Let’s CHAT

Our church is beginning this week to take the Church Health Assessment Test (CHAT) over on Healthychurch.net.   We are looking forward to seeing the responses of leadership and the congregation and understanding where we are and where we discern the Lord leading us to go as a body of believers.

I like what Rick says here that CHAT will give us ACCURATE INFORMATION and we add the PRAYERFUL DISCERNMENT and the end result will be CLARITY which I think any church now days would welcome.

I’ll keep you posted on the results and the process.

Memorial Day–Remembering Those Who Gave

We received a message this morning from our local Boy Scout troops they were needing locals to come and help place flags on the graves of those who have served in the military to honor them on Memorial Day.  This is something I’ve always thought about doing–and so this morning we did.  Diane and I headed out, puppies in tow, to help at Hillside and Snyder Cemetery

Walking among all of those graves I recognized some prominent family names around here:  Cogdell, Stinson, Sears, Towle are some of the families that have lived here a long time.  Some of them had sons who served in the military and gave their all.   

I came across graves from 1950 (Korean War) and World War II and many who served but lived long past the conflicts.  My own father served in World War II (but the only insignia on his grave is a small chaplains cross) and Diane’s dad is buried in a National Cemetery.  So, I had the feeling that I was honoring their service too as I walked among the locals.

Have you ever done this on Memorial Day?

Remembering The Reason For Memorial Day

Just a reminder why we are given the day to remember

Creative Church Stage Designs

I’ve found a new website for stage designs which gives me some great ideas for future sets. These are simple designs by local churches.

I love the creativity here (some simple as inspiration from a rug at Lowes) Some use fabric or coroplast circles. Dig into this site and see what you can find.

Other sites: Productionmusings.com

Getting Older In Leadership

I heard this bit of information the other day while on the SAGE conference (webinar) produced by the LEADERSHIP NETWORK (5/19/10) and I thought it was an interesting topic to explore about LEADERSHIP.

I don’t even remember which speaker spoke about this but he was talking about the fact (undeniable) that leadership ages year after year.  As we all know situations around us are changing with the times (economic, political, social, religious, values, etc) and that each year leadership faces the challenge of staying “up with the times” or “relevant” as the new buzz word says.

The speaker talked about leaders who tried to keep the same “persona” that they had while they were young and that as they aged they couldn’t see themselves any other way.  It almost becomes a farce to see these leaders who are stuck in the past and can’t adapt.

But as sad as it is to see those stuck is to see those who try to be something they are not in order to be relevant.

He then referred to The William Shatner Effect (nod to SAGE conference on 5/19/10). We all know William Shatner (if not for STAR TREK then this generation will certainly know him from his PRICELINE ads).  Shatner has been a star on the scene since the late 50′s and he’s a person who has learned to adapt.

The speaker talked about two things that have made Shatner a player in today’s game.

1.Shatner let go of who he was.  He’s no longer Captain Kirk.  He’s given that role off to another generation and he’s taken on roles that almost are the opposite of Kirk with his zany lawyer role on a recent sitcom.  This, the speaker said, was Shatner’s genius in that he no longer took himself so seriously and gripped to his past accomplishments in order to feel relevant.  Shatner’s adaptability is something to emulate for leaders who are growing older.  Don’t hold on to who you were–but hold on to who you are and let that be expressed in current terms, within the scope of your situation.

That’s true for me as a worship leader.  I can not rock the look of a “castro hat, white belt, tight jeans and Abercrombie shirt” worship leader.  It would be almost comical for me to pull that off as “the new me”.  However, I can be aware of culture and how certain things that are essentially me can be expressed in “current” terms.  I must be about that in order to stay up in leadership.

2. Shatner has matured not turned old.  Shatner has allowed his character(s) to express who he is right now.  His roles and visibility are the essence of who he is right now, not the gold shirt wearing Captain of the Enterprise.   He is “relevant” because of his presence in the “now” and not the “back then ” (man, that’s a lot of quotations in this post!”)

A leader must define his current reality and let his skills and sets be expressed within that realm.  In that regard it is difficult to stay up with all of the changes in technology and things–but if you want to stay a leader you must stay sharp.  Knowledge is never ending and I’m surprised at leaders who just stop growing.  I hope I never get that way.

So, what do you think of the William Shatner Effect in leadership?

This might lead to a whole set of posts on TV CHARACTER LEADERSHIP (aka…The Andy Griffith Effect, The Jethro Bodine Effect.. )

The Skinny On Worship–See If You’re Here!

Well, it’s always fun to “laugh” at ourselves and how seriously we take the topic of worship. See if any of these tickle you!  

As I always say–there’s truth in humor

The Tangible Kingdom

I’m kind of late to the game on this book. About a year ago I heard the buzz about it, but just now have cracked the cover on it and boy can I tell you that in the first 30 pages I tagged something about every third paragraph. There’s just something when you see something in writing that has been rambling around in your mind and heart. I’m afraid I know how this will end–it will be another book to “ruin” me to status quo in the local church.  I won’t ever be the same again.

