Check out this recording of a free coaching session with Steve Sjogren.  In this session, Steve coached leaders from all over the world, live via Skype.  For more information on getting connected to live sessions, check out the post on this site!

Steve’s Theory Re. Church Boards, #43: “There is a mysterious little red book that is passed among toxic boards with rules of conduct.  One of the primary rules is, ‘When a new pastor is checking out your place, put away the firearms, knives grenades and clean up the blood spills from the previous pastor… and hope the new guys isn’t trained in CSI techniques…’” 

Paul’s counsel to his understudy, Timothy, is as timely today as it was 2,000 years ago.  People really don’t change do they?  Human nature is human nature, right?  Pettiness is interesting to those who have lost sight of the central focus of the kingdom.  Sometimes people are teachable.  In fact, most are it seems.  But some are broken.  Those are the ones who are in need to care.  One thing is for certain – the broken ones who cannot see the prevailing future God has for us

“We’re going to outlast you.  We’ve outlasted the past several pastors.  We’ll do the same with you.  That’s that.”

You’ve just shared your vision with the board of your new church.  Somehow, like an addict who managed to hide his / her gigantic problem before getting married, when you checked out the church all seemed “happy happy, joy joy.”  Now that you’ve moved umpteen thousand miles the fangs and claws appear.  The real board sinks their heels in.  They make it crystal clear they are not open to your “newfangled” ideas about changing this or that. 

I receive emails continually with this scenario. 

Feel called to it or not, your part of your job description leader is to raise the spiritual watermark of your city.  That happens as you operate as Jesus directed – “Be wise as a serpent.”  There’s more to the verse, but we’ll stop there for now.  It is not all that often that serpent-like wisdom is something we need to lean upon when dealing with those outside the Church.  The unfortunate truth any veteran leader will tell you is serpent wisdom is needed when dealing with those who want to be a big fish in a little pond.  Those who the maladjusted, emotionally broken, who have convinced themselves they are serving when in fact they are seeking visibility or something they don’t even have an understanding of.  We all are in the same boat to some degree.  The difference between a healthy brokenness and a desperately unhealthy one is the willingness to call out for help. 

As the local church leader who is dealing with such non-leaders who are posing as the real thing, you have several responses to choose from:
A.    Become even more cynical than you currently are (that’s not healthy emotionally or spiritually). 
By the way, before you flog yourself for falling into a tad bit of cynicism realize this:  Only those who really care about something great happening can possibly fall prey to becoming cynical. Those who don’t really care about attaining God’s best, will never become emotionally involved.  

Ponder some positive responses to this vexing situation…

B.    Promote specific board members who are ill-fitted for the current vision scenario.  I use the word “promote” as in remove them to a better place where they will find greater fulfillment and do less damage to the church. 
In some church polity systems, boards are elected by a vote of the membership.  The way this would need to take place is for a given ill-fitted leader to feel loved, understood, led, cared for by you.  Once you tap into their real passion (not this sort of leadership obviously) you help them find an either existing ministry they lend leadership to – or even better, help them create a new ministry they lead, assuming they have a passion for that specific area.  Passion is the key. 

PLEASE… Drop the idea of “gifting” that has been so emphasized the past number of years.  I have read between a dozen and twenty books on the general topic of “help your people engage in their area of gifting with ministry opportunities that exist.”  Yet I have not read nor heard of a single – I write literally here – a single ongoing example of a large, growing, city-reaching congregation that has walked in this model of “gift discovery = effectiveness.”  The reason being, I believe, it is an American trend that is a misunderstanding of scripture.  I will write on this in coming weeks along with a much more realistic and scripturally based concept that indeed does bear fruit.

The absolute key here… the person (people) in question must feel they are serving in an area that clearly fits their passion.  Once tapped into, people will go far when their passion is released. 

C.    Strategically work toward influencing key players in your congregation.  Regardless of the size of your congregation, the size of the key influencers is not going to be enormous.  In fact, if you are observant, if you are a listener, you will be able to figure out who pulls the strings – whether officially or unofficially.  In established congregations, this power will likely rest in unofficial hands.  Pray for favor with these people.  Seek to bring them into your vision circle.  Keep in mind, this is not your vision after all, this is the vision God gave you. 
Keep in mind, your secret weapon might be sitting right next to you – your spouse.  This is not universally true.  If your spouse is not doing well emotionally, don’t even consider putting them through something like this.  On the other hand, if all is well, work as a team to forward the vision Jesus has put on your heart. 

