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The Red Sox 10 Minutes from my House

It was great to see my team, the Boston Red Sox playing at Dolphin stadium against the Marlins tonight. A couple from our church got Carey and I luxury box tickets! It rocked. I loved eating free ribs, chicken, and beverages and watching a ball game. It was awesome!

The game wasn't so pleasant as the Red Sox traded for a chump starting pitcher who gave up 5 runs in the first 2 innings! David Ortiz got robbed of a home run in the 9th inning, which was heartbreaking. But all in all, it great to see my team.

Also, mad props to the Marlins fans for giving both Mike Lowell and Alex Gonzalez a standing ovation when they came to bat. These guys helped the Marlins win a World Series in 2003 and the fans didn't forget. That's a classy move. We'll see how the Sox do tomorrow...

The Sounds of My Past...

I was in a couple of bands before I went to Bible College and went into the ministry.

One was this band, which was Christian. It's amazing people still are into the band.

The other was a band called Amboog-a-Lard that I was in with my friend Jeordie, who later left to become Twiggy from Marilyn Manson. Anyway, I just saw that he posted all of our stuff on his website. Some of the stuff I didn't play on, because I joined the band later. But you can check out our stuff here. The mp3's are free if you want to listen.

I left because I became a Christ follower and felt called to do something else with my life. I still loved the music (This stuff was written and recorded from 1990-1993), but felt God calling me to go into ministry. So I felt, then joined Strongarm for a season, after which I got engaged to my wife and started college, so a choice had to be made and my music career ended.

Warning: This is Metal! There may be language that isn't appropriate for kids (I wasn't a Pastor back then.) But thanks to Jeordie and everyone else who put these songs up because I didn't have 1/2 of them! So feel free to turn it up to 11.

A Great Time with Some Great Guys

I had a great time meeting with a couple of Pastors from Flamingo Road Church in Cooper City. They just started a satellite venue in Doral (That's in Miami, for you out of towners). I am so glad they called and wanted to get together and talk about doing ministry in South Florida and specifically Miami.

I was shocked by a statement that a speaker made at a conference they attended: "The new southern-most border of South Florida is Broward county because Miami is totally lost!" I couldn't believe it!

That's why I give Flamingo Road mad props. They didn't have to come to Miami. They are doing just fine where they are and God is using them greatly. But they decided to go where someone in essence said, "God just can't work here!" Like real men, they took that as a challenge to go where many fear to tread! It's awesome! I'm so glad they're here in the trenches with us!

Book Review: The Multi-Site Church Revolution

I just finished reading "The Multi-Site Church Revolution" by Geoff Surratt, Greg Ligon, and Warren Bird. I really enjoyed it. I think what I enjoyed the most was that the book fired me up to go multi-site.

In a city like Miami, the idea of buying a huge piece of property and building a big building isn't really reality. Plus, the traffic isolates sections of the city, so I think this is a vision of the future for us. How and when I have no idea.

But I will say this, when I decide to go multi-site, I will read this book again because this book gives a person the step-by-step process to getting a 2nd 3rd, or 20th site going. Also, I loved how the book emphasized what type of staff and leadership is needed to get another site going.

Lastly, I enjoyed how they interviewed churches that are approaching multi-site ministry is completely different ways. This is not a cookie cutter approach at all. Instead, it's more of a variety pack showing the many ways to expand a growing ministry that desires to reach more people for Jesus.

Keeping the Creative Juices Flowing

I've been thinking about the "Innovation Bell Curve." I first saw this a few years ago in the book "Living the Life you were meant to Live" by Tom Paterson.

Ever since that day, I've wondered where I am on the bell curve, but I've always considered what happens to people and/or movements as they become more set in their ways.

Basically the curve works like this: 5% are innovators - 13% are early adopters - 34% are early majority adopters - 34% are late majority adopters - and 16% are laggards (They're called "Nostalgic" now because that sounds nicer).

There seems to be a natural progression towards becoming nostalgic. Even the most innovative, cutting edge person seems to have a bent towards being set in their ways after time. I can totally understand why. Why change what used to work? What's interesting is we usually don't ask when things stopped working? Usually we can't tell. Then the problem usually isn't the method or practice, it's everyone else.

I've been thinking about what keeps a church and/or a leader from suffering the same fate. I don't have this totally figured out, but I think three things are huge:

#1 - keep innovating. Constantly pushing the envelope can help us from becoming what led many of us to want to innovate and create in the first place. This means we have to change things up! Create a culture of change in your church where people don't feel like things can't change. Instead, they expect things to change.

#2 - Limit the number of sacred cows - A sacred cow is anything we hold to that isn't a Scriptural mandate. That could be type of dress, order of service, music style, and a million other things. The more sacred cows we have, the less flexibility we have to innovate. They create invisible walls that crowd our creativity.

#3 - Stay open to the Spirit - Here's my pet peeve: People who talk about staying open to the Spirit, yet only acknowledge someone being led by the Spirit if they do exactly the same thing they did. I think we should be a bit more charitable than that. The Holy Spirit may lead you to do something innovate, just remember that innovators generally take their arrows in the back! Then after some time, everyone realizes God was really working in that person and most jump on board.

