Are you part of a movement?

Seth Godin has written a great little book called Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us.  I posted Godin’s TED Talk on the material here.  Among Godin’s many challenges, he exhorts his readers to start a movement.  Here is what Godin says concerning the anatomy of a movement:

 

Senator Billy Bradley defines a movement as having three elements:

1. A narrative that tells a story about who we are and the future we’re trying to build.
2. A connection between and among the leader and the tribe.
3. Something to do–the fewer limits, the better.

Too often, organizations fail to do anything but the third (bold emphasis mine).

I have friends who read this blog who are part of large church denominations.  For them, that third statement really stings.  But it doesn’t have to, because movements can begin locally and expand from there.

Tribes is a book that is worthy of a quick read followed by lengthy, thoughtful consideration.  I picked up my copy from the public library for free and read it over two days.  Godin’s ideas are very simple.  To have a tribe, you only need two things: 1) a shared interest and 2) a way to communicate.  From humble beginnings, a movement can build.

If you are a church leader, what are you passionate about?  What is your narrative?  What is the future that God has enabled you, by grace, to envision?  And how do you communicate with those around you?  Are others compelled by the same story?  And if so, how do you band together to begin working toward that shared future, with the fewer limits, the better?

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AT-AT (Heading for the waves)

AT-AT (Heading for the waves), originally uploaded by NickIsConfused.

For all the Star Wars geeks, check out this photo. The entire photo stream is fantastic as well.

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True?

From www.gapingvoid.com:

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My P90X Journey

This year I decided to be more disciplined in the area of personal fitness.  At the outset of the year, my goal was to take up running and ultimately compete in a half marathon.  This is still on the goal list.  I began training with Andrew Conard and Jeff Clinger and competed in a 10k as recently as early May.  At that point, unfortunately, my right leg was injured, and I’m probably at about 95%.

As summer began to approach I decided that I would take the P90X challenge.  P90X is a 90 day fitness program that comes complete with a 13 DVD home workout set and a dietary guide.  My wife, Molly, has helped me tremendously with planning meals and making sure that I eat right.  I started the program last Monday, knowing that my leg was not at 100% health, but close, and felt confident that I could begin training.  The stuff I am doing in these workout is not as high impact as running 6+ miles, which is where I was before having to allow my leg to mend.

Thus far I’m really pleased with the P90X program.  The food is great, the workouts are intense, and I’m seeing results.  I haven’t decided yet if I will be posting my 30, 60, and 90 day results photos, or if I will compile a video, or do none of the above, but I would appreciate the support of my community and encouragement from each of you.  For the past five years my weight has fluctuated between 200 and 215 pounds, and I would like to drop that down to be consistently between 190 and 200.

Wish me luck!  I’m on day 9, with 81 more to go!

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Hours of…Interesting Photos.

If you have some time, check out AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com.

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Do the people on your team trust one another?

Do you work with other people on a day in, day out basis?  Do the people you work with trust one another?  Why?  Or, why not?

One of the most important aspects of building a solid team is knowing that you can trust those alongside you.  Whether you are starting an organization from scratch or inheriting a leadership position that has been around for 150 years (or more), the people around you must trust you, and must trust one another, if you are to move forward in a positive direction.

If you are going to build trust among those you work with, try asking some simple questions.  Get people together in the same room.  Eat a meal.  Play a game.  Create an occasion where everyone has the opportunity to share a little bit about themselves.  Ask for three to five non-invasive bits of information, such as the number of siblings each person has, what their first was, best family vacation, or favorite type of music.  Keep it simple, listen, and do your best to hang on to those bits of information.  This information might not factor in to your strategic plan, but it will help you to better understand one another.

Trust is foundational for pursuing a goal or a dream.  I think of my friends who are charged with leading churches that have amassed years of tradition, are very proud of where they have been, but have little idea of where they are going before Jesus returns.  At some point in their history they stopped asking questions concerning how God was making all things new in their city, town, or neighborhood, and the part they had to play.  Instead of starting a new initiative, or waiting a year before launching your first dream (the “do nothing in your first year” rule), get to know people.  Build trust.  Develop relationships.  Ask questions.  Be intentional.  And don’t just do this so that you get to know people better.  Facilitate these conversations in the presence of a group of those you lead.  You might be amazed at what your people might learn from and about one another.

Once you have established some level of trust, move on from there.

(To read more about this, check out this leadership book.  Not bad.)

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Tips for Writers :: Read William Zinsser’s On Writing Well

If you frequent Amazon.com and have a personal account, it is likely that you have clicked the “recommendations” link  to see what you might find.  I do this often.  I’m curious to see what they suggest.  I have a sales history that reaches back to my time at Baylor University, meaning I have given them nearly a decade of data from which they can project my tastes, preferences, likes, and dislikes.  There are often titles from the social sciences, theology, marketing, classical fiction, biblical studies, philosophy, and more theology.  I’m known to peruse hundreds of their suggestions.

