“Spend Less Reach More” by David A. Jones

“Spend Less Reach More” by David A. Jones is a quick, no-nonsense guide for pastors and church leaders who are considering developing a church marketing budget.  It covers the basic definitions of marketing, advertising, and branding.  Then it launches into spending priorities.

Following are some of my takeaways:

1. Marketing speaks the language of the person to be reached, not the person speaking.
2. In referencing the non-producing tree that Jesus cursed in Mark 11:14, a look at a church that is no longer growing may show that it may be too concerned with leaves and not enough about fruit.
3. Whether people come to Jesus by a personal invitation or by a TV spot matters little.  What matters is that a person came to Jesus.
4. If you can make the same impression over 17 times to the same individual, that person is more likely to invest in your product, schedule time to attend your event, or buy your service.
5. Master the basics.  The team that masters the basics will end up with more wins than losses in their column.  Don’t focus on the big wins.  Focus on the little things.  Tweak them.  Improve them.  Create a great experience and you’ll get a win.
6. A Marketing Budget rule of thumb is 5-7% of your annual budget.
7. Your marketing plan must answer precise, God-centered, and goal driven questions (painfully specific: number of guests per week, commitments to Christ, etc…).
8. Branding is a container for an individual’s complete experience with an organization.
9. If you have staff not living the brand or vision, fire them.
10. Creating multiple and consistent impression is the key to any good marketing campaign.  It is better to target 1,000 people three times than it is to target 3,000 people one time.  When people start calling you and asking you to stop mailing them, you know you are on the verge of a successful campaign.

You can also check out what Church Marketing Sucks has to say about this quick read.

Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey

Here are my Top Takeaways from Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey:

• John Wesley, “Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.”
• Giving helps us keep proper priorities in our lives.
• Give God your first 10%.
• In most industries, you can outwork 80% of your cohorts and outsmart the other 15%, which puts you in the top 5%- which pays very well.
• THE EXCELLENCE CYCLE: Doing something you like makes you more intense, which leads to greater creativity.  Consequently, you get paid more, which means you will get better at it.  If you get caught in this cycle, you will find that a low income is no longer the cause of your financial problems.
• THE DEBT SNOWBALL: Pay off all your debts by tackling the smallest debt first.  Then, apply freed-up monthly income on the next smallest debt until your available income for debt elimination overwhelms your indebtedness.
• In order to get out of debt, quit borrowing money.
• The trick for those who have seen the bottom is not to stay there.
• Napolean, “Victory belongs to the most persevering.”
• Saving Priorities: 1) Emergency Fund, 2) Purchases (to avoid debt), 3) Wealth.
• No investing of any kind should be done until you have 3-6 months of expenses saved for an emergency fund.
• You should never invest in anything you do not thoroughly understand.
• 2 KINDS OF RISK: 1) Risk of loss of principal and 2) Risk that inflation will beat you to the bank and take your money.
• You should always invest long-term and with pre-tax dollars.
• THE “LUCKY 7″ BASIC PRINCIPLES OF NEGOTIATIONS: 1) always tell the truth, 2) Use the power of cash, 3) understand and use “walk away power,” 4) Shut up, 5) “That is not good enough,” 6) Good guy. Bad guy, 7) “If I…” Give but take.
• Teach your kids about money beginning at age 3.
• FINANCIAL PLAN BABY STEPS: 1) save your 1st $1,000 toward your emergency fund, 2) snowball your debt, 3) finsih your emergency fund (3-6 months expenses), 4) Fully fund 401k, 403b, and Roth IRAs, 5) Start college funds, 6) Payoff your house, 7) Take all free capital and negotiate great investments.
• HARD LESSONS LEARNED IF YOU’VE HAD IT FINANCIALLY ROUGH: No matter what you gain or lose in material goods, you can never have talent and hope taken away from you.

Book Review: E-Myth Manager by Michael Gerber

I finished E-Myth Manager by Michael Gerber yesterday.  It was a good book that left me with some good takeaways, application points for myself, and some questions.  I’ll share the takeaways which are mostly quoatables, which caused me to pause or were central points of the book.  I condensed them to for pages of bulletted notes…kind of a Cliff’s Notes for E-Myth Manager.

Download the e-myth-manager-by-michael-gerber-takeaways Document here.

Or, check out the bulleted comments with poor formatting here:

•    An unchallenged idea can be a dangerous idea.

Book Review: “Made To Stick” by Chip and Dan Heath

Top 10 Takeaways from “MADE TO STICK” by Chip and Dan Heath

1. Stickiness means that your ideas are easily remembered, understood, and have a lasting impact- they change your audience’s behavior.

