Adventures in Living: by Jason Salamun

Read a fascinating article from Gary Hamel in the Wall Street Journal about a talk he gave at a recent Willow Creek Leadership Summit regarding the Church.

Here are some noteworthy quotes that made me cheer.  Some of which many of us have been saying for quite some time:

My hypothesis: the problem with organized religion isn’t that it’s too religious, but that it’s too organized.

Absolutely agree. What is to be a movement has often been institutionalized. This doesn’t mean there’s no leadership- but it does mean that there’s a danger in stuffing what should be set free in a box.

…church attendance may be lagging, but nine out of ten Americans still claim to have faith in a spiritual being—a number hasn’t changed much over the past two decades.

This is not a new statistic. It’s curious, and sad, that the church is the last place those who are interested in faith would go to discover more about spiritual matters. I am hopeful for the future as many new and renewed churches are seeking to change that story. I’m happy to say that Project Church is one of them.

Over the centuries, religion has become institutionalized, and in the process encrusted with elaborate hierarchies, top-heavy bureaucracies, highly specialized roles and reflexive routines. (Kinda like your company, but only more so). Religion won’t regain its relevance until church leaders chip off these calcified layers, rediscover their sense of mission, and set themselves free to reinvent “church” for a new age.

Don’t miss the key words here: rediscover and reinvent. I’m reminded of the quote by H. Richard Niebuhr, “The great Christian revolutions come not by the discovery of something that was not known before. They happen when somebody takes radically something that was always there.”

I truly believe that the Church isn’t going to thrive because of anything new, hip, or innovative as much as we will by returning to our roots as found in the scriptures as a community on mission driven by the gospel of Jesus.

Read the article in its entirety

Picture a little girl who wanted to fly.

She inflated a big red balloon with helium, shut her eyes, and her imagination told her she was flying.

She loved it.

Her grip on the balloon grew tighter until, POP!, the balloon burst.

The girl opened her eyes and saw her feet on the ground.

She cried because she wasn’t flying any more.

Little did she know, she never was.

The same is true for you and I.

Only the red balloon is our ego.

May we open our eyes before it pops.

I love Conan O’Brien.

I even named my cat after him.

He used to do this skit called, “In the Year 2000.”

Where he’d peer into the future.

Funny stuff.

This is my attempt to look into the not-so-distant future.

At shifts I see looming or arriving in churches.

They are coupled together but they don’t all hold pinky fingers.

I’d be curious to see which shifts you dig and which ones you don’t.

What you see as either/or and what you see as and/both.

Read carefully and leave a reply.

.

Churches starting churches.

Churches launching campuses.

.

Pastors leading from out front.

Pastor leading from up top.

.

The development of leaders.

The replacement of a leader.

.

The Bible opened on top of the collected works of Seth Godin, John Piper, and Rob Bell.

The Bible laying beside collected works of Seth Godin, John Piper, and Rob Bell.

.

The peer-to-peer networking of the church.

The power-grabbing consolidation of the church.

.

Discipleship as a first-step, next-step, grow-as-you-go, journey towards Jesus.

Discipleship as an online program, just-take-this-class, activity about Jesus.

.

Iron-sharpening-iron community.

Anonymous-staying-anonymous community.

.

Churches sending Christians.

Christians consuming churches.

.

Becoming the church Jesus had in mind.

Becoming clones of the church you’re favorite leader had in mind.

.

Orthodox in theology, open in methodology.

Open in theology, open in methodology.

.

Jesus as the end.

Jesus as the means to an end.

.

Shaping culture.

Shaped by culture.

.

Preachers and teachers communicating with their family.

Preachers and teachers communicating with hologram technology to an audience.

.

Courage in the face of rejection and persecution.

Compromise in the face of rejection and persecution.

.

I could list more, but that’s plenty for now.

Let’s talk.

What do you like/dislike?

Do you agree/disagree?

What would you add?

Those crazy dreamers.

Just when things are set to cruise control, those crazy dreamers come along and change the course.

Just when roots are firmly established, those crazy dreamers come along and shake the tree of complacency.

Just when times get to be predictable, those crazy dreamers come along and interrupt the status quo.