Question:  Okay, but what do you do if the people in question still won’t budge?  What do you do if they are major contributors and they threaten to quit coming to the church even? 

That’s what we will look at next week…

As a leader, how do I know when too much is happening too soon?

What Do I Monitor?

God’s Direction
Look for his invitations.  His leading is not mystical in the least.  He will not direct you anywhere he has not gone before you already.  Simply look / listen / sense your way forward for the giant footsteps in the snow. Look for the obvious direction of God’s Spirit.
Your Heart
“Oh leader, my leader…” 
You are the lightning rod of God locally.  Don’t allow anyone to talk you out of your critical role on the local scene.  You are the key to what God is doing and what he has in mind to do. 
Your Spouse
Assuming for a moment that your spouse is in good shape emotionally, that is, her / his emotional pendulum is not swinging way out of sync, God has given your mate as an amazing gift.  Leadership was never meant to be a one person, single dimension arrangement.  Listen to your better half.  Most “Eager Beaver” leaders have a hard time listening to their spouses, but wisdom over time says something different. 
The Fun Factor
When the fun lowers across the board, people are feeling like what used to be fun has become more like work, this is a sure sign of the too much too soon occurring.  Keep a close eye on the fun factor meter. 

What Do I Ignore?
Sometimes Staff
Some reading this will say, “But I don’t have staff yet.”  Yes you do!  We all have staff.  Perhaps they aren’t paid, but you have a team of “staff” people hanging out.

I have dropped the word “staff” – it sounds like the "staf" infection that nearly killed me several years ago – no kidding!  Two-thirds of those who get a "staf" infection don’t recover, or if they do, they end up losing body parts in the effort to save the patient.  If you’ve been a leader for long, that’s an interesting metaphor to ponder. 

I have traded up for “Talent Team.”  You have a talent team as well. God has deposited various talents in those who surround you.  They are a huge part of why you are making progress.  Some of your talent team are reliable barometers to gauge the pace of change.  Others are vision impaired and will nearly always play the role of Eeyore (cf. Winnie The Pooh) and whine.  Listen to the “Tiggers” who are moving forward with you.

Sometimes Your Board
Rarely are boards a good litmus test of being able to tell how much, how soon change ought to take place.  If I’ve heard it once I’ve heard it countless times – a paraphrase of the sentiment, “But we’re not ready yet for what you’re talking about…” 

When I train churches to turn outwardly, it is obvious that if all works as usual, people will begin to appear – something that hasn’t occurred in ever so long in a given church. One would think that is a good thing, right? Nay, nay – not so for church boards!  Rarely is it an exception that a board is made up of primarily Casper Milktoast clones.  That is, the ones with the willies about anything the might possibly happen. They all have a bad case of the “what if’s.” The assumption is constantly that God will not show up when we need him to…that it is just us trying our best without any divine intervention.

Run With Those Who Get It
By far and away, the listen to the ones who will tell you the most about the rate of change – if it is possibly happening a bit too quickly…listen, watch, connect with them. Hopefully as I mention this term you know of whom I refer to in your own congregation. 

Don’t stop the change that is being ushered in. At the most, simply slow it down a bit while people catch their breath. If you allow people to intimidate you such that change halts, getting that change flywheel running again is a challenge you don’t want to deal with.

At the churches I visit, as people come in slowly, as they arrive late, I often go up to the men in particular with a cup of coffee in my hand to offer them.  I don’t ask if I can chat (after doing servant evangelism for over 20 years you learn a few tricks about connecting with people).  I simply say, “Do you take your coffee black or with sugar or what?”  Then I say, “We haven’t met yet have we?”  Of course we haven’t – I’ve never been there, and it’s likely we never will ever meet again.

I introduce myself a bit.  Eventually, I ask men this question, “So why do you come late each week?  You can tell me the truth – I’m only here one week – I don’t know who you are.  You can be completely honest with me…”  It is amazing how consistent men are when they answer me.  Almost always they lean forward, they look right, look left, lower their voice then speak…

“The God’s honest truth is, I CAN’T STAND THOSE INCESSANT SONGS THEY SING HERE!  My wife told me I’d get used to the songs, but hey, it’s been several months (or even years) now and I still don’t like this singing stuff.”
Then I usually hear one of two things, that they are either:

1. Bored stiff while the singing is going on, or;
2. They feel the songs are too "girly."

Some reading this might think, “I suspect those guys aren’t believers yet.”  I thought this as well for a while.  But in many cases, these guys definitely know the Lord.
 
