The Batterson Blog - Thoughts on Life and Leadership

The Great RV Edventure

2009-07-09T20:00:00.001-04:00

Next summer we're going to do a three-week RV trip across the US. It's been a dream of Lora's for a long time. It'll be educational and adventurous thus "edventure."

I have no idea where to start. I know we'll hit must-see places like Yellowstone and Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. But what are some other must-see places? We really want to hit some of the out-of-the-way places we wouldn't normally go.

Any RV tips? Any must-see suggestions? Any route ideas?

Working for Saul

2009-07-09T07:55:00.003-04:00

King David was a pre-renaissance man. He played a mean harp. He wrote some amazing poetry. And, of course, he was a valiant warrior. He was the complete package. But what might be most impressive to me is the way he treated Saul when Saul was trying to kill him. Not once but twice he had the opportunity to kill Saul in self-defense. It certainly would have been justified. But David refused to take matters into his own hands. He said, "God forbid that I should lay a finger on God's anointed."

I think there is a lesson to be learned. I know a lot of pastors on a lot of church staffs that feel like they are working for Saul. They are frustrated for a variety of reasons. And some of them legitimate. But let me try to shed some perspective on your situation. First of all, is your boss trying to kill you? No? Then it's not nearly as bad as David. And even David respected the position even if he couldn't respect the person. If there is heresy or immorality involved, then you certainly need the courage to confront. I'm not advocating moral or theological compromise. But if it's a difference in personality or philosophy then you need to learn submission whether you are right or wrong. I've always believed that how you treat those in authority will determine how you're treated when you're in authority. If you disrespect them you will be disrespected. But if you give respect then you'll earn respect.

The seasons in life when you're working for Saul aren't enjoyable. But they can be profitable if you learn the lessons God wants to teach you. Nothing prepares you to be inside the palace like spending some time outside the palace hiding out in caves.

And for the record, you aren't serving Saul. You're serving Christ. David knew that and that's why he put matters into God's hands.

Praying with a Keyboard

2009-07-09T07:32:00.001-04:00

One of the ways I take ownership of things is by redefining them. So I have my own definitions for lots of different things. Here's a new definition of writing: writing is praying with a keyboard.

When you approach writing prayerfully it turns a book into a 45,000 word prayer.

Final Edits

2009-07-08T07:00:00.000-04:00

I begin final edits on Primal today. Sure would appreciate a prayer! Not an easy process, but it'll produce a better book. Gotta finish before vacation in August.

Accumulate Experiences

2009-07-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

One of the most memorable days of my life involved being held up at gunpoint by Ethiopian Shepherds, swimming in a natural spring heated by a volcano, and sitting on top of a Land Rover doing a game drive in Awash National Park. I think you'll agree, that's a full day!

I'll never forget sitting in my pup tent at the end of the day, surrounded by about fifty baboons of every size, and feeling like the Holy Spirit spoke this truth to my spirit: don't accumulate possessions, accumulate experiences. That maxim has become a personal mantra.

All of that to say this, let me share a cool opportunity to accumulate an experience. I got a unique speaking invitation about a year ago from Joel Malm and Summit Leaders. They asked if I'd be the "trail mentor" while hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Long story short, I'd like to extend an invitation to a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I'm bringing Parker with me. I think it'd make an amazing Father/Son experience. In fact, it'll be over Father's Day next June.

Check it out.

Innovative Ministry Leader

2009-07-07T06:35:00.001-04:00

I recently recorded a leadership talk on God Ideas with Innovative Ministry Leader. I think it's worth the watch. My session goes live at high noon (EST) on July 7. In case you haven't heard of IML, they do web-based training for leaders.

PS. If you don't have a copy of Wild Goose Chase, you can get a free copy if you're one of the first ten to register! Also, use the code "wildgoose" and you'll get 10% off the monthly rate.

500 Pounds of In a Pit

2009-07-06T09:00:00.000-04:00

Just got 500 pounds of In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day delivered. If you want 12 pounds (a case of 24 books), email resources@theaterchurch.com. We'll hook you up with a sweet summer discount on either book.

Webcasting Works

2009-07-05T16:50:00.000-04:00

Great weekend at NCC. The highlight? A guy caught me between services at Union Station. It was his first visit, but he's been watching the webcast. Told me that he grew up in church but had been on a long prodigal journey. After watching a webcast he rededicated his life to Christ.

