Need a leadership jolt?

Lethargic?

Or in a rut?

Those of us who’ve attended Catalyst know the outcome.

Enough content to last a few months.

The beauty of Catalyst One Day is Concentrated Leadership.

It’s like buying one of those small laundry detergent bottles that does 10,000 loads.

It may look small (or in this case = short), but it packs a powerful punch.

Best of all our blog community gets $10 off by using this code when registering (BLOG). 

What is Catalyst One Day?

On March 25, in Chicago hear Andy Stanley and Craig Groeschel uncover the secrets to creating and sustaining momentum. Learn about creating systems, environments, and entire cultures that will set the right initiatives in motion and fuel progress. Whether you need fresh insight for your staff, your church, your business, or yourself, this is an exceptional, can’t-miss opportunity.

Check out Catalyst website for more info.

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I was shocked when I read it.

I couldn’t believe it.

You’re telling me that _____is the key indicator that I’m not ready to go to the next level in my relationship with God?

JEALOUSY?

Not adultery, immorality, or idolatry?

But jealousy?

I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? 1 Corinthians 3:2-3

Yep! The Spirit knows our hearts doesn’t He?

Because as long as another person or thing is our focus then we  exchange our joy.

Here’s the divine formula:

• jealousy = no joy = no growth with God

I will  flesh out this formula in my closing sermon illustration at Grace Church tomorrow.

• Title: Soul Food / Text: 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:3 / Summary: What’s feeding your Soul?

I’ll read an honest confession from author Rachel Held Evans about her jealousy for fellow author Anne Jackson.

It’s raw, authentic, and convicting.

Chances are you might be jealous and it’s feeding your soul rather than the Spirit.

So I leave you with a question.

What type of person or thing makes you jealous and why?

I guess I have to take off the mask first and answer the question for me.

Who?

People who are better speakers / writers / leaders than me.

Why?

Because it makes me feel insecure.

And now for You?

As I announced last month, I’ve formed a new partnership with MinisterSearch. As a result, I get the latest leads about some pretty sweet churches looking for some pretty sweet pastors. If you or a qualified person is interested in applying fill out this simple form. Here’s 11 options:

1. Adult Ministry/Small Groups in  MI
2. Student Pastor in MI
3. Pastor of Student Ministries in NJ
4. Small Groups  in IL
5. Lead Vocal Equipper in NC
6. Children’s Pastor in TN
7. Worship Pastor in TN
8. Teaching Pastor in TN
9. Director of Contemporary Worship in OH
10. High School Pastor in TX
11. Children’s Pastor in TX

My thought is like me you read books for different reasons.

1. You heard a particular book was good from 4 different people you trust
2. You had 5 minutes to kill, picked it up, now you’re hooked
3. You have a splinter of the mind and a certain book promises to scratch the itch
4. The cover looked interesting (come on, admit it)
5. Like a bad movie you stay engaged waiting for it to get good (the secret = it never does)

The last couple weeks I’ve picked up 3 books AGAIN.

My thought is, certain books deserve a re-read.

The average brain forgets.

Going back, re-reading the parts you underlined and remembering why you thought a quote was worthy of starring or a particular page was profound enough to dog-ear…that my friend is worth the price of admission.

Here’s the 3 I am re-reading and why:

• Waking the Dead by John Eldredge. His Alert and Oriented illustration has shaped the way I see myself and my new target audience. http://bit.ly/6P2cwR
• Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham. Clarity on our strengths is the first step to liberate ourselves and the first step to empower those we influence. http://bit.ly/6zzJdH
• Who Stole my Church by Gordon MacDonald. Our elder board is brave enough to look in the mirror and dialogue concerning these epic issues which affect us all. http://bit.ly/4Ud8bU

I ask you, which book are you re-reading and why?

I digress from my Top 10 reasons why your blog stinks for the second day in a row in order to provide you with some potential help.

Most of you have 2 things in common.

1. You know of a pastor near a transition.
2. You know of a church in need of a pastoral change.

Why not let MinisterSearch help?

Forward this post on to that pastor or that church and have them visit this link where they can complete a free form. 

Since the church world has changed, I’ve formed a strategic partnership with MinisterSearch. MinisterSearch is the oldest and most successful full-service consulting firm specializing solely in church staffing.

Read more about my recent partnership or fill out the form yourself. Maybe 2010 is the year of change for you or your church.

