tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54580360317316356592024-03-05T11:40:00.571-08:00pulpitarianPulpitarian is a blog site for Dan Neary... leader, consultant, strategist, and pastor.Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-18724650755711068202023-02-20T18:39:00.006-08:002023-02-21T07:30:24.658-08:00Winds of Revival? Now What?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3buGJv_woIc" width="320" youtube-src-id="3buGJv_woIc"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am confident that the winds of revival are blowing.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For me it started nearly two years ago. I believed it was
coming and set myself to applying my energy to building capacity for revival in
a local church we’ve held dear since the earliest days of the young
congregation (<a href="https://www.thepursuitnw.com/" target="_blank">Pursuit</a>). My work, mostly as a consultant, was a year of building
organizational infrastructure… systems that helped support and sustain the work.
That expression of revival still burns, seemingly gaining a second wind in
recent days. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These winds of revival are blowing in and from Kentucky… from
the campus of <a href="https://www.asbury.edu/outpouring/" target="_blank">Asbury University</a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We experienced some of those winds last Sunday morning as we
worshiped at <a href="https://ourventure.church/" target="_blank">Venture Church</a>. Dr. Brandon Beals, Venture’s lead pastor, ventured
back to his <i>alma mater</i> to see for himself. He brought a report to an anticipating
congregation and we could not help but welcome God’s revival winds to blow in
our midst. We’ll gather again Wednesday evening, with expectation, welcoming
those winds to blow in, among, and through us.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are reports from others too… revival winds blowing in congregations
in which saints hunger for spiritual awakening in their hearts, churches,
cities, and regions.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Along with the reports, there are criticisms and concerns.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I certainly understand the caution and concern. There is a
long, repeated history of revivals burning out the vessels of revival. Revival’s
human vessels too often crash and burn. Churches that host revivals too often
falter and then either stand empty or disappear within a generation. I’m
certain it is not inevitable, nor is it God’s will… but the common vessels that
contain the wind and fire, the uncommon presence of God, so easily lose our way.
It is not, of course, a new phenomenon; such is recorded of the patriarchs in
our most ancient Biblical texts.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But there is also a repeated theme in Scripture that urges
us to not let the fear of failure keep us from God’s best. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, what do we do with these revival winds?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I see that some (many? Including loud voices) accuse us of
whipping up, or mimicking, revival. That if we desire revival, or pray for
revival, or plan for revival, or provide an atmosphere for revival, we are somehow
removing revival’s authenticity.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Again, I understand the caution and concern. We, who are
skilled in such, could simply stir up an emotional crowd and call it revival. I
am sure some have.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, again, fear of getting it wrong must not keep us from
God’s best either.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As I have been thinking and praying about this, especially
praying for those in positions of leadership, I keep coming back to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+14%3A22-33&version=NIV" target="_blank">Matthew 14</a>.
I believe the passage encourages us, at times like these, to get out of the boat.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After Jesus and His Disciples fed the 5,000, Jesus sent his
friends ahead as He lingered back to pray. His friends set out on the waters of
the Sea of Galilee. This was familiar territory for many aboard. They were
likely led by Peter, one Jesus was preparing for leadership, an expert due to
his profession as a fisherman on precisely those waters.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In spite of their expertise, they found themselves,
literally, in rough waters "<span>a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind
was against it." (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+14%3A22-33&version=NIV" target="_blank">Matthew 14:24</a>)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Are there parallels here as the winds of revival blow?
Pastors and other leaders are where we are because of obedience to Jesus, just
as those Disciples were following the Lord’s direction as they went ahead on the
boat. Pastors and other leaders are here, working within our expertise,
bringing our best as we are obedient to Jesus… again, just as they were on the
Sea of Galilee.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Allow me to pause here for a moment and consider bringing
our best, obediently to Jesus.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">At Asbury, their best is an historic chapel with simple
wooden seating, an edifice in the style of what one might expect from a
130-year-old school in Dixie, with roots in the Wesleyan-Holiness movement. Compared
to the church auditoriums to which I am accustomed, it is pretty low-tech at
Asbury. The sound and lights are simple. The music is student-led on mostly acoustic
instruments. The simple charm of it seems to be part of the appeal. It is
authentic. It is their best.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As we catch the winds from the Asbury Revival, should we
turn down our audio systems? Should we opt for fluorescent house lights instead
of our stage lighting and hazers? Should our projectors and LED walls go dark?
Would that be authentic? Would that be our best?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Let’s not mimic the best of others; let’s bring our best. Whatever
we have expertly built to provide a platform for the presence of God, even that
to which we aspire as we bring extra to our best, that is authentic. If pipe
organs or acapella singing is the expertise that has you where you are, do it
to your best, authentically. If it is lights, media, and walls of sound, do it
to your best, authentically.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Let’s bring our best, and even aspire to a little more. Let’s
bring our hunger. Let’s bring our expectation. And let’s see what God will do
as His revival winds blow.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Okay… now back to the text.</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">When
the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,”
they said, and cried out in fear.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be
afraid.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">“Come,” he said. (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+14%3A22-33&version=NIV" target="_blank">Matthew 14:25-29</a>)</span></p></blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Within the winds of our day, could Jesus be calling us to
come, to step out of our boats, to walk in faith toward Jesus? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Could we, with all our expertise and obedience, finding
ourselves in these unusual winds… might we take those extra, trusting steps of faith
toward Jesus?</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
</span><span>But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to
sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+14%3A22-33&version=NIV" target="_blank">Matthew 14:29,30</a>)</span></span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It seems pretty clear that when Peter had his eyes on Jesus,
when He obeyed the Lord’s command and walked toward Him, Peter walked in a
miracle. When Peter looked around and was afraid (“doubted” as Jesus put it) he
sank. But, of course, Jesus was still there to save in the midst of doubt. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There was revival in the boat once Peter and Jesus took
their places among the Disciples. The text reads: </span></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then
those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of
God.” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+14%3A22-33&version=NIV" target="_blank">Matthew 14:32,33</a>)</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Faith arose. They saw, again, who Jesus is, and they
worshiped.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My encouragement in these winds of revival is this: <b>get out
of the boat</b>. Bring our best, operate in our expertise, and when we see Jesus,
ask Him to call us closer, even when that means trusting Him beyond the rails
of our safe boats. Let’s keep our eyes on Him and see what He will do… and let’s
expect awakening and revival in the hearts and lives of all who might see.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><br /><div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
</div>
</div>Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-73538447288389434102023-02-08T13:20:00.003-08:002023-02-08T16:54:26.660-08:00He Gets Us. Will They Get Us?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JnsMShMXYYk" width="320" youtube-src-id="JnsMShMXYYk"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The big game is this weekend. I forget, are we allowed to
say <i>Super Bowl</i>? Is that some sort of copyright infringement?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Super Bowl is now much more than just a game. It is an
event… nearly a national holiday. Outside of the game, there are the parties and
the shows and, of course, <b>the ads</b>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This Sunday there will be two ads with a message that is
perhaps new to the game. There will be two ads for <b>Jesus</b>. The </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">He Gets Us</i><span style="font-family: verdana;">
campaign will debut two new ads, paying the </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">big bucks</i><span style="font-family: verdana;"> for the most prestigious
airtime in the marketing world.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Allow me to state my position. I am a fan. I am in favor and
supportive of the </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">He Gets Us</i><span style="font-family: verdana;"> campaign. When I first saw the ads, I was a
bit skeptical, mostly because of the anonymity of the money behind the effort.
But I came around. Endorsements by key leaders confirmed and sealed my support…
people including Doug Clay (<a href="https://hegetsuspartners.com/ag" target="_blank">leader of the Assemblies of God</a>, my archbishop I
suppose), Nona Jones (author, preacher, and business leader), and Ed Stetzer (trusted
Evangelical missiologist and <i>supernerd</i>). I was especially glad to know that Ed
Stetzer is engaged in the project, including having a hand in the theological
vetting of the content of the ads.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am also glad to know that there is a coordinated effort to
engage churches and Christians in leveraging the campaign, tools to share the
Gospel and lead people to faith using the ads as catalysts for conversation. I’ll
be in a leadership meeting with some of my tribe, the Assemblies of God, next
week; the </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">He Gets Us</i><span style="font-family: verdana;"> campaign is on the agenda, and I will do all I can
to support our efforts together.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The best place to get started, if you haven’t yet, to find
tools to leverage the campaign, is their partner website: </span><a href="https://hegetsuspartners.com/" style="font-family: verdana;">hegetsuspartners.com</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">. You’ll find a
rich set of resources to help us engage conversations, take the conversations
deeper, and follow up.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I hope that these efforts play a part in bringing many to
faith. I don’t expect people to drop to their knees and get saved when they see
an ad during the Super Bowl. But an ad can lead to a conversation. An ad can
lead to further exploration. An ad can lead someone to pick up a Bible. An ad
can urge someone to give church a try, again, or perhaps for the first time. An
ad can lead someone to seek out a Christian friend for connection. An ad can
play a small part, be one of many ingredients, that results in people believing
Jesus. I hope the ads work.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have another hope, too… and a closely related concern.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My hope is that the ads can play a role in <b><i>refocusing
</i></b>believers, the Church, on Jesus.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I’m a <i>marketing expert</i>.
But I am a student, having earned a graduate degree in the field. I also have
decades of experience as a practitioner, specifically in advertising with a Christian
message, having led marketing in Christian Higher Education for schools across
the country; I’ve done some church advertising too. I have spent a lot of
Kingdom money on ads, direct, local, and national.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Marketing folk know that, while usually targeted at
potential and current customers, there is a vitally important, secondary target
for marketing efforts; the organization’s own personnel, especially those in the sales
force, are impacted. That is particularly the case with brand advertising.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Most of the Super-Bowl ads will be </span><b style="font-family: verdana;"><i>brand</i></b><span style="font-family: verdana;">
advertising, rather than specific </span><b style="font-family: verdana;"><i>product</i></b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> advertising. We won’t
likely see an ad during the Super Bowl selling a specific product with a
specific price at a specific location. The car dealer leasing Camrys for $299 a
month on the outskirts of town can’t afford the airtime.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="font-family: verdana;">He Gets Us</i><span style="font-family: verdana;"> is brand advertising… and the brand is the
</span><b style="font-family: verdana;">He</b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> in</span><i style="font-family: verdana;"> He Gets Us</i><span style="font-family: verdana;">; the brand is </span><b style="font-family: verdana;">Jesus</b><span style="font-family: verdana;">. What a brand! A
unique brand for all sorts of reasons. One of the ways this brand is differentiated
from all the other brands is that this brand lacks typical business structure.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If Toyota ran Super-Bowl ads this Sunday (they usually do,
but apparently Toyota is skipping it this year) the corporate heads would
control the brand message and control every aspect of the brand throughout the
process. They would coordinate the product specs, manufacturing, sales and
delivery. The impact to the bottom line would not merely be the impact of an
ad, but more likely a result of the tightly controlled integration of the
entire process, from design to delivery.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not so with </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">He Gets Us</i><span style="font-family: verdana;">; there is no tight control from
headquarters or a comprehensive coordinated campaign that runs all the way
through to sales and delivery. The </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">He Gets Us</i><span style="font-family: verdana;"> folk are on their own. Organizations,
denominations, and networks are on their own. Individual churches are pretty
much on their own. And individual Christians are on our own. The only real
control and coordination we have is in God’s Hands; perhaps the Holy Spirit is
better than a corporate campaign plan. I suppose we will see.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now, back to my hope that the campaign will impact
personnel.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When a corporation like Toyota does a campaign, they expect
the sales force to adopt the brand language. The brand campaign identifies
priorities and shapes the way personnel think about and talk about the brand.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I hope we get some of this with the </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">He Gets Us</i><span style="font-family: verdana;">
campaign. Sometimes we forget the main thing; churches forget that </span><b style="font-family: verdana;">Jesus</b><span style="font-family: verdana;">
is the main thing. The campaign could help us refocus on Jesus. We also forget
that Jesus is for everyone, not merely our cliques. The campaign could help us
remember that Jesus is </span><b style="font-family: verdana;">relevant</b><span style="font-family: verdana;">… that with a little effort, we can
connect Jesus to today’s needs in today’s circumstances, even with today’s
language.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I hope that the campaign reaches people, and I hope it
invigorates the brand’s </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">personnel</i><span style="font-family: verdana;">, believers in our churches.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">That leads me to my related </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">concern</i><span style="font-family: verdana;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is an adage that goes something like this: the quickest,
most effective way to kill a business is with great advertising.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It isn’t that great advertising kills a business. Great
advertising is great for a great business. But great advertising can be really
bad for a bad business.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Grizzled marketing practitioners have stories. One might go
like this. A new restaurant opens to a packed house, even long lines because
the advertising was so great. But customers find that the restaurant really wasn’t
ready. They were overwhelmed. There was chaos resulting in bad service and
crummy food. Word spread and the great advertising was quickly undone by the trusted
word of mouth. The ads did not match the reality… at least not yet. Business
never recovered and the doors were closed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">An early mentor of mine would often say, “Bad is worse than
good is good.” Raising expectations but then leaving them unfulfilled does
damage, sometimes irreparable damage.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Should we be concerned that the way Jesus is portrayed in
the </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">He Gets Us</i><span style="font-family: verdana;"> campaign does not match the way Jesus is portrayed in churches?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The campaign obviously casts a wide net. The message, the
words, the music, the images… everything aligns with an inclusive message
culminated in the simple, last words that tag every ad: </span><b style="font-family: verdana;">All</b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> of us. The
ads appear to purposefully challenge what the prevailing culture may think
about church, especially affluent evangelical churches. The ads are edgy. One
might come away from the ads thinking that Jesus gets us, all of us, regardless
of race, class, background, wealth, politics, or even sexual preference.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What if someone found themselves in our church but found
that </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">all of us</i><span style="font-family: verdana;"> does not include them? Does </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">all of us</i><span style="font-family: verdana;"> include a
rebel or a liberal. Does </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">all of us</i><span style="font-family: verdana;"> include people who are poor or gay?