2. The oldest class of naturally sticky ideas is the proverb – a nugget of wisdom that often endures over centuries and across cultures.

3. The Six Principles of Stickiness are SUCCESs: Simplicity, Unexpectedness, Concreteness, Credibility, Emotions and Stories.

4. The Villain to Stickiness is the “Curse of Knowledge,” which is a naturally psychological tendency that consistently confounds our ability to create ideas using these principles.

5. No plan survives contact with the enemy. Instead of creating detailed plans, articulate a Commander’s Intent, which is a crisp, plain-talk statement that specifies the goals and desired end of an operation. As soon as people understand the Commander’s Intent, they begin generating their own solutions.

6. Get to the Core. To get to the core, we’ve got to eliminate the superfluous and tangible elements. You must weed out the really important ideas that are not the most important idea. A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

7. If you say three things, you don’t say anything.

8. Tversky and Shafir’s study shows that the more options people have, the more paralyzed they become. Prioritization rescues people from the quicksand of decision angst.

9. Most technology and product-design projects must combat “feature creep,” the tendency for things to become incrementally more complex until they no longer perform their original functions very well. When your remote control has fifty buttons, you can’t change the channel anymore.

10. The first problem of communication is getting people’s attention. We can’t demand attention, we must attract it. The most basic way to get someone’s attention is to break a pattern. Surprise gets our attention. Interest keeps our attention.

Book Review: The Reason for God by Tim Keller

Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Church in Manhattan presents an excellent piece, “The Reason for God” to engage the doubts of Christianity.  Each chapter is incredibly challenging.  As I’ve progressed through the book, it has unraveled in my heart…becoming one of my favorite books this year.

Chapter 12, “The (true) Story of the Cross” was exceptional with its relating of the story of Rocky (a gangster) in “Angels with Dirty Faces.” Rocky was going to his death in prison.  The only way that the couple hundred kids that idolized him to be saved from a life pursuing Rocky’s gangster feats was for him to lose his fearlessness on the way to his execution, causing these kids to look at him in a lesser light.  The only way for Rocky to save the kids was for him to lose the one thing he still had, “respect.”  In a moment of true bravery, Rocky “fearfully” screamed for mercy.

Likewise, Jesus loses himself in humanity and sacrifice so that each of us might be saved.  It is a powerful picture coupled with Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s story of willfully returning to Germany to oppose Hitler…a place where he knew he would likely lose his life.  He chose to speak out for the protection of those who were in danger…possibly bringing safety to them.  That chose increased the danger he faced, an act of selfless salvation.  Like Rocky, Bonhoeffer articulates what it means to bear someone else’s sin.  The idea that God requires sin to be graciously satisfied is not a foreign concept.  It is an everyday reality as we either chose and end the sin spiral or reject by perpetuating the violence/sin spiral.

The book was exceptional and was written to two groups:

NON-CHRISTIANS

To this group, one of the main messages is: “All of your problems and doubts of Christianity are based on alternate beliefs about spiritual reality and God…to really have integrity, you need to apply the same tests to your beliefs that you are applying and demanding that Christians apply to theirs.”

CHRISTIANS

To this group, the book is for Christians who already believe but have a lot of people they love and care for who have doubts about Christianity.  The Reason for God will definitely help in creating a healthy, rational dialog about Christianity as a belief system…providing a reasoned basis from which to begin.

Book Review: “How to Win Customers and Keep Them for Life” by Michael LeBoeuf

“How to Win Customers and Keep Them for Life” by Michael LeBoeuf was a great business read with a lot of application for a church with a passion to create environments where people who are curious about Jesus will explore and want to return

My Top 10 Takeaways:

1. The rewarded customer buys, multiplies, and comes back.
2. After seeing a very knowledgeable sales agent in action get turned down for a sale, the very passionate owner of the business with slightly less expertise, stepped in and got the sale. The reason? People are far more persuaded by the depth of your beliefs and emotions than any amount of logic or knowledge you posses. While I don’t hold that as a law, I certainly find value in that statement. Truth that has impacted your brain and your heart will cause you to be passionate. People respond to that kind of truth.
3. Use problems as opportunities to demonstrate just what great service your company gives.
4. Excellent service isn’t the result of doing any one thing 1,000% better. It’s the result of doing thousands of things 1% better.
5. “You get more of the behavior you reward.” I’m convinced this is why a lot of churches fail…because subtle relational manipulation is rewarded instead of an undying, unflinching devotion to the mission of Jesus.
6. How customers get treated is a direct reflection of how management is treating employees.
7. Nothing is more confusing than people who give good advice but set bad examples.
8. Organize the business around the customer. MY NOTE: It is not the job of the church to have high customer service if the customer is the regular church attender/member. But, if the customer is the community, we have to bend over backwards in posturing ourselves with a bias toward our community.
9. Get out of the office and find out what’s happening. Doing life in community with people is one of my favorite things about the Church. Getting so busy in administrating the church is to get away from the calling of the church.
10. Think long term and keep the big picture in mind. George Bernard Shaw said, “When I was young, I observed that 9 out of 10 things I did were failures, so I did ten times more work.”