This is tough to hear for those of us who love worship as it exists now, but we have essentially castrated worship, calling it “Contemporary Worship.”  True, few would go for this style if we called it “Castrated Worship” or Contemporary Castrated Worship, but it seems to me to be the truth.
 
To quote one of the great lines in film history, the character Howard Beale, from the film Network, “I know things are bad – they’re bad every where – for everyone.  If you can relate to me, get up, right now, wherever you are.  Go to your window right now.  Open that window and yell as loud as you can, “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it any longer!” To the shock of network execs, everyone watching the news that evening, heard about Beale’s moment of gritty honesty and changed channels.
 
We have such a moment now, as leaders in the Church.  The vast majority are mad as "H-E-Double Hockey Sticks" and aren’t going to take it any longer.
 
I am not the answer man.  Only God himself has the answers.  Our role?  To go back to the well and hear from him.  I know what we are NOT to do, merely copy others who are innovating.
 
Below is what I am seriously pondering doing instead of doing what is obviously dead in the water (AKA, the current worship scene):
 
Thought!  What if we had:
1.  “Pre-Worship” with 2-3 songs done by a cover band with songs that were of the kind that all of us could sing from memory.  We put together a cover band.  James Taylor has many songs that might well be focused upon Jesus like “How Good It is To Be Loved By You.”  We could come up with an initial set of say 100 songs that are “safe” or slightly adjusted – we call it “Sister Act Worship” until someone comes up with a better term.
2.  Plugs – (never ever again use the word “announcements” or I will need to rent a Silk Worm shoulder launched missile and take out your steeple! – when people hear the “A” word they shut down and do not listen… guaranteed!)  Use a “Happy happy” person to do these – probably an ex-cheerleader – not like President Bush though – probably a woman who is bubbly and super warm and inviting.  Only plug 2 at the most 3 things – and then only things that apply to the vast majority of your people.  Use some sort of LCD graphics to go with the plug.
3.  Anointed, Passionate, Practical Message.  Look at the three adjectives here.  If you are not ready with all of these, give your weekend spot to someone else who is at least passionate.  Your time length?  NO MORE THAN 25 minutes.  It’s not about you – it’s about the people and their capacity to listen and retain what they hear.
4.  Post Worship – key word – simple.  Forget the band thing at this point.  Get someone with a guitar or someone on a piano, but make sure they are really great at leading others into God’s presence.
Drop all the complex songs.  Most of the new worship songs are very complex; maybe it is time to return to some classic songs that many today have never heard.
Sing only songs that are sung to God, never about God.
Just do 2 or 3 songs, tops.
 
As you do the second or third song, take up your offering.  Mention how the gathering is going to proceed during your plugs.

“To see people come to Christ…”
“To see people grow spiritually…”
“Honestly, I haven’t given it a lot of thought…”
 
The above are the three most common answers I receive from pastor-teachers when I ask them what they are aiming at in their weekly messages. I am inclined to believe the third response is the accurate, heartfelt one by the vast majority of pastors unfortunately. The truth remains, “If you have no clear goal in mind, you are sure to hit it.”
 
After I completed my ministry training, I began to do actual ministry with real live people – not crash test dummies. I soon realized I had only been trained – not equipped – the operative word in scripture for those who are ready to extend the kingdom of God on Earth. There is a huge difference between those two words. The first implies theory. Equipping leads to effectiveness.
 
Why did Jesus spend three years, 24/7 in continual presence with the Twelve? To “train” them? I don’t think so. The kingdom is not primarily about information (though that is an element of the kingdom). If it were an information based kingdom Jesus would have turned over the Twelve with a new group every quarter. Face it, the gospel is not that complicated, not matter what your professors have told you. C.S. Lewis was spot on when he said, “This message is profound enough it boggles the greatest minds ever, yet a washer woman can fully grasp it…” Jesus’ kingdom is mostly about living the way Jesus lived. He lived in close quarters all that time in order to impart to them what they could never learn with their minds – what they had to catch like sponges with their hearts and souls.
 
