burb missionary

This evening our family went to visit our church's new location. We're in a school right now and are going to lease 6,700 sq ft of a strip mall. I've always had a missionary mindset. I dig the whole PDC thing...Find a target group and strategize how to reach them for Christ.

According to a friend that looked at planting a church in my area, the population here is about 80% unchurched. Kind of mind boggling since there seems to be a zillion churches in North Atlanta. The zip codes that we impact have an average age of 33 and they have 2.3 kids. The bulk of people end up in the 18-45 year old range. So what does that mean if I'm going to be a burb missionary?

For starters, we have to do church for the next generation. We have to offer culture things that they perceive as adding value to their lives like positive life change, good music, coffee, community, and a safe place for their kids. Some churches do pretty well at making that happen. The only problem is, per capita the number of churches that do it great are pretty scarce. I can name couple of church plants in our area that are doing better than most, but for the most part I would say churches are missing the target.

What do I think it will take to be a burb missionary?

1) Create a space that has visual continuity with current culture. When people walk into where you meet do whatever you can to give them a vibe that says, "These people know what important to me." For The Journey that means they'll walk into a Starbuck's like atmosphere with a full service coffee bar. Just beyond that will be an eye catching kid's ministry check-in that any Discovery Point would be willing to put in their lobby. When they walk into the auditorium they'll probably feel more like they're in a club or an oversized and unfreaking-believable home theatre. Did I mention that it would seat less than 200? I didn't think so. A driving force in that number was finances. Another driving force is that we want to...

2) Engage people. I watched U2's video they made to kick off their How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb project. Instead of a huge media blitz, they hopped on a flatbed trailer and drove around NYC playing their music. Along their route, they engaged the public. They shared their pizza with a fan. They let some guy sit in and play drums for an entire song. They let a guy make his debut singing. They did a free concert under the Brooklyn bridge. Marketing genius you say? Maybe. I call it fresh, exciting, and an astute analysis of what our culture wants...to be engaged. For The Journey that means engaging the seeker. Let them see us worship. Take risks and engage people. Jesus did.

3) Talk about things that matter to people. Talk radio understands culture. They talk about things people are interested in. So does TV. So does the film industry. So should the church. Whether it's expository or topical teaching, just make sure you apply the truth of Scripture to meet people's needs and overcome their fears. Honestly and clearly engaging people with God's word is what my worship arts pastor calls innertainment. It's all about offering the life-changing Gospel in an interesting but clear way.

More on being a burb missionary as I take this from theory to reality.

give me the red pill already

This is kind of freaky. A rash of hacks into assumably secure core computers. I wonder if the hackers are headed up by a guy name Morpheus?

A binge blogger diagnosed

I was having lunch to day with some friends. They brought up the fact that I post in spurts.

I would say I'm a binge poster. Actually, I think the term that I used today was that I tend to vomit, feel better, then vomit again.

The epiphany was that I tend to write pretty much when I'm ticked off. I've been an angry human for the last ten years. Get mad...vomit...feel better....get mad...vomit...ad infinitum. If you've ever pastored an established church or are currently pastoring an established church you know what I'm talking about. No more. The detox is finished.

Thanks Tony, Charlie, Gary, and Rob.

The sacred tradition that is Moleskine

My friend Charlie is generous in many ways. For an old guy he sure stays on the cutting edge of stuff....I love you man. He introduced many of us to the venerable Moleskine. I'm no Hemingway, as evidenced in this blog, but as a pastor I am a writer of sorts. I've gotten less electronic in the last couple of months even though I still write sermons straight into PowerPoint. I've essentially replaced my PDA with 3x5 cards, known in culturally astute circles as a hipster pda. And, wanting to be on the edge of culture as the ever hip Charlie, I bought my first Moleskine the other day.

Here's my thinking...If Hemingway and all those other brilliant guys carried one of these around, maybe there's a creative vibe they have.

For two centuries now Moleskine (mol-a-skeen'-a) journals have been the legendary notebook of artists, writers, intellectuals and travelers. More popular than ever, Moleskine notebooks possess stylish minimalism and unmatched quality. This century new legends are being created with the help of this modest book. Moleskine journals help in daily life, work and play, at home and traveling the world. This is the journal that has been as it remains today a truly reliable friend - always at the ready. Helping in life - helping create and capture life stories.