Stuff I'm Thinking about on Friday...

Several things swimming my head today. Here they are...

#1 - I saw Nacho Libro on Monday. I was kind of disappointed. I think it was the director. It couldn't be Jack Black. Why? Because Jack Black is one of the funniest people on the planet.

#2 - I have listened to the new John Mayer song at least 150 times since his started streaming it from his website.

#3 - I'm loving teaching our new series "crash." We're going through the book of Daniel. Its' been fun.

#4 - EVen though I didn't love Nacho Libre, I have been imitating the high pitched "Nachoooooooooo" ever since. I think Carey is sick of it.

#5 - "The Ten Faces of Innovation" is great so far. I'm only 70 pages into it, but so far it's great. It's about how to get people thinking creatively at every level of your organization based on their personality and view of life.

#6 - "One day our generation, is going to rule the population" - I can't get that lyric out of my head!

#7 - Someone posted that I have a "Man-Crush" on John Mayer. Now we're just trying to hurt each other! I reject this idea. I have a strong appreciation for his music and colorful social commentaries. That's all. Now I'm going to lift something heavy or some other manly thing.

#8 - Scott inspired me to clean out my inbox. I'm down to 2 e-mails. From hundreds to 2. The end is in sight... and it is glorious!

#9 - I told Carey at dinner last night that I've seen more Miami Heat jerseys in the last month than in the last 10 years combined! The bandwagon is officially open for business. Hop on! In fact, let's all buy a Steelers jersey, a White Sox Jersey, and a.... who won the Stanley cup? Does anyone even watch hockey anymore? We don't in Miami... until the Panthers go to the Stanley cup! Yes, I have a problem...

#10 - By the way, I'm approaching 1000 comments. Whoever #1000 is, I'll send a copy of my book to. Thanks for the idea Tony.

Peace out...

Congratulations Heat!

Who would have thought that the Heat would have come back from 0-2 to win 4 in a row? Miami is officially being renamed "Wade-County" for the MVP! Awesome!

I gave our church a hard time on Sunday saying that Miami would lose in 7 games. I was kidding, but they'll be the ones giving me the hard time this Sunday! For the record, the Heat is my second favorite team next to my childhood team, the Celtics!

From a kid who grew up in the Larry Bird era in Boston, congratulations to the Heat!

Strange Dichotomy

I've been totally blessed listening to this years' Calvary Chapel Senior Pastor's conference. The theme is "God's Continuing Work Through His Church." Basically, each speaker is telling their story of how God worked in their lives and lessons they've learned. Great stuff!

I'm about 1/2 way through the sessions and here's the 2 consistent themes I've heard throughout:

#1 - God is faithful - It's a fact and a great reminder!

#2 - God works differently every time - Every story the Pastors told featured God leading the Pastor and leaders to do something different at each stage of the church. It's so amazing. I was reminded by the importance of personally listening to the Lord and following where He is leading me. It makes sense. If I'm going to follow the Lord, He's going to lead me to a place where there is no pattern. If God did it the same way every time, it wouldn't much of a walk of faith. I was challenged.

In light of that, here's my question, "If God always works differently with each church, why are some upset when we all don't look alike?" That should be a reason to rejoice. Is that weird or is it just me?

Be Known for What You Love

I don't know if it's just me, but I've heard so much negativity as of late by people (Some church leaders, others not) about just about every ministry and church leader I know. I for one, am totally over it. I've decided that I want to be known for what and Who I love, not only what I stand against.

Before you get bent out of shape citing the need to be Bereans, a watchman, and a workman who needeth not be ashamed (Did you like my King James?), let me say that I understand the need for apologetics, orthodoxy, and doctrine that rightly represents God. Yet I think we can create discussion in such a way that does not come off as demeaning, arrogant, or unteachable.

None of us has it all figured out. If you think you do, you're entered the place of not being teachable. Because why would a person who knows everything needs to be taught anything. I really don't believe I have all the answers. That's why I read as much as I do. That's why I love talking with church leaders and thinkers. It expands my mind and opens me up to new ideas that I never would have even considered.

I read books by people I disagree with because I want to understand where they are coming from. This way, I can understand what led them to the place they are now. I think this is the least we can do. It's hard to hate someone you've gotten to know. But when they are simply a faceless heretic because they don't believe __________ or they do subscribe to ____________, it's all too easy to say things that don't build up or edify.

Listen, I don't agree with everything every church does. Not even close! But I am happy that many churches are doing something for God's kingdom. I truly believe God is sovereign and will correct us if we are open to it. I didn't say "correct them", I said "Correct us." That is, if we think we need correcting...

The Drought is Over! There's New John Mayer Music!

I'll tell you this, this day couldn't come soon enough. John Mayer has announced the release date of his new Album "Continuum." It comes out 9.12.06. He'll be in West Palm Beach Amphitheater on October 11th!

But John is streaming the first single from the album on his website. The song is called, "Waiting on the world to Change." It's great! I've listened to it about 20 times by now. It's on an infinite loop. Best line of the song: "One day our generation is going to rule the population..."

I love this guy's music, his unique outlook on life, and the fact that he's a Mac user. I say these things in the most heterosexual way possible, but I'm glad John's back!