Lessons I’m Learning at 37

July 26, 2011 Leave a comment

I haven’t been active on my blog for several months, and wanted to take this opportunity to start things up again. I hope you will check back often as I post new material.

Life is a journey, and it never stops. In the words of the great philosopher Ferris Bueller, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” As I pause today for my 37th birthday, here are some things I’m learning about life:

1. Make friends where you can find them. There have been times when I’ve been hesitant to invest in a friendship because I didn’t have much in common with the person. But many of those people have turned out to be great friends who have been a real encouragement.

2. Let go of unrealistic expectations. Sometimes the idealistic dreams of our youth can set us up for disappointments later on. You can find real freedom when you let go of an idea, dream, job, or relationship that will probably never happen.

3. Trust God. At some point in my journey of faith I began to set aside my need to have every question about God resolved. We can’t fully understand God and how He works, and that’s OK. It’s incredibly refreshing to let go and step out with childlike faith and see the amazing things that happen.

4. Treasure the small things in life. The best moment of yesterday was when my 7-year old son made chocolate milk and brought it to me outside. It was a real gesture of love. Don’t miss the great little moments in life. Read more of this post

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Review of “The Noticer” by Andy Andrews

January 3, 2011 1 Comment

I received The Noticer through Thomas Nelson’s “BookSneeze” book review program for bloggers.  The title refers to an old man named Jones who interacts with the people of a small coastal town. He mysteriously appears at critical times in their lives to “notice” them and offer much-needed perspective on their difficult situations. Although The Noticer is a work of fiction, it’s really a parable designed to help the reader look for the broader, more hopeful perspective in their lives (and the lives of those around them). At 150 pages, it’s a quick, easy read that reminds us of the need to step back from difficult situations and see things from a different point of view.

It’s easy to dismiss these kinds of inspirational books as light and superficial, and to an extent that’s a valid criticism.  This is not great literature, and some of the dialogue and situations lean toward the corny side.  That being said, it’s important to remember that the point of a book like this is not the storytelling, it’s the message behind the story.  It’s really an extended parable.  The Noticer is an enjoyable read with several good points of application to help you “notice” the people around you.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze, a book review bloggers program from Thomas Nelson. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Desiring God 2010 Conference Promo

July 30, 2010 2 Comments

For a long time I have appreciated the ministry of John Piper. He has produced an amazing number of books and resources over the years through his organization, Desiring God. It’s quite amazing that they make so many great resources available for free on their website. I’d encourage you to check it out.

Each year Desiring God hosts conferences, and the promo for their 2010 National Conference looks very cool. Not only do I love the topic, but I love the way it’s creatively presented. Hats off to the folks who brainstormed and created the promo video.

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A Fascinating Talk on Book Publishing by Seth Godin

July 28, 2010 Leave a comment

One of my favorite writers is the marketing guru Seth Godin. I read his book Tribes last year and it was great. He also updates his blog daily and it is nearly always thought-provoking and interesting. Although he focuses on topics related to business and marketing, his ideas have wide-ranging impact for all kinds of leaders, thinkers, writers, teachers and just about everyone else.

He recently gave a talk to the Independent Book Publishers, and has made an mp3 of the talk available at his blog. You can find a link to the mp3 via this blog post. Anyone who reads books, uses technology (especially an e-reader or iPad), or is involved in leadership, education or ministry at any level will find something interesting here. At least I did. Check it out.

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The Stereotypical Worship Leader

July 20, 2010 Leave a comment

How would you describe the typical artist/musician/worship leader? Aloof? A little strange? Disorganized? An “artsy type”? Even effeminate (only for the guys)? I’ve been involved in worship ministry for around 20 years and have heard all kinds of adjectives used to describe worship leaders. Much of the time it’s been negative. Some of this has been deserved, and I can think of a few worship leaders who have done their part to deserve criticism. (You might even want to check out this hilarious post from Stuff Christians Like, but keep your tongue firmly planted in your cheek.)