No, not a superstitious kind of thing, but the kind of vibe you get from feeling the pen touch the paper. The ability to see emotion in your handwriting when you look at something you've written a couple of days later. Sort of an ancient connection to the mind's process of putting something on paper. I'm convinced our creativity is tied to our spirituality. That's why I'm using the Moleskine as a prayer journal. As God speaks sermons come. As God speaks I can write something down and not hate myself for failing to remember it. The artistic masters were onto something. They just happened to use the really cool black notebook with the elastic band and the nifty little pocket in the back.

Okay, so you can get a composition notebook at Wal Mart for a fraction of the cost but it's sort of like being able to afford a BMW and choosing to drive a '72 Volkswagen Bug instead. Get the Bimmer.

All that being said, I have a new passion and craving for time spent with God. It wasn't the Moleskine that made the difference, but the Moleskine will keep well and it does have a great track record with great minds.

I can use all the help I can get.

the new worship guy

33% of the people that read this blog have requested that I tell you more about the new worship guy that I hired. That means that 1 of the three people that actually read this thing asked! So here you go...

His name is Casey Darnell. He's 26 years old. Sings like Chris Tomlin, plays guitar and really knows how to lead worship. He's passionate about his relationship with God and passionate about being a worshipper. Like me, he's not fond of the trend to overproduce the worship environment but, like me, he believes that an environment has to be created for worship to be effective (a subject to long to get into on this blog). His favorite band to cover is U2, and I can't wait for our band to do Vertigo in the next month or so. Casey has led youth worship at Buckhead Church, FBC Woodstock, Church at West Cobb, and adult worship at NorthStar Church. He's been around enough big ministries to know what needs to be done and has a vision for excellence. He spent six years in purgatory...er...youth ministry before he felt God calling him to do worship full-time. He grew up independent Baptist and since then has sufficiently transitioned to a kinder, gentler Christian. :-)

How did we find him? I have coffee a couple of times a week at a coffee shop in Buford. One of the perennial keys players of the NorthPoint fraternity works there part-time to help his parents out (they own the shop). We got to be a bit more than just an acquaintance and I asked him if he knew of anyone looking to move into a church setting. After going three deep into the network, I came across Casey. To tell you the incredible timing and circumstances would take too long, so for the sake of space let's just say that God had His handprint all over this thing.

UMC leadership are a bunch of weenies

Whatever your stand is on ordaining women or even gay women, you kind of have to wonder about the level of conviction of the UMC leadership. Read here how they're afraid to take a stand on a culturally hot topic.

FYI...I ordain straight guys.

There might be a move from PC to Mac

Our new worship arts pastor is a budding Mac dude. Small wonder. He did the Northpoint thing and his buds do Macs. The preschool director at the church is a true blue Mac fan. Her husband is a Mac freak. I always thought Macs were cool, just too expensive. After a bunch of research and even though Dell has been "beddy beddy" good to me, I think we may just take the plunge into the world of Apple.

If we could just get Christians to be as passionate about sharing their faith as Apple people are about talking about their computers, lots of people would begin following Christ.

the Truth is uncomfortable for the seeker from ___________

Here's my response. It has become a bit of a form response as of late...

xxxx,

I deeply appreciate your kind words about the name of the church. After reading your email, it's very apparent that you continue on a spiritual journey that's been long for you. Our hope is that the name of the church would be the genesis of dialogue just like this one. Our music rocks and our kids have fun when they come. As our website says, we hold the Bible very highly and it is the basis for what we believe.

As I read your words, it is clear that you have read many different people in your search for truth. Your thoughts on the nature and character of God are interesting. It seems as if your perception of God has been guided primarily by Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Marianne Williamson, Don Miguel Ruiz, Gary Zukav, etc. Based on what you've written about your belief in God, it seems as if you haven't read the Bible as much as other books. In my view that's unfortunate because it has been proven to be the most accurate historical record of Jesus. Both biblical and the extrabiblical records of Jesus' time period reflect Jesus in a completely different light than what you believe (except for your statement that Jesus wasn't afraid). I would encourage you to read the Bible and see that what it says about Jesus, God and His love. I would encourage you to read the book of John in the Bible. Since you're an avid reader, I encourage and challenge you to read The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel. It is a fair and itellectual discussion of the validity and dependablity of the Bible. If you ever attend The Journey, I would be more than happy to give you both as a gift.

