MMI Weblog

Catching up…Here’s What’s Been Happening…

2009-07-06T13:42:00Z

Well, I've taken some time off from blogging over the past few weeks take some vacation and rest my mind... but it's time to get things going again. Last week, I sat down and looked through a few thousand RSS posts to see what I had missed in my 'time off'. Below is the stuff that caught my attention. As usual, you'll see that my mind is captured by a little bit of everying... great tips on leadership, the most current trends, the funny, the obscure, and other things that really don't have any rhyme or reason whatsoever. If you've taken a little breather over the summer as well, you might find many of these links interesting. At least I hope you do.

I've decided that I'm going to take at least one more week off from blogging, but will remain very active with links and news stories on Twitter this week. (You can follow me @toddrhoades.) My designer is making the finishing touches on a new MMI website that will hopefully bring some new features that you'll love.

Until then... enjoy these links. I'd love to hear your input or comments on any of these in the comment section. And if you see something that I should tag or twitter or blog about, please do email me at trhoades@mondaymorninginsight.com.

Thanks... have a great week!

Todd

Chinese airline may offer cheaper fares to passengers who stand

New Gameshow Seeks to Convert Unbelievers

That's what she said...

Matt Redman is also moving to Atlanta to help Louie Giglio plant a church..

The tasered pastor...

LifeChurch.tv Does it again! Chat in Real-time in 45 Languages

Bet PETA wouldn't like this...

A critique of 'attractional'... Incredible, yet something missing...

Finally... An iPhone App that Let's You Know When it’s Safe to Pee...

Prestonwood Pastor Jack Graham takes two month sabbatical; takes cancer surgery public...

ORU will be totally debt free this fall... and without a Roberts at the helm...

New Hope Hawaii is First Church in the Country to do LIVE Video Services to iPhone...

What denomination has grown each of the last 19 years?

PETA to Southern Baptists: Jesus Loves Chickens

What the Church ISN'T... I particularly like #1

Steven Furtick on being a "Ministerial Skirt Chaser"

Seth Godin on Risk and Reward... Good stuff

Craig Groeschel interviews Rick Bezet

New Study: Giving down at 40% of churches; 32% of church budgets increased

When exactly IS free day at the Holy Land?

Interesting SBC proposed resolutions... five having to do with Mark Driscoll!...

Leave it to Guideposts to Give us an Inspiration Story of a Church and Their Pet-Friendly Service

Interesting... EA Sports Hires People to Conduct Mock Christian Protest over Video Game

7 Common Housing Allowance Tax Mistakes for Ministers

Interim Pastor from Ousted Southern Baptist Church: You missed an opportunity...

Intersting... Was Michael Jackson a Christian?

Do You Agree? Why Some Churches CANNOT Grow...

Perry Noble: Seven Questions Leadership Teams Should Wrestle With

Missouri Church Sells Fireworks this 4th of July to Fund Missions Trip... SAVE

Prophetic Word about Michael Jackson, or Just Good Timing?

Obama Picks a Church...

Ministry CEO building $4 million lakefront home...

8 Reasons Churches Fail to Evangelize...

Don't fall for the "Free Computers for Your Church" scam...

10 Things that are Harder than I Expected...

Kirbyjon Starts TV Ministry...

A Review of the new book "Falwell, Inc."

TBN Pastor/Personality Gets Double DUI in California...

8 year old boy found dead in KY church elevator...

Dave Ramsey Interviews Seth Godin...

Bring Your Gun to Church Day was a Blast...

Even at 500, Calvin isn’t slowing down...

Did you hear? Mark Driscoll Banned from Christian Radio Network...

Have You Heard About the Nation's Newest FEMALE Mega-Church Pastor?

Stacy Spencer: How to Find Your Ministry “Swag”

2009-06-17T11:34:00Z

THE SHOW from Leadership Network for June 16, 2009.

TOPIC: Finding Your "SWAG" in Ministry

SPECIAL GUEST: Dr. Stacy Spencer

You can watch a brand new edition of THE SHOW every Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. EDT at http://theshow.leadnet.org.

Live call in segment... Dr. Stacy Spencer takes your questions!

100 Ways to Kill a Concept or an Idea

2009-06-17T08:03:00Z

This is a great list... I got it from Pete Bishop (who got it from ChangeThis.com)... but regardless... it's a great list. Have you ever been guilty of using one of these idea killers?

