Since finishing school my level of consistent reading has fallen off drastically. There's something to be said for regular TESTS to motivate a little reading! This summer, I'm going to do something about it. I came across a great reading list on Rick Warren's Podcast, and I've already gotten started on it. (It didn't hurt that Dr. James Emery White was part of the conversation, either!)
In fact, I just finished Freakonomics by Levitt and Dubner. Basically, I learned that my Mom was right: "Don't believe anything you hear and only half of what you see"! My take away is that people always respond to incentives, and it's helpful to see where the incentives are moving them. This is true in all areas of life whether seeking to understand real estate or attempting to modify the behavior of people or organizations. Conventional wisdom can be turned on its ear once the data is uncovered and analyzed. Unfortunately, most of us are to busy to do the hard work of finding out what is really going on. Instead, we often think with our emotions and believe what we want to believe. That, after all, is the easiest thing to do, right?
Well, there are a lot more books on the list (and some that aren't) that I plan to read this summer, so I better get busy. I hope this little post will inspire you to turn off the TV and sharpen your mind as well.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Monday, June 4, 2007
On Connecting People and Running the Bases
Part of my responsibility at the church is to help people connect. Translation: I want to learn their current situation, and offer them the opportunity to take their next step in growth. For some this means finding a place to serve; for others it means connecting into a small group, attending Newcomers, etc.
As we grow, this has become a bigger task since there are more people that need to take their next step, but there is still just one of me! However, one thing that we are NOT is high pressure, and that seems to have a strong attraction for a lot of people. In some recent conversations, I have learned of some who are enjoying a much needed rest at Seacoast from a prior church burnout.
I think that is really cool! They will serve and give their energies eventually, as the Holy Spirit leads, and we'll be ready to help them at the right time. For me it's a different way of thinking about ministry. Moving people through pressure or intimidation is unhealthy and counterproductive, and it requires much less faith than trusting God to move and hearts to respond to His leading. The natural tendency is to try to force the issue, but that is leaning on human strength to accomplish God-sized goals, and it will never work long term!
Last night (yes, that was Sunday night!!) Seacoast attended the local Greenville Drive baseball game. During those few hours of connecting with people, the following took place: Possibly three new teens going to youth camp, four new people interested in small groups, a couple will begin serving for the first time this Sunday, adult lady interested in attending youth camp to help with our female students, great conversations with several of our students, mild sunburn, a bad case of b.o., and two of my three girls ran the bases after the game. (One was at home with the flu.)
Well, you can't get any more low pressure than a baseball game, yet there was so much connecting that happened in those few hours. Relax! I'm thinking God was at the ballpark, too! :)
As we grow, this has become a bigger task since there are more people that need to take their next step, but there is still just one of me! However, one thing that we are NOT is high pressure, and that seems to have a strong attraction for a lot of people. In some recent conversations, I have learned of some who are enjoying a much needed rest at Seacoast from a prior church burnout.
I think that is really cool! They will serve and give their energies eventually, as the Holy Spirit leads, and we'll be ready to help them at the right time. For me it's a different way of thinking about ministry. Moving people through pressure or intimidation is unhealthy and counterproductive, and it requires much less faith than trusting God to move and hearts to respond to His leading. The natural tendency is to try to force the issue, but that is leaning on human strength to accomplish God-sized goals, and it will never work long term!
Last night (yes, that was Sunday night!!) Seacoast attended the local Greenville Drive baseball game. During those few hours of connecting with people, the following took place: Possibly three new teens going to youth camp, four new people interested in small groups, a couple will begin serving for the first time this Sunday, adult lady interested in attending youth camp to help with our female students, great conversations with several of our students, mild sunburn, a bad case of b.o., and two of my three girls ran the bases after the game. (One was at home with the flu.)
Well, you can't get any more low pressure than a baseball game, yet there was so much connecting that happened in those few hours. Relax! I'm thinking God was at the ballpark, too! :)
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