Book Review: “Activate” by Nelson Searcy

Getting ready for our Fall Semester of Groups, I read through Nelson Searcy’s book, Activate: An Entirely New Approach to Small Groups. It’s a great read…one of the best practical ministry books I’ve read.

We’ve been working Nelson’s system for small groups at Life Pointe for one year now. We started last fall. The highest we’ve gotten our small group registrations to is 92% of our Sunday attendance. The best we had done prior to his small group system was just under 60%. Nelson has the mind and possibly, the heart of an engineer which makes him a great, direct talking coach to a lot of pastors.

Here are my Top 10 takeaways from his book:

1. Think larger, not smaller. Larger groups minimize the weirdo factor, mean less work for the facilitator, and anticipates that not everyone who signs up will show up.

2. The Four Spaces of Spiritual Growth are: a) public space, b) social space, c) personal space, and d) intimate space. Small Groups are not geared to creating intimate space but, rather social space.

3. Be simple in your approach to groups and ministry. If you give people too many options, their involvement will be so spread out that you won’t have their full participation or momentum in any one area.

4. Entry into a group must be utterly simple and fool proof. A one-step sign-up process, which removes barriers will greatly increase the number of people who decide to join a group.

5. Your small groups must function as a SYSTEM. Systems save you time, stress, energy, and money.

6. Every person on the church staff should have a hand in the development of small groups. Think full staff participation, not staff specialist.

7. Think decentralization, not control. As long as you have complete control over your small group system, you will only be able to go to a certain level before you plateau. Groups will multiply faster and be healthier when you trust God with your volunteer leaders and your volunteer leaders with your people.

8. The implementation of your small groups should go through four processes: a) focus, b) form, c) fill, and d) facilitate. Good ideas are common- what’s uncommon are people who’ll work hard enough to bring them about.

9. When planning for each semster, you need to have a goal of how many people will be attending Sunday mornings weekly during that semester. Then, you should have a goal to have 100% or more of that Sunday number in a group. Divide that number by 20 and that’s how many groups you should have giving you a basis for how many leaders, co-leaders, coaches, and managers you need to have in place.

10. When filling your group, you need to be strategic using multiple avenues for recruitment, tactics for getting the message out, and be singular in your message during that month of recruitment. Never underestimate the power of someone telling the story of their changed life through their group.

Book Review: Time Power by Brian Tracy

I struggled to locate Time Power by Brian Tracy at Barnes and Noble and actually gave up. I went home and purchased it online and read the PDF. This is the second book this year I’ve read on my computer. The first was Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll and Gary Breshears. I don’t know what the long term affect of that is on my eye sight. But, it worked. I imagine I’ll be reading more books like this. I hate storing books. Searching through them is challenging as well. Both of those issues are solved with a PDF book.

Anyway, if you really want to recapture your time, don’t buy the book. Just read my top 10 take ways (the book is good though).

Book Review: Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears

This Christmas break, I enjoyed a great read about the very person that is responsible for this global festival of generosity, Jesus of Nazareth. Out of roughly 70 books read this year, Vintage Jesus is my favorite read of 2007.

Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears provide an excellent 240 page Theological and cultural treat for the reader to enjoy in Vintage Jesus. Seasoned with vintage Driscoll, the book is full of wit, wisdom, and Scriptural gems.

Like Mark’s first two books, Vintage Jesus is bold and in your face…even potentially abrasive, an awkwardly attractive trait to me. Already knowing that Mark is an excellent Bible teacher, I was blown away by the strength of delivery of layer upon layer of awe inspiring truths about Jesus Christ. After reading Vintage Jesus, I am more committed to and appreciative of Jesus’ massive sacrifice for me.

Gerry Breshears portion of the book is obvious. Without looking at the division following each chapter, “Answers to Common Questions about….”, you know that Gary is writing based on the absence of many explosive pop references and the antagonistic and highly enjoyable quotations of other authors in their own words when they flippantly refer to Jesus by names such as a “bastard messiah” or in translating their theological platitudes in a more earthy translation which leaves liberal theologians/religionists exposed and hoisted on their own petard.