100 Ways to Kill a Concept:

the boss won�t go for that.
the lawyers won�t go for that.
the accountants won�t go for that.
the client won�t go for that.
the salespeople won�t go for that.
the investors won�t go for that.
So and so won�t like it.
It�s not us.
It won�t fit into our system.
We�re not ready for that yet.
I don�t think it will work.
I don�t understand.
Do you understand?
Will anyone understand?
What will they think of next?
It�s politically incorrect.
It�s too complicated.
It�s too late for that now.
It�s too expensive.
We�ll lose money.
Why?
What!?
Who says?
nobody will want that.
Where are you coming from?
It can�t be done.
Have the committee review it.
Let�s do more research.
Let�s take a vote on it.
Let�s play devil�s advocate.
I�ve never heard of such a thing.
We�ve already tried that.
that�s been done before.
It�s not how we do things here.
We�ve never done anything like that.
We�ll get back to you.
that�s a subject for another meeting.
It creates more problems than it solves.
Sounds like too many problems.
that only solves some of the problems.
that�s going to cause problems.
Here we go again.
that�s unique, but . . .
Very interesting, but . . .
I understand, but . . .
I love it, but . . .
Great idea, but . . .
Yes, but . . .
Sounds simple, but . . .
But . . .
It�s just not for us.
try again.
that sucks.
needs more pizzazz!
I don�t like it.
Have you thought it through?
It won�t sell.
Maybe next time.
Another day.
What are people going to say?
People will think we�re nuts!
that�s BS.
Be realistic.
How about this instead?
Get a grip!
Are you serious?
that turns me off!
the client is too liberal for that.
the client is too conservative for that.
What else do you have?
So!
So what?
Oh . . .
Oh?
Oh, really!
Get real, it�s not feasible.
Sounds crazy!
nobody does that.
Are you kidding me?
that�s too off the wall.
You can�t argue with success.
You can�t fight City Hall.
We don�t have time to do it.
Let�s not reach beyond our grasp.
We�re overextended already.
Let�s wait �til we see the numbers.
You�re proposing what?
Let�s not rock the boat.
Silence.
Laughter.
Boos.
Where did that come from?
I�ve got a better idea.
Hey, there�s a recession going on.
We�ve never done anything like that.
the press will kill us.
that�s not your decision to make.
We�ll step on too many toes.
Just leave it to me; I�ll take care of it.
You could lose your job for that . . .

A Gut-Check for Growing Churches

2009-06-17T07:21:00Z

Recently, Mark Batterson had the opportunity to share as a guest speaker at a staff meeting at Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge. Mark shared his top ten reflections on leadership in a growing church. Here are some of his comments...

The more we grow…

1) ...the greater the PRIVILEGE

I never want myself or anyone on our staff to have a sense of entitlement. We’re only servants--I Cor. 3:5.

2) ...the more COMPLICATED things get

Sin complicates your life in negative ways. Growth complicates your life in positive ways. Learn to thank God for complications!

3) ...the harder it is to maintain UNITY

Vision is the key to unity! The larger you get the more frequently you need to cast vision. Unity doesn’t happen by default--Eph 4:3.

4) ...the better STEWARDS we need to be

Growth raises the stakes. With greater responsibility comes greater accountability.

5) ...the more ABOVE REPROACH we need to be

I Corinthians 10:23 says, “Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial.” As our leadership expands, there can be an unhealthy and unholy tendency toward the permissible end of the spectrum! Guard against it. As our influence expands, leaders need to move toward the beneficial end of that spectrum!

These are just the top five… there are five more that you can read over at Mark’s Blog… Evotional.com...

Andy Stanley on The Cost of Indecision

2009-06-17T06:30:00Z

Ever been in a position as a church leader when it was time to stop talking and make a decision?

Sometimes I think we talk TOO much instead of making decisions in the church. After all, we think it would be great if we had everyone on our side before the decision was made. We're afraid of making people mad; we're afraid of conflict; and yes, we're afraid people who don't get their way will (can I say it?), leave.

Andy Stanley has a great example of leadership that he shares in Leadership Journal. Listen to his example....

When we started North Point Community Church, our leadership team suggested that our adult education be built around a network of small groups that met in homes.

This was in contrast to the adult Sunday school model we had all grown up with. We expected some pushback on this issue. Most of the folks helping to plant the new church had grown up going to Sunday school. It was all they knew. But we felt that a campus-based adult Sunday school program was not the best way to accomplish our mission.

Every time our leadership gathered, the issue of our small group strategy would come up. Some key leaders were not convinced that this was the best route. Others assumed we were adopting this strategy only until we had our own facility. People were quick to point out that other churches had tried home-based groups with only limited success.

