"The Frog in the Kettle"

In his 1990 book, The Frog in the Kettle : What Christians Need To Know About Life In The Year 2000, Christian pollster George Barna introduced a powerful and compelling metaphor for the modern Christian and Church.

“Place a frog in a kettle of boiling water,” he wrote, “and it will quickly jump out, aware that the environment is dangerous. Place a frog in a kettle full of room temperature water and slowly increase the temperature of the water until it is boiling. The frog will stay in the water until it boils to death.”

Much as we admit that culture is changing… and the church is in need of real reform, things really aren’t that bad, are they? We don’t have to make any real radical adjustments, do we?! “Come on in, folks, the water’s fine!”

Sadly, I fear, we’ll only know how bad it really is when we croak… and it’s too late to jump!

"A Copernican Revolution of the Soul... and the Church"

YouTube helps me once again to be about a humorous beginning working toward a most serious end: namely, our acknowledging and repenting of a "it's all about me" approach to Chrisitianity, both as indivdiuals and as communities. Yes, we need what I call a "Copernican Revolution of the Soul."

But, not so heavy, Jim... Not so fast!

To invite us into this truth with a laugh (isn't it amazing how a good laugh opens us up to serious truths? how laughter can help us to lower our guard?)... To gingerly invite us into this truth, then, I turn to YouTube. Two videos posted there (from the worship video generator/distributor which is sermonspice.com) poke fun at a ego-centric mentality we see in our culture--if not in our own hearts:

There's the "Invitation" to "Me Church":



And, then, there's my favorite, the "promo" for a "classic" CD collection, "It's All About Me:"



Laughter still ringing, perhaps, its time to confess (in my own life... and in so much of the church)... It's time to confess that "it's not about me"--though, in fact, there are so many conscious and unconscious ways I/we make it about me/us!

As Copernicus got in our face nearly 500 years ago and told us that we are not the physical center of the universe (that the universe does not revolve around us), even so we need to come down off our high horse and admit that this world does not revolve around us and our small, egocentric agendas.

I am not alone in this conviction. I have read it elsewhere... and owe a great debt to others.

Like Max Lucado (remember his book, It's Not About Me?):

What Copernicus did for the earth, God does for our souls. Tapping the collective shoulder of humanity he points to the Son—his Son—and says, "Behold the center of it all.”...

When God looks at the center of the universe, he doesn't look at you. When heaven's stagehands direct the spotlight toward the star of the show, I need no sunglasses. No light falls on me.

Lesser orbs, that's us. Appreciated. Valued. Loved dearly. But central? Essential? Pivotal? Nope. Sorry. Contrary to the Ptolemy within us, the world does not revolve around us. Our comfort is not God’s priority. If it is, something's sone awry. If we are the marquee event, how do we explain flat-earth challenges like death, disease, slumping economies, or rumbling earthquakes? If God exists to please us, then shouldn't we always be pleased?

Could a Copernican shift be in order? Perhaps our place is not at the center of the universe. God does not exist to make a big deal out of us. We exist to make a big deal out of him. It's not about you. It's not about me. It’s all about him. (Lucado, p. 4f.)

Or like John Ortberg:

Humility has nothing to do with submitted willingness. It involves a healthy self-forgetfulness. We will know we have begun to make progress in humility when we find that we get so enabled by the Holy Spirit to live in the moment that we cease to be preoccupied with ourselves, one way or the other. When we are with others, we are truly with them, not wondering how they can be of benefit to us.

Indeed, humility involves a Copernican revolution of the soul, the realization that the universe does not revolve around us. Humility always brings a kind of relief.

Humility, if we could grow into it, would not be a burden. It would be an immense gift. Humility is the freedom to stop trying to be what we’re not, or pretending to be what we’re not, and accepting our “appropriate smallness.” In Luther’s words, humility is our decision to “let God be God.” (from The Life You’ve Always Wanted by John Ortberg)

Friends, it is about me and it is about you. But not in the ways we think. It's about us losing ourselves, taking up the cross, and finding our only orbit around Him.

O Lord,
Through the tears of laughter, soften me up...
So that the greater tears of repentence may flow.
"I bow down. I lay my crown at the feet of Jesus..."
That's battle enough. (I'll leave the rest to You!)
Amen.

"The Pastor: Chaplain… or Rancher?"

Am struggling with the role of the pastor—and especially his/her role in a “transforming” community.

It's a debate that was kindled well before I came here to Pollard—back to the time when, as pastor of 900-member Chapelwood UMC in Lake Jackson, I came to realize that I could not do it all… nor was it what the church really needed of its pastor. The voices of “coaches” (Bill Easum and George Brookover) confirmed that conviction.

Work over the last few years here at Pollard (first with Beeson studies [through Asbury] and more recently with Conference consultant Don Nations [of DNA Coaching]) has only heighten these impressions.

Most recently, Don was meeting with our Strategic Mapping Team—discussing the report that is currently before our Administrative Board… and its recommendations for the Pollard Parish.