Do we look like an all-of-us people, multi-ethnic, multi-generational?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Let’s ask ourselves if we are ready to receive people who
expect an all-of-us welcome. Are our churches and Christian organizations
ready? Are you and I ready for a conversation with someone with all-of-us
expectations. Can we ready ourselves? Shouldn’t we ready ourselves?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sadly, I’m sure that my concern is well founded in some
cases. There will be people who, change their minds, give Jesus a chance,
respond to the all-of-us message in the ads, but find themselves in churches,
or in conversations with Christians, who are not welcoming to all of us.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Apart from the miraculous, some will end up worse off.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But it is a risk worth taking because there are lots of us
all-of-us Christians in lots of all-of-us churches. Perhaps the ads will even
nudge a few more of us into the all-of-us category. God help us.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you would like to continue the conversation, perhaps with
some coaching or consulting, reach out today. It could be that <a href="http://www.danneary.org/greatify/" target="_blank">Greatifiers </a>has
some tools and approaches that would help make your good thing great.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-37543179523219116782023-01-17T16:36:00.001-08:002023-01-17T17:11:16.299-08:00The Audience Comes Last<p><br />Recently, on 60 Minutes, acclaimed music producer Rick Rubin
said: "The audience comes last… the audience doesn’t know what they
want." </p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/COCs5y4ZZfs" width="320" youtube-src-id="COCs5y4ZZfs"></iframe></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It made me think of a favorite quote from Howard Schultz in one
of his first books about the success he led at Starbucks, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0786883561/ref=ase_wwwdannearyor-20/102-3673310-3039314?n=283155&tagActionCode=wwwdannearyor-20" target="_blank">Pour Your Heart Into It</a>. Schultz said: “You don’t just give customers what they ask for. If you
offer them something they’re not accustomed to, something so far <b>superior </b>that
it takes a while to develop their palates, you can create a sense of discovery
and excitement and loyalty that will bond them to you. It may take longer, but
if you have a great product, you can educate your customers to like it rather
than kowtowing to mass-market appeal.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Much of my background, experience, education, perhaps even
<i>expertise</i>, is in marketing. More specifically, I have often been about the work
of marketing church and church-related organizations. When bringing the Church
and its various “products” to “market” I have been guided by this notion that,
as Rubin says, “the audience doesn’t know what they want.” What God has for
people is, indeed, “something so far superior” than anything they could articulate.
The Gospel, along with all the good gifts God offers, is the sort of thing that
is so extraordinary that it cannot be imagined… but once truly had, we cannot
imagine being without the Gospel.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That is what we followers of Jesus have to offer, are
compelled and commanded to offer; we offer the Gospel (“market" the
Gospel) to those who don’t know they want it.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The Church routinely bungles the task</b>. We routinely just
give up and turn our focus inward. We don’t bother really thinking of those
beyond our walls, beyond our ilk, beyond our cliques, beyond our cultures, and
settle for an <b>inward focus</b>. We determine that outsiders don’t want what we have
so we insulate and isolate ourselves with religious trappings. Any potential
audience finds our message indecipherable.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We might give lip-service to our desires to spread the Gospel,
build God’s Kingdom, and increase our numbers… but we are so attached to our
inward focused ways that there is little hope for the Gospel to take root in
others through our meager efforts.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We err on the other end of the spectrum, too, by being so
marketing-minded that we truly focus on giving our “customers” what they want. We
bundle up an appealing package of goods and services, slap on a patina of
Christianity, but fail to focus on the Gospel. We may draw a crowd of the
pleased and unoffended, we may build a brand and balance our budgets, but ultimately
we fail because our market-minded efforts only result in building our little fiefdoms
rather than God’s Kingdom.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s a <b><i>hybrid </i></b>that is common in the Church too… a dangerous, sort of
inward-focused, market-minded approach. It is <b><i>market-minded</i></b> as it is
purposefully appealing… but only appeals to a popular stream in Christianity
(perhaps an excess, or even error, in some cases). It is <b><i>inward-focused</i></b> as it only
targets a precise Christian niche. In years past that niche might be focused on
prosperity; these days it could be something like Christian nationalism on the
right, or unattached social justice on the left. Again, we might likely draw crowds
and balance budgets serving the niche, but such an approach has little impact
on unbelievers. It is just a crowd of the already blessed. Few are converted.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am confident that there is a sweet spot, a place from
which Church leaders understand that the Gospel is far beyond what consumers
might want, but still <b>outward focused</b>. It takes skilled, Spirit-empowered
leaders who can manage the tension between the transcendent Gospel and the
unknowing masses.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Leadership is more than just asking people what they want
and giving it to them, and it is certainly more than deciding for people and
forcing it on them. Leadership holds out a better destination and makes a way
to get there. The Gospel is, of course, that very best destination… and the
Church, its members, and leaders, must do better to make way for people to get
there.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 13px;">===================================</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 13px;">Perhaps I can help you with coaching, evaluation, or planning. Greatifiers aims to help you make good things great. Reach out; I’d be glad to help. </span><a href="mailto:dan@greatifiers.com" style="background-color: white; color: #3778cd; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">dan@greatifiers.com</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-56313080317423211202022-12-13T10:44:00.001-08:002022-12-13T10:44:55.405-08:00Project Management as a Ministry Discipline<p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltHjISmP6XJN6Qcwnu5dIJ8PJestNsbfAG7wHX86iyoUTLBB9ZZ8UV4HKxb9jkewsrl8M4A5MKJVP_HqP1BL7IKVPsi23Z7b1jlViNsmx1aq5ibSVxFbvWB5LjSBPc__Di2pTRfHEpu_oJibkNimUvvh10zm03YxFtmuU1x2ylZrtxEGfL4mb99PS/s572/gantt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="572" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltHjISmP6XJN6Qcwnu5dIJ8PJestNsbfAG7wHX86iyoUTLBB9ZZ8UV4HKxb9jkewsrl8M4A5MKJVP_HqP1BL7IKVPsi23Z7b1jlViNsmx1aq5ibSVxFbvWB5LjSBPc__Di2pTRfHEpu_oJibkNimUvvh10zm03YxFtmuU1x2ylZrtxEGfL4mb99PS/s320/gantt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Project management has been part of my work in church and
parachurch ministry for decades. While I have been aware of project management
as a professional, certified discipline, I have gone about the work mostly as an
informal practitioner. I have used the tools of the profession for years, going
all the way back to the MS-DOS version of <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/project/project-management-software">Microsoft
Project</a>, and more recently, of course, using <a href="https://asana.com/">cloud-based
tools</a>. My <a href="https://business.stthomas.edu/">MBA </a>studies alluded
to the profession, but there was not a specific focus on project management. I
have been satisfied to approach the work intuitively and informally, never all
that interested in further study or pursuing a certification.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>As I am considering the next season of my career, realizing
that I have project management skills and success, and recognizing the
satisfaction I enjoy from the work, I have been doing a deep dive, with
certification (<a href="https://www.pmi.org/certifications/project-management-pmp">PMP</a>) as a
goal.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>It appears that there are a lot of opportunities in the
field… but landing a project management job may take me out of church or
parachurch ministry since there do not appear to be many career opportunities
for project managers in ministry. Which brings me to the question, “<b>why not?</b>”
It seems to me that ministry is well suited to formally apply
project-management tools and leverage skilled project managers.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>It could be that church and para-church ministries would do
well to consider how bringing skilled project managers to their organizations
would fill vital roles on ministry teams. Many ministries are sufficiently
complex to benefit from certified project managers. Others might consider contracting
with project managers, while still others should at least consider how to apply
proven and standardized project-management principles and techniques.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Opportunity<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Much of ministry success is a result of successful projects.
Launching new ministries, revitalizing legacy ministries, capital campaigns,
new construction, renovations, reworking governance… the list could go on and
all fit within a project-management framework. Merely casting this work in
project-management terms can yield huge benefits as the framework clarifies
vital components including: scope, stakeholders, risk, roadblocks, timeline,
budget, decision making, systems, quality, and outcomes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Body of Christ<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A project-management approach aligns with the way the New
Testament describes the Church. Project management is people centered,
organizing and enabling teams comprised of people with a variety of skills,
resources, and perspectives.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Consider the way the Apostle Paul described the Church:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts
form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so
as to form one body… <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he
wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it
is, there are many parts, but one body… <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it <br /></span>(1
Corinthians 12:12–31)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One body with purpose, comprised of many parts. Perhaps
project managers serve as part of the <i>central nervous system</i>,
coordinating the work of the various parts.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Empowerment<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A project-management approach can be a vital tool in
accomplishing further directives regarding the work of the Church.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Christ
himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and
teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ
may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of
the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the
fullness of Christ. </span>(Ephesians 4:11–13)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am confident that most every ministry has underutilized
people longing to bring their best to the work of the body. In my experience
and observation, we usually do a good job of empowering teams of employees to
accomplish work, but we are often far less skilled at utilizing non-employees.