For a year we listened. It's important to have "unfiltered discussion," to hear everyone's perspective. We did our best to answer questions and build consensus. We studied what other churches were doing. We piloted about a dozen groups to work out the kinks in the system.

But after a while I realized no new insights were being brought up. We were repeating the same arguments to each other. It was time to bring the discussion to a close.

The moment of truth came on a Wednesday evening in a rented facility next door to our property. All of our key adult leadership was present to discuss our plan to move into our soon-to-be completed facility. Toward the end of the meeting a woman raised her hand and shared her concern about our small group strategy. She was genuine, but her question was one I had answered a dozen times before.

In the past I had not taken a firm stand on this issue. I was only about 80 percent certain that our small group strategy would work, but I knew we had to give it 100 percent of our effort if it was going to succeed.

This time I put diplomacy aside and was very direct. Understand, these people are my friends. These folks had supported me through the most difficult transition of my life. They were volunteers. These men and women had sacrificed their time and financial resources to ensure a good start. But in spite of the uncertainties, it was time to be clear.

When the woman finished, I smiled and quickly reviewed the discussions we had been having for the previous year. Then I said, "After tonight we are not going to discuss 'if' anymore. We are moving forward. From now on I need you to focus your energies on 'how.' There are many unanswered questions. None of us has ever been part of a church that was organized around home groups. We have a lot to learn. Feel free to question our implementation, but not our direction. As of tonight, we go forward."

That was seven years ago. Currently, over five thousand adults are involved in small groups. The men and women who were in attendance that evening became the champions of our small-group ministry. Once it became clear which play was called, everybody got on board.

Were we certain of the outcome? No.

Were we clear about our direction? Absolutely.

Were we certain that this decision was the right one? No. If we had waited for absolute certainty we would still be talking. But a decision had to be made. A clear decision. And that decision, made in the intangible realm of ideas and projections, was eventually judged in the real world of attendance.

FOR DISCUSSION: How do you know when it's time to stop talking, make a decision and move forward? Are there areas now that you need to make a call and move on? What are your thoughts?

You can read all of Andy's article at Leadership Journal right here.

Zigging, Not Zagging. Today on THE SHOW with Stacy Spencer

2009-06-16T12:13:00Z

TODAY (TUESDAY) on THE SHOW: Memphis, TN has over 2,000 churches... that's more churches than liquor stores and gas stations combined!. Stacy Spencer knew that God didn't need another church in Memphis... He wanted something radically different than Memphis was familiar with.

In his book Zag, Marty Neumeier talks about how secular companies drowned in market place clutter, in order to stand out that need �Radical Differentiation.� The new rule is: when everybody zigs, zag. Radical differentiation is about finding a whole new market space you can own and defend.

Are you zagging in your community? Standing out from all of the traditional attempts to run people away from God. Or are you zigging doing what everybody else is doing and complaining about that you are getting the same results?

SHOW TIME: Today, June 16 @ 4pm EDT

“Conflict: Ask Ken”: When Your Leadership Can’t Handle Conflict

2009-06-16T08:00:00Z

Here’s this week’s church conflict management question with Ken Newberger… Dear Ken, I have been pastor of the same church for nearly half a dozen years. Since I have been here, conflict occurs on a cyclical basis. Every six to eighteen months a small group of people complain anonymously to our elders even to the point of trying to get people to vote me out. This same antagonistic behavior dates back to at least two of my predecessors…

One man, for example, sent out a letter to the elders accusing me of everything that has gone wrong in the church, from declining attendance (it is slightly up) to our budget problems (income has increased each year I have been here). I am also being accused of the resignation of some elders (older men who were tired of the complaints and gossip in the church as well as the letters that stir up trouble). In essence I am being accused of anything and everything.

I thought my leaders would see the value in a conflict resolution consultation, but I'm sorry to say, they do not. They are concerned with the cost. They are also concerned that bringing someone like yourself would only exasperate the conflict whereas they just want to be done with it. In essence, their solution is to put a band aid on the problems, but I can guarantee you that we will be right back facing the same situation in 6 months to a year. There are a number of members who are tired of this pattern and want it to stop. Do you have any suggestions?

East of the Mississippi

Dear East of the Mississippi,

You are in a difficult position, one I am sure you have been in much prayer over through the years. My response is not directed so much to you as to your board since the ball seems to be in their hands. It is my attempt to convince them to rethink their position. Use the following as you see fit. I hope it will be of some help to you.