Along the way, he described the role of the Pastor in a church like ours. With broad strokes, he described the way a pastor should allocate his/her time in a setting of “transformation:” a day spent with the targeted unchurch, a day spent in developing internal church leadership, a day spent in his/her spiritual growth,… a lot fewer meetings, etc.

He drifted off before I caught the whole picture, the whole plan. Admittedly, it wasn’t his agenda that night to nail down the specifics as much as paint a picture for the SMT: of a church family in which the pastor is more of a “rancher” than a “shepherd.” (Ranchers, you see, know the undershepherds but not every sheep and lamb. They know the hows and whys of “husbandry” [i.e., making more sheep] and ranch development but do not micromanage every single movement of every single flock.) I heard him saying that, Biblically speaking, the pastor is to be a lot more than the chaplain who caters to, panders to, and/or plactes the whim of every single soul inside the walls.

Because I did not hear him fully, though (and wanted to make sure I was really hearing him [and not myself… and my wishes and wants]), I wrote him—asking him to clarify and expand: “Don… wondering if you’d give me a snapshot/summary of that ‘average week in the life of a Transforming Pastor’… Okay, I have 7 days (Monday thru Sunday)… Tell me how I might live those 7 days… How did you live an average week?”

With his permission, I post his reply.

It may not be what I specifically wanted. (In some ways, I would have liked a more straightforward answer that didn’t mean so much processing on my part: “on Monday, I’d….; on Tuesday, I’d…; on Wednesday….” Be that as it may, his response does provide real food for thought… and further discussion. And that may be far more valuable than the simplicity I immediately seek and want.

Jim,

Please send me a link to your blog. You are welcome to use my response as part of an ongoing dialogue.

You asked, “what does an average week in the life of a transformational pastor look like?” Allow me to paint with a broad brush and make some foundational statements/assertions/beliefs/thoughts/ideas first.

* The Church exists as much for those outside of it and for those inside of it [did Don mean "as it does" here rather than "and"?]
* People do not owe us a visit but we owe them a visit
* Most people who don’t go to church aren’t looking for a church but they are open to a relationship with someone who happens to go to church
* People can smell a sales job from a mile away so a relationship started simply to be able to “sell” Jesus likely won’t be effective
* Church people typically are not that good at building relationships with new people, especially people who don’t go to church
* A real relationship with someone is a better foundation for sharing Jesus than cold calling on someone
* Too many pastors are so locked into taking care of existing people that they leave little time for unchurched people
* So many of the things that many pastors do have little to do with the long-term success of the church

In new church start situation we typically encourage pastors to spend at least 50% of their time with those who do not go to church. In an existing church this should likely be 20%-33% (or more). This may seem like a lot and the pastor may have to “negotiate” with his/her church but it is necessary if the church is to grow. Not that the church should simply rely on the pastor to reach new people but it is important that pastors become better at reaching new people. It would be even better if the pastor could take people from the church on outings to interact with unchurched people.

I believe that people should spend 80% of their time in the 20% of things they do best. This means that it is essential that the pastor know and understand his/her spiritual gifts. Certainly there are some things that pastors have to do that may not be in the areas of their best gifts – making hospital visits, managing staff, filling out denominational forms, attending meetings, etc. These, however, should not occupy the bulk of the pastor’s time. Unfortunately, there are many churches which seem to value these things – taking care of us – above almost anything else.

I think the pastor needs to be the best spiritually prepared person, have a great sermon, have a heart that beats with God’s vision for the church and be a great spiritual leader. Beyond these things, everything else is secondary. The pastor may or may not have great spiritual gifts in each of these areas but the larger the church, the more these are essential. At the very least (and in many ways this is an essential task) the pastor should be good at identifying “spiritually pregnant people” and recruiting, developing and deploying new leaders.

In my last church I attended almost no meetings. I averaged being out less than one night per week with meetings. I met with leaders and they met with their committees. I met with people who I thought were emerging leaders and these gatherings often occupied a total of a day per week. I didn’t spend much time in sermon preparation (literally less than 5 hours per week) but I invested significant time in keeping up with the headlines, knowing my community, understanding the issues with which the people in the church were wrestling, etc. I consider those things as part of my sermon preparation. I spent time with staff and I think that is important, especially if the time is spent in mentoring them, helping them grow and getting to know them better. Sure I had to do some administration, reviewing of financial records, etc. I had a very part-time associate pastor who made almost all of my hospital visits; I only made about 11 hospital visits in 5 years. That is just me and I am not saying that this should be true for all people but many pastors invest a lot of time making visits and have very little to show for it. I invested some time helping people be accountable to the membership covenant they signed when they joined the church. I did invest one night per week playing on the worship team but (1) I was not the worship leader, (2) many of the key leaders of the church were on the worship team and (3) I really wanted to help craft the worship service and move it in a particular direction.

Questions:
* What are you spiritual gifts?
* How much time do you spend in the 20% of things you do best?
* Who really sets you agenda – the church, you or God?
* With how many people who do not attend church do you have a relationship?
* When is the last time you shared your faith in Jesus and what happened?

I also believe that all leaders need to tithe and be involved in some form of spiritual growth. Is this happening in the life of the local church? Are most leaders participating in continuing education during the course of a year?