As a spiritual architect and coach (and pastor), I see a common thread in what you've written. You deeply desire to determine your own truth, and from a spiritual and logical perspective I find that troubling. My reasoning is this: You nor I have the ability to determine what truth is. Truth, by definition, is an irreducible fact that cannot be changed. Truth is supra-human. Truth is consistent. It is the same in ___________ as it is in Perth or Khartoum. For instance, the truths that exist in the laws of physics (like the Law of Gravity and the Laws of Thermodynamics) are not negotiable. We may choose to deny that they exist or we may even express our dislike for them, but it doesn't change the fact that they do exist. I can either adjust my way of living to those laws or I engage their consequences. It sets the agenda for us no matter how much we fight or deny it. We, as human beings, don't own truth. With that in mind, it seems quite illogical to me that every human being can own and generate their own truth. That being the case, truth must have a single, perfect, and unchanging source. It seems to me that many spiritual seekers I talk to want to define their own truth and therefore define God by their terms. If God is the source of all truth (which I believe He is), I don't get to choose what truth about Him is...He decides what truth is...perfect and unchanging. Truth is also evident. You don't have to look very hard to find it. Think of all the "If this, then that" things that you dealt with yesterday. They are all around us...irreducible facts that will always be true. Truth is absolute.

It seems to me that if God is Truth, He would make Himself easy to find and know. If God is Truth, why would He try to confuse me by making me look all over for Him in countless writings? Why wouldn't He, as Truth, clearly and specifically reveal Himself?

At The Journey Church, we encourage you to come and investigate what we believe to be the specific revelation of who God is through the Bible. Since we don't own Truth, we don't judge people and their beliefs. We don't get to fit what we believe into Truth. Truth determines what love, justice, hope and peace is all about. Come and investigate the claims of Jesus at your own pace. We use the Bible, we just try to let it speak on its own. We believe Truth doesn't change so we must change or our lives will be full of unpleasant consequences. We at The Journey have encountered the Truth and it has wonderfully and radically transformed our lives.

You didn't write me by chance. God is drawing you to Himself. He wants to make Himself clear to you through His word to us, the Bible. If you just can't buy that right now I understand, but an intense, deep relationship with God isn't as hard as you're making it.

My wife and I will be praying for you and your son. You are welcome to visit us at The Journey anytime. We start at 10am every Sunday.

Peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ,
Ken

Her response:

Thank you for your time and heart felt response. It was kind of you to respond
in such detail and it is appreciated.
Love, Light, & Peace, thank you

Almost everyone that I've had this initial conversation with end up visiting once. Most don't stick around because they value "their truth". There's hope as long as they're alive.

Onto the next step of the journey...

from hate mail to seeker mail

It used to be that when I opened up my email every morning I would cringe, bracing myself for hate mail from a deacon or spiritually unhealthy long-term member. The chance to reinvent and create a biblically based communication culture has allowed me to once again enjoy checking email. Some stuff gets through obviously, but not from core leadership anymore. Praise be to God, King of the Universe.

In the last year or so, it's not unusual to get emails from people asking questions about the church or just dropping a line to say something kind. I thought I would share one I got last night from a lady that was intrigued by the name of our church. While our church name, The Journey Church, is becoming more and more common it still brings in responses from seekers...which is exactly why we used the name in the first place. The following email is why I do ministry:

Thank you in advance for your time in accepting this email.