Why the Bar Seems Too High for Some Church Leaders to Ask for Help

Introduction
Church conflict can deteriorate to such an unmanageable level, that barring a miracle, a major rupture within the church is inevitable. Calling upon the services of a conflict resolution specialist before the conflict goes beyond the point of no return may be pivotal to the church's health, well-being, and functional survival. So why don't some leaders of a church in conflict avail themselves of the help sanctioned by Jesus (Mat. 5:9)? Here are three answers.

?It Costs Too Much?With all due respect, this can't be the real reason. If just two or three families leave the church because they are weary and wounded from conflict, the church will lose more income than the cost of bringing in a church conflict resolution specialist. ?It cost too much? can't be the real reason.

?If I Acknowledge Conflict in the Church, It Will Create More?
?Better to ignore a backyard hornet's nest than try to remove it and really stir things up.? This is the way some people think about church conflict. But why don't we say the same thing about people in sin? ?Leave her alone. She will steal more clothes at the mall tomorrow if you confront her about the clothes she stole today.? The first and most effective way to deal with reality is to name it. Hence, to acknowledge the existence of conflict in the church doesn't magically create more of it. To the contrary, it is the essential first step toward containing it.

?I am Embarrassed to Admit I Really Don't Know What to Do?
Deep down, this is a core reason why church leaders won't avail themselves of the help of a peacemaker. They are reluctant to acknowledge that they haven't been able to manage the conflict, and that the conflict itself, like a tornado, is moving in a direction of its own making, not theirs. But there is absolutely no shame in such an admission. The real failure is not naming that reality and acting accordingly.

Keep in mind that in organizational life of any kind, leaders tend to blame those directly engaged in conflict without realizing that their own actions, or lack thereof, contribute to the workings of the entire system. If, out of frustration, leaders act rashly or with a heavy hand to quell conflict, the division quickly deepens. Conversely, inaction or a ?wait and see? attitude is the tinder by which the conflict steadily grows. As Edmund Burke noted, "the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."

So what should church leaders do? They should take the one step that offers the best chance of resolving the conflict in a manner that preserves the fellowship of the church. They should utilize the services of one trained in helping people make peace! Jesus sanctioned the work of peacemakers by calling them ?blessed.? Church leaders, therefore, have no reason to be embarrassed by allowing their congregation to share in such blessing. Indeed, being open to and following the will of God is what exemplary church leadership is all about!

10 Ways to Avoid the Arrogance of Power

2009-06-16T07:44:00Z

I'm sure most don't feel like you have too much 'power' in your church; but when you think of it... few positions hold as much power at times as ministry. And if you are prone to be a take charge person, you can quickly find yourself taking a bit too much joy in your position of power... joy that many times will evolve, over time, into arrogance. The "Great Leadership" blog recently featured a list of ten ways that you can avoid the arrogance of power... and I thought that they would be good as a reminder to those of us in ministry...

Here they are. You can run over to the Great Leadership blog for more information… it’s well worth the read...

1. Encourage and reward dissent.

2. Spend time with customers.

3. Read and answer your own email.

4. Be visible and accessible.

5. Have regular �fireside chats� with randomly selected, vertical slices of employees.

6. Do regular �deep dives� with as many departments as possible.

7. Call the corporate travel agent and schedule a road trip.

8. Conduct regular employee and customer surveys.

9. Work with an executive coach who�s willing to get in your face and tell it like it is.

10. Leverage technology and social networking.

OK… obviously, this was written for a corporate head in mind. I can hear you now… “Todd… I don’t have a corporate travel agent or even any employees to ‘vertically slice’.” That’s ok… Take for instance, #2: we all know who our customers are. And apply #8 to your volunteer base if you need to. It’s possible to be extremely arrogant with power in the very small church just like the big church.

What areas do you need to do this week? Do you consider yourself arrogant at times?

What’s Your Name, Sir?

2009-06-12T11:47:01Z

How Stupid Is YOUR Church? How not to make mistakes that will cost your church.

2009-06-09T12:57:00Z

In case you missed THE SHOW yesterday, you can watch it here (then listen to the live call-in Q&A). It was a great show, and it will really help you as a ministry leader to not make some of the same mistakes many others have made. Plus, it's only 15 minutes... which makes it well worth your time and easy to fit in your busy schedule right now!

THE SHOW from Leadership Network for June 9, 2009.

TOPIC: Ten Stupid Things That Keep Churches from Growing

SPECIAL GUEST: Geoff Surratt

You can watch a brand new edition of THE SHOW every Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. EDT at http://theshow.leadnet.org.