But when I think of the many worship leaders I’ve known over the years, the vast majority of them are hard-working, godly people who strive week-to-week to lead their congregations in effective worship. They are committed to their local churches and want to serve their pastor. They are talented, creative, and intelligent. Most of them are also able to preach and teach effectively.

Those creative impulses make artistic types a little different. But those same creative impulses gave us the Mona Lisa, the music of the Beatles, and the great Hagia Sophia. They also give energy and beauty to our worship.

Every ministry has its stereotypes, and those are probably true to an extent. But in my experience, the typical worship leader is a wonderful servant of Christ who sacrifices a lot of time and energy so you and I can worship together each weekend.

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Leadership Lessons from Apple’s iPhone 4 Gaffe, Part 2

July 18, 2010 2 Comments

I’d like to share a few more lessons from the recent story of Apple’s iPhone 4 saga. (You can also read Part 1 of this article.)

4. Respond from the facts, not from emotion. It would have been easy for Steve Jobs to get irate at all the bad press about Apple over the last few weeks. (He did seem a little annoyed at the press conference, I admit.) But instead of responding emotionally, he simply communicated the facts that painted a picture of a problem that affected a small number of people. He also went to great lengths to demonstrate that every smart phones has reception problems when held a certain way. Instead of getting upset and making matters worse, he delivered facts that helped put the problem into perspective.

When people complain to us (or about us) it’s easy to get upset and respond in anger. But if we look at the facts of an issue and communicate them in a calm, caring way, that can often neutralize the situation and come to a resolution. This implies that we need to first do our research and have our facts straight!

5. Be generous. In response to the issues with the iPhone’s antenna, Apple is offering free bumper cases to iPhone users. I don’t think anyone is under the impression that Apple has altruistic motives here – this is a move to maintain customer loyalty. The bottom line is a financial concern. Nevertheless, the company could have been much less generous in its response, perhaps only offering a discount on cases, or free cases to only certain customers. However, I like Apple’s loyalty to customers, which is also expressed through its “Genius Bar” area in the Apple stores.

Leaders should personify a generous spirit in both big and small ways.  The generosity of a group, organization or church is a direct reflection of its leadership. This is one of the reasons why I love my church, Harvester Christian Church (St. Charles, MO). Our former Senior Minister, Ben Merold, and the current leadership and staff are among the most generous and giving people I know. I believe this is one of the reasons why God has blessed our church with growth over the years. God blessed people who model a spirit of generosity. (In this case, Apple’s generosity comes from a financial motive, while Christian generosity comes from a spiritual motive.) Read more of this post

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Leadership Lessons from Apple’s iPhone 4 Gaffe, Part 1

July 17, 2010 4 Comments

For the last couple of weeks I have been following the much-publicized story of the iPhone 4′s antenna issue. (If you haven’t been following this, here is a story from July 15, and another from July 16.) What began as a minor story about some problems with the new iPhone’s antenna reception quickly grew into a public-relations nightmare. This was bad news for a company that prides itself on innovative products, customer service and a “cool factor” of 10. The saga has been an interesting study in leadership and crisis management. I have also enjoyed following it because I am looking forward to replacing my Blackberry with an iPhone when my Sprint contract is up later this year, and wanted to see how Apple would address this potentially troublesome issue.

Yesterday, Apple confronted the issue head-on by holding a press conference. You can find a direct link to the video here on Apple’s website. The video is a little over 30 min., but if you have the time, it’s pretty interesting.

Here are a few leadership lessons we can take away from Apple’s handling of this crisis:

1. Don’t be condescending. When the antenna issue first came to light less than a month ago, Steve Jobs’ response was basically, “You’re holding the phone the wrong way.” This seemed to be an arrogant and condescending reply to people who were experiencing real reception problems with a rather expensive phone. (It doesn’t help that many iPhone customers already have problems with their AT&T service.) Apple also pointed to a faulty formula they had been using to calculate signal strength. Neither of these explanations curtailed the public perception that Apple seemed annoyed by people pointing out a problem with their hallmark device.