Breshears portion is not at all off tempo but right on the mark and pertinent. He answers exactly the questions that may naturally arise as you read Driscoll. And, they’ll serve adequately as firewood for great discussions later or even in the small group that may be organized around “Vintage Jesus.”

I highly recommend reading Vintage Jesus because it is Scripturally faithful, vivid in its depiction of Jesus, and it is far from being a dull read like far too many books on Scripture are. This book is a must read. I give it my strongest recommendation.

Download the 5 page review/notes of Vintage Jesus here.

Book Review: The Age of Speed

In keeping with the theme of Vince Poscente’s book, “The Age of Speed,” I downed this book in just over 2 hours.  After chapters 1 and 2, I began reading the first and last line of each paragraph to get on with it.  I guess I learned the lesson well.

So what’s the point?  Well, its actually a powerful one.  Do your stuff faster so you can save time for the important stuff.  The mantra of the 21st Century is to do more quicker so you can do even more quicker.  Poscente offers a new route…maybe not so new.  But, it is not a popular suggestion.  It is good in theory.  But, in practice, it is not widely embraced…through I’m a big proponent.

My favorite tidbits?

• Quit multi-tasking whenever possible and avoid interruptions.  Studies show that it takes up to 30 minutes to refocus when you restart an interrupted task.
• The old parable of the turtle and the hare is problematic because it illustrates a point that slower is better than faster using a faulty assumption.  It is assumed that the hare fails to finish because he’s too fast.  In actuality, the hare fails to finish because he’s lazy and doesn’t follow through while the turtle just wouldn’t quit.  Good point.  I like it.

Is it a book I’d recommend?  Sure.  But, don’t buy it.  Go to Barnes and Noble, buy a Venti Americano with room and polish the book off.  Then, go buy “Getting Things Done” to grab a few practical insights on how to do what Poscente suggests.

Book Review: Slandering Jesus

"Slandering Jesus" is a great book by Dr. Erwin Lutzer.  Seemingly, it was written in response to some of the discussions following the DaVinci Code Book/Movie.

In this book, Dr. Lutzer lists and answers the six lies people tell about the man who said He was God.  They are:

1. Jesus’ family tomb has been discovered.
2. Jesus was not crucified.
3. Judas did Jesus a favor.
4. Jesus was only a man.
5. Jesus had a dark secret.
6. Jesus is only one way among many.

Lutzer does an excellent job of fairly and effectively answering each question using historical data.  The thing that stood out most was how Lutzer framed up a motive behind many questions, especially those questions coming out of The Jesus Seminar and the strategically timed National Geographic exposes on the Gnostic Gospels.  How is it that we conveniently dispose of corroborated historical writings by multiple authors in the New and Old Testament Scriptures and embrace historically flawed writings and imaginative findings of people hostile to the message of Jesus and whose writings were not published until two hundred years after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus?

Perhaps, one of the greatest responses to these 6 questions of who Jesus is can be found inscribed on the corner of a downtown Chicago block where D. L. Moody knelt and dedicated that city block, the same city block of the church where Erwin Lutzer pastors, to the training and sending of ministers of the Gospel of Jesus into the world.  Slandering Jesus is an excellent book that will cause you to better know the Jesus you love.

Book Review: 50 Reasons Why Jesus Came To Die

John Piper’s book by the same title gives "50 Reasons Why Jesus Came to die."  Every reason is Scriptural, historical, and relevant.  The book could also be called "50 Compelling Reasons why You Should Follow Jesus."

It is logical in structure.  Piper gives two-page cases for each of the 50 arguments beginning with Scripture.  I found myself snacking on this book everywhere I went.  I couldn’t put it down.  But, I also didn’t have time to read it in one sitting.  The interruptions presented no challenge to reading the book since each reason was bite sized (just over 100 pages). 

It is an excellent read that I would highly recommend to every follower of Jesus and seeker of spiritual truth.

“The Magic of Thinking Big” by David Schwartz

I was unable to make it to my last coaching network session because Kelly is just too close to having our son…didn’t feel comfortable enough to be 4 hours away and have her potentially going into labor.  I had a book review due of David Schwartz’s book, "The Magic of Thinking Big."  So, I emailed it ahead and thought I’d go ahead and blog my takeaways here (pdf download).

More than it being a book on the power of positive thinking, it is a book on the power of positive action.  There are some great insights here and a great opportunity for me to re-focus on the basics of insulating myself from people, situations, thinking, and behavior that create consistently negative energy and situations. 

Pre-Order “Vintage Jesus”

I just pre-ordered Mark Driscoll’s and Gerry Breshears’ new book, "Vintage Jesus."  It won’t be out until
February 2008.  However, by pre-ordering, you get:

• 35% off
• a pdf manuscript months before it is published (this is why I pre-ordered)
• and an autographed copy (the only autographs I care for are on checks…guess I would take an autographed 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card but that’s different).