When we stand before people for that amazing 30 minutes each week we have an amazing opportunity by the presence of the Holy Spirit upon us, as we apply God’s everlasting word, to people’s lives that are broken, struggling, painful, in many cases in my churches, even leaving a virtual trail of blood behind them they are so wounded.
 
What are we to do to make the most of our opportunity?
 
I have had the opportunity to give a lot more messages than most pastors for a number of reasons – I’m at about the 15,000 mark now. That’s a whole lot of talks. The one goal I suggest we shoot for with each talk is that we make our talks memorable. That what we share on Sunday be remembered on Thursday.
How is that done?

1. Stop with the multiple points already.  Forget what Professor Plumbob told you – this is not 1957.  Accordion teachers are no longer going door to door offering lessons! Ike is dead. We have color TVs.  It’s great to point out insights along the way to your point. Write this on your heart:  The greatest change you can make is to boil your message down to just one point that you lead up to at the end.  I tell people at the beginning each message, “If you are new, I’m only going to give one point – at the end. I will give you a signal when that point is given. You don’t want to miss it.” Just last week someone told me they remembered one of my single points from the late 80s!  I think I had an Afro back then!  That is something only God can bring to mind.  With a cluttered message, it is difficult to remember any points after Sunday lunch - seriously!
2. Tell lots of stories. The shortest distance between two lives is a great story. Work continually on your story tell skill. Haddon Robinson is one of the great story tellers alive today, bar none. Listen to him anytime you get the chance.
3. Tell on yourself in a wise, prudent way. Don’t tell 20 year old “safe” stories either. Whether they are funny or profound failures, make sure your people get an accurate picture of you as a fellow struggler along with them or you will do them a horrible disservice.  You are a nerd.  You know it.  Jesus knows it.  Your people suspect it.  Let the cat out of the bag and have a good laugh.  If you are expected to keep up a facade by the local Board, you need to start looking for a new place to serve - I’m dead serious.  That is the sign of a deeply toxic environment that is unlikely to change in your lifetime.
4. Craft your one point until it is so simple, poignant, (please, it doesn’t have to rhyme! Anyone under 40 years old is going to likely roll their eyes if you rhyme – guaranteed) – but highly memorable.  Ask Jesus to give you his word smithing skills… and you will grow stronger by the week. 

The goal of all of this? Not to maintain the saints – but to see lives change week after week.

My lovely and talented love in life, my wife of almost 30 years, Janie and I, are selling our home as we transition to Tampa.  The biggest part of “getting into the heart” of a buyer is the instant “WOW factor,” as a great real estate consultant friend calls it.  We flew in this consultant for a couple of days from Omaha to do just one thing with our old house, make all changes necessary so that within approximately 3.7 seconds all who walk in our front door will be stunned and have just that one word to utter, “WOW!  This is OUR NEW HOUSE!” 

You too, as a leader-pastor-teacher are the architects of the WOW! factor in many contexts where you serve.  Not simply at weekend gatherings (may I suggest we have officially worn out the word “celebrations” – if any of us ever really achieved an actual “celebration” then great, but we have beaten that phrase to death and it is time for a new one – I suggest what most translations of Acts uses – simply “gatherings”) but every time you get with people and need to see Jesus show up in order for the kingdom to be advanced in your midst. 
-    leadership gatherings
-    board gatherings
-    strategy advances… you can take it from there

So how does one regain, re-engage or perhaps for the first time fire on all eight cylinders of your V-8 so you are approaching your God-given potential?  Consider…