I am seeking a church close to my home (name of town) that would be accepting of 'New Thought' philosophy. I believe in reincarnation, and that we create our own reality by our thinking and our perceptions of a situation. (In other words, I can CHOOSE to have a good day or bad day, by my own beliefs and thinking.) I believe in one God, the power of prayer, and the peace in meditations and positive affirmations. I believe in Jesus Christ, yet I believe there are many pathways to God, and that all should be honored & respected. I do not believe that if a person does not believe in Christ the way I believe in Christ that they are going to a place called Hell or that God has no place for them. I believe God is pure love, not of judgments and condemnations. I believe once we've made our transition from this life, we find ourselves in the kingdom of God, Love, and the Light of knowledge; & we are all knowing & can see the errors, the places we got off track and "filled with this knowledge" we judge ourselves, (i.e. Karma, our next life (if we so choose, etc)

I believe a person should believe in whatever serves them well & fills them with "peace". Because it is only through our own internal peace that the world can be changed, not by trying to change others or judge their faith and belief in God. I believe the Bible is symbolic and not necessarily to be taken literally in every sense. I believe the Bible has been translated from different languages, was written thousands of years ago, and can be a very confusing piece of history and religious literature, and has caused many conflicts and wars. I also feel that for many years the clergy have tried to control the thoughts of man/woman by interpreting the bible "for people" and then telling them they must believe in a certain way and will say, "But the Bible says..........." thereby trying to make the person feel they should not be using their own inner voice & their own mind to decide for themselves. By giving a voice to "Hell" "evil" & other negatives, they only become more real. And the only thing real (I believe) is God's love, our love for God & for each other, love for the planet, love for the universe. Everything else is just an illusion we create in not believing in the power of God, the power of good (non-judgmental). Jesus was not afraid, Jesus did not judge, Jesus lead by example & let the rest go. God created us all, we are all his children and we will all go home one day. I would like to find a church that has a good mix of new thinking & openness, with (some) "traditional", and of course music. Yes! spirit is about music and God does love a joyful noise.

MY QUESTION: I don't want to be condemned, judged or put down for believing in the teachings of spiritual leaders such as Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Marianne Williamson, Don Miguel Ruiz, Gary Zukav, etc., or saying I don't accept that people go to Hell if they don't believe in Christ the way I do, or for believing in reincarnation.....IS THERE A PLACE FOR MY BELIEFS AT YOUR CHURCH KEN? I have a seven year old son, who is a very spiritual loving child & I'd love to find a "loving" place to worship, and make friends; however, I am passionate about what I believe. Is there room for all thoughts at your place? (I have inquired because your web site intrigued me and your church sounds like fun for all & perhaps especially the children, which is most important to me.)

Once again, a very grateful thank you in advance for listening (and responding :) (I will understand completely, if your response back has to be, a simple "no", most Biblically driven churches are still pretty traditional about what members should believe. But yours sounded like a possibility.) (And by the way, even if you say no & I should keep church shopping, I must tell you, I think your church name is great, life is truly a journey & how fitting for a church name :)

Sincerely,
with peace & light,

Name withheld

My response tomorrow....

An evening with Elton John

I've been a fan of Elton John since 1973 when I was a kid growing up in Arkansas. We lived in the boonies, so even the closest country station didn't come in clearly. On top of that, we lived way down in a holler (hollow for any Yanks reading this) and it was almost impossible to get a good radio signal except at night. After the sun went down, I would turn on my radio and listen to WLS in Chicago. I don't know how, but the signal came in crystal clear, especially after 10:00pm. That's when I first heard Elton John. It was a year later and I got my first Elton John eight track, his greatest hits.

Tonight at the concert (My sister was in town for an Herbalife convention. Elton John was the entertainment and she bought me a ticket. Thanks, Sis.), I realized just how much I listened to those songs. I sang along with most of them. He was phenomenal. Gee whiz, I just don't think he could play a bad song at a concert. He and the band are consumate musicians. Bobby Birch (bassist) was the reason I started playing bass (edit...playing bass again. Dee Murray was Elton's bass player in the 70s). Solid, groovalicious, and lots of pop. Davey Johnstone was right on and did great work. He played two SG doubles (two different colors), a Flying V, Les Paul, Strat, and a couple different acoustics (and Ovation and Larivee I think). Nigel Olsson is a machine.

Michelle got to hear Philadelphia Freedom via my cellphone. Whoever did the sound had it dialed in.

I may try the Peachtree Road project although it has a bit of a country flavor.

