History in the Making

Missions for Mantras

I think we need to abandon mission statements. Half of them are recycled from Saddleback, Willow Creek or North Point anyway. But even worse, no one can remember them and they only make sense to the pastor. They sound like they were written by lawyers.

Mission statements are like sand-bags on a hot air balloon. They’re great at keeping the church grounded, but if you want to take off, they don’t contribute very much.

Here’s what I think: we should eliminate mission statements altogether and replace them with mantras. Mantras are one to five, maybe six, words that define the church’s purpose. They’re memorable. They incite passion. And they’re active, not passive. They look great on a shield. If you can’t tattoo it on your forearm, it’s too long.

The "Mac Gloss" Look Has Got to Go

If you're a graphic designer...

It's tired.

Seriously.

Go with a matte finish.

The Boundless Energy of Great Leaders

Okay, you don't have to be tireless to be a great leader. But among a few legendary ones, there seems to be an uncommon level of boundless energy. Check out this quote from Andrew Carnegie, the steel magnate:

"I was probably the most inconsiderate superintendent that ever was entrusted with the management of a great property, for, never knowing fatigue myself... I overworked the men and was not careful enough in considering the limits of human endurance."

They say that when John Maxwell worked within our offices, he'd wear out the entire staff with his tireless drive. Red Bull not included. Don't know what the connection is between energy and leadership. But there does seem to be an uncommon level of endurance among the great ones.

The Power of Loose Social Networks

I'm weak on woo, so I'm reading The Art of Woo to up my game. But I came across an interesting fact that explains a phenomenon I experienced while raising money for church planting and searching for a job. That is, you're more likely to get more help from loose social connections than close friends.

I barely knew Brad Lomenick when he called me to talk about working for Catalyst. And all of my job hunting calls to good friends turned up nothing.

While fundraising for RCC, I got ignored by my good friends, while mere acquaintances gave the really big donations.

All of this to say... As of this moment, I am hereby distancing myself from all good friends. =)

A System Whereby a Book Will Result

So... I'm four pages away from finishing my first manuscript. That's one evening at Starbucks. I'd celebrate, but then begins the process of rewriting and rewriting.

It all started back in June when I first came to work at Catalyst. I watched a video from John Maxwell's vast library of lessons here called "How I Write." John looked at the camera and said, "This may sound overly simple to you, but I get out some paper and a pen - and - I - write."

He went onto to explain that the masses don't write books because they never actually put anything  on paper. So I created a system for myself whereby a book would result: One night a week at Starbucks, and then two hard-core afternoons on weekends while my boys were napping.

I've missed football games, watching "Tremors" on Saturday afternoons with my wife... and our home maintenance has seriously slipped. But seven months later, I'm nearly finished. I hope this inspires you... Hope you'll write too.

The New Standard for Fashion

Me:  So what are you wearing to the Christmas party tonight?

Brad:  Oh, just some jeans and a jacket.

Me:  You mean... like a blazer?

Brad:  No, something a little more...

Me:  You mean, like a Craig Groeschel jacket?

Brad:  Well... yeah.

Me:  Oh, very cool.

Everyone Needs a Little Man at Home

- Keeps you from working too late at the office.
- Keeps your storytelling skills up to speed.
- Motivates you to pray more.
- Gives you empathy for your own parents.
- Improves your upper body strength at malls.
- Helps you watch your mouth.
- Builds a stronger tolerance for vomit.
- Allows you enjoy Happy Meals once again.

Turning Converts into Co-Laborers

There's a problem with parachute-drop church planting. When you start with nobody, there's an unhealthy pressure to turn converts into co-laborers too quickly. People come into the church because they like a small community, friendship with the pastor, personal attention.

But then they're exposed to the burden of church planting. And there is one. A big one. Most people don't experience it because it's usually handled by the 20% who opt into it. But when these folks are the only ones around, they are beckoned to carry it.

To justify the burden, the planter preaches about service, commitment, and vision. You'd be surprised at how much biblical justification there is for unloading a trailer. Trouble is, other Christians at other churches don't have to carry this burden. They're not even aware of it. They, in their established churches with their multi-million dollar buildings and throngs of professional staff.

So the core group either embraces the load, or they get angry, complain that it's not what they signed-up for... and leave. This cycle continues until a committed core group has grown up around the vision and embraces the workload that's required to make it happen.

All the more reason to start a church with a team. To launch a church as a group effort.

So I'm Going to Try Them...

This week, as part of an end-of-year exercise, I took inventory of the endeavors I fear, and I realized that what made them fears is that I hadn't actually tried them yet.