A.    Thank Jesus for every single person he sends each weekend! 
There is a myth that is perpetuated by some seminaries still that a church can grow by planning… (uhhh, there is steam coming out of my ears now though you can’t see it…  In Acts and in all of Paul’s writings it is clear to anyone who can read at a third grade level that when God’s Spirit shows up the CITY shows up – not certain classes of people).  If you are picky about who you are “aiming” for – then just forget it.  Just be honest.  It’s not a church you are expanding but an empire – of those who make your people feel comfortable.  When Jesus shows up the cluster bomb of the Holy Spirit is ignited – and all manner of humanity comes with the anticipation they will be loved!  Go figure. 
B.    Pray like there is no tomorrow (there may not be!)
There’s nothing wrong with planning.  I am actually a big planner.  I can show you my plan for a number of areas of life, ministry, writing and areas with my family that run up to the year 2050 – yes, when I’m 95!  I’m taking my vitamins.  On the other hand, I constantly run into people that come with nothing short of excuses as to “why we can’t serve others…”  “We might be sued!”  “We might make people mad!”  “We might offend other churches…”  We can “we might” ourselves until we have ulcers upon our ulcers.  Ready, FIRE!, Aim.  That’s your new tattoo! 
C.  Lovingly and wisely be willing to remove all hindrances present at your current weekend gatherings that are keeping people away. 
Question:  Why is that when your weekend services start only about 15-20% are present (if you start on time!), but that by the time the message is given pretty much everyone is present? 
Answer:  This may be hard to swallow, but after talking to several thousand weekend attendees one on one, as a perceived “safe” outsider I have gotten the real scoop.  Very few of your weekend attendees like your current form of worship.

I know, I know, I know, you are now thinking, “He doesn’t know our church at all!  Our people come late for other reasons…”  Read this slowly.  “Oh no they don’t!”  They really don’t like the worship that you have so convinced yourself that they love.

There is no area in the Church scene in the U.S. where leaders are more out of touch than worship.  People, especially guys, can barely stand, what I have heard called many times, “Those incessant songs…”

Step back.  Listen to your people and Jesus.  Take courage.  God speaks to those who are listening!

This is a 10 minute video that originally "aired" at OutwardBuzz.com.  I think it is appropriate to share here as well, and it blends nicely with the entry before this one, "Atmosphere Killers."

Churches that are not currently growing, and there are many, are in such a spot for many possible reasons.
 
If you are used to looking out of the sjogrenian kaleidoscope, you know that I see that everything starts with the profound sense of God’s presence being front – center of all that we do.  No man tells God what to do or in any way makes anything happen that is not on God’s heart to accomplish.  However, it is evident from a myriad of scriptures at this point in God’s history, he is eager to pour out his Spirit in our midst – upon all flesh.  One small detail - his outpouring seems to be limited to those who are willing to poured upon.  Are 100% of the named leaders at your church willing to be poured upon?  He is looking in the highways and byways for open vessels who are willing to co-operate with him – who will carry out his simple kingdom plans.  (HINT:  His kingdom plan has nothing to do with the empire building plans of people.  You might want to copy and paste that last line in your journal…  I have.)

This idea is simple – not simplistic.

As we do the deeds of the kingdom – make ourselves available to do the deeds of Jesus – the Holy Spirit tends to show up in the time of need of those we step out to serve.  We are available.  He loves those around us dearly, unspeakably.  He flows through us – not in an equation-like manner by any means.
 
Why do great things happen sometimes and sometimes not?  My hunch is it comes down to a numbers issue.  We pray for hundreds – thousands actually.  We grow in our capacity to hear him – better yet to “notice” what he is doing.  Thus, our effectiveness grows.
 
But what about how we relate in a healthy way to those we work with?  Does that or can that have a negative bearing on how healing, progress in the kingdom’s expansion occurs?  Can a lack of health at the root of the tree, so to speak, cause the tree to cease to expand?  In both the metaphor and in science this is certainly true.
 
Consider the following factors regarding your current team.

Team Atmosphere Killers

No matter what image comes to mind when the word “team” is mentioned, there are a number of atmosphere assassins each of us want to avoid like the flu epidemic of 1917.  These atmosphere issues spread much faster than that flu bug.  Unfortunately, even a fantastic team morale that has been built faithfully over a long time frame can be devastated in short order if the “skipper” is not clearly architect-ing the atmosphere of the “Love Boat.”
 
Like it or not, if you are in charge on the org chart, your role is clear.  (Yes, there is just one person in charge – no committee has ever effectively run any church… committees have endless meetings.  Leaders take charge, hear from God, and grasp the helm – as scary as that may sound to some reading this, all biblical patterns of leadership – Old and New Testament, boil down to a single visionary-leader.)  If you remember (or have seen reruns on TVLand of) The Love Boat, you are Captain Stubbing, regardless of how wide your hair is parted.  Your job, accept it or not, is to see to it that the atmosphere of the kingdom, the culture of the love of God, is prevailing at all levels in your organization.