We are good at utilizing non-employees for non-skilled or low-skilled work but
struggle to find ways for non-employees to bring their highly skilled, and most
valuable, work to our ministries.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A project-management approach, resourced by skillful project
managers, can provide a framework to best leverage volunteers. Furthermore,
using standard project-management approaches, tools, and language can
facilitate fast and productive onboarding of high-capacity volunteers. When our
ministries use the same tools, approaches, and terminology as people find in
their workplaces, they can jump right in with their meaningful contributions. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It seems far too common that high-capacity volunteers are disillusioned
because ministry leaders are not prepared to help volunteers succeed with their
best contributions. We may want their money and low-skilled labor, but we may
fail at utilizing their expertise. Well planned, resourced, and executed
projects can provide a place for volunteers to thrive.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Efficiency<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Project management should result in a leaner system with
less waste and higher productivity. Sure, project management is administrative
overhead, but when done well the investment of time and resources in project
management should yield results that far exceed the costs. Simply leveraging
high-capacity volunteers doing their best work in merely one area in which professional
project managers can prove their value.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together; page-break-after: avoid;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Effectiveness<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together; page-break-after: avoid;">When we are clear on desired outcomes, agree on
parameters like timelines and budgets, marshal the right people and resources,
and manage to those goals, our projects, of course, are more effective. The
first stated principle in <a href="https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/about/current-projects">PMI’s
Standard for Project Management</a> is <b>stewardship</b>. This, of course, aligns
with Christian values as we understand our responsibility to care for the
people and resources placed in our hands.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together; page-break-after: avoid;">Jesus put it in these terms:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together; page-break-after: avoid;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">This is to my Father’s glory, that you
bear much fruit (John 15:8)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There is, of course, wild fruit… but the most fruit, much
fruit, is the result of teams of experts planning, cultivating, and gathering
harvests. Skilled, careful project management results in effectiveness.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Examples<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Consider a few examples.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Assuming that we are on a path of continuous improvement,
the planning for our <b>Sunday Services</b> can fit nicely into a
project-management approach. Specifically, since the outcomes are periodic
(weekly in this case), such weekly planning would fit into an <i>agile</i>
approach, with weekly <i>sprints</i>. The team would work with a log of ideas
and elements for potential implementation over the course of time. In large,
multi-campus churches the list of elements and personnel can be complex and
extensive.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A project-management approach could effectively bridge the
gap between the high-level, long-range goals for improvement and the week-to-week
planning (the sorts of things a lot of churches tackle with a tool like <a href="https://www.planningcenter.com/services">PlanningCenter</a> which alone
is not project management but more of an operations apparatus). <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Another example, perhaps more specific to educational
ministries, is <b>accreditation</b>. The processes to achieve and maintain
accreditation demand a project-management approach.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Achieving accreditation (or certifications, permits, and
such) calls for a <i>predictive</i> or <i>waterfall</i> project management
approach as it usually requires multiple teams generating a long list of
documents and reports over months with a deadline.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Maintaining accreditation has also been a periodic
waterfall, producing similar documents after a period of years. Many agencies
are now shifting to a system of continual improvement for ongoing accreditation
which likely better fits an agile approach. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Your Feedback<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am looking for feedback as I am just getting started with
all of this. Do you have any observations? Perhaps you have success stories in
which ministries have used project managers or formal project-management
approaches. I would love to hear from you! <o:p></o:p></p>Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-52845646242799966652022-12-09T11:46:00.003-08:002022-12-10T10:35:31.277-08:00The Perhaps Surprising Outward-Focus of “Joy to the World”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjamew2ijP3fhyo8QBr073YXHrG14qbQmXwFBDPpbaIwaiX7EMDTOomXGbjPu5p0cRN7SzNYcGumktm4QWYxxFmCI1zKJxTjiL7zq-SDXCoON1YKYm-B8__JmMtGfLX6N_3Gn6DZmmJH-4jlLkFle_1S0MO8j1PeVSVpCx_wxEnABGdKqMK8EX5Ni/s792/joytotheworld1%20copy.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="792" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjamew2ijP3fhyo8QBr073YXHrG14qbQmXwFBDPpbaIwaiX7EMDTOomXGbjPu5p0cRN7SzNYcGumktm4QWYxxFmCI1zKJxTjiL7zq-SDXCoON1YKYm-B8__JmMtGfLX6N_3Gn6DZmmJH-4jlLkFle_1S0MO8j1PeVSVpCx_wxEnABGdKqMK8EX5Ni/w320-h227/joytotheworld1%20copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />During this Advent season, considering <b>joy </b>as an upcoming theme, the familiar tune <i><b>Joy to the World</b></i> inevitably runs through my mind.<br /><br />These words were penned by Isaac Watts, and published in the early 1700s. He wrote some 600 hymns; many have endured through the years, including <i>O God Our Help in Ages Past</i>, and <i>When I Survey the Wondrous Cross</i>.<br /><br />Many of his hymns were first published in his work <i>Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs</i> in 1707. When the school district in the District of Columbia was formed, then President Thomas Jefferson also chaired the school board and set the curriculum. They established two primary texts for reading lessons: <i><b>The Bible</b></i>, and Watts’ <i><b>Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs</b></i>. <br /><br /><i>Joy to the World</i> appeared in Watts work published in 1719: <i>Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament</i>. <i>Joy to the World </i>was one of Watts’ interpretations of a Psalm, specifically Psalm 98. <br /><br />The words were later set to the tune we sing today by Lowell Mason. The melody is often credited to Handel, but it appears that Mason simply plucked a few melodies from Handel’s <i>Messiah </i>and imitated Handel’s style with the melody that is now so very familiar. It isn’t particularly complicated: Do Ti La So Fa Me Rae Do. It is simply a major scale. <br /><br />These great carols and hymns of the church are cherished by many of us today, but they were scandalous to some of Watts’ day. Watts was among the Nonconformists movement, those who would not embrace the established Church of England. In fact, when young Isaac was born, his father was in jail for being a Nonconformist. Isaac followed in his father’s footsteps and was an influential leader among the independent churches in England, pastoring one of the most influential independent churches. <br /><br />In his writings, Watts spoke of his motivation for being such a prolific hymn writer. He harshly criticized the hymn singing of his day, so metrical and lifeless and boring. He spoke of how an unbelieving observer might doubt that there was any veracity to the faith of these so called Believers; with such passionless singing, could they possibly have any real faith? <br /><br />So Watts set out to shake things up in his day… and it was scandalous to some. <br /><br />Does that sound at all familiar? It seems that every generation seeks to sing their songs (our songs) to (and about) the Lord, and it irritates some. <br /><br />When Scripture exhorts us to “sing a new song to the Lord,” I don’t think it means to sing our new song the same old way. It seems that the Spirit moves in every generation, inspiring songs that express our love for and to the Lord. New songs in new ways are an important sign that the Spirit is indeed moving… that there is veracity to our faith, true belief in and passion for Jesus. <br /><br />I wonder what Watts would think of how his song is typically used in our days. Joy to the World is sung today around the world in the most churchy ways… perhaps with a choir, or a pipe organ with an orchestra, or just sung a cappella. Joy to the World is conformist today… funny how the stuff we cling to as traditional today always, of course, started as something non-traditional. <br /><br />We may sing a song like <i>Joy to the World</i> in really churchy, perhaps even inward-focused ways, but Watts wrote it as an outward-focused pastor with a heart to reach the world… to bring true joy to the world.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a bit more on "Joy to the World": </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zmZXrecoHLM" width="320" youtube-src-id="zmZXrecoHLM"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div>Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-39515690469213017602022-11-17T13:12:00.006-08:002022-11-17T13:21:01.644-08:00Leading Worship from the Back Row<div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4squvratkielIEOLzc7qrTUjy2TgYq1EFzPbPeWiGFZNVsgzn_KxVZkIOyxLvsBri_-Oa6fhYF_jaJARHvzBDMG2D7SuTGqpk4H8GLCFw0NGc68mhnYRkU-3_b-g81z4sfWmZaoo7VykG-vKVaVJ1sSJOMnD74oRmGO6Af_6dUiQekvRxmf1Oiak/s800/board_pic.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="372" data-original-width="800" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4squvratkielIEOLzc7qrTUjy2TgYq1EFzPbPeWiGFZNVsgzn_KxVZkIOyxLvsBri_-Oa6fhYF_jaJARHvzBDMG2D7SuTGqpk4H8GLCFw0NGc68mhnYRkU-3_b-g81z4sfWmZaoo7VykG-vKVaVJ1sSJOMnD74oRmGO6Af_6dUiQekvRxmf1Oiak/w320-h149/board_pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My son was right; he told us the sound was awesome at his new church. He began serving recently, leading their broadcast team. We were glad to finally join them live on a Sunday morning and experienced a great service. People were engaged and welcoming, the energy was high (especially as people were baptized as we sang, a staple of every worship service), and the tech elements were <i>on point</i>. And, as promised, everything sounded great.<br /><br />On my way out of the second service, as people streamed in for the third, I caught the attention of the sound engineer, introduced myself, and did my best to quickly express how much I appreciated his work. I know enough jargon to perhaps establish that my compliments were qualified from a technical perspective, so I started along those lines… but then it occurred to me what I was really getting at. I then simply told him, “<b>You led us in worship from the soundboard</b>.”<br /><br />Which is the most important musical instrument when leading worship? In my tradition it hasn’t been an organ for decades. Perhaps these days it is whatever the lead singer is playing, keys or a guitar. We could make the case that a rhythm instrument is most important, drums or bass. The MD (music director) role is emerging in our churches; perhaps the MD plays the most important musical instrument.<br /><br /><b>Could it be that the soundboard is the most important musical instrument?</b><br /><br />If the soundboard is at least <i>among </i>the most important musical instruments, do we act like it? Do we invest in the gear? More importantly, do we invest in the people? What are our expectations of these worship leaders on the back row? Are we resourcing them as best we can? Do they get the respect they deserve? Are they included in leadership and decision making?<br /><br />It seems to me that the back row is increasingly important as we pursue our mission, worshipping God, building His people, and reaching others. If we are going to be relevant in these times, in our culture, we need excellence on the back row. Those we hope to reach are conditioned to expect excellence in production. It is not that we need to compete with the hottest concert in town, or the corporate event that folks experienced recently… but <b>if we skimp on, or are lazy about, production, we indicate that our message is not worth our effort or their attention</b>.<br /><br />The back row, of course, in most churches these days, contains a variety of roles starting with sound, lights, and media. Video is increasingly important, both for broadcast and IMAG. Broadcast audio is often overlooked as we too easily underestimate this vital component. Add camera operators, monitor engineers, translation services, simulcasting to other campuses, and such; producing excellence from the back row is usually a daunting task, regardless of the size of our church.<br /><br />An increasing number of churches, understanding the vital roles on the back row, are paying particular attention to the <b>leadership </b>of the back row. Whatever the titles (producer, director, pastor, manager), those skilled in understanding the tech and, perhaps more importantly, leading technical people are in high demand. Many of the most forward-thinking churches, valuing integration of the worship experience, empower a high-level leader on the back row with broad responsibility. Such leaders not only manage the tech and technical personnel, but they are also in tight coordination with the leaders on the platform in both planning and execution… often a troika of the preaching, worship leading, and production leadership. The <i>end sought</i> is a powerful and relevant worship experience, tightly integrated and excellently delivered, that magnifies Jesus, equips His people, and draws many to Him.<br /><br /><b>No matter how big and complex the task, we must aim to value the personnel on the back row as worship leaders</b>.<br /><br />Church leaders will do best to think of back-row personnel as worship leaders. We need to do all we can to invest in their training and development, and prioritize putting the right tools in their hands. We must not treat the back row as <i>less-than</i> or some sort of<i> necessary evil</i>, but rather consider them as ministers with vital roles; we should value their unique perspective, seek their input, and respect their leadership.<br /><br />Back-row personnel will do best to think of themselves as worship leaders. We should invest in our ongoing training and development, both technically and spiritually, always pursuing excellence. We must not get so bogged down in the techniques (the wires and knobs and buttons and gear) that we fail to lead worship, honoring God and serving others well.<br /><br />Let’s be sure to lead worship from the back row.<div><br /><br />====================================<br />Perhaps I can help you with coaching, evaluation, or planning. Greatifiers aims to help you make good things great. Reach out; I’d be glad to help. <a href="mailto:dan@greatifiers.com">dan@greatifiers.com</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div>Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-33158798167756891442020-03-03T15:17:00.002-08:002020-03-03T15:17:14.227-08:00An Acquired Taste I’ve been thinking about the Bible a lot over the past several weeks. <br /><br />A few weeks ago I was in a monthly meeting with our deacons. I initiated a discussion about our approach to ministry at <a href="http://cpnorthshore.com/" target="_blank">Northshore Church</a>, specifically our approach to Sunday mornings. I used some of what was in <a href="http://cpnorthshore.com/sermon/luke/" target="_blank">a message from the end of Luke 5, where Jesus spoke of new wineskins</a>. I wanted their perspective and wisdom, asking questions like: <div>