"By acting as if I was not afraid, I gradually ceased to be afraid." ~ Teddy Roosevelt

In Love with "Leadership"

Something occurred to me when Ed Bastian, the CEO of Northwest Airlines, was hanging out in the Catalyst offices... CEOs are easier to meet than pastors. Why? Because church leaders are in love with leadership. We're infatuated with gatekeepers, and putting "lead" in front of our job titles, and saying "no" as a personal discipline. Hey, it's not a bad thing, but pastors have only recently discovered "leadership" as a discipline, thanks to Bill Hybels, and we're binging on it like college freshmen at a frat party. We're like my four year old who can't help but show people his new shoes. And yes, in the interest of full disclosure, I work for a church leadership conference. =)

Walking in Memphis

Last week, Carlos Whittaker and I had a great time with the crew from Fellowship Bible Church in Memphis: John Carroll, Adam Thomason, and John Bryson. They're organizing an event in March called The Rising, which is a spring break alternative for young adults.

Fellowship is one of the hidden gems of the church planting world.

Lead planter, John Bryson, decided to replace himself with an African American pastor so the church could be truly diverse. It's one of the most remarkable Paul/Barnabas stories I've ever seen. John is still serving as the executive pastor, and they're running 1,200 now after 5 years.

Pictured above, among others, are Lecrae and Ben of Reach Records... and a great guy named Rick who is the announcer for the Memphis Grizzlies. Awesome collection of talent.

Weekly Headlines

• So are Christian radio ads the only ones left to have a call-to-action that is a phone number? Who remembers those things??!!
• Brian Cole, our production director for Catalyst, often says, "If you don't know I'm here, that means I'm doing my job." That's a remarkable statement for the rest of us narcissistic folks.
• The man with the extraordinary bladder: On my five hour flight to Los Angeles, the man next to me in the aisle seat never used the restroom once. How... and I mean how... do you do that?
• When you think about your life as a diagram... is it a small bubble coming off your job? Or is your life the larger bubble, and your job the smaller one? I'm convinced your answer to that question determines what you accomplish in life.
• A friend of mine, Tripp Crosby, programmed his phone number into an iPhone at the Mall of Georgia Apple Store as "Steve Jobs" and regularly answers as Steve.

Hologram Killed the Video Star

I think it was Star Trek. Or it might have been Dr. Who. But the first time I saw hologram technology, I remember wishing they’d use it for basketball games. I couldn’t resist the idea of seeing a three-dimensional Michael Jordan dunk in my living room.

We’ve come a long way in hologram technology. Search for it on YouTube and you’ll see what I mean—life-like video of Kate Moss on a Paris runway, seven-story sea creatures coming out of the water in Tokyo. The technology is finally here.

But holograms in ministry?

[Read on...]

Special Guest at the Catalyst Offices

Brad Abare - founder of Church Marketing Sucks and ex-Twitterer who doesn't think very much of mine. =)

Dallas

Two meetings in the big-haired state of Dallas yesterday -- recon trip to Bent Tree Bible Church, which is the site of our Catalyst One Day Event in May 2009. And a Leadership Network-sponsored gathering of conference organizers. Some very great people around the table. Very glad to be home though. My kids are feeling the burn.

Unoriginal

Me:  Hi, this might sound strange, but I'm calling to see whether you might be willing to do [what you do] for our event in California this April.

Them:  Oh yeah! Sure, we'd love to do that. We do that all the time for churches and conferences.

Me:  Uh... um... okay. Thank you then. Good-bye.

[click]

Them:  Hello?

New Messenger Bag

So I made a great friend the other day. Brilliant conversation. Awesome connection. Learned a ton. I commented on what a great messenger bag he's got. It's a Keen Hillsdale. In fact, I say I'm going to go home and order one. But the very next day, a brand new one arrives at my door... compliments of this life-giving leader. Made my week.

The Sponge or the Wall

I don't get asked for advice very much, but when I do, I'm always amazed at how often my tennis ball gets bounced back to me... if you know what I mean. "What do you think" actually means "Affirm this without exception." And "I'd love your feedback" actually means "I'd love to hear you admit that I've thought of everything."

We never get people's buy-in or help until we act like sponges. Doesn't mean we have to act on their advice after we walk away. But if we'd hold onto their tennis balls, rather than throw them back, we'd find more open doors in front of us. People like to feel helpful... and if they do... they will be quick to help again when we really need it.

Catalyst + Mosaic

Met with Sueann Cho and Hank Fortener of Mosaic to talk about our partnership at Catalyst west. They're doing an Origins gathering on Day 1 (what would be our lab day) and have a delicious line-up of social entrepreneurs, innovative pastors and thought leaders scheduled for it.

See Brad Score

This is Brad. He is on the phone with one of the greatest Christian leaders of all time. Brad is asking the leader if he'll speak at Catalyst in 2010.

This is Brad getting a "yes" from one of the greatest Christian leaders of all time. Brad is happy, but now anywhere close to how happy Ben is.

And this is Brad celebrating after the phone call. He changed the color of the great leader's card on the program board, indicating that yes, he is confirmed to be at Catalyst. (I have, of course, blurred the names on the highly confidential, program board.)

Score. =)