Everybody tells you to dream- but not everyone wants (or expects) you to actually follow through with it.  Especially if it rattles their cage.

Dreaming is safe.

Doing is daring.

Ignore the critics and cynics.

But listen to wisdom.

And advance that dream you crazy dreamer.

That’s why you’re here.

Remember that epic scene from the film ‘Braveheart’ when William Wallace (played by Mel Gibson), with his face painted like a college football fan, inspired his men with these words?

“Fight and you may die. Run, and you’ll live…at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin’ to trade all the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take…OUR FREEDOM”

Now imagine him riding off to safety while those men went and fought for freedom.

Not the same story is it?

Instead, he led the charge against their adversaries and laid it all out there. Inspiring men with more than his words- but with his own life.

He led from out front- not up top.

This is leading forward and that’s how I want to lead.

How often do we see leaders who can make a good speech (or sermon) and then step back as people enter into the fight of their lives?  Meanwhile the leader returns to the safety of their throne called the office chair or La-Z-Boy.

Top-down leadership is all about “have to’s” and fueled with fear.
“Do this or something bad will happen to you.”

Out-front leadership is all about “get to’s” and ignited with inspiration.
“Do this and something bad may or may not happen, but it will be worth it.”

Big difference, huh?

Which type of leader do you want to follow?

What kind of leader are you?

Or as the great leader, Michael Scott, puts it:

“Did General Patton actually fight in World War II? No, he delegated the fighting to soldiers after telling them what to do…I like to be in the trenches. But I still have to tell other people what to do…’Lead that battalion over there.’ ‘You guys, jump on those grenades and save a village.’ That’s just good management.”

Dear Church Planter,

I have more questions than answer but for what it’s worth, here are some nuggets that I’ve learned so far.

1. Jesus is the big deal.
2. If you are called, you have permission.
3. These are your first three priorities: 1) Follow Jesus 2) Love your wife 3) Be a good daddy.
4. Don’t just plant a church; start a movement.
5. You’re not called to grow a church; you’re called to grow missionaries.
6. Don’t make the church your idol. It’s easier than you think.
7. Study your Bible. I shouldn’t have to say this, but…
8. Be able to explain the Gospel simply and clearly. Start now by writing it down.
9. You have what it takes.
10. Don’t be a poser. A graphic tee, ripped jeans, and Starbucks isn’t what makes you cool.
11. In other words, be yourself. People smell fake a mile away.
12. Read books and blogs but don’t get caught in the formula trap.
13. Speaking of reading, don’t just read church planting books.
14. There’s a lot of wisdom in the words of dead guys.
15. Meet with guys who are getting it done.
16. Ask questions, shut up and listen, & take notes.
17. The core task of any church is to go and make disciples.
18. You’re not an event planner. You’re a pastor.
19. Church isn’t a big show or a building; it’s a people. Don’t lose sight of that.
20. Make friends with people who are far from God.
21. Have church planting buddies. You’ll need them.
22. Don’t talk about church all the time to your wife. Pace yourself.
23. What are you going to say to someone who just lost their baby?
24. Blog. It’s a way for people to get to know you and a chronicle of your journey.
25. Don’t be an arrogant prick. Be teachable.
26. You should be able to explain the vision on the back of a napkin.
27. Go with what God gives you whether much or little.
28. Be careful what (and who) you criticize.
29. You’ll get criticized for things you never even said or implied. Get used to it.
30. Check your motives. Why are you starting this church?
31. Understand that starting a church is odd to outsiders.
32. Rarely are your options this OR that. Often it’s this AND that.
33. Local pastors are not your competition.
34. That being said, don’t be surprised if some of them are jerks.
35. If you have a launch team/core group; love them, don’t use them.
36. Do you have a theological framework?
37. Your words are more powerful than you realize. Even the ones you say in passing.
38. Your heart will break and people will let you down.
39. Be a man.
40. Start a church where it’s okay to be a dude.
41. Be a leader who develops leaders.
42. Pray without ceasing.
43. The stress will be great, how will you deal with it? (I gained weight).
44. Don’t go it alone. Surround yourself with a support system.
45. Practice loving people where they are and not just as they should be.
46. If you don’t give a rip about people far from God- do something else.
47. Careful not to feed the consumerism monster with your church.
48. Lighting, sound systems, computers, projectors, etc. are great tools.
49. But if your church depends on them to be a church then you’re not a church.
50. You starting this church is an act of worship to God.
51. Fight the temptation to do everything yourself.
52. You can’t force community.
53. Timing matters.
54. The DNA of your church is determined early on. Get it right.
55. Would Jesus agree with your mission statement?
56. Can people easily remember your mission statement?
57. By the way, you are a missionary.
58. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
59. God loves to use unlikely people.
60. If it all fails, at least you went for it.
61. Be resilient and tenacious.
62. Your kids will say, “My dad had a dream and went for it…maybe I can too!”
63. Evolve.
64. Here’s an equation: Love God + Love People = _________________
65. Figure out what you’re going to do with the kiddos.
66. Typical is boring.
67. Love your city. Love your world.
68. Your vision is probably too small.
69. Studying the culture is more than just watching TV.
70. Would you do this for free?
71. People are watching you.
72. Get used to asking this question: “What the next step?”
73. Just when you think you have all the answers, the questions change.
74. Be intentional.
75. Some people will laugh at you but others will be inspired by you.
76. Watch your assumptions.
77. Prepare- but understand that you’ll never been prepared enough.
78. GO!
79. Stand up for the ones who can’t stand up at all.
80. Time alone with a notebook, a pen, and a Bible often lead to something special.
81. Authentic people are led by authentic leaders.
82. Dwell in your city.
83. R-E-P-E-N-T often.
84. You will become very familiar with your strengths and weaknesses.
85. Don’t forget that a large part of what qualifies you for ministry is how you manage your family.
86. Laugh a lot and get your mind off churchy stuff.
87. It will be messy.
88. When was the last time you went to a bar or sat in the smoking section of a restaurant?
89. Be big on grace AND truth.
90. We are accountable to God for our churches.
91. Say no to good things and say yes to the right things.
92. Repeat after me, “I heart simplicity.”
93. Don’t stop dreaming.
94. Borrow ideas but hear from God.
95. There’s never enough money.
96. Only the Holy Spirit can change people’s hearts.
97. Sometimes you just need to unplug.
98. Where does your city hurt?
99. Despite what you’ve read, church is not all about Sundays.
100. Church all boils down to relationships.
101. Again, Jesus is the big deal.