<ul>
<li>Are we time locked? </li>
<li>Are we stuck in an irrelevant culture? </li>
<li>What approaches or routines need to be reexamined, refashioned, or even jettisoned? </li>
</ul>
It was a productive discussion. During a lull, I <i>opened the door</i> and asked for feedback… specifically about my preaching. There were comments about style and length and such. There were calls for more stories and personal illustrations with the hope of connecting with folk not accustomed to church culture. Since I am very much in favor with connecting with folk not accustomed to church culture, I appreciated the input… a lot. <br /><br />When that discussion was slowing, I said, with an intentionally provocative and satirical tone, “Well, yeah, but what does that have to do with meticulously exegeting a passage of Scripture?” I got the desired laugh. They laughed because they know I’m a bit nerdy about all this, and we moved ahead with the next item on the agenda. <br /><br />But that question has continued to provoke me. What <b><i>does </i></b>any of that have to do with meticulously exegeting a passage of Scripture? I remain convinced that the most important thing I can do on a Sunday morning is preach God’s Word. Whatever <b><i>I</i></b> might have to say, nothing is as good as what God has to say to us through the Bible. But <i>rightly dividing the word of truth </i>may not always connect with the culture. Perhaps that’s what a select few people are looking for when they visit a church like ours… but I suspect that most are looking for something else (especially those not accustomed to church culture). <br /><br />As I have been mulling it over, I remembered a favorite quote. It was not from a great theologian… but it <i><b>was </b></i>a spiritual experience when I first ran across this man’s product (30 years ago, my Midwestern palate had never encountered espresso). <br /><br />In <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pour-Your-Heart-Into-Starbucks/dp/0786883561" target="_blank">his first autobiography</a>, Schultz wrote: <br /><br />“First, every company must stand for something… Second, you don’t just give customers what they ask for. If you offer them something they’re not accustomed to, something so far superior that it takes a while to develop their palates, you can create a sense of discovery and excitement and loyalty that will bond them to you. It may take longer, but if you have a great product, you can educate your customers to like it rather than kowtowing to mass-market appeal.”<br /><br />We’re not selling coffee here; we’re not <i><b>selling </b></i>anything here. But the principle applies. When you have the <b>best</b>, don’t just give people what they ask for. <br /><br />The Bible is the best; it is far superior than anything else we might study and apply to our lives. But we should not expect anyone to have an appetite for it (including ourselves). It takes a while to develop a palate for the Bible… but once developed there is a lifechanging sense of discovery and excitement. This is our task when we present God’s Word. <br /><br />We don’t do it alone, of course. The Holy Spirit carries responsibility and power in the endeavor; we merely do our part… our vitally important part in God’s mission. <br /><br />During that discussion with my deacons, nobody was advocating for kowtowing to mass-market appeal… but it seems that some do, and by so doing they routinely fail to give people the best, that which is far superior. <br /><br />I’m committed to working harder than ever before to give people the best. It might be harder than ever before to compete with so many expertly crafted messages in our culture (the mere <i>Bible thumping</i> of <i>the ol’ time religion</i> isn’t going to cut it). We’ll continue to work and innovate and rely on the Holy Spirit’s power to give people the best… to develop palates and build discovery and excitement. <br /><br /> I know it is powerful. It has changed my life and is changing my life. I’ve seen it work in lives of those around me… those who have developed a palate and appetite for the best found in the Bible. Let’s continue to work together to develop that palate and appetite together, and be a place where others, even those who might be asking first for something else, can find the best too.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-17641416030193009792017-03-22T20:18:00.003-07:002017-03-23T09:52:42.856-07:00A Prayer for Lent<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Father - <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I cower under a weighty pile of stuff:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
tasks, expectations, plans, and sin. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Much
of it is good.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Some
of it is excellent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> A lot
of it has no real value at all<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
other than giving me a grave in which to hide.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I long for your Resurrection.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am looking to that great Day <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> when
we will so wonderfully celebrate that<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> He is
risen, indeed!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But I know that in order to best say yes<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> on
that special Resurrection Day<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I
should say no today…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> no to
pieces of the pile under which I hide,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> no to
the worthless,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> no to
the self indulgent,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and
even no to some of the seemingly good.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Help me, Father, with gifts of courage and
wisdom<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> to
say no, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> even
to the good,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> so
that I may say YES to the best.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Please give me grace to prepare my heart to
say Yes, again, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> To
Your Resurrection.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank You that we pray <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> in
the Name of the Resurrected One: Jesus. Amen.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-27923164319493892492017-02-13T10:39:00.003-08:002017-02-13T10:40:03.480-08:00Literally Seriously<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/09/trump-makes-his-case-in-pittsburgh/501335/" target="_blank">Salina Zito, who writes for <i>The Atlantic</i></a>, has been quoted <i>over and over agai</i>n since she wrote one line last fall. When all the pundits and prognosticators were declaring Hillary Clinton as the victor in the weeks coming up to the election, Zito cleverly wrote about Donald Trump: <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">“The press takes him literally, but not seriously; his supporters take him seriously, but not literally.”</span> <br /><br />The press would exegete every statement made by Trump (as they still seem to do) exposing the apparent errors… giving little attention to what his statements were meaning to his supporters. By taking Trump literally, but not seriously, the press (and Trumps opponents) were stunned that he was elected by those who took him seriously, but not always literally. <br /><br />I think that clever <i>truism </i>can be applied to the Bible. <br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br />There are those who take the Bible literally, but not seriously. </span><br /><br />So, in the case of a tough passage like <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A27-30&version=NIV" target="_blank">Matthew 5:27-30</a>, there are those who take Jesus literally when He talks about <i>gouging out eyes </i>and <i>cutting off hands</i>. Because they take Him literally, they are forced to not take Him seriously. They point to a passage like this, and taking it literally, they find it barbaric, extremist, and ridiculous. They reject it… and likely reject much, if not all, of the Bible. <br /><br />It is vitally important to know when to take the Bible literally (which, of course, is most of the time). <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I want us all to take the Bible seriously; to do so requires an ability to know when not to take it literally. </span><br /><br />Sometimes we have Bibles with <i>red letters</i> for the Words of Jesus; maybe we should come up with a version that has different colors for what should be understood figuratively and what should be taken literally. Unfortunately, this is an area in which we don’t always find agreement, so we are going to need other tools to make these kinds of determinations. <br /><br />Here are some questions I use to determine what is literal and what is figurative:</span><br />
<div>
<ul>
<li>What does the context indicate? </li>
<li>Is the passage intended to convey a fact or teach a principle? </li>
<li>Does a literal or figurative meaning better align with other passages of Scripture?</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The <b>figurative </b>meaning of going to extreme measures to choose righteousness is clearly the best meaning in the Matthew passage. </span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>The premise gives us important context since an eye or a hand cannot cause us to sin; sin is a matter of our hearts and minds, not our organs and extremities. </li>
<li>This passage is clearly not about setting rules or facts; this is a teaching passage… Jesus teaching radical ideas with radical illustrations. </li>
<li>Nowhere in Scripture is self-mutilation promoted; in fact it is universally prohibited.</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />The point is that Jesus was saying that while we might naturally be ruled by lust, this is not the system of His Kingdom. There is no room for the rule of appetites and lust in His Kingdom; <b>His rule is love</b>.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is an excerpt of a message delivered at Northshore Church on 2/12/17; for more of the message, check it out at <a href="http://cpnorthshore.com/sermon/kingsspeech/" target="_blank">www.cpnorthshore.com/sermon/kingsspeech </a></span></div>
Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-7370627369819940622017-01-18T20:29:00.005-08:002017-01-18T20:29:51.032-08:00Praying for UnityThere are a number of us at <a href="http://cpnorthshore.com/" target="_blank">Northshore</a> who have a palpable burden to pray for unity these days, especially in our congregation. We enjoy strong bonds of unity in our congregation that are vital to our continued effectiveness in ministry together; so we are not necessarily praying to <em>solve</em> a problem. We are praying to <strong><em>preserve</em> </strong>that which is so precious to us: Our unity that is based in Jesus. <strong>Let’s be praying for unity.</strong><br />
<br />
We live in days that seem to be marked by increasing division. As our federal government transfers power from the Obama administration to the Trump administration, some are fearful, others are exhilarated, while many deal with a mix of emotions and perspectives somewhere in the middle. These could be days when such division impacts us in our families, workplaces, and even in our church. We all have different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives that shape our diverse positions. There is plenty of room at Northshore for a diversity of positions as we are unified in and through the Gospel. I believe our rich diversity makes us a stronger body; <strong>we need each other</strong>.<br />
<br />
In all of our relationships, in all of our various networks, the Scripture gives us clear standards of behavior. In these potentially divisive days, I have found this especially helpful:<br />
<br />
Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-14)<br />
<br />
Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel. Please join us in praying for unity! <em></em>Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-74983391550995869272016-07-15T17:26:00.002-07:002016-07-15T17:33:03.668-07:00Chairs by the Door<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I left church Sunday I noticed a guy sitting on a big
rock next to our main, street entrance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I thought about it on my way home, I put it together. I try
not to think in terms of stereotypes… but this guy was a type. A <i>messed up mop
</i>for hair, scraggly beard, squinty eyes from hours of starring at screens in the
dark, the sort of look that one could assume that he smelled like dirty socks
and Fritos… the guy was a <b>gamer</b>, playing <i>Pokémon Go</i> on his iPad.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For reasons beyond my knowledge, the game designers determined
that churches would be good locations for <i>Pokémon gyms</i>. I’m guessing that it is
because church property is generally accessible to the public and nobody lives
there. By the luck of the draw (or Divine providence?) <a href="http://cpnorthshore.com/" target="_blank">Northshore </a>is a <i>gym</i>. So
that means that some of the multiplied millions who are playing the game need
to stop by <i>gyms </i>like ours to advance in the game. There has been a steady
stream of people stopping by Northshore’s campus, usually the parking lot, since
the game launched on July 6.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I thought, "why would anyone sit on that rock by the road?" And then it occurred to me… there is nowhere else to sit, at least not outside.
Have you noticed that churches generally don’t have chairs outside of our buildings?
It isn’t because we don’t value chairs. Pastors like me are keenly aware of our
chairs (I have 242 in our auditorium; I know because I counted them myself).