I love our webcast for a couple reasons. First of all, I feel like it's a safe way to listen to a dangerous message. There is something about watching on webcast that defuses defense mechanisms. I also think it's a great way to visit a church. You get a thin slice of what that church is like. It's a sample or taste test if you will. We're finding that more and more people watch the webcast before visiting in person. It's one of our side doors at NCC.

the ARC

2009-07-05T16:45:00.000-04:00

National Community Church is part of several networks and fellowships. And I love all of them! And this doesn't change any of that, but we made a decision to become part of the ARC.

Why? First of all, I have so many pastor friends in the ARC. Love and respect all of them. Second, I love their emphasis on church planting. With our protege program and church planter in residence position, we felt like it'd be a great synergy.

What You Really Need

2009-07-05T07:50:00.005-04:00

I had a revelation yesterday: the answer to every prayer is more of the Holy Spirit. Need more boldness? What you really need is more of the HS. Need more wisdom? What you really need is more of the HS. Need more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness or self-control? What you really need is more of the HS.

The Holy Spirit is to the means to every spiritual end. And the good news is that God wants to give more than you want to receive. Just ask!

Praying the Calendar

2009-07-04T11:49:00.003-04:00

Just thought I'd share one prayer technique that has really helped me cultivate a prayer habit. I call it praying the calendar. I basically go through my calendar and pray about anything and everything. I pray for the people I have meetings with. I pray for upcoming events. For example, my kids go to camp next week so I prayed that they'd have a defining spiritual moment. And its the 4th of July so I found myself praying for America. More specifically, another Great Awakening.

Here is what praying the calendar does for me: it gives me a sense of destiny. I feel like I walk into each day, each meeting, each experience with holy anticipation. Why? Because I've prayed about it.

July 4th Memory

2009-07-04T10:52:00.001-04:00

I had some fun 4th of July flashbacks today.

During our first year at National Community Church we held a Fourth of July picnic at our house. We invited the entire church. And the entire church fit comfortably!

I remember the extreme weather Independence days. I remember when we got soaking wet one year because of thunderstorms. And I remember the 100 degree heat when our Air Conditioning broke on the 4th. Miserable!

Finally, I remember watching the fireworks from under the Washington Monument one year and all the ashes from the fireworks were raining on us. I actually had to shower and shampoo to get the ashes out of my hair. Nasty but cool.

I love 4th of July in DC.

Founding Fathers

2009-07-03T09:16:00.003-04:00

I love history. And I love America! Thought I'd share a little of both as we celebrate Independence Day.

Before I do, let me say a few things. First of all, this isn't meant to be a dissertation. It's a blog. Secondly, I'm not nominating all of our founding fathers for sainthood. Having said that let me say this: there is a lot of revisionist history that totally ignores or distorts the faith of our Founding Fathers. A lot of them were motivated by their faith in Christ.

Here's some back story on some of the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence. Most Americans know next to nothing about these fifty-six heroes who pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to the cause of freedom.

John Witherspoon was an ordained minister and authored several books of sermons, as well as editing America's first family Bible in 1791.

Charles Thomson served as Secretary of Congress and was a Biblical scholar. He helped edit the first American translation of the Greek Septuagint into English.

Charles Carroll, the last of the fifty-six signers to pass away at the age of 95 in 1832, wrote out his declaration of faith at the age of eighty-nine.

On the mercy of my Redeemer I rely for my salvation, and on His merits; not on the works I have done in obedience to His precepts.

Another Founding Father, Benjamin Rush, is considered the "Father of American Medicine." He personally trained three thousand medical students. Dr. Rush also founded "The First Day Society" which was the precursor to the Sunday School movement, as well as founding America's first Bible society. It was Benjamin Rush who said the Constitution was "as much the work of Divine Providence as any of the miracles recorded in the Old and New Testament were the effects of divine power."

Francis Hopkinson was a church music director and edited one of the first hymnals printed in America in 1767. He also set 150 psalms to music.

Roger Sherman is the only Founding Father to sign all four of America's Founding documents: the Articles of Association in 1774, the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the Articles of Confederation in 1778, and the U.S. Constitution in 1787. Roger Sherman was also a theologian. He wrote a personal creed that was adopted by his church:

I believe that there is one only living and true God, existing in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. That the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are a revelation from God, and a complete rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him.

I could share story after story, but the bottom line is this: many of our Founding Fathers were motivated by their Faith in Christ. They wrote sermons and creeds and hymns. They founded Bible Societies and Sunday Schools. They served God's purposes in their generation. And I, for one, am grateful.