Great concert. The ______ is Back was incredible. The guitar on that song always makes me want to learn guitar. I'm sleepy and rambling now..................

Stunned, amazed, and in awe...then "Unbelievable."

"Unbelievable." That was the only thing I could say today after I hung up the phone from a 4.5 hour conversation. The culmination of a process that's actually been going on for three years. The search for the worship arts pastor that has the same passion, vision, and dreams as I do. It's unlike any ministry position interview I've ever been a part of. No committees (buzzards feasting on human carnage...see my previous post), no mind games, no Chamber of Commerce dog and pony show. As I talked in this unfettered walk to Emmaus I sat there stunned, amazed and in awe of God.

I've prayed, I've fasted, I've asked God to increase my faith, and I've told the mountain to take a hike. Then you wait for God to be who He says He is.

Then it happens. God moves.

I hung up the phone and say, "Unbelievable."

More later as we look for the jars to put the new wine in. I'm sure I saw some behind the mountain before it moved...

I'm on a roll now...You have got to read this book!

.

I'm an Erwin McManus fan. His first book, An Unstoppable Force was the fulcrum to me leaving the First Church County Seat gig I was at and leap into the world of church planting. The dude is dangerous. Some people think he's too pomo. He would say to lose the label already. The bottom line is that he's a prophetic voice that isn't afraid to challenge what he calls "domesticated Christianity". I think I like Erwin because he's not just a theorist mad at "the man", he practices what he writes about. That should, in and of itself, prove that he's not a pomo. When he writes about "having little patience for institutions and beaureaucracies", I am so there. Even if you don't think you'll like reading McManus, or just haven't heard enough about him to take the plunge, go ahead and get the book and read it. Here's an excerpt that will remain a priceless jewel as long as the established church is stuck in the mire of man-made tradition:

"With insects most of us know that bees are called swarms, and ants are called colonies. Among ocean life, I was aware that whales are pods, and fish are schools. Cattle are herd, birds are flocks, and if you watch Lion King, you know a tribe of lions is a pride. If you grew up in the country, you might know that crows are murders. Maybe the most unnerving one is an ambush of tigers."

Brace yourself.......

"I was surprised to learn that a group of buzzards waiting around together to feast on leftover carnage is called a committee. Just this one insight is worth the price of the whole book. This explains so much of what's going on in churches - a lot of committees waiting around to live off human carnage."

Erwin Raphael McManus

* The cost of pastoring established, unhealthy churches - 3 years of religious detox.
* The cost of The Barbarian Way by Erwin McManus - $11.55 plus shipping.
* The quote above from the "Resident Alien" - priceless.

OK, I'm blogging again...

I've been reminded by a few folks that my blogging activity has fallen off. The reason for this is two-fold. One, I am getting better at spending time on things that I do best. Blogging is not what I do best, even though it's a wonderful outlet for frustration. It's sort of like going into the middle of a big pasture and screaming at the top of your lungs, except it's a bit more intellectual...usually. Two, I've been super busy working on finding a worship arts pastor that I vibe with. Like I've told some friends, you would think that North Atlanta would have worship dudes all over the place. The kind I'm looking for are already way busy or hooked up and happy. No worries, God has the right guy out there. I'm feeling pretty good about one for sure. Frankly, I'm cautiously stoked. That's a good feeling for a change.

OK, so is everyone happy now? All four of you that have mentioned something to me...

A great theologian dies...Stanley Grenz

I just read about Stanley Grenz's passing. Stanley Grenz didn't make huge impact on me when he was a guest lecturer in my systematic theology class in seminary. Then he was just the author of my textbook. In reflection, I now see how much he shaped my theology...In a good way. He was conservative in the grand scheme of things, but in a very balanced sort of way.

His writings have helped me especially in the understanding of the holy mystery of the Trinity. With an unusual bit of nostalgia and sense of loss for someone I didn't personally know, I just picked up my copy of Theology for the Community of God and read some pages that were paper clipped, highlighted and underlined regarding the Trinity. I'm going through a message series on the Trinity right now and even though I didn't use the book in my research for the current series, it's pretty scary to see Grenz's influence on my theology.