But we are often focused on just those chairs. That is where people get the <i>really good stuff</i>, where they hear me talk and listen to the music I provide. <i>Of
course</i> those are the most important chairs. We want people to fill those
chairs, several times each weekend.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But what about some chairs by the door? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I wasn’t really a Christian for the first twenty years of my
life. I can remember that I didn’t feel all that comfortable sitting in those
chairs in church auditoriums. I didn’t feel like I belonged. I didn’t know what
to do or how to act. I figured that the people who were comfortable in those
chairs were probably judging me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It could be that people who might not feel comfortable in
the auditorium would like to sit by the door.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_JTQ-dKxdIQybyOay4lPlryDtsrn1HF8fvmmRgoQlLgs7zkyD5FnJ1kcPmcBdfzDrnTmLEKgSvisCKbl76ZgCNJcb-i-qPx3USGQ6urfeGrLn-iKAZxLQrgwnGvSz-x-PLAN_3tAeAw/s1600/IMG_3507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_JTQ-dKxdIQybyOay4lPlryDtsrn1HF8fvmmRgoQlLgs7zkyD5FnJ1kcPmcBdfzDrnTmLEKgSvisCKbl76ZgCNJcb-i-qPx3USGQ6urfeGrLn-iKAZxLQrgwnGvSz-x-PLAN_3tAeAw/s320/IMG_3507.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So I put some chairs by the door. I even took a few more
steps, including putting up a few signs, and providing a place to plug in (<i>Pokémon
Go </i>really drains batteries).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Within an hour or so, I had my first taker. And later that
afternoon, that <i>gamer guy</i> showed up. I talked to him and learned that his name
is Bennet; he lives in the apartments across the street. He exclaimed, “You did
this? This is awesome! Most people just ignore people like me. Sometimes they
tell me to go away, but I can usually tell that they want me to go away without
them saying it. But you guys rolled out the red carpet! Thanks!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’ve had a number of conversations this week in those
chairs.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9DPN_A10J8WfHXHUUxwkzjj3C366N494aJvE-UKoTR5w3ScQ8VMOgIdvFW_ST7FICNJjtgJiMrpeZtgedNhfGweU-mk_5mE_gLEHJsfUEEugDKh8PFHSdWAqyUMRJ5SBKYgdvCZpaVQ/s1600/IMG_3502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9DPN_A10J8WfHXHUUxwkzjj3C366N494aJvE-UKoTR5w3ScQ8VMOgIdvFW_ST7FICNJjtgJiMrpeZtgedNhfGweU-mk_5mE_gLEHJsfUEEugDKh8PFHSdWAqyUMRJ5SBKYgdvCZpaVQ/s320/IMG_3502.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In this case, I literally put chairs by the door. If you are
a church leader, I’d encourage you to do the same. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But there are all sorts of ways that we <b>figuratively </b>put
<i>chairs by the door</i>, ways that we let people be part of our church in peripheral
ways. There are several of those figurative chairs by the door right at the top
of our minds at Northshore these days. We just finished up VBS; we think of VBS
primarily as an outreach to our community… a way for kids and parents to check
us out. We’re having an outdoor party on Saturday that we’re calling <i>Hot Spot
in the Lot</i>, friends and neighbors are welcome to join us for food and fun. And
on Monday we are more than doubling the distribution capacity for our <a href="http://cpnorthshore.com/food-bank/" target="_blank">food bank</a>
as we go to a weekly schedule. These are all figurative <i>chairs by the door</i>,
ways to punch big holes in the hard shell that surrounds our church, ways that
people can get a glimpse of the kind of people we are and the kind of God we
serve. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Let’s be sure to put chairs by the door… welcoming,
comfortable places for people to enjoy that might just be a stop on the way to
believing and belonging. </span></div>
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Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-47829655226186672272016-05-02T10:06:00.003-07:002016-05-02T10:06:48.383-07:00Dialoging the Monologue <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Laurie and I are in a small group comprised of parents of millennials. This quarter we are reading <a href="http://amzn.to/24uelFl">David Kinnaman’s <i>You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church… and Rethinking Faith</i></a>. It has been a great catalyst for discussion as we think about and pray for our children, their friends, and their generation. <br /><br />The book and our discussions has led me to think about our worship services at <a href="http://cpnorthshore.com/" target="_blank">Northshore</a>, specifically the preaching. So over the past two weeks we’ve conducted a few experiments.<br /><br />When it comes to preaching there are all sorts of approaches. There are some approaches that are more academic, while others are more related to everyday life. Some are shorter, while others are longer. Some produced by professionals (many more qualified than me), and other approaches that rely only on lay persons. Some are based in deeper research, while others are more spontaneous. Regardless of approach, the act of preaching is established in the Bible as a vital part of the life of God’s people. Preaching the Gospel has always been a central and vital part of church life, both the <i>Church Universal</i> and our congregation at Northshore. <br /><br />With that said, it is good to think about approach, looking for ways to make our current presentation of the timeless Gospel relevant in our days.… so, we are experimenting. Specifically we are trying approaches that might make these moments more of a <b>dialog </b>than merely a <b>monologue</b>… more of a conversation together rather than merely a speech. Not necessarily things we’ll always do, or might never do again based on how it goes… just experiments. <br /><br />This idea of more dialog is a significant element of communication in our times. We no longer settle for merely a few authoritative sources that provide information to us via a <i>talking head</i>. Gone are the days of just a few national news organizations, for example, that simply tell us what is going on. These days we expect many streams of information, as well as ways to enter into those streams ourselves. When we watch the news or even sports, the television screen usually gives us several views into the information with scrollbars and information blocks and multiple boxes and such. And then there are the <i>second screens</i>, as we watch social media feeds on our phones and tablets simultaneously with what is happening on the television screen. <br /><br />So, for those <i>second screeners</i> we offered this hashtag: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NSromans?src=hash" target="_blank">#NSromans</a>. When one uses this hashtag on Twitter during the preaching, they might even see the tweet on the screen. (Now if words like <i>hashtag </i>and <i>live tweet</i> and <i>second screen</i> sound like gibberish to you… don’t worry about it; this isn’t for you).<br /><br />The other, more <i>low-tech</i>, experiment is a <b>Q & A</b>. At the close of the messages, rather than giving time for our usual response in prayer (an altar call), I have opened the floor for questions related to the day’s message (as well as the other two messages in our series). This isn’t meant to be a game of <i>stump the pastor</i>, or a time to ask unrelated questions (for those who need to know if there were unicorns in the ark). Just a few minutes to consider the Scripture together as a community. <br /><br />We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, and it is vitally important to our lives. Furthermore, we believe that the Bible is for us all, to be read and understood and applied by us all… not merely by a few paid professionals. I’m glad people listen to what I have to say about it, and I’m glad that most seem to appreciate what I have to say about the Bible. But we are going to be at our best when God’s Word is more than just a monologue from a few of us, but rather a constant dialog among all of us.<br /><br />After two Sundays of experimenting, I’m pretty pleased with the results. <br /><br />The hashtag has had limited response. Most of the use has been my own, using <a href="https://tweetdeck.twitter.com/" target="_blank">Tweetdeck</a> to preload tweets related to my message that are released during the message. While only a few others have used the hashtag, there are indications that people are watching the feed (<i>second screen</i>) and appreciate seeing the tweets on the screen during the message (we are using the Twitter function in <a href="http://www.renewedvision.com/propresenter.php" target="_blank">ProPresenter</a>). <br /><br />The Q&A has, so far, been the real success. The questions have been thoughtful and relevant… and it seems that my answers have been helpful. You can judge for yourself; <a href="http://cpnorthshore.com/sermon/romans/" target="_blank">the recordings for 5/1 and 4/24 available here</a>. <br /><br />It seems that millennials have been the primary users of the hashtag (apart from this <i>Xer</i>). But, to my surprise, the participants in the Q&A have mostly been Boomer women. <br /><br />I talked with my son Alex about it and he had good advice, saying “just because we millennials aren’t yet participating in the Q&A does not mean that we don’t appreciate it.” He seemed to indicate that he and his ilk appreciated the effort, the transparency in the communication, and the invitation to enter the dialog. Furthermore, it seems, at least this far into the experiment, that he and his ilk were glad to <b>observe </b>the dialog… that he was encouraged by the kinds of questions asked and answers given. <br /><br />I’m pretty sure that we’ll use these tools, at least from time to time, in the future. <br /><br />I am interested in feedback. Have you observed these tools in use in other congregations? What makes it work really well (or not)? Are there other good ways to make our messages less like a monologue from a talking head? I’d be glad to hear from you. </span><div>
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Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-74572134693371744642015-09-17T09:12:00.002-07:002015-09-17T09:12:26.182-07:00Spirit-Filled Ministry<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tribe </i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in which I travel often thinks of Spirit-Filled ministry in terms of what is described in </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts+2&version=NIV" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Acts chapter 2</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, that Day of Pentecost when the Church was born in that Upper Room. They were waiting just as Jesus had promised, and they were baptized in the Holy Spirit; they spoke in tongues, and boldly proclaimed the Gospel. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While I agree that Acts 2 is vitally important, it isn’t by any means the first time that the Holy Spirit shows up in the Bible, not the first time people were filled with the Holy Spirit. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The way I read it, the first time that the term “filled with the Spirit” shows up in the Bible is in </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus+31%3A1-11&version=NIV" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Exodus chapter 31</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. It isn’t ascribed to Adam or Noah, not to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, or Joseph, not even to Moses or Aaron. It isn’t ascribed to a prophet or priest or any other clergy the first time; the first one “filled with the Spirit” was Bezalel. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel… and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.” </i>(<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus+31%3A1-11&version=NIV">Exodus 31:1-5</a>)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When it comes to church work, it seems we generally think of the <i><b>clergy </b></i>as the ones <b>really </b>filled with the Spirit, those who preach and teach and prophecy and pray and sing and such. All of these should be filled with the Spirit, of course. But isn’t it interesting that the first recipients of the Spirit’s infilling are those who work with their hands? Bezalel was filled with the Spirit to lead and design and work. Oholiab was filled with the Spirit to stand at Bezalel’s side to help him. And a presumably large number of workers were filled with the Spirit to accomplish all the work set before them by the Lord. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so it is should be in our congregations. In our church I trust people sense that those who pastor and preach and teach are filled with the Spirit. But it isn’t merely the pastors. When Mark runs cables to repair the projector, and makes plans to improve our sound system, Mark is filled with the Spirit. When Gail bakes cookies, pouring love into each morsel that will be enjoyed by friends and tangibly welcomes our guests, Gail is filled the Spirit. When Eugene shows up at just the right time to lend a hand, Eugene is filled with the Spirit. When Charlene lovingly folds and collates bulletins every Thursday morning so that they are ready to welcome folk on the weekend, Charlene is filled with the Spirit. When Merlin artistically captures an image that so wonderfully communicates what it can mean to be part of our congregation, Merlin is filled with the Spirit. <b><i>And on and on it goes. </i></b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let’s be sure to acknowledge the Spirit’s filling and the Spirit’s work through all that we do. Let’s encourage it in those around us. And let’s be sure to open our own <b><i>hearts </i></b>and <b><i>heads </i></b>and <b><i>hands </i></b>as the Spirit fills each of us for the Lord’s good worth through us. </span><div>