Atmosphere Flu Is Carried By These Common Misunderstandings:

“Money Savings Is Paramount”
The fear of “not enough” whatever the issue is the root of most of the “stuckness” in churches today.  Money fears are typically greatly over-rated.  Pray for clarity as a leader.  Ask for God’s strategy to be apparent.  Maybe you will become simple, but where he leads there will be ample funding – always!  Pay people accordingly or you will build into your entire spiritual environment a horrible “not enough” mentality that is close to impossible to reverse.
“All Must Give A Close Accounting Of Their Time Spent”
This is silly.  Many ministers spend a good part of their week hiding in their offices.  (Not all, but many – if you aren’t growing you might consider getting out and actually meeting people now and them – people talk when you buy them a cup of coffee!)  Don’t punish the ones who are out “with the people” as the Gospels speak of Jesus’ routine as well as Acts does of the Apostles.
“Reporting Relationships – Who Connects to Whom – Is A Negotiable Deal”
This mistake is often the beginning of a deal buster.  As the leader you may have recruited a super talent, but the hand off to someone who doesn’t see even a fraction of what you do – well that’s just unacceptable.  Three words:  Communication, communication, communication.  After the hand off, continue to check in.  With key people, this step is absolutely necessary or you will likely lose a given talent.  This is not the same as not trusting another to do a great job in developing others.  It is just great strategy.
Setting Artificial Deadlines
Don’t do it.  No, it’s not good for anyone.  They will always figure out that the deadline was simply a made up one.  Always.
“We’ll Save Money By Cutting Salaries”
This is a very common mistake especially with growing churches.  A much better move is to simply lay people off.  Cutting salaries hurts entire families – it’s that simple. I have yet to meet a pastor who has done this who later thought it was a good move.
Showing Consistent Disrespect
This is due a book in itself.  No emotionally healthy person can work in any sort of ongoing way with someone who doesn’t respect them.  None of us are stupid.  We can all pick up on clear signals that we are not held in high esteem.
Every member of your team is not only due respect.  They are each a gift from God himself.  Celebrate the gift they bring.  Let them shine where they are strong – and they probably will!  Do what it takes to deal with conflict.  See a therapist – whatever.  Great churches have long term employees that become like family over the long haul.
 
Steve Sjogren is the senior leader of CoastlandTampa – an innovative church launch that emphasizes outwardness, generosity, using one’s seminal gifts and most importantly – the ease of networking with the vast network of not-yet believers that is all around all us if we only open our eyes and begin to notice those God notices.

Just what is required of a pastor-teacher-leader of a local church to produce lasting fruit – that Jesus said is his desire to see in our lives and ministries?

All of us have our eyes opened like little puppies after a couple of weeks on the job in our first pastoral position when we realize that people are and leaders within any church system are pretty much impossible to please.  Thus, we need to get a clear bead on what exactly we are uniquely about.  I like the idea of being “Pretty Good” – then asking God to show up to fill in the blanks in between.  As we try too hard, there is too much Steve and not enough Jesus.  Can you relate? 

1.  God has called you to be fulfilled as you express your uniqueness in Christ. 
Most pastors have been told by a disgruntled person, “You aren’t teaching the deep things here.”  If you take the time to dig into what people who say such things, often (not always) they really mean, “You don’t speak the way my favorite pastor of all time spoke…  He sat on a stool.  His voice was so rich.  He always did verse by verse studies.”  On it goes.

Paul writes of the mystery of “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”  It is difficult to imagine that Christ’s presence is something we are to imitate.  Initially as we get going in ministry, sure, imitate away.  But as you discover your life message, your unique contribution to God’s people, you will discover, and hopefully enjoy, that seminal you.  Be the most you, you can be.  Bad grammar, great theology! 

2.  God has called each of us to be professional, not excellent.
Just erase the word “Excellent” from your use of that word as it applies to your church.  The notion of doing our best for God is a no brainer.  Professionalism does not equal excellence. 

(However I see no model whatsoever for dressing a certain way when it comes to going to church related meetings.  You really cannot judge a book by its cover.  Two friends, both approaching billionaire status, wear jeans with holes in them to weekend meetings!  The name of the game:  “Dress comfortably but modestly please!”  Jesus dressed so commonly it took a kiss from Judas to distinguish him from the crowd even though he was daily in plain sight of the Pharisees and Roman soldiers present.)

