good things I could be doing during this same time? Will anyone notice if I am there? Will they notice if I’m not? What impact will this make in my daily life? Will it make a difference in the long run? Will it help me reach a destiny?

I wonder, “Why would I do that?”

Embracing the journey…

Making an Impact

A journey always begins with a step. Each step we take can bring us closer to the desired destination. As cultural architects, we can help people fulfill their dreams if we can help them take a next step. We can shape a culture by designing and encouraging next steps. By crafting the steps, it makes the journey not seem so huge as well as creates a “safe space” (known path).

We all need companions along the journey; it’s part of our creation. We are created for relationships. As social architects, leaders create social space that makes it safe. Safe social steps mean crafting the journey from public space to intimate space. We make the steps small enough to keep it safe; we move from public space (the large Sunday experience) to social space (groups of 15-30 people) where people intersect with others in a fun or learning environment to personal space (12-15 people) where people have developed an affinity with each other to intimate space (groups of 2-8) where mentoring, deep life-sharing, and coaching may take place.

So, here’s the question: What can you do to increase your cultural and social architectural impact? How are you creating the journey to help people take their next step?

Reflective Practitioner

The price of greatness is responsibility (Winston Churchill); we all have the responsibility to learn. If we are open to others, there is always something we can learn.

Are you a learner? Early in my ministry journey, I heard someone say that you could tell when a person stopped learning by looking at the copyright dates in their library. It’s an interesting reality; of course, today we have podcasts, DVD’s and lots of seminar options which didn’t exist 20 years ago!

Even so, the truth is that once we stop learning we're toast.

A great quote that shows this reality is from Jeff Rosenberg, Senior VP, Product Management at Google:

“Keep on challenging yourself, because learning doesn't end with graduation. In fact, in the real world, while the answers to the odd-numbered problems are not in the back of the textbook, the tests are all open book, and your success is inexorably determined by the lessons you glean from the free market. Learning, it turns out, is a lifelong major.”

Word Power

Words have power…power to breathe life…power to take our breath away…power to infuse us with hope…with laughter…with understanding…with purpose.

The simple phrase “I believe in you” can change a life…change a destiny…empower faith…create resilience…and produce perseverance.

All things are possible...embrace the journey…pursue the dream… imagine...

trust...journey...share...celebrate...listen...live...laugh....love...

Every journey starts with an open heart and a willing step...openness allows us to explore possibilities that bring the potential for dreams...that really do come true.



Embracing the journey...pursuing the dream....

Decisions - Decisions

The way we make a decision often proves as important as the result achieved, for it affects morale and commitment. Our culture accustoms us to the model of parliamentary debate. Unfortunately, this method usually entrenches individuals in their view as they seek to defend it, to disparage opposing views, and to persuade a majority to join their side.

A quantum shift can occur in thinking when we realize that the discussion of issues does not have to be adversarial. Instead, it can be a team effort to find the right solution. Rather than taking sides during discussion, everyone works together at a given time on the same task. The colors of the imaginary hats represent different tasks. Since everyone wears the same color hat at the same time, the prevailing mood is cooperation.

A Hat of a Different Color

Keep team members on task by identifying phases of decision making. You can give the decision process structure and make it more enjoyable. This visual aid, based on Edward de Bono's "six thinking hats," names six aspects of decision making and gives each a color.

Tell the group, "Let's put on our yellow hats." That initiates discussion on advantages of the proposal on the table. It also limits the conversation to advantages. When that discussion is exhausted, identify another tactic and ask the group to "change hats."

Here are the hats:
Blue: establish ground rules and guide discussion
(We’ll each share, time frame for each “hat”, use “I” statements, etc.)
Yellow: look for the advantages (List potential benefits)
Black: search for potential problems
Red: share feelings
(emotions that may be involved by those impacted by decision)
Green: brainstorm options and alternatives
White: determine what information is still needed.

Make the decision. Teammates wear the same color.

Embracing the journey...

Activate

Thinking about a Fall Semester of Groups, I read through Nelson Searcy’s book, Activate: An Entirely New Approach to Small Groups. It’s a great tool…a practical ministry book with a systems approach (how-to with practical application that moves beyond theory).