I’ll keep you posted as I go and as I delve into the issues and statements that I read. All those that I’ve already marked are worthy of individual blogs and posts here. I’ll try not to overwhelm you with all of my gleanings.

You can download 16 pages of the book here and read it for yourself.

What A Healthy Church Looks Like!- CrossPoint Nashville

As we study healthy churches in the New Testament and in context of today’s church culture, I thought I’d point to one real life example of a healthy church.  God is blessing them richly.


CrossPoint church is a 7 year old church plant in the heart of Nashville. They have 3 satellite campuses (Dickson, North and Bellevue) and have exploded in growth.  They meet most if not all of the 10 Characteristics of A Healthy Church.


1. God’s Empowering Presence–I’ve been here in their worship services and it’s true. The feeling of God’s life changing power is in the music, in the elements and in the teaching of Pete Wilson.  They are constantly baptizing people and are having life change happen before their very eyes.
2. God-Exalting Worship--ditto…everything points to the Father.

3-Spiritual Disciplines –they are constantly urging their people to practice the disciplines of a spiritual life (prayer, fasting, scripture memory, bible study, journaling..etc)

4-Learning and Growing in Community –they are continually adding small groups and community groups to their body. They state that this is the heart of CrossPoint. It shows when 600 new people sign up for community groups in one Sunday

5-A Commitment to Loving and Caring Relationships–countless stories of people walking with other people through lifes situations (the Nashville flood recently highlighted the work of the Holy Spirit through Cross Point)
6-Servant‐Leadership Development –this is refreshing as I find that their staff is TEAM ORIENTED and leadership is shared across the organization—very different!
 7-An Outward Focus–again, when the Nashville flood hit, there was no question “if” but “when and where” CrossPoint would jump in.  It was immediate and was noticed.  They operate a shelter in downtown Nashville and continually have community service days for their congregation.
 8-Wise Administration and Accountability -led by capable Elders and staff their structure is sound
 9-Networking with the Body of Christ —they are constantly networking across the country and around the globe to impact the world. They have works in Dominican Republic and India. Their networking capabilities brought in workers for flood relief from across the country.
 10-Stewardship and Generosity— constantly teaching about the meaning of stewardship and generous giving, the people of Cross Point are amazing in this area.


I guess for me as we look at BECOMING A HEALTY CHURCH it’s good to find examples to look out, not to compare ourselves to, but to say “IT CAN BE DONE!”  Thanks CrossPoint for showing the way.

Giving God Your "Yes"

Kyle Goen | April 19, 2009 Testimony from LifePoint Church on Vimeo.

I’m excited that this week in Worship we will focus on the country of Belgium.  My good friend, Kyle Goen, who is Executive Pastor at LifePoint Church in Smyrna, Tennessee has surrendered to a call to go and plant churches in Belgium.

Listen to Kyle as he tells how he came to this decision.  Knowing Kyle, this is a huge step in his life and the life of his family.  Kyle served at FBC Venus (not the planet–the town near Fort Worth) while I served in Alvarado in the early 90′s.  We both knew each other pre-children days and shared some great ministry times together at church camps and events.  Our friendship has carried across the years.

Pray for the Belgium Team from LifePoint that will go and start a work there later this year and into 2011.

Is your “Yes” on the line?

Other articles:  A Church’s Call To Belgium
                       God’s Call To Belgium
                        Asking Questions

Characteristics of A Healthy Church

This week our church begins a series and emphasis on BECOMING A HEALTHY CHURCH.  We are not alone in this arena.  I read over the weekend where 82% of the churches in America are plateaued or declining and are in need of some close inspection as to “why” the church isn’t thriving.

I suspect that we’ll find over the course of the 12-15 weeks we’ll spend on this that most of it is a spiritual condition, but human events and fingerprints on our condition will be noticed and evidenced.  It can’t be helped because the church is made up of people.

We’re taking a survey of leadership and the congregation at healthychurch.net and it’s grading us in the areas of 10 Characteristics.  These characteristics were noted in a group of healthy churches; regardless of size, style, preference or locale.  All of them were thriving healthy churches.  Just think of it like a baseline exam that you get from your Doctor.  It tells you where you are now (not necessarily what got you there–although you probably have a pretty good idea already) and it tells you where you need to go to become healthy.

Here are the characteristics listed:

Characteristic 1-God’s Empowering Presence 

Characteristic 2-God‐Exalting Worship
Characteristic 3-Spiritual Disciplines
Characteristic 4-Learning and Growing in Community
Characteristic 5-A Commitment to Loving and Caring Relationships
Characteristic 6-Servant‐Leadership Development
Characteristic 7-An Outward Focus
Characteristic 8-Wise Administration and Accountability
Characteristic 9-Networking with the Body of Christ
Characteristic 10-Stewardship and Generosity

Over the next few months you’ll see lots of posts about this effort.  I hope you’ll share your experiences in becoming healthy and also in helping the church become “what she was created to be–the BRIDE OF CHRIST–given to show HIS GLORY!”

You can also read a portion of the book that formed the basis of this survey here.