The brilliance of the so-called Jesus Movement of the late-60s and early 70s was the re-discovery that God loves people right where they are.  There is no need to climb up to a certain level of getting one’s act together before we invite God to move in our lives.  The message of excellence quickly goes helter skelter with not-yet fully healed people (that’s you and me) because we feel there is a connection between “more excellence, more effectiveness.”  To a small degree that is so.  But folks, this message has run wild, out of control in nearly every church of over 500 in the U.S.  I was on a CBS interview show a few months ago that was aired nationwide.  There were a couple of glitches in the taping – the editors left one or two in there when it aired!  I cheered as I viewed it.  It was great!  Yet all of the churches I have been to over the past decade have been far more serious in the “execution” (Freudian slip of the keyboard) of their weekend services than that nationwide show.  How ironic. 

When we think in terms of “Let’s be excellent for God!” most of us will see some deadly results occur when it comes to creating an atmosphere that tells the surrounding community, “You are loved” – “You are welcome here.”  It is easy to become so excellent no one feels they measure up.  (Recommend you read that last line again.) 

The originator of the excellence message was business author Tom Peters in his landmark book, In Search of Excellence.  Peters himself warned of not taking this message to extremes.  Unfortunately, in church leadership circles, the thinking that prevails is often, “If a little is good, a LOT is fantastic.”  One pastor I am familiar with is known for firing staff on the spot, without warning, for leaving dry erase marker caps off!  Can you imagine for one second these sorts of shenanigans being tolerated at IBM or GE?  Not in your life.  The suggestion of firing someone over such triviality would likely end in that suggester’s firing. 

If there is not a strong sense of enjoyment present throughout your staff, organization, at your weekend meetings, maybe you have given into the “Excellence lie.”

3.  Listen to your spouse far more than the official advisers you have on paper. 
In closing, no matter which way your spouse is wired, (assuming she / he has an abiding love for you) this person “sees” things no one else will ever see.  I have been bitten in the proverbial tail less than many – partly because I have pastored five churches now.  I have been big on being coached – another great practice.  But more than anything, I have listened to Janie.  Nearly every time she has given me a “hard word” of warning, I resisted it initially.  Catch this:  She has never been wrong in over 25 years of doing this!  To quote the amazing Mr. Rogers, “Can you say, ‘That is a God thing!’  I knew you could.” 

Steve Sjogren is the senior leader of CoastlandTampa – an outward focused church that is defining and exploring new ways that all churches and individual believers can walk in profound ways of generosity – as Jesus did.  To read up on the latest discoveries his team is making, check out ServantEvangelism.com.

The title of today’s entry says it all. Let me open this up a bit though for your edification.

This is a very simple idea - one that I suspect nearly all who read this piece automatically already conclude, “Oh yeah - that’s one I already have down cold…”

I say, “Not so fast hombre.”

As I alluded to earlier this week, I am a big believer in reading both large amounts of scripture each day, but then pondering / meditating on just a verse or two at the most a day in my journalings. (If you haven’t switched to journaling software, please try it for a while to see how it works for you - MacJournal or WinJournal are the best of each operating system… they each allow you to try them for a week or so before plunking down your money.)

The more I have read and re-read Proverbs the more I have slowly picked up on the central message of that book. Sometimes the central message of a lengthy book like Proverbs isn’t contained in a given verse but is better paraphrased. My best attempt at capturing this book of wisdom is: “The ultimate expression of real wisdom is self-awareness…knowing where you shine, where you are called, and conversely, where you are not.” There are hundreds of shreds of that idea scattered throughout Proverbs. If you ponder that brief condensing for a bit you will likely pick up on it…

Do:
Be yourself all the time.

Value in all around you authenticity. If you are the primary leader your value system will spill over onto others nearby.

Stop:
Pretending to be / do what you are not.

Imitating someone you are not…after you have found your life message. (It is perfectly fine to imitate away until you have found your life message though. Think of this as training wheels on your communication bicycle. In the biographies of all great communicators in Church history that I have read - IE many - they all cop to the fact that they imitated their way into communication effectiveness.)

Communicating is a gift, but it is a learned art as well. Skills are to a degree learned.

All mask wearing. This is not only the most wearying thing a person can possibly do, it is also a slap in God’s face - stating he has created something in you that is inferior. He will bless you when you are you.