When I shook Dr. Grenz's hand in class a few years back, little did I know he would influence me as much as he did. Thanks again, Dr. Grenz.

May God comfort the Grenz family.

How do you get a church plant off the ground?

As a church planter I've struggled with that question a bunch lately. So what does it take for a church to grow like an epidemic? A building? Great marketing? Rockin' music and cutting edge ministries? Those are all OK, but the primary answer is quick, easy, and simple (and one I've been overlooking way too much lately)...a sustained presence of God's Spirit in the people of the church. Some reading this will reply, "There's nothing quick, easy or simple about the Holy Spirit." To some degree that's true. But it's easier than I think most of us make it.

For some reason a lot of believers think being filled with the Holy Spirit is elusive, unattainable, or only for the super-freak Christian. The fact is, when God's people are communicating with Him consistently (praying) and they are spending time reading the principles that He's given to us (the Bible), the Spirit speaks to us and through us.

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (Acts 4:31, NIV)

There are some things about planting a church in the culture of where I live in North Gwinnett (the burbs of Atlanta) that are different than planting a church in 1st century Jerusalem. One of the differences is that our population density isn't what it was in Jerusalem. You have to get in a vehicle to go anywhere. That means we have to do some marketing...mailers, hangers, and billboards. However, one thing that is absolutely the same in the social epidemic of church growth is that it has and always will rely on word of mouth "advertising". Look at this quote from one of the greatest marketing books of our lifetime, The Tipping Point:

"In epidemics, the messenger matters: messengers are what make something spread. But the content of the message matters too. And the specific quality that a message needs to be successful is the quality of "stickiness." Is the message- or the food, or the movie, or the product- memorable? Is it so memorable, in fact, that it can create change, that it can spur someone to action?" -Malcolm Gladwell

There is not a more sticky, memorable, life-changing message than the forgiveness and eternal life we have through Jesus Christ. Churches can spread like an epidemic if you and I will simply be the messengers of a life-changing epidemic. Frankly, I've been relying a bit too much on everything but the Spirit of God. We'll still have to do some marketing but the primary way my church and your church will grow is when we are all filled with the Holy Spirit and speak the word of God boldly.

I'm personally ready for an epidemic. Thanks to Terry Storch for the inspiration.

Some church people really suck.

Here's a conversation I had with my wife yesterday. Read it and laugh or weep, depending on your particular circumstance. I thought it was priceless. Your mileage may very.

Michelle: "Someone wants me to counsel them."

Ken: "So what's the hold up?" (I figure she's been through hell and back with me in the ministry and she can handle pretty much anything.)

Michelle: "If you'll just wait a minute I'll tell you what she needed." (Testy or comfortable with me?...We've been married 19 years. Comfortable.)

Ken: "Yes, dear."

Michelle: "One of my friends at work moved to FBC ____________ about a year ago. She and her husband joined the young married's class. They saw a huge need to do baby showers and take dinners to first time mothers after they deliver."

Ken: "Okay."

Michelle: "Here's the rub. The teacher's wife is mad at her because the class has tripled in the last year."

Ken: "Let me guess. The teacher and his wife have been at FBC ___________ their whole life."

Michelle: "Exactly. The teacher's wife chewed her out in front of brand new members and said, 'There's no reason to give baby showers to new mothers. We've never done that.' My friend was really embarrassed. She went to the education minister and told him what was going on. He told her to keep doing what she's doing."

Ken: "So what's her problem? Why did she ask you about it?"

Michelle: "The lady blew up again in a very public venue. It embarrassed my friend so much she's beginning to wonder if they need to just leave the church. What should I tell her. She can't let that hag win."

Ken: "Well, they won't exercise church discipline. Not at an FBC, and especially since the lady's been there forever. Tell her to go to the education minister with her husband and ask if they can start a new Sunday School class."

Michelle: "Just bypass her and let her have her little piece of real estate?"

Ken: "Tell her to plow around the stump. The education minister gets the kudos for starting another Sunday School class, the hag gets her own thing, and your friend gets to keep doing ministry.

Michelle: "That's why we do church planting now honey."

Ken: "Yep."