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Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-1012544814227769962015-09-15T14:14:00.000-07:002015-09-15T14:14:01.229-07:00Not Just Wheat and Grapes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyOtzpzZBPtaeOZH26Hyer0SghlY3CE41qIHe7UQnxWf7PsaKWCsqkun65y28xQUcuoP_SRJcEB6aaG0c5JynNh1HTNIlRLFmW_SIBNQQySaeUrky6PQnwCwZg_Hhku0MYuxN_JAkeeo/s1600/breadandgrapes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyOtzpzZBPtaeOZH26Hyer0SghlY3CE41qIHe7UQnxWf7PsaKWCsqkun65y28xQUcuoP_SRJcEB6aaG0c5JynNh1HTNIlRLFmW_SIBNQQySaeUrky6PQnwCwZg_Hhku0MYuxN_JAkeeo/s320/breadandgrapes.jpg" width="167" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was talking with my friend <a href="http://www.greatifiers.com/about/merlin-quiggle/" target="_blank">Merlin</a> a while back when he said something along the lines of, “I think it is significant that when Jesus instituted Communion, he used bread and wine; it requires a great deal of skillful work to make bread and wine.” I’ve been thinking about that ever since, and I think Merlin is right; there is something really significant there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I suppose Jesus could have chosen wheat and grapes, or maybe even something found in the wild. He could have made his point without any objects at all, or He could have miraculously produced the bread and wine Himself, like He had with other miracles in other circumstances before. But Jesus picked up the bread and the wine from the table that was prepared before Him, <strong>the <em>work </em>of the hands of others</strong>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> While this certainly isn’t the <em>main point</em> of Communion, I’m glad that Jesus ordained this rich <em>practice of the Gospel</em> with these objects produced by human hands. In doing so, Jesus made a profound statement about the dignity of our work.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Apart from the miraculous, I doubt Jesus could make bread or wine. He could probably apply the skills of a carpenter when needed, but the skills of a winemaker or baker were outside of His experience. In order for this Holy moment to take place, Jesus had to rely on the skill and labor of others. Skilled farmers had to produce the wheat and the grapes. Others had to prepare the raw ingredients, skillfully storing them and perhaps transporting them. And yet others had to apply the crafts they had learned, likely passed down through generations and practiced for years before perfected. Countless skilled hands, and hours of labor, were represented as Jesus took the bread and the cup in His hands. The work of hands like ours, then in the hands of Jesus, all present as Jesus taught His Disciples, as well as us followers through the ages, the glorious Gospel. <br /> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so it continues today. While I believe there is still room for the spectacularly miraculous, Jesus <strong>usually</strong> operates the same way, picking up the result of our work from the table prepared before Him. He takes it into His hands, and puts it into the work of the Gospel. We ought to consider all of our work like this. Whatever it is we work at, we should think of it as something that will ultimately be placed in the hands of Jesus for His good purpose.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-64000590301745186742015-09-12T17:38:00.002-07:002015-09-12T17:46:06.904-07:00Don’t Bother Washing Feet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the night He was betrayed, Jesus took a towel and basin and taught His Disciples a profound lesson. Before their meal, before their celebration of Passover, before He took bread and wine and said “this is My body and blood,” <b>Jesus washed feet</b>. He wanted to demonstrate that in order for His friends and followers to be great, they must be servants of all. <br /><br />It was a gross job. These feet were dirty in ways most of us could not imagine. These were feet that came out of well-worn sandals… feet that walked hot streets… streets that doubled as open sewers for both men and beasts. It was expected that feet would be washed before a meal; they were filthy and stinky… and dinner tables were much closer to the floor in those days. But foot washing was reserved for the lowliest of servants, not the Master. <br /><br />If Jesus showed up at one of our churches today, we might expect Him to want to teach the same lesson. But I doubt that Jesus would walk into the church building, grab a towel and basin, and head to the pastor’s office to wash feet. <br /><br />Some Christian traditions still do ceremonial foot washing. It can be a powerful symbol that commemorates what Jesus taught and demonstrates servant leadership; I’ve witnessed such a service a few times, and it was meaningful. But let’s face it… washing a couple of feet these days, in our culture, really isn’t that big of a deal. Most feet get washed at least once a day, and then they are placed in clean socks and clean shoes and walk relatively clean streets. There might be a bit of foot odor, but it is nothing close to what Jesus dealt with. I’ve often enjoyed stinkier cheese. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9oQWIP4L0bsV3QIVsNT8QKN-gK0czOo-k3p4GMAGQSXzfOLdb_g332FScD-UOGsra01M6Q1FfiQtly7x1SM0x5MK-VkzY2Mc5oZ0Vd_92yPNbWsv_E_HW4RtmIHIRguryOgL9zmhZV4/s1600/urinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9oQWIP4L0bsV3QIVsNT8QKN-gK0czOo-k3p4GMAGQSXzfOLdb_g332FScD-UOGsra01M6Q1FfiQtly7x1SM0x5MK-VkzY2Mc5oZ0Vd_92yPNbWsv_E_HW4RtmIHIRguryOgL9zmhZV4/s320/urinal.jpg" width="320" /></a>No… if Jesus wanted to teach a lesson about servant leadership, I think he would skip the feet; He would more likely grab the pastor and head to the men’s room. I doubt Jesus would say “let’s wash feet”; He would more likely say “let’s clean urinals.” <br /><br />Most urinals stink; in my experience, church urinals are often among the stinkiest. I’m not sure why that is. It could be that church bathrooms are often old, often cleaned by volunteers or the lowest bidder, and often left to the bottom of the list when it comes to spending money. There are many excuses when it comes to stinky urinals; I’ve heard lots of them, including: poor ventilation, old fixtures, low water pressure, or not enough urinal cakes (who decided to call them “cakes”?). <br /><br />Truth is… if urinals stink it isn’t likely due to ventilation or water pressure or urinal cakes; urinals stink because of urine. There is no quick and easy way to clean a urinal; a <i>once over</i> with Windex is a waste of time and energy. And you can’t do it from a <i>safe distance</i> with a brush on the end of a long stick. Much like washing feet in the days of Jesus, cleaning a urinal takes some expertise and it is an up-close-and-personal experience.<br /><br />Check it out on the Internet; there is a science to urinal cleaning. It usually requires at least three cleaning agents: a disinfectant for the bacteria, an acid to break the minerals, and an enzymatic to get the proteins. But if you do it right, even the stinkiest case can be conquered. <br /><br />So… for us <i>stinky urinal cleaners</i> (whether <i><b>literal </b></i>stinky fixtures or <i><b>figurative </b></i>stinky jobs), <b>take heart</b>. Do the work and learn from Jesus. Attention to such details might play a part at winning some, and will (at the very least) build our own character (the stuff theologians call sanctification). </span><br />
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Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-61909040417443115572015-06-15T17:34:00.003-07:002015-06-15T18:47:48.094-07:00There is No Try<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I listen to the Rich Eisen Show, via podcast, from time to time. Last week <a href="http://www.richeisenshow.com/2015/06/09/david-feherty-of-cbs-sports-on-tiger-woods-struggles-6915/">David Feherty called into the show</a> and Rich asked him “what happened to Tiger?” His response is worth a listen, <a href="http://www.richeisenshow.com/2015/06/09/david-feherty-of-cbs-sports-on-tiger-woods-struggles-6915/">available here</a>. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASActvWr7gilpl9dVDut-TvsRNANAn7zye0n7kzF3oCG_PlDJokKcctceFizXjSn7lmvvU4K4cdtP5QjwtodOXlk7urQ03xc3wB50bmhHrZyYohCO5f2N58YYdUDt0bAL3cd4Bah2pb4/s1600/feherty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASActvWr7gilpl9dVDut-TvsRNANAn7zye0n7kzF3oCG_PlDJokKcctceFizXjSn7lmvvU4K4cdtP5QjwtodOXlk7urQ03xc3wB50bmhHrZyYohCO5f2N58YYdUDt0bAL3cd4Bah2pb4/s200/feherty.jpg" width="200" /></a>Feherty’s answer sounded like Yoda (except with Feherty’s cool Irish accent); essentially he said, “<a href="https://youtu.be/BQ4yd2W50No">Do. Or do not. There is no try</a>.” Feherty wondered if Tiger’s anxiety had become too precious to him… that these day’s he is <b><i>trying</i></b> to make good golf shots. In the days when Tiger Woods was winning the US Open by 15 shots, he <b>just <i>did </i>it</b>. <br /><br />That really resonates with me. There have been seasons and roles in my life when I have had a <b><i>do </i></b>approach; and other seasons and roles when I have had a <b><i>try </i></b>approach. Without question, the most fulfilling and successful results have come when I have been more of a <b><i>doer </i></b>than a <b><i>trier</i></b>. <br /><br />So I am <i>taking inventory</i>, separating various roles, responsibilities, and activities into the <b><i>try </i></b>category or the <b><i>do </i></b>category. For those in the <b><i>try </i></b>category, I’m wondering if I can just stop. If I can’t, then I am working to move those from the <b><i>try </i></b>category to the <b><i>do </i></b>category. That may mean reframing the work, or resetting expectations. It could mean shuffling roles and responsibilities with others (delegating and such). And it likely includes learning new skills and building new systems and approaches. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Knowing that I am far more productive with a <b><i>do </i></b>approach than a <b><i>try </i></b>approach, I’m intent on not wasting my efforts on <b><i>try</i></b>; I’m going to <b><i>do</i></b>. </span></div>
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Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-39851413324987824282015-05-17T19:11:00.001-07:002015-05-17T19:19:10.575-07:00Demise of Aspirational Chiristians<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Perhaps you saw the headlines last week that were based on a </span><a href="http://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">study released by the Pew Research Center</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. Among the headlines were included:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.seattlepi.com/news/us/article/Study-Americans-becoming-less-Christian-more-6256755.php" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Study: Americans becoming less Christian, more secular</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/americans-christian-atheist-agnostic-survey-article-1.2219229" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Americans are less Christian, more atheist and agnostic: Pew survey</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2pzbui" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pew Poll: Sharp Decline In Christian US Population</a></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The headlines and short news stories could lead us to a misunderstanding. I doubt that most reporters read the </span><a href="http://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">200 page report</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> released Tuesday… possibly not even the 7 page executive summary. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Basically the report said that in 2007 most Americans described themselves as Christian, and in 2014 most Americans described themselves as Christian. Not really much news there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With that said, most news reports had it right on a few key points:</span><br />
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The declining numbers were mostly among Catholics and Mainline Protestants, and </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The declining numbers were mostly among young people. </span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christians of my ilk, described as Protestant Evangelicals in the study, pretty much held steady as a portion of the population… moving from 26.3% to 25.4% of the population. Numerically, we actually grew by a few million people in that period… but we are lagging behind population growth. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But when added all together, those who call ourselves Christian dropped from 78.4% in 2007 to 70.6% now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It isn’t because people are becoming something else. Muslims, for example, were less than 1% in 2007 and remain less than 1% today. No, the most significant change is among those classified by the Pew Research Center as <i><b>unaffiliated</b></i>. This is a matter of the rise of the <i><b>nones</b></i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It appears that those who might have been considered as nominal Christians, are now just calling themselves “none of the above”… they are self-described <b><i>nones </i></b>(not even agnostic or atheist… just none). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Commenting on the Pew study, </span><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/16/living/christianity-american-dead" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ed Stezer puts it this way</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It's helpful to statistically clarify Christianity in the United States into three categories—cultural, congregational, and convictional. The first two categories are nominal Christians—they identify, but do not shape their lives around the Christian faith.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It appears that there is less of an impulse to identify oneself as Christian in the cultural or congregational sense these days; there is less current motivation in our culture to be a nominal (in name only) Christian. This is especially true among Millennials, young people, the culture that identifies strongly with being genuine. Their high value of authenticity and integrity will not allow them to adopt a Christian label if it does not truly represent their beliefs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For folks like me who are solidly in the camp of <i>convictional </i>Christians, we might not be all that concerned with the decline of <i>nominal </i>Christians. Maybe it is a good thing, since one could conclude that genuine Christianity is being clarified… clear lines are being drawn and people are being called to choose. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But what if we changed the nomenclature just a bit. What if rather than calling the <i>less-than-convictional</i> <b>nominal</b>, we referred to them as <b><i>aspirational</i></b>? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In generations past, when people were glad to bear the label Christian while not necessarily being a <i>convictional </i>Christian, it seems that people were still <i>aspirational </i>Christians. They were glad to be part of a Christian culture. They were glad to have our collective values and morals grounded in Christian faith, even if that faith was the faith of others. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But today’s <b><i>nones </i></b>are making a statement; they are no longer ambivalent, but rather are saying <b>no </b>to Christianity. They appear to be determining that there is a better place to root our culture’s values and morals. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And if that is not a significant enough shift in cultural thinking, consider this: it appears that many Christians agree with the <b><i>nones</i></b>. Lots of Christians agree that our culture should find our values and morals in foundations other than our faith… such as humanism, science, or economics. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The erosion of <i>nominal </i>Christianity doesn’t concern me much… but the erosion of <b><i>aspirational </i></b>Christianity seems to be another significant symptom of a crumbling culture.