Here are 10 top takeaways from his book:

1. Think larger, not smaller. Larger groups minimize the weirdo factor, anticipates that not everyone who signs up will show up, and means less work for the facilitator.
2. The Four Spaces of Spiritual Growth are: a) public space, b) social space, c) personal space, and d) intimate space. Social space not initmate space is the purpose of Small Groups.
3. Be simple in your approach to groups and ministry. Too many options result in multiple focuses and lowered involvement; you won’t have full participation or momentum in any one area.
4. Entry into a group must be absolutely simple and fool proof. A one-step sign-up process, which removes barriers will greatly increase the number of people who decide to join a group.
5. Your small groups must function as a SYSTEM. Systems save you time, stress, energy, and money.
6. Every person on the church staff should have a hand in the development of small groups. Think full staff participation, not staff specialist.
7. Think decentralization, not control. As long as you have complete control over your small group system, you will only be able to go to a certain level before you plateau. Groups will multiply faster and be healthier when you trust God with your volunteer leaders and your volunteer leaders with your people.
8. The implementation of your small groups should go through a four month process cycle: a) focus, b) form, c) fill, and d) facilitate. Good ideas are common- what’s uncommon are people who’ll work hard enough to bring them about.
9. When planning for each semester, you need to have a goal of how many people will be attending Sunday mornings weekly during that semester. Then, you should have a goal to have 100% or more of that Sunday number in a group. Divide that number by 20 and that’s how many groups you should have giving you a basis for how many leaders, co-leaders, coaches, and managers you need to have in place.
10. When filling your group, you need to be strategic using multiple avenues for recruitment, tactics for getting the message out, and be singular in your message during that month of recruitment. Never underestimate the power of someone telling the story of their changed life through their group.

Time-Outs

Time-outs are a kid’s best friend. I’m not sure we’d get any toddler or young child to agree with that reality but time-outs are essential.

“Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today.” ~James Dean

Life is short…time passes quickly. We’ve all heard the statements and on some subconscious level we know the realities; yet, life creeps in and sometimes this truth can fade in to the background. We can’t be fooled by the calendar; there are only so many days. The truth is life is but a vapor and we are a flower quickly fading…here today gone tomorrow. Time-outs help us remember what matters…remember that we can make a difference…we can live a life of purpose….a life of passion…a life of making a difference. Thoreau said, “as if you could kill time without injuring eternity.”

Life is precious…we were created for a purpose….we were created to love, laugh, and learn…to live life abandoned to a dream…to leave a legacy. We were created for such a time as this…for now, for this generation.

Time-outs can give us the space to refocus, to adjust directions, to relax and reengage, to ask if we want to keep going the way we are…to assess what matters a lifetime from now…if you could be anything in this world what would it be? What would you stay up ‘til 3 a.m. talking about…dreaming about? Time-outs matter and time-outs can be our best friend. Every one dies, but not everyone really lives.

Embracing the journey…

Fusion: Fully-Engaged

Top 10 Takeaways (big view) from “Fusion: Turning First-Time Guests into Fully-Engaged Members of Your Church:”

1. Assimilation can be defined as “the process used to encourage first-time guests to continue coming back until they see and understand God’s power, accept Jesus as their Savior and commit themselves to the local church through membership."

2. By sending guests to you, God is giving you the opportunity to cooperate with Him to move someone forward in their journey toward Jesus.

3. A church in maintenance mode will probably have 3 guests per 100 people. A steadily growing church will have about 5 guests per 100. A rapidly growing church will have 7 or more guests per 100 people.

4. The Church should be a family expecting guests.

5. We live in a culture where the business world understands more about true expressions of hospitality than the Church does (i.e. Detail matter; systems sustain the strategy.)

6. The more prepared a church is to receive guests, the more guests a church will receive.

7. You have 7 minutes from the time someone arrives on your campus to convince them to come back.

8. If you want to have any hope of assimilating your guests, you cannot let them leave without knowing how to connect with them. The art of communication is the language of leadership.

9. The most powerful word for change in your church is “because” (and obviously the words and communicated principles that follow).

10. All follow-up should be fast, friendly, and functional. It should provide a “wow factor” that pleasantly surprises people and stirs up a desire to give church a second, third, and fourth chance.

There is a lot of “how-to” in this book with many detailed system ideas which aren't listed above. For practical application that has a proven effectiveness, Fusion can be highly recommended for every pastor, staff person, or ministry volunteer that wants to see the Kingdom advance as a result of what God is doing through you.

Pursuing the dream...

Problem Free

The Problem-Free Pursuit…

People often assume that there are problem-free solutions. However, the reality is that with strategy and strategic planning there is no problem-free solution. In other words, every solution has a set of problems that accompanies it.