I’m looking forward to the book.

“Cut to the Chase” by Stuart Levine

10 Takeaways from "Cut to the Chase."  I could have left more for you.  But, I’m trying to take Stuart’s advice and get to the bottom line.  Here they are:

•    Cut the bull.  Eliminate the fluff and get to the point.
•    Compartmentalize your life so that work is not cheating home and home is not cheating work.  Then, be a zealot for both areas.
•    Multi-tasking is overrated. The energy wasted going between tasks kills.
•    Define your goals before engaging tasks.  The time seemingly wasted in preparation for a task will be recouped many times over by understanding your goals before you start projects.
•    Gather yourself early in the morning.  Take some time away from the noise.  Then explode off the blocks.  You’ll get more done than if you start out with a cluttered mind.
•    Be a master of your meetings.  Kill time wasters or they will kill you.
•    Be respectful of other people’s times, spaces, and agendas.  When you need to use someone’s time, prepare them accurately for how much time you need, then stick to it.  Telling someone you need 5 minutes and then taking 30 is incredibly rude and will create long term negatives for the person engaging in that behavior.
•    BE in touch with your weaknesses. Don’t obsess over them.  Play to your strengths.  Being unbalanced is ok as long as you know how to compensate for your weaknesses.
•    Experience renewal daily.  Know how to experience a vacation/Sabbath/time off.
•    When you hear about a problem the first time, pay attention.  If you hear it twice, act because it is a problem that needs to be handled.  If you hear it twice, it’s a trend.

Book Review: Ready for Anything

"Ready for Anything" by David Allen is the follow-up to "Getting Things Done."  I’m challenged in the field of organization.  Generally, I can mess up a garage, a desk, or a bedroom in minutes.  Yet, I thrive in minimalist environments.  So, both David Allen books worked for me.

I especially like Ready for Anything because it was 52 principles bulleted.  Like most books, there are a few too many pages, stories, illustrations.  I think I can tweak my preaching in the same way I can critique a good book.  Less is always more.

Of the 52 principles, the following stood out the most:

1. Cleaning up creates new directions.
4. Getting to where you’re going requires knowing where you are.
8. Closing open loops creates energy.
10. Creativity shows up when there’s space.
21. Perspective is the most valuable commodity on the planet.
25. Only one thing on your mind is "in the zone."
27. Stability on one levels opens creativity on another.
34. You can’t win a game you haven’t defined.
35. Whenever two or more are responsible for something, usually no one is.
41. Too controlled is out of control.
44. Your power is proportional to your ability to relax.
46. The longer your horizon, teh smoother your moves.
49. Small things done consistently, create major impact.
51. Its easier to move when you’re in motion.

I’ll leave you with my favorite line from in the book, "When you can see your target and identify with getting there, you quickly lose interest with how beaten, bloody, or muddy you are."

Also, check out what Drew Goodmanson had to say about both books here.

Book Review: Good to Great by Jim Collins

I just finished Good to Great by Jim Collins.  Here are my top 10 takeaways from the book:

1. “Personal Will” does not oppose humility. In fact, both are necessary to transition my church from being good to being great.
2. Acceptance of the brutal facts and an accurate assignment of blame and praise are keys to navigating from good to great.
3. If you don’t have the right people on the bus, the “what” of your mission won’t mean much. It all starts with surrounding yourself with the right people.
4. Before evaluating a potential hire for talent, evaluate him for character and work ethic.
5. Creating a culture of discipline and rigor starts at the top and requires consistent application of standards throughout the organization without bias.
6. When you know that you have a wrong person on the bus, let them go quickly. It is in the best interest of the church/organization and the person being released. It increases productivity, creativity, and morale when the wrong people on the bus leave.
7. Determination or faith that you will succeed knowing that significant obstacles will come is key to long-term success and survivability.
8. Focus specifically on your passion, what you do best, and the economics that drive your church.
9. Do not allow technology to drive what you do. But, find out how it fits with your ministry, the mission, and then leverage technology once you have a well thought out strategy. Don’t allow fear to motivate you to embrace technology before you understand it.
10. There is no silver bullet for success. Lasting success is built by the consistent pushing against “the flywheel.” It takes a while before you see the momentum you are looking for. But, in time and with persistence, the momentum will be so powerful, it will take on a life of its own.

BONUS: I learned I am excited to journey from good to
great. I am anxious to discover my
potential as a leader. I learned I’m
ready to make the toughest decisions facing me to make the transition.

