Radical Together by @plattdavid : Book Review
"...you and I are not intended to plunge down the mountain of radical obedience alone."
On page one of the book's introduction, I had a sneaking suspicion that I was going to like this book. I come from a 'group life' perspective and believe that very little about following Christ is a individual activity. It only makes sense that being 'radical' in our faith is best lived out in the context of biblical community!
I haven't (yet) read Radical, Platt's preceding text in which he challenges believers to 'take back their faith from the American dream.' However, it is now on my reading list. In Radical Together, Platt challenges the local church to adopt a radical focus on the lost. Two chapters in particular were of interest to me.
In the first chapter, Platt starts off hitting straight on with a challenge for local church leaders to to put everything on the table. To sacrifice the GOOD for the so that the church can accomplish the GREAT commission. He makes a great argument regarding church programming and how the very things we do in the church can impede the church members from actually living out the mission of the church! There is, of course, nothing wrong with church programs and ministries. However, often, churches can get so busy with internally focused progamming we fail at making a significant impact in the lives of those who do not yet know Christ.
The fifth chapter, Our Unmistakable Task, also struck a cord with me. Platt's call to affect world missions, not just local missions resonated with me. Probably because I grew up in a missionary home as a young child. (David: I can actually remember seeing both black and green mamba's while living in Kenya and share your dislike for snakes - you'll have to read chapter six for that story.) Platt doesn't present world missions as the priority over local missions, it isn't a case of either/or but rather both/and.
One of the bonus pieces in this book is an included Small Group Discussion Guide. It isn't just a time to rehash a chapter of the book but instead a time to talk about what it would look like in your life if you were living radically.
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NB: I received a free copy of Radical Together from Multnomah Publishing for the purpose of this review.
You can pick up your own copy at: Amazon or Christian Book Distributors. Both of these providers offer electronic version for your eReader.
Can you help a brother out? Please rate my review... 
Cracking Your Church’s Culture Code : Book Review
Culture eats vision for lunch! You can change the look of the platform but nothing has changed until you address the culture.
Samuel Chand presents a great look at what prevents successful change and transition in "Cracking Your Church's Culture Code."
Chand presents the idea that it is a church's culture that needs to be addressed even more so than an eloquently articulated vision or strategy. Culture is about the people, and deep lasting change will never happen unless the culture is addressed. Presenting vision, implementing strategy and not addressing the deep issues of culture will result in resistance to the vision and strategy.
He identifies five categories of church culture - Inspiring, Accepting, Stagnant, Discouraging and Toxic - and goes on to give some of the defining characteristics of each category. Once the category has been determined, Chand provides seven leverage points that can specifically be addressed to change the culture. He uses an acronym of the word CULTURE; Control, Understanding, Leadership, Trust, Unafraid, Responsive, Execution. Chand also anticipates many of the key issues that will arise during times of organizational culture shift.
Having served on two churches that attempted significant transitions, this book could have been used a few years before it was actually written! This is a book that every church leader who is looking to impact deep long-lasting change should have.
Cracking Your Church's Culture Code from Leadership Network on Vimeo.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the this book for the purposes of blogging about it from Leadership Network.
Fat Baby
Years ago Amy Grant recorded a song called: Fat Baby. In a humorous poke at many Christian's reality, she makes the point that too many Christians learn lots but don't exercise their faith enough.
The challenge that many churches find themselves faced with comes from the very people in the church pews already. It's a subtle mindset that is often expressed in comments like, "I love this church/pastor because I really get fed every Sunday." Now, a church/pastor should feed those who attend on Sunday, however, the church/pastor has a higher responsibility.
The church/pastor has to teach the people to feed themselves. Well, duh. We've heard the saying: 'Give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.' Challenging Christ-followers to feed themselves and not rely on the once a week predigested meal on Sunday morning is critical to the health of the church.
If Christ-followers begin to take responsibility for them spiritual diet and feed themselves, I wonder: What (or Who) could the church/pastor focus on Sunday morning?
In the church, who are the customers?
I'm reading through Ken Blanchard's book, Leading at a Higher Level. One of the points he makes is that every organization has two types of customers. The external customer, the outside person you are trying to serve, and the internal customer, the inside person that is employed and supported by other employees in the organization. Both sets of customers are important for a healthy organization.
Churches that believe the regular attender is the customer are churches that do not understand the priesthood of all believers. A firm understanding of the priesthood of all believers leads to others focused thinking. In a department store, front line employees are served by behind the scenes personnel (stock personnel serve the floor associates). The floor associates are the 'customers' of the stock personnel. The floor associate serves the external customer, the paying customer who has a need that is being met through the store. The most important customer in the chain is the external customer, without them, the whole chain dies. However, this does not mean that you can neglect the internal customer! Without the internal customer, the chain will also die.
In the church world, there are both internal and external customers.
Teams : Complement or Compensate
This past weekend was the 2010 Ryder Cup. A unique golf event. Golf is a sport for individuals. The Ryder Cup takes this sport for individuals and creates a team-based event. The USA vs. Europe. There are three types of matches to the competition. One is called Fourballs, two players from each team play their own ball, but only the lowest score from each team is counted on each hole. A second is called Foursomes, two players from each team play one ball and take alternate shots until the hole is finished. And the third is singles, where one player from each team are placed in head-to-head competition.
One of the major challenges that the team captains face is "pairing" the right players together in the Fourballs and Foursomes matches. Style, chemistry and competence are all factors in how the captains put together the pairings. In the Fourballs, a captain may choose to put an aggressive player and a conservative player in the same pairing. In the Foursomes, a captain may pair a great iron player and a great putter. In all pairings, the player's chemistry is usually taken into consideration... I say usually because a there was the time that Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were paired together - their professional competition hasn't fostered much goodwill toward each other.
Here are some thoughts regarding teams and how they can work best.
What I'm Thinking...
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