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The above was adapted from a message I brought to Pleasant Bay Church this morning. It is part of our current series (Jesus said what?), this sermon from Luke 21 where Jesus said "everyone will hate you." You can hear it at <a href="http://pleasantbay.cedarpark.org/services">http://pleasantbay.cedarpark.org/services</a></span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-91912226017531168412015-05-14T18:57:00.001-07:002015-05-14T20:32:46.592-07:00RSVP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I generally reply to everything… and if I don’t, I at least feel guilty about it. I’m not motivated by guilt about many things, but my habit of replying to emails, voicemails, texts and such, is driven by the nagging guilt that would otherwise haunt me. <br /><br />I know that not <i>everyone </i>is driven the same way… evidenced by the replies I would like to receive but would <i>grow old waiting for</i> from friends, family, and colleagues (and, especially, sons). <br /><br />I’ve noticed that I’m more compelled to respond to some categories than others. On one end of the scale is my wife Laurie; regardless of the medium, she will always get a reply ASAP. On the other end of the scale are strangers wanting to sell me something; I’ve never felt compelled to return a call or message from an unsolicited salesperson. <br /><br />When it comes to the medium, I think some carry more of an expectation of a reply than others. When coming from someone I know, I think an email or a voicemail demands a reply… but I think replies are <b><i>optional </i></b>when it comes to text messages, or any other direct messages via Facebook, Twitter, or other social media. <br /><br />I think I have irritated a few folks with this policy, especially when it comes to <b>texts</b>. I think of texts as a personal, in-the-moment medium (not synchronous, not asynchronous… <b><i>near synchronous</i></b>), so if I either can’t or don’t want to reply immediately, I generally don’t; I rarely bother reading or responding to texts that are more than 5 minutes old. I tell people that if they really expect or need a response, then email is a much better option, at least for me. <br /><br />Am I wrong about that? <br /><br />To test my position, I put together a <i>quick-and-dirty</i> survey; you can <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5C8FPMN">take it yourself on SurveyMonkey here</a> (it generally takes about 90 seconds to complete). It is, of course, not a scientific survey. Mostly because the responses have come from an email I sent to my church friends, and those who saw my post on Facebook and Twitter. So… the responses are mostly from:</span><br />
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My friends... people like me, around my age, with similar experience and worldviews, and </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">People who are generally responsive (they went to the trouble to respond to the survey). </span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Nevertheless… I was interested in the responses, which included:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For people that they know, people say that they always or usually reply 90% of the time to phone/vmail, email, and text. Their inclination to reply to Facebook or Twitter messages lags far behind. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For people that they don’t know, people say that they always or usually reply to phone/vmail, and email 25% of the time, and texts 20% of the time. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">People prefer email, by far, for work/school business. Only a few seem to think texts are acceptable for work/school business. Nobody thinks business should be conducted on Facebook or Twitter. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Texts scored very high for communication with friends and family, outscoring phone/vmail by a bit, and other media by a lot.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Email is the preferred medium when it comes to detailed questions or updates. Nobody likes text for details, and folk seem to prefer email over phone/vmail when it comes details as well. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When it comes to quick questions, there was a pronounced preference for texts. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />So… I think I can stick with my premise that text is a personal, in-the-moment medium. If I can respond right away, I should. I’m still thinking about whether I should feel obligated to deal with stale texts. <br /><br />One other observation, I was surprised how email outscored phone/vmail by such a large margin when it came to work/school, detailed questions, and detailed updates. Verbal communication is, of course, important… but it appears that the ability to write continues to be vital… possibly even more vital than ever before. <br /><br />Take the survey (<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5C8FPMN">click here</a>) and build out my data… and, as always, I’d appreciate your feedback. </span></div>
Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-51983895746103287422015-05-05T12:14:00.002-07:002015-05-05T16:31:25.590-07:00Seriously<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Friends and colleagues have heard me say this from time to time: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I take my work seriously… but I don't take myself too seriously. </b></span><br /><br />Take your work seriously. <br />Take God very seriously.<br />But don't take yourself too seriously. <br /><br />I think that attitude served me well again recently. <br /><br />I had opportunity to serve my church family last week, the <a href="http://www.nwministry.com/" target="_blank">Northwest Ministry Network</a>, as chair of the Resolutions Team. I led a great team of twelve, wrote a bunch of whereas-and-therefore-be-it-resolved statements, walked leaders through our work, and presented the materials to our Network as part of last week’s annual business meeting. Pretty <i>nerdy </i>work... I’m a bit of a governance wonk, so I presided as <b><i>King of the Nerds</i></b>. All of our work was passed without amendment. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was surprised by how much feedback I received (all positive) in the days that followed. Most expressed appreciation for the competence of our work; <b>all </b>appreciated the presentation. Business like this, changing bylaws and such, can be both dull and tense. Around my presentation of resolution 3 of 8, it seemed like it was time to lighten things up, cutting the tension for a few and shaking up the potential boredom for many. I did not break into a standup comedy routine, or <i>yuk it up</i> too much… I merely applied a few witticisms and lightened my tone. <br /><br />We came <i>with our bags packed</i>, our work was solid and I knew it well, ready to present the issues and respond to questions. We had taken the work seriously. But I think it was important to balance the seriousness of the work by demonstrating that we didn’t take ourselves too seriously. I think it put people at ease, making ourselves approachable, welcoming comment and even critique; all in all, I think the balance served to build trust. <br /><br />Humor is a powerful tool… an <i>ingredient </i>like any other. Just the right amount results in something delicious… too much and the cake is ruined. Like I baker, I have <i>learned the hard way </i>more than once, ruining the cake with a haphazard approach, dumping too much humor into the batch. And I’m sure I will end up tossing out a few more cakes down the road. But last week it appears that I baked a pretty good cake. <br /><br />And don’t worry, I won’t let that bit of success lead me to taking myself too seriously. </span></div>
Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-81628393592314440812015-04-28T16:30:00.000-07:002015-04-28T16:30:01.197-07:00We Are the Network<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was my honor to be among the speakers at the <a href="http://www.nwministry.com/resources/annual-conference-2015/speakers.html" target="_blank">Northwest Ministry Network's</a> Annual Conference today. Here is my manuscript: </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have been asked to remind us about a great way we worked together as a Network about a year ago… a time when we ministers and churches demonstrated that <b>we are the Network</b>. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One way to think of life<i> with Jesus </i>is to think in terms of being a Disciple (a capital D, one of the 12 kind). I would have been bad at it. I’m a task-driven, agenda guy. Schedules and charts and spreadsheets and checklists are my friends. So… walking with Jesus and His Disciples could have been a pretty frustrating experience for me, since walking with Jesus seemed to be characterized by interruptions, uncertainty, obstacles, surprises, and need. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If one was going to be with Jesus, you would have to be ready for Him to respond to need. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And so it goes… if we are going to be with Jesus, we have to be ready for Him to respond to need with and through us. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We had one of those opportunities last year with the Oso Slide. I didn’t even know there was an Oso until the news reports began to stream in that Saturday morning. Sunday morning came, and all we could do was pray. Rescue efforts were still underway and the impact was only beginning to be measured. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The following Wednesday morning, as I was prepping for Sunday, it occurred to me that nobody had told me what we were doing yet. One of the great things about being part of the Assemblies of God and the Northwest Ministry Network is that we routinely get direction and resources when disaster strikes. Whether it is the Network, or Convoy of Hope, or AG World Missions… when something like this happens we don’t usually have to wonder what to do; there is an email with directions and links to resources. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So I started to track down my friends at the Network… and as I started an email I experienced one of those Holy Spirit moments. It was a question that went something like, “Are you ready to step up and help?” </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I heard back pretty quickly. Network leaders had determined the best thing we could do was get cash in the hands of our churches already responding on both sides of the slide: Arlington and Darrington. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our Network leaders had determined what we would do, but not yet how we would go about doing it. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So I asked them to <i><b>deputize </b></i>me. With their blessing I cleared my schedule and got to work.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It seemed like video would be handy, so I asked <a href="http://www.greatifiers.com/about/merlin-quiggle/" target="_blank">my friend and business partner Merlin Quiggle </a>to help; we do some <i>pro bono</i> work from time to time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We were able to line up the pastors on both sides for Thursday, Bill in Arlington in the morning and Les in Darrington in the afternoon. We captured their stories, how our church in Arlington was serving as a base of operations supporting the efforts in Oso and how our church in Darrington was really on the frontlines, not only supporting the work in Oso but dealing with Darrington’s own problems now that their only route directly west was cutoff. Both churches were doing meaningful work; it was easy to see that any support we could get into their hands would make a real difference. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By Friday morning we had:</span><div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A website </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">V</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ideo ready to be downloaded </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Instructions, and </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Online and text-to-give options ready to go (thanks to Greg Stern)</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By noon an email went out from the Network and we started to spread the word via social media.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I hoped we could raise $100,000 together by last year’s Annual Conference. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I know churches used the materials in a number of different ways. Some went with the program, showed the video, received an offering, and sent it to the Network Office. Others used chunks of the video, or added to it. Some didn’t use it at all, but watched it to inform their own approach. Some sent gifts directly to the churches, knocking out the middleman. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When it was all added together, we broke through that $100,000 mark in the days just before Annual Conference. Every dollar given was funneled to our churches. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think we did a great thing together as a Network. The initiative of our leaders, the churches on the frontlines, and the members of our Network came together with Jesus to meet human need. That’s how we roll; I’m glad to be part of this expression of the Body of Christ. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here’s the <b><i>takeaway </i></b>I would like us to consider today: what more can we do together? As we are walking with Jesus, let’s be on the lookout for ways that Jesus can work with and through us, together, to meet needs. We do not walk alone. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let’s remember that we walk together… and when opportunity arises for us to serve together, let’s do that. When we can pull together as an area or region or Network, let’s meet needs together. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And let’s not wait around for direction from the Network; we are the Network. When we see opportunities to serve together we need to pull the Network in, and we need to be ready to act… to help, serve, and possibly even lead. We each have unique perspective and resources; when Networked together we are strong. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are strong when we are bound together by relationship, and doctrine, and style, and geography… but I think we might be strongest when we are bound together by service… the Network working together with Jesus, proclaiming the Gospel and reaching out in acts of love, charity, and compassion in our communities and the world. We are the Network. </span><br /></div>
Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-74723200363788048622015-04-22T13:27:00.002-07:002015-04-22T13:35:29.105-07:00I Could Have Told You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">People who have worked with me know that the one thing you can say to me that may lead to a parting of our ways is, “I could have told you.” If we find ourselves in trouble, or with some mess on our hands, the last thing I want to hear from someone on the team is, “Well… I could have told you so.” It is as if they are saying, “I knew you couldn’t handle the truth.” I can handle the truth. And if for some reason I can’t, let that be my problem. <br /><br />What I want is people to<b><i> tell me</i></b>. I’ve always strived to nurture a<b><i> truth-telling </i>culture</b>. If you see something, say something. I may not agree, or I may be too stubborn or dumb to realize it really is the truth, but I want to hear it. And I want to hear it early enough so that by taking that perspective into consideration, we might be able to save ourselves pain and suffering down the road. So, don’t ever tell me “you could have told me”; just tell me. <br /><br />Now there are those who with hindsight overestimate their ability to see the truth early. And there are those who lack the courage to speak up. In both cases I don’t want to hear “I could have told you so” either. It simply isn’t helpful. If you think it somehow elevates our perception of you, knowing that you secretly knew all along… you are wrong. <br /><br />I’ve always tried to be a truth-teller. It has generally served me pretty well… certainly not always, but usually, and I’m able to sleep at night. As the famous scene depicts, some people can’t handle the truth. I would usually rather suffer for being truthful, than suffering with the truth. <br /><br />There have been a few times I can recall when I’ve overestimated the relationship and shared a perspective that was not welcomed or appreciated. I had one of those times relatively recently. I saw a post on social media that I knew could be misinterpreted and would likely come back to bite the author. So I endeavored to give my new friend a <i>heads up</i>… in a pretty low-key way, I shared some perspective (arguably <i>expert </i>perspective in this case since it was well inside my field); I shared it directly (not in a retweet or Facebook comment). I don’t make a habit of this, but I have done it a few times that were gratefully receive. In this case, the author wisely pulled the post… but also responded with a short tirade about not appreciating the <i>policing</i>. It got me <i>unfriended</i>. I’m glad the author pulled the post because I think it would have likely resulted in trouble for their job and the organization… but I regret that I overestimated the relationship. I’m still not sure what I should have done differently, but I wish it had not resulted in dinging the relationship. <br /><br />I want to continue to be better at handling the truth. Both as one receiving the truth and as one telling the truth. <br /><br />There is a good article about nurturing a truth-telling culture (or dealing with a “yes-person” problem) currently on Fast Company; check it out by <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3045049/work-smart/how-to-get-people-to-disagree-with-your-ideas">clicking here</a>. </span>Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-23741005199140839962015-04-20T10:45:00.000-07:002015-04-20T10:45:14.617-07:00Advertising Does Not Replace Selling<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been doing advertising in one way or another all of my adult life… come to think of it, I started before I was an adult, putting together the advertising pages in my middle school yearbook. <br /><br />Usually people come to me with adverting projects for the right reasons, such as:</span><div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Opening Doors</b> – An ad campaign can help us get an appointment with customers; they might take our call as a result of a good ad. </span><a href="http://www.greatifiers.com/index.php?cID=83" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My friend Merlin</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> describes an ad campaign as artillery softening the front lines so the infantry can charge in and win the battle. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Generating Inquiries</b> – Good ads might get someone to visit a web site, make a call, or even stop by the store; an ad will seldom close the sale, but it might get a customer to take a next step in the right direction. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Expanding and Solidifying the Brand</b> – Ads often do the most good with our current customers; and ad can help keep them as a customer or give them information about other products within our brand that they might consider. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But sometimes I get into a conversation with someone looking for help with advertising and I realize that what they really want is to not be bothered with all the pesky work of <b><i>selling</i></b>. They hope that an ad will do work instead so that they don’t have to personally ask for the business or close the deal. <br /><br />I have even had folks explain to me that they need a good ad campaign because their sales force is too busy (as if the ads will do the selling). If you're too busy selling, you don’t need an ad; you need a bigger sales force. The whole point of an ad is to make your sales force busy. <br /><br />While I don’t think of growing a <b>church </b>in terms of <i>selling</i>, many of the same principles apply. No ad will replace the work of people personally sharing their faith and inviting people to church. Ads can certainly be part of the process (opening doors, generating inquiries, expanding and solidifying the brand), but an ad campaign alone will not grow the church. People vibrantly living and sharing their faith is how the church grows. <br /></span><br /> </div>
Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-50671610871616173452015-04-17T08:23:00.002-07:002015-04-17T08:24:53.818-07:00On Sundays I’m in the News Business<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ll wear a suit and tie this Sunday, like I do most Sundays. <br /><br />That will put me in the minority among pastors of my ilk (evangelical types in Greater Seattle). My suit isn’t a statement, but I do think about it; it is a choice. <br /><br />Please allow me to say that I don’t have a problem, at all, with the choices other pastors make in this regard. I don’t have a dress code for other pastors on our staff, and when guests fill our pulpit I never specify directions; I’m glad they are comfortable and warmly received however they are dressed. <br /><br />In fact, those pastors wearing designer jeans and stylish, untucked shirts this Sunday are probably making the better decision. Most of their churches are larger than the congregation at <a href="http://pleasantbay.cedarpark.org/" target="_blank">Pleasant Bay</a>. I probably ought to be taking more than just wardrobe advice from them. <br /><br />From time to time I’ve wondered where I should find my styling cues. <br /><br />Should it be the entertainment industry? A lot of what I do on Sunday is like an entertainer, on a stage, singing and telling a few jokes. <br /><br />Should it be business? And if it is business, should it be like the lawyers and bankers in Seattle, or the <i>techies </i>in Redmond?<br /><br />Maybe I should just match what I see out in the marketplace… taking a clue from what I see at <a href="http://bellevuesquare.com/">Bellevue Square</a> or <a href="http://www.alderwoodmall.com/">Alderwood Mall</a>. <br /><br />I have determined not to approach my work on Sunday’s as if I am in the <b>entertainment </b>business; on Sundays I’m in the <b>news </b>business (or more accurately the <i>Good News</i> business). I’ve determined that among the various roles in our culture, and the corresponding wardrobe choices, I’m most like a news anchor.<br /><br />In a news cast, there are voices other than the anchor, and other approaches to wardrobe suited for various roles. But the anchor (when the anchor is a man) wears a suit and tie. It is so normal that it has become invisible to us; we don't notice Lester Holt's suit, but we would certainly notice if he wore anything else.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4DaeJq2rHWR_7hNhb8s5fp0zNtIezkx_tsnoYp-g5VhwC1WS4LCzNWgRr7aKipqxdTdKyl-V6Uloh2wRY-jewQWFIrh18cSbDi8cAwigDW1T1iKfLy2-cPXX85V_AL7bGrZ0aZTcTO-Y/s1600/tonight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4DaeJq2rHWR_7hNhb8s5fp0zNtIezkx_tsnoYp-g5VhwC1WS4LCzNWgRr7aKipqxdTdKyl-V6Uloh2wRY-jewQWFIrh18cSbDi8cAwigDW1T1iKfLy2-cPXX85V_AL7bGrZ0aZTcTO-Y/s1600/tonight.jpg" /></a>It is interesting that Fallon, Kimmel, and Stewart make the same choice. <br /><br />We accept the suit and tie as the uniform for one who is ready for business, anchoring the presentation, and delivering the message. <br /><br />On Sundays, that works for me. If it works for the news in our culture, I think it works for the Good News too. <br /><br /> </span>Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-75106358564572395162015-04-16T10:00:00.001-07:002015-04-16T10:00:04.833-07:00The Alternative to Tradition: Bad Tradition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s funny. At least from my observation it seems that some of the most vocal opponents of <b><i>religion </i></b>are quick to establish their own. They may not call it religion, but we routinely make religions. We find ourselves frustrated with religion so we launch out and do our own thing, establishing our own ways and orders of things and styles… and before we know it we’re religious again.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkpzehsGdQ1t7rBjiSzrvQOIB2C0igtXZuunq1ILjCw04nCWDtraL-Ri9fH8qAdscMCJwCKOeH9GRWNi3Y78Tc-i7W7efc61yHMZjvTez-jrB29UGL9XXFGwcXJtv0a-UuaUA0DNvb3M/s1600/j1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkpzehsGdQ1t7rBjiSzrvQOIB2C0igtXZuunq1ILjCw04nCWDtraL-Ri9fH8qAdscMCJwCKOeH9GRWNi3Y78Tc-i7W7efc61yHMZjvTez-jrB29UGL9XXFGwcXJtv0a-UuaUA0DNvb3M/s1600/j1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>It puts me in mind of one of my favorite quotes: “The only alternative to tradition is bad tradition.” <a href="http://www.onbeing.org/program/need-creeds/211">I heard Jaroslav Pelikan say that in an interview</a> a few years before he died. Dr. Pelikan was a professor at Yale, a historical theologian who has written the definitive academic volumes on the development of Christian creeds. <br /><br />He said “tradition” but he could have said “religion” just as easily; he was speaking of Christian tradition/religion through the centuries. <br /><br />His point goes to what I said before, we are wired to make traditions and religions. There is really no such thing as no tradition or no religion… just <i>inferior versions</i> of tradition and religion. <br /><br />While we are on Pelikan, here’s another famous quote:<br /><br />"<b>Tradition is the living faith of the dead; traditionalism is the dead faith of the living.</b> Tradition lives in conversation with the past, while remembering where we are and when we are and that it is we who have to decide. Traditionalism supposes that nothing should ever be done for the first time, so all that is needed to solve any problem is to arrive at the supposedly unanimous testimony of this homogenized tradition."<br /><br />So if you agree with me that there is good religion and bad religion, good tradition and bad tradition, tradition and traditionalism (as I think Isaiah did)… then we could look to Isaiah 58 for an understanding of the difference. We can look to Isaiah in pursuit of good religion and tradition. Check out what I had to say along these lines, from Isaiah 58 here:<br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://pleasantbay.cedarpark.org/services/2015/0201/150201.mp3" target="_blank">Audio>>></a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://pleasantbay.cedarpark.org/services/2015/0201/notes.pdf" target="_blank">Notes>>></a> </span></div>
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Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458036031731635659.post-57403958810205087012015-04-11T17:41:00.001-07:002015-04-11T17:41:40.286-07:00The Power to Overlook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It seems to me that some of the happiest people appear to have powerful abilities to overlook. It may be that they are oblivious or blissfully ignorant… literally not seeing the faults in others; one cannot be <i>bothered </i>by what one does not see. <i>Could be</i>… but I think it is something more noble. <br /><br />It seems to me that some of the happiest people <b><i>chose </i></b>to overlook. They chose to not see minor offenses. They accommodate faults. With them, there is abundant mercy and grace. <br /><br />A study of <i>conflict resolution</i> reveals a range of activities. On one end of the scale is the sort of conflict resolution that requires professionals, the sorts of things that require lawyers and courts, or possibly professional mediators or arbitrators. On the other end of the scale is <b><i>overlooking</i></b>. The ability to overlook is the <i>frontline </i>of conflict resolution… when the conflict and the resolution occur near simultaneously, and the conflict is resolved all on the part of the <i>overlooker</i>. <br /><br />There is a lot of power in the ability to overlook, or put another way… <b>we should not overlook the power to overlook</b>. <br /><br />If we are going to be in any sort of relationship, we simply must determine to overlook. Whether it is a close personal relationship, a professional relationship, a distant relationship, or even a relationship with an organization, nobody is perfect. There are tradeoffs. We take the good with the bad, enjoying the <i>meat </i>and <i>spitting out the bones</i>. <br /><br />We overlook the small stuff because we choose to see something more important, possibly even in the distance. We remember that small things can obscure big things. Like our tiny moon can occasionally eclipse our enormous sun, the small things we bring close to our view can block our sight of the bigger, better, more important things beyond. <br /><br />Overlooking certainly does not fit every situation; it can be abused. I’m not suggesting that we allow ourselves to be <i>doormats</i>. But in cases where we <i><b>can </b></i>overlook, I’m suggesting that we <i><b>should</b></i>. Overlooking is not powerlessness, it is taking up our power and using it by determining to overlook. <br /><br />The power to overlook is especially helpful to the <i><b>hyperaware</b></i>. Some of us simply see more details than others, quickly noticing what others may not ever see. For some, we are hyperaware about most everything, others are hyperaware along specific categories (maybe an area of expertise, or a particular sense). Without developing a high capacity to overlook, the hyperaware can be among the grumpiest, most miserable people among us. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Would you like more <b>happiness </b>in your life? Perhaps we can make a little more space for overlooking. Chose to overlook. </span></div>
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Dan Nearyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554957406360808475noreply@blogger.com0