The last time we had a small group leader that caused problems the elders gave them administered Matthew 18. Imagine that, church discipline. After three attempts to correct and redirect the situation, they were asked to step down. They left the church. Thank God I don't pastor FBC wherever anymore...

My guess is you won't find these in your seminary bookstore

Seminary was great for me. I wanted to learn the original languages and get academic with it because I grew up in a very uneducated religious environment. Unfortunately, it seems as if the apple has fallen very close to the tree sometimes. Anyway, I busted my butt and made good grades. I'm actually academically eligible to purse a PhD. No thanks. I'll just keep doing what I do.

With that little blurb out of the way, let me share two books that I'm guessing you won't find in many seminary bookstores. It's a guess, because a lot of guys that I read about that are graduating from seminary haven't been schooled in the finer arts of leadership and environment creation. Maybe this little mention will multiply and help a church planter or struggling pastor out there. I've learned more about church planting and leadership in the last two months than in the last ten years.

The first book is First Impressions, Creating WOW Experiences in Your Church.
What a great book that let's you learn from Granger Community Church's mistakes. I didn't want to put it down because I recognized out much we needed to improve our church even though people already say it's friendly. No wonder our back door is more like a revolving door! I'm getting 15 copies and making it mandatory reading for all of our team leaders. You can buy it here.

The second book, Simply Strategic Stuff, is what my buddy Gary said was a good bathroom read. I agree.

It's short 99 chapters make it excellent book to kill a few spare minutes. But it goes beyond that. The chapters are pithy, usable helps to make your church function at a much higher level. It should be a staple for all church planters or anyone that's drowning in details or hitting organizational snags. Buy it here. Share the love. Maybe I'll be as eloquent and well read as my buddy Charlie Pharis someday.

A really good project minus the f-bomb

I wasn't a fan of U2 back in the days of Under a Blood Red Sky or Joshua Tree. In retrospect, it was/is good music but back then I was fighting the whole alternative scene and desperately clinging to my VanHalen and Boston LPs. I knew U2 had a spiritual bent but I honestly was clueless about postmodern thought and methods.

I'm still clueless about a lot of things, but I understand the method and brand of spirituality of How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. The lyrics on this project are really good. The music is polished and I must admit the acquired taste is very pleasing. Yahweh is an especially good song. Not one that our Jewish friends will cling to soon. Maybe they should have released an alternate version entitled Adonai. OK, maybe that's a bit too PC.

Mostly, I like the project because the band doesn't drop the f-bomb or anything else of the sort. I was disappointed when Bono let it slip a while back. I think if I ever ran into him I would, as a brother in Christ, call his hand on it. I am dying to know how he would respond...In humility or in the arrogance that comes with rock icon status? I'll probably never know.

Bottom line...if you're even close to liking U2 I recommend this project. It's well worth the $9.72 at WalMart.

It's been a while....No, not the Staind song

It's been a while since I blogged. I've been busy, and blogging takes as much discipline as a daily devotional for some reason. Blogging gets pushed down the "to do" pile more quickly than other things.

By the way, why do modern rock bands have to curse so much? Why can't they just talk about drugs like they use to? Whatever happened to backmasking? Where are the good guitar solos outside of obscure, non-linear progressive rock bands nowadays? Why can't I be as funny as my friend Tony or Charlie? For the love of Pete, why?

Do not give this journalist a Guinness...

This is not the most 'brilliant!' headline in recent memory: Bush Pushing Agenda in State of Union . Imagine that...a President pushing his agenda in a State of the Union address? Unbelievable.

As a pastor, I know how hard it is to be a creative communicator. Coming up with a headline is like coming up with a sermon title. It's the most difficult part of communicating for me. I have, in some instances, simply made the textual reference my sermon title when I'm doing a Bible study but I've never done something like "God is good" or "Jesus loves you" for a sermon title.

I guess what frosted me about the headline was that it insulted my intelligence. Now that I think about it, I should be more careful in how I come up with sermon titles and how I communicate in general. Just now I somehow I feel as if God just poked me in the chest in a Sean Connery-like way and said to me, "Here endeth the lesson."

I love that movie...