Book Review: Plastic Jesus

Plastic Jesus is a good conversational book written by self professed metrosexual, ex-football player, human sexuality professor, and teaching pastor, Eric Sandras.  The whole metrosexual/football fanatic seemed like a contradiction.  But, I’m dealing with it, especially since I enjoyed the book.

I’ve just recently finished "The Jesus of Suburbia," a similar book.  Like I’ve written before, I tend to binge on like topics until I can’t take anymore.  Eric does a great job of cutting through the pretense of Christianity, the plastic facades and encourages followers of Jesus to abandon the manicured exteriors of suburban Christianity to embrace authenticity in relationship with Christ and others.

One of my favorite parts of Eric’s book was his retelling of a ministry trip to a small village church in Brazil accessible only by boat.  This small church building was absolutely packed and this village was receiving the Gospel of Jesus.  At the height of of this spiritual rich moment, the crowd parted and a woman who was well known in the village approached the altar with her six year old son.  The boy was paralyzed on his left side.

Eric described how he was positive this boy would be healed.  As he prayed, it became obvious that the boy would not be healed.  Eric’s faith had turned to doubt as he questioned how God could allow this woman and boy to be shattered this way.

In some kind of turning point in the way Eric would live, he broke from his pastoral persona and told the lady that he did not know why God did not heal the boy.  But, as "waves of love for the boy overwhelmed him," he said, "I do know that God loves you."  Eric goes on to share the story of this woman and boy and how the woman had felt nothing but abandonment in her life.  This woman left repeating over and over how amazed she was the God loved her.  While she experienced acceptance, Eric experienced doubt about who God was.

This experience sums up the contradictions of the faith in Jesus Christ that Eric has experienced and shares that the Bible has called us to live.  According to Plastic Jesus, faith in Christ is a commitment to a depth of experience with a God that has not been totally figured out and a rejection of compartmentalized, orderly, and success-oriented suburban Christianity.

I enjoyed it and would recommend it to just about anyone regardless of their spiritual location.

Velvet Elvis

I just closed Velvet Elvis.  It was worth the read.  I’m not going to do a whole review kind of thing but, I will say I very much enjoyed Rob Bell’s story.  I mostly enjoyed hearing his personal struggle through faith and church leadership.  He’s a great story teller.  I was captivated by his telling of Christ as Rabbi.  The controversial part?!  Doctrine.  His liberty with core doctrines is just that…his liberty with core doctrines.  They are true or they are not.  The only controversial thing was its existence in his book…not the ideas themselves.  They didn’t have the weight they needed to really be controversial. Actually, they seemed kind of like straw men. 

I can’t watch movies twice.  I can’t read books twice.  I might be able to read this one again.  It was motivational.  I agree with Rob that the Christian faith needs to be repainted.  The repainting that it is in need of is not due to poor theology.  It is due to believers who choose not to follow, Christians who are self-consumed and selfish, and a church who quit trying to be covered by the dust from the sandals of Christ.

Books by Batterson and Ferguson

I just placed an order on Amazon for In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson and The Big Idea by Dave Ferguson.  3-5 day shipping.  I need to finish Experience the Message before they get here.

tagged: mark batterson – dave ferguson – max lenderman

Sun Tzu’s “Art of War”

I just wrapped up Sun Tzu’s “Art of War.”  I am amazed that that something as complicated as the organization for battle can be explained with simplicity and in such a forumulaic fashion.  One of my favorite statements came from the Nine Situations:

The following are the principles to be observed by an invading
force:  The further you penetrate into a country, the greater
will be the solidarity of your troops, and thus the defenders
will not prevail against you.

Fully apllicable in life, church, faith, family, business, and football-the best defense is a good offense.  Once headway has been made into enemy territory, it is best not to retreat for the purpose of consolidating gains.  Rather, it is preferable to continue advancing, winning, and succeeding.

tagged: sun tzu – “art of war”

DAILY LIT: An Awesome Find for Readers

I just discovered an awesome resource for readers.  I read Steve McCoy from time to time.  While there, I clicked over to Joe Thorn’s blog.  They seem to be like the Batman and Robin of the SBC.  While at Joe Thorn’s blog, I found a link to Daily Lit.

Daily Lit delivers daily bite sized portions of the Classics into your inbox.  I just finished part 1 of 7 parts of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner."

tagged: classic books – daily lit – steve mccoy – joe thorn – reading club – coleridge

Favorite George Eliot quotes

It has been a while since I read a good fiction.  I’ve read Silas Marner before.  It was in the ship library and I couldn’t pass it up.  "George Eliot" shares some super insightful words, as applicable today as ever before. Consider these excerpts:

"…the
past becomes dreamy because its symbols have all vanished, and the present too
is dreamy because it is linked with no memories."