When people point out legitimate problems that lie within our areas of responsibility, it only makes matters worse when we get annoyed and treat them as if they’re stupid. Especially if they’re paying good money for something we’re providing. Read more of this post

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Evaluating a Worship Song: Is It Biblical?

May 25, 2010 2 Comments

One of the most important responsibilities of a worship leader is choosing songs for corporate worship. For those not involved in worship ministry, this may seem like a simple task: just throw together a few of your favorite songs and bada-boom, you’re done, right? But it’s not quite that simple. Choosing songs is (or at least should be) an involved process that requires us to ask several important questions. This week I will begin a series highlighting several key questions we should ask about the worship songs we use. We can apply these questions to help select new songs, or to evaluate songs we already use.

Here’s the first question we ought to ask about a worship song: Is it biblical? Does it adhere to, reflect or contain truth found in Scripture? Christians are people “of the book”–we believe the Bible is the revealed Word of God, and that it’s our guide for faith and life. Therefore, the message and meaning of a worship song must align with biblical truth. Read more of this post

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How to Get the Most Out of Your Reading

May 22, 2010 Leave a comment

I’m continuing with the theme of reading from earlier this week. (You can check out my summer reading list, Part 1 and Part 2.) Over the years I have tried to stick with several principles to help get the most out of my non-fiction reading. (I don’t read a lot of fiction.) You may find one or more of these helpful. I also invite you to add your own thoughts in the comments section.

  • Read with a pen in hand. I underline, write question marks, and make notes as I read, then go back and review what I’ve highlighted when a book is finished. I very rarely read borrowed books; I almost always buy a copy (used if possible) so that I can write in it and make it my own.
  • “Pre-read” the text. This is a speed-reading technique where you quickly scan the layout of a book before reading it in-depth. Within less than five minutes you can scan a non-fiction book and tell if it’s worth your time. You can also scan headings within a chapter. This is a quick way to get familiar with the contents before diving in.
  • Use a “regulator” to increase your reading speed. I often use my finger or a pen to go down a page, line by line, as I read sentences. Your eyes follow your finger (or pen), and you have less eye strain as a result. It’s a grade-school technique, but still very useful. (If you’re worried about how you’ll appear to other people, just remember that you will be reading and retaining more information than them.)
  • Keep notes on good quotations or illustrations. I heard about this technique from John Maxwell and have adapted it for my own use. After reading a book, I scan through it again and write down the page number and topic for material I want to file. I usually write the topic and the page number of the quote in the back of the book. Then I have someone copy those pages and file them accordingly. For example, when I read a book of quotations from Disney, I marked and filed several dozen great quotations on a variety of topics.
  • Most important: Take a book with you wherever you go. I have literally taken a book to a Cardinals ballgame, to Six Flags (to my wife’s embarrassment) and just about everywhere else. You would be amazed at how much reading you can do in the spare moments waiting for things to happen. Last year I went to the DMV to renew my license plates, knowing I would be waiting for about an hour. There were several dozen people in the area, and they were all staring at the wall or playing with their phones. But I got about an hour’s worth of reading done that day.

As the saying goes, “Leaders are readers.” One of the best ways to grow in your personal and professional life is to read good books. You may want to check out this great post by Michael Hyatt (CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers), entitled “In Defense of Books.”

Questions: What other tips for effective reading can you share? Have I missed anything?

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What If You Don’t Like the Music at Church?

May 17, 2010 Leave a comment

Here is how I look at music in church: churches are like restaurants, and worship music is like the food they serve. No matter what kind of food your restaurant serves, there will always be someone who doesn’t like it. The problem is that you have to choose something–you can’t satisfy every taste (unless you offer multiple services with different styles).

What happens if you’re a mature Christian who loves your church and wants to support your pastor, but you dislike the music?  I have a good friend who hates Chinese food, and I know that if we went to a Chinese place for lunch, he would not enjoy it. What do you do when you’re the person who doesn’t like Chinese food? Here are a few questions for those who want to support their church and would like to deal with this issue in a positive, godly way. (These would apply in a range of situations, whether your church uses a traditional hymn-based style or more modern music.) Read more of this post

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