Hope that adds a spiritual dimension to your 4th of July celebration!

Neue Interview

2009-07-03T06:40:00.002-04:00

I recently did an interview with Neue on modeling community.

Here's an excerpt.

In your latest book, Wild Goose Chase, you hold the view that our lives with God should be an adventure. What part does community within the Body play in this adventure?

Well, I think life by yourself isn’t much of an adventure. I’m going to preface this by saying this: I would like to think that when I pronounce the Benediction at the end of our services, I am sending dangerous people back into their natural habitats to wreak havoc on the enemy. That really is the DNA of the book—that we’re about being on mission, and that’s part of the adventure of living for Christ. To me, the greatest adventure is God inviting us into this thing called the Great Commission—how He didn’t call us to do something on our own. God loves the adventure of doing things together, and in the same sense, the greatest joys in life are things that bring us closer together with one another. For example, I’ve got 100 life goals, and a lot of those goals involve other people. I want to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, but I don’t want to do it by myself; I want to do it with one of my kids. Or, I want to run a triathlon with one of my kids—there’s something about doing something together that synergizes the entire experience and makes it more adventurous.

Check it out.

Sharkfest Alcatraz Swimfest

2009-07-02T08:26:00.002-04:00

I just registered for the Alcatraz Sharkfest Swim in 2010. It's a 1.5 mile swim from Alcatraz to the mainland through shark infested waters. And I convinced Summer to do it with me. Does that make me a bad parent?

For some strange reason, this swim landed on my life goal list the second I heard about it. Just seems like a crazy thing to do. And it'll be an amazing shared goal and shared experience with my daughter. Honestly, I'm less concerned about her than I am about me. She's a dolphin in the water. Me on the other hand? Well, think doggy-paddle.

The Upside of Inexperience

2009-07-02T07:34:00.004-04:00

"You're too young and inexperienced." I Samuel 17:33.

That is what Saul said to David when he wanted to challenge Goliath. And it was true, IF David had tried to engage Goliath in a conventional sword fight. But David changed the rules. He didn't approach Goliath as a warrior. He approached him as a shepherd. He introduced an unconventional method of warfare: the slingshot. That long-range weapon gave David a unique advantage over his more experienced opponent. In a sense, he overcame his weaknesses by playing to his strengths.

Can I make an observation? Inexperience is both a liability and an asset. And the upside of inexperience is this: you don't know what can't be done. So you're not afraid of doing old things in new ways. You take risks. You make mistakes. You experiment with new methodologies.

If we had a little more experience, part of me wonders if we would have never built a coffeehouse. Why? Because churches build churches. But we had just enough sanctified inexperience. Instead of asking why, we asked why not.

This week I read about a fascinating study done by political scientist Ivan Arreguin-Toft. He surveyed every war fought in the past two hundred years between strong and weak combatants. The Goliaths won 71.5% of the time. But when the Davids chose an unconventional strategy, their winning percentage was 63.6%. In other words, when Davids decide that they aren't going to play on Goliaths terms, they win two-thirds of the time.

So how do you fight in unconventional terms if you are a David? Sometimes it's substituting effort for ability. Davids need to work harder than Goliaths. Sometimes its doing something in a new way. But the bottom line is this: you cannot fight Goliath on Goliath's terms or you will lose. You have to change the rules. You have to get unconventional.

If we do church in conventional ways we'll get conventional results. We desperately need more unconventional leaders who will use their slingshots to advance the kingdom. I have a core conviction that drives me: there are ways of doing church that no one has thought of yet. Listen, I thank God for traditions. And I love traditional churches. But I think its unconventional leaders and unconventional churches that will reach emerging generations. Or maybe another way of saying it is this: we need leaders who are orthodox in theology but unorthodox in praxis.

Altars to God or Monuments to Self?

2009-07-01T09:00:00.000-04:00

In I Samuel 14:35 it says: "Saul built an altar to the Lord, the first one he had ever built." But just one chapter later, I Samuel 15:12, says: "Saul went to Carmel to set up a monument to himself."

Are you building altars to God or monuments to yourself?

That is THE QUESTION when it comes to motivation for ministry. There is a fine line between "Thy Kingdom come" and "My kingdom come." And if you cross that line, it's the beginning of the end. Samuel tells Saul that God is taking the kingdom away.

Can I offer a simple reminder? We are who we are by the grace of God. We do what we do for the glory of God.

Keep building altars to God.