And while I know that all of us possess a consumeristic impulse, I resist the temptation to buy.  I did not begin this way, as my wife would readily testify.  But after reading Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline, I gave increased thought to the virtue of simplicity, and took up his suggestion to take advantage of public library systems when they have titles you find interesting.  I now read Amazon.com’s list of recommendations, browse customer reviews, and if a title is really interesting, I search the database of the Johnson County Library.

One of the great advantages of the JOCO Library system is the ability to borrow books across branch locations.  Obtaining a book is as simple as placing a hold request, asking that it be delivered to the DeSoto library, and picking it off the reserve shelf.  The De Soto branch is within walking distance from my house.  I am notified when the book arrives by email, and either walk downtown or pick it up while running errands.  It is a beautiful service.

I write all this because it is this system that brought me William Zinsser‘s On Writing Well, a wonderful guide to the craft of writing.  The book was suggested on Amazon, available through the library system, and peaked my interest because I am continuing to learn the art of writing.  His book has been a wonderful help.

Zinsser’s book is a helpful resource for anyone who writes.  His book begins with some fundamentals, such as how to write with simplicity, reduce clutter, be mindful of the audience, and how to properly use the language.  He has tips on how to structure your writing, how to write for nonfiction audiences, and how to properly execute various forms (interview, sports, memoir, travel, etc.).  Zinsser includes helpful illustrations and examples from his own writing, and, perhaps most importantly, writes in such a way as to inspire others to write with excellence.

I like to pass along good book recommendations from time to time, and this is one.  If you’re a writer, I would recommend picking up this book.

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Celebration and Reflection :: 40 Days of Prayer for The United Methodist Church

On the morning of March 14 God gave me a vision.  This was not a dream sequence or a moment I was taken up into the third heaven.  It was a moment where I was deeply impressed by a need for action–an action as simple as acknowledging through prayer that God is God and that Christians are called to be patient people.  I was impressed with the need to engage with God and with one another in the language of the church–prayer–and trust that if a new day were to dawn for Christianity within my neighborhood, my small town, my state, my nation, or my world, it would be because the Holy Spirit has already been at work in and around me.  It would be because the Kingdom of God is to be received.  It would be because God’s people had turned their hearts anew toward the one who had given them life, hope, love, faith, and salvation through Jesus Christ.  It would not be because of clever strategy or keen rhetoric.  God does not need us to accomplish his work, but we are wanted, and, indeed, invited to join in the work of the new creation.  

Being called to be part of the community called church, I wanted to invite others to engage God in prayer with and alongside me.  It so happens that at this time that community is called The United Methodist Church.

Thanks to all those who have given of themselves to bring together what is now a prayer effort uniting hundreds of people.  Thank you to Amy Forbus at the United Methodist Reporter, who mentioned us here, and to Interpreter Magazine, who has expressed interest in the UMYC website and the 40 day prayer effort.  Thanks to all the contributors, as well as the extended network of lay people and other ministerial leaders, including older clergy colleagues, who put up with my numerous email messages chronicling the progress of the work.  Thanks to those who have blogged about this effort, including those listed here.

Special thanks to Dustin Petz, Pastor of Goodland United Methodist Church in Goodland, Kansas, who’s request for advanced access to these materials for use on a radio spot led to this project being coalesced into booklet format.  Thanks to Victoria Hatterman as well for requesting use of some of these materials for her work in the Nebraska Annual conference.  Thank you to Jenny Smith for her tireless efforts in networking with her peers and friends to bring attention to this project on a larger scale, and for working closely with Chris Smith in developing the website and the prayer feed.  Thanks to Andrew Conard, a dear friend, who has encouraged me during this project, and who suggested the idea of publishing the work in book format.

Here are four ways you can join with us in prayer as we seek God’s direction for the people called Methodists:

 

• Join the Facebook Event.
• Download or buy a paperback copy of the Prayer Guide.  All profits will benefits NothingButNets (thus far we’ve sold 21 copies and raised enough money for 11 bed nets).  If you don’t want to buy a copy, go to their website and donate directly.
• Subscribe to the 40 Days RSS feed.
• Visit the UMYC website each day and pray with us.

 

I am not the first theologian to acknowledge that it is God who accomplishes all things in and through us by sheer, divine grace.  This work is evidence of this fact.  Thanks again to all who have helped make this project happen, and thanks and praise be to God for using me in this work.

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40 Days of Prayer :: Book Now Available!

Pick up a copy of the 40 Days of Prayer guide here.  I’ve been writing about this for a while now, and I’ll include more details in a few days.  I’m at a conference now, and I don’t have much time to write.  Paperbacks are available for $16.50, or you can download the book for $10.00.  All profits benefit NothingButNets.

The prayer effort goes live at the UMC Young Clergy website on Monday, May 18, and you can subscribe to the RSS feed here.

Thanks to all who have made this possible!  I’ll write more later, but wanted to put this out there tonight!

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I’m Sensational. These Guys are Dude Perfect.

Some of you may have seen my sensational shots video here.  But this is even better.  Major kudos to these guys for putting together something remarkable.  And thanks to Ryan for passing this along.

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