Silas is relieved when Dolly leaves: "her simple view of life and its comforts,
by which she had tried to cheer him, was only like a report of unknown objects,
which his imagination could not fashion."

"As the child’s mind was growing into knowledge, his mind was growing into
memory: as her life unfolded, his soul, long stupefied in a cold narrow prison,
was unfolding too, and trembling gradually into full consciousness."

"Do we not wile away moments of inanity or fatigued waiting by repeating some
trivial movement or sound, until the repetition has bred a want, which is
incipient habit?"

"A man will tell you that he has worked in a mine for forty years unhurt by an
accident as a reason why he should apprehend no danger, though the roof is
beginning to sink…"

Technorati Tags: George Eliot – Silas Marner – quotes – emerging church

Back to the Real World

I’m back.  Six days of rest and relaxation were just what he doctor ordered.  We took Carnival’s Imagination to Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Grand Cayman.  We ate more than I would care to talk about, slept in daily, caught some rays, took in some shows, re-enacted the bow scene from Titanic (Kelly),

swam with stingrays, climbed Dunn’s River Falls, went sockless to a formal dinner (me), and read.  It was fantastic.

Being with Kelly apart from phones, internet, work schedules, and the girls (though we greatly missed them) was really a blessing.  She’s a godly babe who has an eye for me.  I really am the most blessed man on the planet.

I also finished off a couple books, Breaking the Missional Code by Ed Stetzer and David Putnam and Silas Marner by George Eliot.  Thanks to all for the great book recommendations.  I’ll be picking some of those up soon. 

Here are a few pictures from the trip.  I know you won’t enjoy them like I did.  But, at least its not a slide show of all the vacation pics at Aunt Edna’s house.  Peace.

I need some book recommendations

I am on my way out the door.  I’ll be gone until Saturday.  No computer.  No phone.  I will be polishing off the last of all of my books with the exception of "Breakout Churches" by Thom Ranier.

I need to reload.  Tom Sterbens got me thinking I need to read "The Present Future."  I now have to read "Exemplary Husband" by Stuart Scott due to the whole toilet seat issue (I’m still representing…toilet seat war is still in full battle). 

So, let me hear from you.  What are some must reads you would recommend?  I’m all ears.  Let me know so that when I come back, I can make a good amazon purchase.

Geneology of My “One Book Meme”

Rich Tatum put together the "Geneology of the One Book Meme".  Check it out.  Its a response to this.  Pretty cool.  Quickly, this is the history of the meme (most recent at the top):

• Travis Johnson
• Dan Ohlerking
• Ben Abu Saada
• Rich Kirkpatrick
• Mark Waltz
• Tim Stevens
• Perry Noble
• Bob Franquiz
• Michael Foster
• Drew Goodmanson
• Steve McCoy
• Garrett Craw
• John Barach
• Steven Wedgeworth
• Barbara Harvey
• Alastair Roberts
• Benjamin Myers

Tagged by Dan Ohlerking

I’ve been tagged by Smooth Daddy Dan Ohlerking from Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge regarding books I’ve read.  He also tagged Matt Fry, Dino Rizzo, Robert Pooley, and Carole Turner. 

I’ll answer, give his site some prime, top page real estate on travisjohnson.net and, then tag 5 others, giving them some link action like Smooth Daddy Ohlerking did for me, and see what kind of books they are reading in the process.  Here are my responses:

1. One book that changed your life:  Without a doubt- the Bible.  Most books I read simply support THE Book!  Aside from the Bible, a book that changed my daily behaviors was "The Millionaire Next Door."  The book showed how that the profile of a typical millionaire was that he skimped on consumables and splurged on items that grew with value.  Super spiritual answer, no?!
2. One book that you’ve read more than once: "10 Apples Up on Top" by Dr. Seuss I loved it as a kid and read it to Kourtney a couple times a week. 
3. One book that you’d want on a desert island:  Bhutan - it would make a great shelter.
4. One book that made you laugh:  "Confessions of a Reformission Rev" by Mark Driscoll.  Simply an honest book by a big shot pastor.  I love the fact that he’s real and doesn’t paint a ridiculously fluffy picture of the Church.  His passion for mission and the Scriptures is inspiring.
5. One book that made you cry:  "God Smuggler" by Brother Andrew.  I read it in the 8th grade.  It is one of the most humbling and inspirational books I’ve ever read.
6. One book that you wish had been written:  The Travis Johnson story.  I’d like to know how it turns out.  I know that I will finish faithful.  I’ve settled that question between God and me.  But, I’d like to know who I meet, what great things happen in the lives of people I love, and if I get to go to the next College National Championship Bowl Game that the Hurricanes will dominate.
7. One book you wish had never been written: Maybe the Bible.  The fact that it has been written means that man fell in the Garden and no longer walks with God like we did in the beginning.  I am thankful that the Bible has been written because it gives us a way back to God where we can know God as we are known.
8. One book you are currently reading:  Experience the Message by Max Lenderman, Small is the New Big by Seth Godin, and Breaking the Missional Code by Ed Stetzer and David Putnam.
9. One book you’ve been meaning to read: Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell and The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman.