Primal Release Date

2009-07-01T08:00:00.001-04:00

Just got huge news from my publisher! Feels like an early Christmas gift.

Looks like my next book, Primal, will release on 01.01.10. That is the date I was hoping for and working for. Pretty fired up about it. And there is a chance it'll hit bookstores right before Christmas. Honestly, I think this book was meant to be read right around the New Year. In fact, we'll do a little "make it the first book you read in 2010" campaign.

I've got 01.01.10 circled on my calendar!

One-Year Bible

2009-07-01T07:00:00.001-04:00

I don't even know how to say this so let me shoot from the hip. I want to inspire as many people as possible to read through a one-year Bible in 2010. I have no idea how this is going to take shape. But I know this: there is no substitute for getting into the Word and the Word getting into you.

If you were to ask me about the most important decision I've made this year, my answer would be simple: the decision to read through a one-year Bible.

I didn't read the Bible as much as I could have or should have last year. Honestly, I was reading it professionally instead of devotionally. It was more about what God wanted to say though me than what God wanted to say to me. Then I read something J.I. Packer said: "Every Christian worth his salt reads the Bible cover-to-cover every year." I couldn't argue with it. Long story short, I'm falling in love with the Bible all over again.

R & R

2009-06-30T19:00:00.001-04:00

How do I describe our play and pray retreat?

One of the most relaxing retreats of my life. Spent an hour napping in a hammock. Early mornings and late nights in a screened porch overlooking the Chesapeake Bay doing devotions, talking with staff, and playing spades. Loved the breeze!

I think rest is best when you work hard. The harder you work the more you enjoy a break. I also think the quality of rest depends on how you're doing spiritually. Nothing like being in right relationship with the Lord. Not just rest for your body, but rest for your spirit.

The Dock

2009-06-30T18:55:00.003-04:00

One of the highlights of our play and pray retreat was long walks on the dock. It must have been as long as a football field. We walked out there at night with flashlights and caught crabs. Played lots of sand volleyball. Tossed some corn hole. And played lots of pool and spades. Can't imagine a more serene setting than Osprey Point.

Here are a few pictures.

Rethink

2009-06-29T22:00:00.000-04:00

I recently did an interview with Rethink Magazine. Love the simple question: what are you rethinking? Here's a link to the interview. I'm rethinking everything from missions to preaching.

What are you rethinking?

Bragging about God

2009-06-29T08:33:00.002-04:00

Can I share a couple of personal definitions? Worship is bragging about God to God. Evangelism is bragging about God to others. In other words, evangelism is a form of worship. We start bragging about who God is and what God has done as we worship Him. And we don't stop.

I know that a lot of Christians feel subconscious guilt about not sharing their faith enough. That really isn't the issue. It's a byproduct of a deeper issue and the issue is this: we don't love God and love others like we could or should. If you really love someone what you really want for them is a relationship with Christ. And the more you love them the more you want it.

Play and Pray

2009-06-28T07:40:00.002-04:00

Every year our staff does two retreats. We have our planning retreat in late fall. And we do our play and pray retreat in early summer. The play and pray retreat is all staff plus spouses and kids.

We'll spend a couple days at Osprey Point playing and praying.

Evangelism Experiment

2009-06-27T17:00:00.000-04:00

This weekend I proposed a little evangelism experiment. More than any other religious word, the word evangelism conjures up feelings of guilt because so many of us feel like we don't share our faith like we could or should.

Here's the prayer that I've challenged NCCers to pray everyday this week. Can't wait to see how God answers these prayers. Lots of divine appointments waiting to happen this week!

Lord, I pray for an opportunity to share my faith with someone in some way. It’s not up to me to decide who or when or where. But I know why. Because you love them and want a relationship with them. So Lord, surprise me with opportunities to share my faith.

Forgive me for trying to do your job for you. You are the one who convicts of sin. You are the one who draws to Christ. But help me do my part as salt and light. Help me see those opportunities to react compassionately or listen patiently or speak kindly. Through word and deed, help me plant seeds of love in the lives of others. Give me boldness when it’s time to speak. Give me restraint when it’s time to listen. Give me words to say. But more importantly, give me ears to hear.

Lord, help me be sensitive to the prompting of your Holy Spirit so I can see the divine appointments you send my way. Help me not to be afraid of questions I cannot answer. Help me not to be afraid of people’s reactions or rejections.

Lord, help me preach the gospel every day, when necessary, with words.

In Jesus name, amen!