There is much more that can be said but allow me to stop there for now and see what questions and comments emerge.

God’s peace,
Don

Admittedly, my struggle, now, is not so much with Don's conceptions. I am sold... and could find myself in this radically different role in a heartbeat. (Maybe I am deluded here? I really don't think so.)

No, if there's any real struggle that abides it is that of how to sell the leadership and laity of the local church on this adjusted role and job description of the pastor--leaders and laity who have their conceptions, who are largely used to and want a chaplain, a shepherd who coddles, placates and panders.

The Gospel (and the Church) According to YouTube

When it comes to surfing the net (and the waves of technology), I am not so much in front as I am in one of the troughs behind--not on top of the newest things, but enjoying many of the things others have been talking about for awhile.

Have discovered the joys of YouTube here lately. (Like all the Web, you have to be careful. It is, at once, a source of blessing and curse.)

Oh, the joys of seeing Keith Green (a mentor from A&M days) in concert... and Rich Mullins...

Amidst my discoveries have been videos which stand as social commentaries on Christianity. Interesting to overhear (and admittedly, entertaining... to me, at least) are the ways the Church and Jesus are percieved.

Be advised, for those "weaned on a dill pickle" (as Hinson put it), some of this can approach irreverance.

Still, I share them. Good for a laugh... and good for reflection and prayer.

Some of the college kids directed me to this "Jesus Video" [from Vintage21]... A real hoot (to me, at least)! (Pay special attention to the "rules for church.")



Never concieved of "King of the Hill" (what few times I have suffered through it... insomnia in the middle of the night will have one watching just about anything!)... Never really thought of them as church goers:

"Rocking the Membership Boat"

The newsletters of various ministries are ever crossing my desk.

I admit, I don't read them all. (Many hit "file 13" with little more than a slight twinge of regret that I don't have more time.)

Something caught my eye, though, in Richard Foster's July, 2007 Perspective. (I encourage your clicking and engaging it for yourself.) Among other things, its focus was "the dangers of institutional preservation." One of the things it commended was a engagement of Jan Linn, his writings, and the "Jesus Connection."

And so, I clicked and looked into things. Eventually, bought three of Linn's books... and have been swept away by this prophetic voice. (I strongly encourage your prayerful consideration of all three!)

Among the biggest "WOW!" moments (it's written there in the margin of the book) came as I read Linn's chapter on "The Percentage Game" in Rocking the Membership Boat: Counting Members or Having Members Who Count.

Can't help but share an exceprt here:

…today we are in a time of numerical and financial decline wherein megachurches are booming and non-megachurches are struggling to survive. This makes leaders even more vulnerable to the pressure from a consumeristic churchgoing public to give them what they want. Of course, not everyone comes to church with this kind of attitude. All churches have faithful members who genuinely love and serve Jesus and make numerous sacrifices on behalf of their church. The point is, these people are not the majority, and that is what creates the pressure. Truth be told, this has always been the case. First Church, Main Street, USA, has been living by the 80/20 principle since it was founded. Eighty percent of the people who attend church watch twenty percent do all the work. This means most of the people who show up on Sunday do nothing but that.

Although this is the way it's always been, there is a difference now. Overall numbers are much smaller today, giving more power to the 80 percent who can and do vote with their feet and their pocketbook. Give them what they want or they will go or give somewhere else. Their power comes from the fact that most churches cannot afford to lose them, nominally involved as they may be. When churches were full, the nominally involved had little power to affect decisions about ministry. They could go somewhere else, and the average church didn't feel the impact. Usually someone else took their place the next week…

Of course, being in the 20 percent group is no guarantee that one’s understanding of the gospel or the meaning of church membership is better than those in the 80 percent group, although their level of participation does give reason to think it is. But that is really not the main point either. The crucial thing is that the 80 percent hold the power to influence the church because the 20 percent are constantly trying to figure out ways to get the 80 percent more involved. In other words, the 80 percent group, by virtue of not being involved, are the consumers, and consumers hold the power in a market-driven culture. In a new church, power tilts even more to the 80 percent because numerical growth is not simply desirable but necessary. Indeed, the combination of a culturally conditioned view of success in the church and consumeristic thinking in the general public means we are in the ironic position of the unchurched holding all the power in a new church.

It is not difficult to see the pressure at work in this situation that leads ministers and churches to lower the threshold for membership as much as possible. The reality of what it takes to survive as an institution in a market-driven culture has put all churches in jeopardy. But the basic question is not one of survival. It is one of integrity. What Christians today must face is the truth that the loss of integrity in ministry is a fate worse than institutional death…

Borrowing from (Willowcreek’s) John Ortberg, Linn concludes:

“The only power ministers and churches have to resist the pressure of dancing to whatever tune it takes to get people to come to church or stay is knowing genuine survival in ministry is more about keeping our eyeson Jesus than sitting safely in the boat.”
(Membership Boat, pp. 35-36, 39-41)

WOW!

O Lord, help me, help us to keep our eyes and you... and get out of the boat!!