With all that said, I now officially tag: David Russell, Troy Gramling, Rich Tatum, Barbara Sanders, and John Smulo (honorary "tagee"=Kevin Fisher from Miami Vineyard…brother, hook up that blog, dog.)

The Way Worship is Experienced

In Breaking the Missional Code, Ed Stezer and David Putnam discuss the conflict between "Seeker Sensitive" and "Believer Hostile" (and vice versa).  Its an interesting discussion and no doubt an issue I have personally struggled through.  During that discussion, they point out 13 questions that churches wanting to break the missional code of their community are asking themselves.  Here they are:

1. Is the setting inviting and familiar?
2. Are those attending and participating familiar with the music?
3. Can those attending and participating relate to the communication style of the teacher/preacher?
4. Is the Bible being taught in a way that the people can experience and grasp the message?
5. Is the language used understandable and true to Biblical content?
6. Is the way in which the people are invited to participate in the truth clear and engaging?
7. Is the environment safe for those in process?
8. Is there enough tension created to move people forward in faith?
9. Does the creativity used connect to those attending and participating?
10. Is Jesus clearly lifted up in the worship experience?  Is worship God-centered?
11. Is the Gospel clearly presented?
12. Are people given a clear opportunity to respond?
13. Are they invited to participate in community on a regular basis?

The questions are fairly basic.  But from these questions, we can critique what kind of environment we are creating and dig deeper into our ministry strategy, creating meaningful environments for God and man to intersect.  I really appreciate Stetzer’s emphasis that people are being discipled prior to conversion…some times, not converting until after they have cultivated a significant faith outlook.

With that in mind, it is ever more important to challenge, create tension/friction, and opportunities to serve for everyone-Christ follower as well as the not-yet-committed.  As that journey is enoyed, we must maintain our focus that the Church does not exist for the believer.  The responsibility for individuals to grow in faith does not rest in the hands of anyone but the individual.  The responsibility to build up, encourage, and reach out lies in the hands of every Christ follower.

Top 10 Ways to Maximize Your Reading

1. You’ll read a book a week if you read a chapter in the morning and a chapter at night.
2. Leave a book in your car to kill time when you are waiting for people.
3. Keep a book in the bathroom.
4. Go to work a little early and down a couple chapters before the day gets busy.  You’ll avoid traffic and grow in knowledge.
5. Instead of sitting in front of the TV all night, steal away for a few minutes of a relaxing read.
6. Download books and listen when you run, walk, or workout on your iPod.
7. Publish what you read and scan what others (like Bob, John, and Chris) are reading or what Dave and Tony are writing to keep your interest peaked and your horizons new.
8. Put down books that are boring.  Don’t burn yourself out trying to read through a book that does not captivate you.
9. Review or excerpt books you read from time to time.  You’ll spare people from wasting money on a lame book and help people to make a good investment on an exceptional book.
10. Keep a journal for your "to do" lists, big ideas, and thoughts.  Among those notes, record the nuggets you got from each book.  Then, loan out or give away the books you’ve finished.

Seth Godin Skypecast and “Small is the New Big”

I pre-ordered Seth Godin’s new book, "Small is the New Big" about two months ago.  I got the email that it shipped from Amazon today at 4:02 pm (along with "Experience the Message : How Experiential Marketing is Changing the Brand World" by Max Lenderman).  For this reason, I love FedEx Ground trucks!

With the release of Seth’s new book (we are on a first name basis, you know), he is doing a Skypecast interview led by TypePad’s General Manager, Michael Sippey on Tuesday, August 22 at 2:00 PM (PDT). 

I like the little Skypecast spiff and releases to fire up some buzz over his book, which is basically a collection of 184 really great ideas-mostly from his blog.  It gets me (a blogger) to bang away at my keyboard like a zombie, trying to be one of the first to brag about the book.

In a perfect world, the good Dr. Godin would give me some link love for telling everyone that I need the Fed Ex truck to deliver his book to me ASAP. 

Technorati Tag: Seth Godin – Small is the New Big – Skypecast – Max Lenderman