Leadership Network Mourns the Deaths of Dr. Forrest Pollock and Preston Pollock

It was a sad day today in Dallas. I'm at Leadership Network for our quarterly all-staff meetings. Yesterday and today, we held an "Innovations Briefing" for about fifty pastors and leaders from churches all over the country to give a status report on some our our recent findings. One of the people who was supposed to be in our briefing was Pastor Forest Pollock, the SP at Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, FL. He and his 13 year old son, Preston, were supposed to arrive by noon. At the end of the day, they still had not yet arrived. No one was able to get through to his cell phone. Forest was piloting his own small plane to Dallas for the meeting with us and a couple days away with his son. They never arrived. Their plane was found this morning in North Carolina. There were no survivors. Please pray for the church family at Bell Shoals. Bell Shoals is a large church that will be hurting for a long time to come. As well, pray for Forest's wife and their remaining five kids. This will for sure be a terrible time for them. May the love of Christ surround them and this church during this time. FILED IN: Engaging Culture  Current Events and the Church  | ADDED: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 7:53 PM by Todd Rhoades
COMMENTS: (6) | VIEWS: (750)

Tim Keller:  The Slippery Slope from Religion to Oppression

This is an interesting short video of Tim Keller, taken from a recent speech he gave at a Veritas Forum on the campus of UC Berkley. In this clip, Tim shares that he does think that religion has caused a lot of damage in the world; and he describes what he calls the 'slippery slope' of going from religion to oppression. Take a look; and let me know what you think. Next up, watch Rick Warren describe his PEACE plan in our next post today; then see the response when Rick Warren invited Ingrid (our friend from SliceofLaodicea) to an all expense trip to Saddleback, along with a place on his stage. I think all three of these posts work together. I'm wondering, do we sometimes use Tim Keller's 'slippery slope' even within different segments of Christianity? FILED IN: Leadership Issues  Leadership Development  | ADDED: Monday, May 12, 2008 at 8:04 AM by Todd Rhoades
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Rick Warren:  How We Can Change the World

I'm running a three-post series today, and I'd love your input. The first is a video by Tim Keller talking about how religion can easily turn into oppression. The second is Rick Warren explaining (as best I've heard him) his plan to change the world through his PEACE plan. The third is an invitation for Ingrid from SliceofLaodicea to join Rick Warren at Saddleback during a PD conference. Take a look at all three and please leave your comments. I'd love to hear what you think of all three! Here's Rick... FILED IN: Engaging Culture  Current Events and the Church  | ADDED: Monday, May 12, 2008 at 8:03 AM by Todd Rhoades
COMMENTS: (28) | VIEWS: (741)

And I Wanted to Be There:  “Ingrid, Rick… RIck, Ingrid”.  Ain’t Happenin’ This Side of Heaven

Looks like there will be no talking between Ingrid and Rick Warren, at least this side of heaven. Many of you know that we've followed the follies over at SliceofLaodicea.com over the years; the start-ups, the shut-downs; the put-downs and the put-upons. Well, it seems that in an effort for peace and reconciliation (or at the very least to open up lines of communication), Rick Warren has extended his hand to Ingrid and a place on his stage at Saddleback. Ingrid responded over the weekend with an open letter over at Slice. If you haven't already done so, please watch the video I posted today with Tim Keller talking about how religion can easily turn into oppression. I'm wondering... is this a little of what has happened with Ingrid and Rick? here's the letter... FILED IN: Engaging Culture  Current Events and the Church  | ADDED: Monday, May 12, 2008 at 8:02 AM by Todd Rhoades
COMMENTS: (72) | VIEWS: (1843)
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Tim Keller:  The Slippery Slope from Religion to Oppression

