"...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.

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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.

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. There are ministries that exist to support those in the church. However, there must also remain the focus on the external customer... those not yet in the church. If the balance between these two focuses isn't managed well, disaster will arrive. Either the church body will become ingrown and ineffective or the church body will be neglected and under-nourished.

The church that focuses internally will think that they are fulfilling their mission because they are maturing believers. The church that focuses externally will think that they are fulfilling their mission because they are getting more people into the kingdom.

The Bible teaches not either-or, but both-and. We are to make disciples! Evangelism and discipleship are required to make disciples.

Balancing the tension between the two is the responsibility of church leadership.

When dealing with situations in our organization, we need to start by asking the right questions. Asking the wrong question won't get you the right answer. In fact, asking the right question won't usually get us the right answer! Asking the right questions will get us to the right answer!

When leaders don't take the time to ask the right questions they will inevitably treat the presenting symptoms instead of the actual problem.

Even after asking the right question, the first answer may not provide the "real" answer. Leaders that don't ask enough questions end up treating the symptoms instead of the real problem. Symptoms are only useful to point us in the right direction. The "5 Why's" technique of problem solving is a simple means of diagnosing what is the root issue when facing problems. The basic idea is to continue asking Why to the answer to the previous answer at least five times. The process of drilling down prevents thinking that a simple or surface answer to a question is the real issue.

And yet, plenty of children grow up and become emotionally broken, codependent, needy and/or abusive. The difference is the path, not the intent! Often times we make decisions with intended consequences... the outcomes we are trying to accomplish. There are also unintended consequences. Unintended consequences can sometimes be positive, but they may also be negative.

Lately I've been trying to ask myself, "What are the potential unintended consequences to this decision?" More often than not it is impossible to see into the future and predict all the consequences of a decision. However, intentionally asking the question helps me look past the decision as a strategic step to address an issue. I have a better chance of keeping the ultimate goal in mind.

Parenting isn't the only arena in life where the path we choose leads to different destinations with multiple unintended consequences. Some other paths to choose carefully include:

• marriage
• employment
• spiritual growth
• education
• personal finances

The list can go on. Pick you path carefully, it does lead somewhere. There are consequences, intended and unintended to every decision we make.