So, how do you determine which solution to use? The majority of groups simply go along with the loudest voice or the most powerful voice...or the most authoritative voice. While this can produce a solution or direction, what if we identify all the solutions that seem best...actually list all the reasonable ones...and then assess the problems that accompany each with brutal honesty. Don't play favorites. If we need to, bring in a nonpartisan bystander. This is a fantastic team exercise that will help your team work through the possibilities. Once you've carefully listed out the problems of each solution (they'll all have problems) your work is half done. Next, make your decision about what to do based on which problem set you'd rather have.

Interestingly, you may find that the pursuit of problem-free solutions is regularly related to maintaining the status quo or delaying implementation of changes. Change is inevitable. Consequently, we can steward our change by deciding which solution provides the best opportunity to address Kingdom advancing problems. In stewarding the solutions, you can provide forward momentum in Kingdom advancement.

Pursuing the dream...embracing the journey.

FREEDOM

Freedom…just the sound of the word brings possibilities. Freedom brings new possibilities. Freedom brings relief…Freedom brings the possibility of restoration and reconciliation. Freedom is not merely the opportunity to do as one pleases; neither is it merely the opportunity to choose between set alternatives. Freedom brings thankfulness.

There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life -- happiness, freedom, and peace of mind -- are always attained by giving them to someone else. ~ Peyton March

Could it be that true freedom comes in what we give not what we get? As we let our own light shine, we give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence can liberate others.

Freedom is like taking a bath -- you have to keep doing it every day! ~ Florynce Kennedy

It’s also been said this way, “It is for freedom that Christ has set you free. Stand firm and do not let yourself be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Gal 5:1)

We can be free to ask questions, free to explore, free to make mistakes, free to hope and free to be at peace. We can be freed from sin, free from the patterns of the world, free to live for Him, free to be who you are created to be, free to find our purpose in life, free to live outside the box, free emotionally, free financially, and free spiritually in Christ.

Freedom…FREE to DREAM...just the thought of it brings possibilities...embracing the journey

Systems Required

Purposes without processes (systems) are like an ice-cream sundae without ice cream; pointless, some would say. Systems supplement strategy. Simple and strategic systems create steps for movement…a path for growth. Deming states, “If you can’t describe what you’re doing as a process, you don’t know what you’re doing.” Processes (systems) allow people to engage the journey.

We all have systems. Just listen to a hungry baby and you quickly know that their respiratory system is taking in air and their circulatory system is pumping blood so they can let out that cry to satisfy their hunger for the digestive system to begin its work. We all are a set of intricate systems. It’s interesting that God created us with many intricate systems and said that we are made in His image. Could it be that God is in to systems?

Physically, we would probably all agree that healthy systems equate to healthy bodies. Since all truth is God’s truth, we could write the equation: Healthy Systems = Healthy Church.

Deming affirms that our systems, whatever state they are in, give us exactly what they are currently designed to give us. The real question is, “Do they help us get where we desire to go?” Do our systems propel us toward Kingdom advancement and transformed lives? Do our systems need a redesign?


A system is simply a strategic process that

Saves You Stress, Time, Energy and Money

while continuing to generate desired results.

Leadership and change ~ Random realities

Leaders articulate the vision over & over. Just when you think people must be sick of hearing it, many people just start to understand. Why? Vision leaks and mission drifts ~ so we must continually refocus.

Vision is a prerequisite of leadership; fulfilling God-given vision is the aim of leaders.


As leaders, we learn a lot more from our failures than we do our victories.

Change is hard. Massive change is massively hard.

Change is inevitable. The question: Will we change for the better…or change for worse?

To change…we often need to “feel” the need deeply to be sufficiently motivated to voluntarily change.

Change for change may only be chaos; sometimes chaos can catapult a collision with destiny…leaders listening to the winds of the Spirit…essential for discernment.

If things are going well, you have to work on it continually. Otherwise it will disintegrate. If you want things to be better, you have to exponentially invest time and effort. That is leadership.

Change will never happen by itself...it takes leadership to effect change.

Whether it’s your family or ministry, things will naturally tend toward confusion and disorder. In a closed system (with no input of energy), confusion and disorder must increase. So, it is up to leaders to continually inject energy into the system.

The single most important element in your ministry is leadership; it’s more important than worship, discipleship or missions outreach. Why? The many facets of ministry will not effectively advance the Kingdom without good leadership.

God calls leaders because when the masses lead history affirms you often get a riot or mediocrity ~not a very desirous result.

Pursuing the dream...embracing the journey