Live call in segment... Geoff Surratt takes your questions!

Kentucky Church Hosts “Bring Your Gun to Church” Sunday

2009-06-09T12:51:00Z

A Kentucky pastor is inviting his flock to bring guns to church to celebrate the Fourth of July and the Second Amendment. New Bethel Church is welcoming "responsible handgun owners" to wear their firearms inside the church June 27, a Saturday. An ad says there will be a handgun raffle, patriotic music and information on gun safety.

"We're just going to celebrate the upcoming theme of the birth of our nation," said pastor Ken Pagano. "And we're not ashamed to say that there was a strong belief in God and firearms � without that this country wouldn't be here."

The guns must be unloaded and private security will check visitors at the door, Pagano said...

John Phillips, an Arkansas pastor who was shot twice while leading a service at his former church in 1986, said a house of worship is no place for firearms.

“A church is designated as a safe haven, it’s a place of worship,” said Phillips, who was shot by a church member’s relative for an unknown reason and still has a bullet lodged in his spine. “It is unconscionable to me to think that a church would be a place that you would even want to bring a weapon.”

Phillips spoke out against a bill before the Arkansas General Assembly that would have permitted the carrying of guns in that state’s churches. The bill failed in February.

Barefoot Church - Leave your shoes at the door

2009-06-09T12:42:00Z

Worshippers at two Columbia area churches are being asked to leave the sanctuary in their bare feet.

Cayce United Methodist Church and Living Springs Lutheran Church in suburban northeast Richland County are participating in a charity shoe drive with an organization called �Soles4Souls.�

People will be asked Sunday to take off their shoes, leave them on the altar and walk out of the service barefooted.

Soles4Souls will use the shoes to get footwear for the estimated 300 million children around the world who don�t own any shoes.

The organization estimates that 300 million pairs of shoes are thrown away every year in the U.S.

You can read more here...

How to Be “Affair Proof”

2009-06-09T12:38:00Z

In light of recent news, I thought Vince Antonucci's advice of boundaries is great for those of us who want to remain 'affair proof'. (I would hope that would be most all of us!) Here are Vince's admonitions:

1. Love God. I mean really love Him, stay close to Him.

2. Fear God. Be afraid of the consequences of sin and of God Himself.

3. Have Authentic Accountability. Be totally transparent with a few trusted people about your temptations.

4. Have Wide Boundaries. Set up your boundaries so even if you didn't keep them, you'd still be far, far from sin.

Vince asks the question: “So, if I’m right and those are four keys to affair-proof yourself - which of those four do you need to improve?”

You can read his whole post here...

What do you think?

Todd

What is the STUPIDEST thing that you’ve done to keep your church from growing?

2009-06-08T12:44:00Z

Geoff Surratt has recently written a book I think everyone should read. It's titled "Ten Stupid Things That Keep Churches from Growing: How Leaders Can Overcome Costly Mistakes". I could say that Geoff is uniquely gifted to write a book of this title, but I won't say that. Let's face it, we've all done stupid things... stupid things that have not been good for our churches.

Geoff is going to join us on THE SHOW tommorrow (TUESDAY) to tell us some of these mistakes, and help you not to make those mistakes in your church. It's something that you'll not want to miss. There will be a short interview (15 minutes); then you can call in and ask your questions of Geoff live! All you have to do it go to http://theshow.leadnet.org tomorrow at 4:00 Eastern (3 central; 1 pacific) and watch along. I hope you'll join us...

SO, HERE'S TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU: What is the STUPIDEST THING you've ever done to keep your church from growing?

Nancy Ortberg: “Provocative Leadership for a Dangerous Church”

2009-06-08T12:43:00Z

Miss THE SHOW last week? That's ok, we'll catch you up on the last two weeks. Just be sure not to miss tomorrow's show with Geoff Surratt on the ten stupid things churches do to keep from growing. You can watch Nancy Ortberg talk on 'provocative leadership for a dangerous church' and Will Mancini talk about church branding (is it even biblical?) from the last two weeks here:

THE SHOW - Nancy Ortberg from Todd Rhoades on Vimeo.

Nancy Ortberg on THE SHOW. You can watch THE SHOW each and every Tuesday at http:/theshow.leadnet.org

Will Mancini - The Show from Todd Rhoades on Vimeo.

Will Mancini on THE SHOW. Watch THE SHOW live every Tuesday at 4:00 EDT at http://theshow.leadnet.org

Be sure to stop in and watch THE SHOW live tomorrow afternoon!

Todd