This is an interesting short video of Tim Keller, taken from a recent speech he gave at a Veritas Forum on the campus of UC Berkley. In this clip, Tim shares that he does think that religion has caused a lot of damage in the world; and he describes what he calls the 'slippery slope' of going from religion to oppression. Take a look; and let me know what you think. Next up, watch Rick Warren describe his PEACE plan in our next post today; then see the response when Rick Warren invited Ingrid (our friend from SliceofLaodicea) to an all expense trip to Saddleback, along with a place on his stage. I think all three of these posts work together. I'm wondering, do we sometimes use Tim Keller's 'slippery slope' even within different segments of Christianity? ADDED: May 12, 2008 at 8:04 AM by Todd Rhoades
COMMENTS: (68) | VIEWS: (1314)

Evangelism:  The Power of “THE ASK”

Chris Elrod writes, "This is Pete. Pete has smoked since he was teenager. Pete struggled most of his life with alcohol. Pete used to shoot people when he’d get angry. Pete spent 15 years behind bars. Pete has cancer…a bunch of cancer. Pete has been given only a few months to live. Pete has a tattoo on his leg that says “Hell Bound”. Pete won’t be going there. Pete came to know Jesus two weeks ago. Pete was baptized today." But there's a story behind how this happened... ADDED: February 26, 2008 at 11:09 AM by Todd Rhoades
COMMENTS: (59) |  VIEWS: (1537)

Have a Rough Sunday?  Here’s a Monday Morning Pick-Me-Up…

Did you have a rough Sunday yesterday? Lots of stress and pressure. Well, you need this as a Monday morning pick-me-up. No matter how bad your sermon went yesterday, at least you didn't have this on the screen behind you (at least I hope you didn't... ADDED: May 12, 2008 at 7:59 AM by Todd Rhoades
COMMENTS: (3) | VIEWS: (1468)

How to Deal with Difficult Staff

Does your staff get along with each other? Are there certain staff members that kinda rub you the wrong way? Gary Hardin has a great article over at Lifeway.com featuring some suggestions on how to deal with different staff personality types. He talks about the 'pushy' staffer, the 'lazy' staffer, the 'cheery' staffer, the 'fuzzy' staffer, and the 'wishy-washy' staffer. Do you have any of these on your staff? And (maybe more importantly), are YOU any of these staff members?! ADDED: November 26, 2007 at 6:36 AM by Todd Rhoades
COMMENTS: (1) | VIEWS: (2194)

Should An Openly Homosexual Person Be Baptized?

I had the opportunity to meet Brian Jones a few weeks ago in Florida. Brian says, on his blog, that he's an 'average guy', but he's writing some great stuff over at BrianJones.com. Recently, he's been doing a series on homosexuality, and in one of his latest posts, he asks the question of whether or not an openly homosexual person should be baptised. ADDED: May 08, 2008 at 7:40 AM by Todd Rhoades
COMMENTS: (32) | VIEWS: (1428)

What Bible Version is Right for You?

What Bible version is right for you? Are you looking for a serious Bible-study version? How about one that is gender neutral? Or one that was translated by a group rather than an individual? Check out this new website to find the perfect version for you. (If you're a KJV only person, you might want to skip this website)... ADDED: April 03, 2008 at 7:50 AM by Todd Rhoades
COMMENTS: (6) | VIEWS: (660)

Worship is NOT Entertainment

The call for entertainment in worship in our time is often cast in a particularly seductive form. Entertainment is often sold in the name of evangelism. We are told that we must make worship interesting and existing for the unconverted so that they will come to church and be converted. At first glance that argument is very appealing. We all want to see many brought to faith in Christ. Who wants to be against evangelism? But we must remember: entertainment is not evangelism, and evangelism is not worship... ADDED: April 01, 2008 at 7:02 AM by Todd Rhoades
COMMENTS: (95) | VIEWS: (1977)

Help!  Do You Know of Any Large Churches Who’ve Recently Added Saturday Night Services?

I've been asked by my friend and fellow Leadership Network colleague to pass on this question. We're looking for any large churches that used to hold Sunday only services that have recently added a Saturday night service. There is a church of a couple thousand who is hoping to make the leap, and would like to talk with similar churches who have already done so. Are there any churches in your area who fit into this category? If so, could you please help? ADDED: February 22, 2007 at 1:01 PM by Todd Rhoades
COMMENTS: (36) | VIEWS: (5292)

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