I am happy to introduce you to my dad’s new ministry, a strategic partner with BASICS. `

Here’s what he will help you do:

• Church Redevelopment = Help churches through the process of redeveloping and revitalizing stagnant or ineffective ministries.
• Strategic Evangelism Planning = Assist churches in the development and implementation of a dynamic strategic evangelism plan.
• The Truth Project = Use “The Truth Project” to train and equip Christians to engage their culture through the revelation of truth found in Jesus, His Word and the Holy Spirit.

Read his bio and see a pic of he and my mom here.

BASICS recognizes the need for equipping Christian leaders to administer ministries in holistic ways and is committed to effecting a spirit of unity. Its primary partners are both church and outreach ministries whose missions are based upon Christian values and a commitment to serving the needs of central cities.

I am not trying to complain or be critical. And for the record…I do like baptists.

I just found this job description at the minimum…odd?

What do you think? I’d like to know…

Senior Pastor
Posted by: Southern Baptist Church

1. That he be a graduate of any one of the SBC Seminaries. (Southern, Southwestern, New Orleans, Midwestern,  Golden Gate, Southwestern.)
2. That he has been a pastor in at least one Southern Baptist Church, two would be better.
3. That he be very diligent in his visitation of church families. This is a must.
4. That he be a “fire and brime-stone” preacher, preaching often on salvation.
5. That he gives an “altar-call” every time he preaches. In other words, make it possible every time he preaches for people under conviction to come forward and make a commitment of their salvation experience, or desiring membership by letter or statement.
6. That the Pastor preach both Sunday morning and Sunday evening sermons, with a short Bible study on Wednesday evening along with a prayer service.
7. That the pastor will appoint someone besides himself to lead the congregational singing during the Worship Services.
8. We pray that the pastor’s wife might be a pianist.
9. We pray that the pastor will be deeply dedicated to cooperate with the NwOBA, State Convention, and the SBC. That he be fully supportive of the MV Baptist Center, and the WA-Feed the Hungry program.        

Would you take the job?

Would you consider yourself self-aware?

The Apostle Paul had enough self-awareness to not only his know “course,” but also know when he finished that “course.” 

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

Me?

I’m working on it. But this wasn’t always so. Actually, for years I tried to be foggy. I didn’t want clarity because I didn’t want to fail.  

Eventually, I got over my intentional fog. Instead, I got quiet and got on my knees. Chet Scott and my other friends at Built to Lead confronted me about it. (That’s me on the motorcycle as a kid)

Here’s my shot at my “course.”

What’s your course?

Sunday morning I took a risk.

I believe the Lord wanted me to.

I preached for 10 minutes and then I stopped.

I asked everyone to  journal their thoughts for 5 minutes.

Then I asked them to do something bold.

To turn and get in groups of 4 and ask discuss 3 questions.

1. Why are you here?
2. Out of your deepest held beliefs which one has deeply changed?
3. Are you on a plateau or are you letting Christ grow you?

The results?

You can find out a few different ways.

1. Listen in on the service. Go to this link or the the Podcast page or iTunes. (Episode 46)
2. Read one participant’s impressions. You’ll get a taste below and then you’ll need to go to his blog for the rest of the story.

Sometimes changing the rules is the best way to grow.

Today, at my bud Kary’s Church he played.  Kary took a risk and introduced his congregation to the BTL process of speaking and listening. Instead of giving what they’ve come to expect from Sunday morning service, he gave them a jolt and asked them to play along. 

They played.

I participated in the service by simply being in the pew and connecting to those that happened to choose the same pew as me. 

Random.

I met a couple in both of the services.  The first couple I already knew and I still learned a ton.  We hadn’t connected in years and, actually, I had never really asked them about their kids.  Today, we changed that.  Very cool.

The second couple, in the second service, I had never met.  Today, we changed that.  We connected for about 16 minutes.  I had never seen them before in my 50 years on this planet.  They had never seen me.  We had never spoken a word of English, our native tongue, in each others company.  We were complete strangers. 

Read the rest here.

4. ADDRESS THE IMPOSING THREAT

Why is your church scared of change? People have different reasons. Perhaps they’ve wrapped their identity in the way your church has always done things. Perhaps the old thick King James Bible sitting at the front of the church, the one that intimidates guests and really annoys you, was donated by their deceased Uncle George. Maybe they’re willing to part with it, but they simply need to be honored and grieve through the process.

Maybe other people feel that if they change, they’ll no longer be needed or have a ministry. When organists transitioned out of Sunday morning services, did we empower them to find new ministries? I am convinced that the people most opposed to change are the ones with the biggest fears they need to work through.

Brash decisions and thoughtless comments might actually hinder the change process. Instead, talk to people about what the change will bring. What are the underlying factors that contribute to the imposing threat?