Monday Morning Insights

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    Today’s Buzz: “I’m Too Busy”; Sue-Happy Christians; And SBC Alcohol Woes in

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    What You’ve Done So Far Will Only Get You Where You’ve Been...
    Steven Furtick has a great post that should serve a great reminder to all of us leaders… “What got you here (to your present level of effectiveness) eon’t get you there (to the next level of growth).” Steven continues:  “If your church is going to grow, the way you spend your time and the activities you perform as a leader should be constantly shifting.  If you keep doing the stuff you did in order for the church to grow from 0 to 100, the church won’t likely grow to 200.  If, after the church grows to 200, you keep fulfilling the same functions as a leader, you’ll never see 500.  Same for 1000.  And 2000.  I hear it works this way as you grow to 10,000, 20,000, and beyond.” Are you constantly changing the way you grow?

    What “I’m too busy” Really Means...
    When people decline the invitation to join you in a task, a plan, or a ministry, the underlying reason is probably not what you think. More often than not, refusals are related to “capassion"-the combination of “capacity” and “passion” that determines what and how much people do. Alan Nelson has great piece here… I like this line:  The easiest way to say, “I’m not interested in what you’re asking me to do” is to say, “I’m really busy.”

    Sue Happy Christians and Other Infightings
    What’s up with all the large churches and Christian organizations in conflict and legal disuptes?  It seems that there is a new one breaking each day.  I’ve reported on the expose on Pastors Randy and Paula White in the Tampa Bay Newspaper.  They have issued a press release that they hope will set the record straight.  After having bad press with an elderly woman and a low income person who said their church promised her a house, the church has decided to purchase the house after all; and pay for attorneys for the elderly woman to make sure she’s taken care of.  Too bad that everything had to be so public and so ugly.  You can read their press release here.  And, it will be the last word on this:  “From now on, Without Walls and Pastors White will have nothing more to say about these matters.”

    There’s a problem at another large SBC church… First Baptist of Dallas is upset because Criswell College and it’s president Jerry Johnston is thinking about selling the campus radio station without the churches permission.  In a letter sent from the church on Tuesday’s to the president and board of Criswell College, a copy of which was obtained by The Dallas Morning News, says “an attempt to circumvent, evade or avoid the voice of the [church] membership to speak on this significant issue is wrong, both morally and legally,” and warns the matter could end up in court.  Wonder why a letter with legal action was warranted.  Do these folks speak face to face at all, or just send letters back and forth? More here. (I realize things like this are never easy; but rarely do things get better when letters are drafted by attorneys.)

    And finally… even though Ken Ham’s new Creation Museum just opened in the past month, but now Hamm’s Answers in Genesis is being sued by the Australian group from which it was started.  Among other things, the suit claims the Kentucky group stole subscribers for its Answers magazine by claiming that the Australians’ Creation magazine was “no longer available.” According to newspaper reports, The suit is the most public move in what has been a growing rift between groups that are spreading the same Garden of Eden creation message on opposite sides of the globe.  In the last several years, they have increasingly feuded about finances and power.  Now each is accusing the other of acting in an “unbiblical” fashion—a serious charge for people who believe that the Bible is God’s infallible word.  “All I’ll tell you is those allegations are totally preposterous and untrue,” Ken Ham, the president of Answers in Genesis, said in a brief interview last week. “The Bible tells you not to have a lawsuit against your brother, so you can see who’s obeying the Bible and who’s not.” Interesting article here...

    San Antonio Bar Owners Not Happy With Southern Baptists...
    Bars along San Antonio’s Riverwalk do brisk trade when a convention is in town—unless that convention has drawn over 10,000 Southern Baptists.  “Nothing,” is how Shana Larson, manager of the Coyote Ugly Saloon on the Riverwalk, summed up business last week as the city known for its carefree exuberance hosts the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention.  “Everybody gives us no business at all. None of them is going to come to a bar to drink any kind of alcohol,” she said.  More here. (Maybe things will be better when the Emergent Church Conference comes to town?)

    Most Ridiculous Item of the Day: I was strolling through the park one day...
    A woman arrested for exposing her ‘upper torso’ has accepted a $29,000 settlement from the city, her lawyer said. Jill Coccaro, 27, was arrested on a topless stroll two years ago, despite a 1992 state appeals court ruling that concluded women should have the same right as men to take off their shirts.  “I’ve always just felt that was something natural,” she said of going topless. “I’ve kind of always done it out of practicality.” More here…

    In today's buzz: conflict abounds, it seems, in more organizations and churches; a good lesson in leadership; excuses, excuses, excuses; and why San Antonio Bar Owners don't like Southern Baptists...

    Comments

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    1. Peter Hamm on Tue, June 19, 2007

      Todd… the best for last and it got cut off! I’ll look for you to fix it. What about Ken Ham’s museum…

    2. Todd Rhoades on Tue, June 19, 2007

      Sorry about that, Peter… I’ve been having internet connection problems this morning.  I’ve now fixed it!


      Thanks (for noticing!)


      Todd

    3. Camey on Tue, June 19, 2007

      “A woman arrested for exposing her ‘upper torso’” - Just curious? What translation is that??? lol


      (For those tempted to send me an email because I made a joke about translations - STOP IT!)

    4. Daniel on Tue, June 19, 2007

      Hate to say it, but the breast-exposure thing is totally cultural… who’s to say breasts are off limits but cleavage isn’t?  Who’s to say miniskirts are ok, but nudity isn’t?


      Aaaah, the joys of more-or-less arbitrary cultural norms which nevertheless seem so binding…

    5. DanielR (a different Daniel) on Tue, June 19, 2007

      Whether you agree or disagree with the topless thing (and I assume most here would be against women going around topless), there was a prior ruling by the state court allowing it, which the city should have been aware of.  And compared to the 54 MILLION DOLLAR lost pants $29,000 is pocket change for the New York City.


      As for the alcohol trade, I happen to be Baptist, even Southern Baptist although I admit the SBC often makes me crazy, and having been born in Germany it’s ingrained to enjoy a good beer (meaning not most domestics).  And if I find myself in San Antonio I may even have one down by the Riverwalk, but probably not at Coyote Ugly.  Beer=OK.  Half-naked bartenders=Not OK.  IMO

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