There is so much more but that’s all I could come up with off the top of my head. What would you add?

You crazy missioneers.

Following Jesus around like he’s God or something.

You crazy missioneers.

Actually believing the Gospel can change lives.

You crazy missioneers.

Persevering despite the adversities, missteps, and criticism.

You crazy missioneers.

Knowing full well that what makes you likely is being unlikely.

You crazy missioneers.

Chasing dreams that used to belong to professionals.

You crazy missioneers.

Sitting in smoking sections, bars, and pews.

You crazy missioneers.

Changing stories by entering stories.

You crazy missioneers.

Walking in darkness yet guided by the light.

You crazy missioneers.

Slaying the dragon of religion with the gospel of grace.

You crazy missioneers.

Loving God, loving people, and backing it up.

You crazy missioneers.

Standing up for the people who can’t stand up for themselves.

You crazy missioneers.

Shaping the future by living for today.

You crazy missioneers.

Working on a better city and not just a better church.

You crazy missioneers.

Leading the mission not from up-top but from out-front.

You crazy missioneers.

You’d do this for free.

You crazy missioneers.

Seeing the web as the means- not the end.

You crazy missioneers.

Praying daily for your mission field.

You crazy missioneers.

Starting movements, not churches.

You crazy missioneers.

For to you, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

You crazy missioneers.

You’re pioneering a path by following Christ.

You crazy missioneers.

Jesus is your treasure, your joy, and your finish line.

You crazy missioneers.

Striving for one Church, under Jesus.

You crazy missioneers.

Asking more questions, providing less answers.

You crazy missioneers.

This is not a game.  This is real life.

You crazy missioneers.

Answering questions about the hope that you have.

You crazy missioneers.

Bringing good news and being good news.

You crazy missioneers.

Called by God, compelled by love, committed to truth.

You crazy missioneers.

Thank you for who you are and all you do!