I was squirming my way through a Jerry Springer-type church business meeting in 2000. A Cincinnati church was fed up with getting along so they decided to slug it out, in public. I was relegated to sitting silently to witness the massacre. My request to speak was met with a firm no thank you, we don't need anybody to help us screw this thing up, we are doing that on our own.
A humble, thirty-something man came to the mic for his 60 seconds in the midst of flying hymn books and offering plates (embellishment mine). He said to the effect, I work for a corporation in downtown Cincinnati. They would never let things happen this way at our office. Sometimes the church gets accused of running itself like a secular organization. For our church, if we ran things like a secular organization, it would be an upgrade. We do not run our church like a secular organization, we are sub-secular.
Not sure if sub-secular is a word. The statement was the most powerful I have ever heard in a church business meeting gone bad (I have obviously seen a few). So, maybe we can learn church from the South Holston Ruritan Club (see 12/21, 22). More tomorrow.
West Columbia. All is good. Normally the Christmas break is a bit slower. My world tour included Tennessee, South Carolina, and Florida. Movies: Hairspray, Mr. Bean's Holiday, Alvin and The Chipmunks, and High School Musical II. Nothing of note. Books in process of note: Divine Mentor (Cordeiro): Microtrends (Penn) - you will hear more about both. Carl Martin slammed a tape measure, bases-clearing, walk-off, grand slam at WRC yesterday morning: Xtreme Living from Joshua 5. Glad to be back.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
From Tennessee - Industrial Size Balsamic Vinegar
I've been thinking about beginnings. The new year begins when we take a fresh look at the birth of Christ. Let's not wait until January 1, 2008. I can't wait that long for a fresh start. Let's start with Jesus. Again. Anew. Now. What would you like your relationship with Jesus look like? What changes do you need make to go deeper? I have a couple in mind for me. At least a couple.Great day Sunday. Highlands Fellowship screen church in Johnson City, Tennessee. Highlands Fellowship is a great story. More later. Grace Baptist Church (my home church) Christmas program in the evening. Presents, food, etc. My sister made a WW one point pumpkin pie. I received the ultimate practical gift: an industrial size bottle of Balsamic Vinegar. Ye Haw! There is a party in my tummy!
Merry Christmas from the Senesi family! We pray this year will represent new beginnings and deeper waters, with Him, for all of you and all of us.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
From Tennessee - Club vs. Church
Reggie McNeal always bemoaned the fact that the church often demonstrated a club mentality. I understand what he meant. No question the 50 year-old South Holston Ruritan Club faces challenges in the future.
Some churches, however, would benefit from the South Holston Ruritan approach. For other churches, a club mentality would be a step up. Here are my observations of the club mentality:
1. Humble Leaders - I witnessed the outgoing president's last meeting and the installation of a new one. They presented the former president a lapel pin and a basket of fruit for his one year of volunteer service. He seemed genuinely grateful. The new president stammered as he looked at the floor of the platform. He said, uh, I will do my best, that is all I can promise. Uh, you guys are going to need to help me and when I mess up, tell me. Neither of these guys demonstrated my greatest strength, false humility. They meant it.
Jim Collins, in Good to Great, said the leadership in Great organizations demonstrated two traits. One of them is professional humility. Percept, the demographers for World Headquarters, estimated that 80% of South Carolineans, prefer the style of leadership that, works with them on deciding what to do and helps them do it. In comparison, roughly 4% preferred a leader who tells them what to do.
You can start an argument about the need for strong leadership. You might add that biblical leadership is uncompromising and bold if you want. First, however, you might consider the model of a healthy, balanced, in tune with the Father-type leader, like er . . . uh . . . Jesus. Oh, maybe that's not fair to play the Jesus card. Paul? We see elements of strength and even a prophetic vein in their leadership. We also see humble, servant leaders.
Much of what we give to churches under the guise of strong leadership is flesh. Leaders think we are being strong, when we actually lead like we would without Christ. Selfish, self-promoting, uncaring, and manipulative are not the ways of Jesus. A club mentality may help here. At least the club mentality demonstrated in the last two presidents at the South Holston Ruritan . . .
Live Christmas Jazz in E-town last night with Randy (b-i-l) and Debbie (beloved sister). Rick Simerly is a Jazz legend in East Tennessee. Eat your heart out Steve Carmel Frappichino Scudder. Great pictures and a long, hard walk/run around the lake was also happening. Fun abounds. Merry Christmas!
Some churches, however, would benefit from the South Holston Ruritan approach. For other churches, a club mentality would be a step up. Here are my observations of the club mentality:
1. Humble Leaders - I witnessed the outgoing president's last meeting and the installation of a new one. They presented the former president a lapel pin and a basket of fruit for his one year of volunteer service. He seemed genuinely grateful. The new president stammered as he looked at the floor of the platform. He said, uh, I will do my best, that is all I can promise. Uh, you guys are going to need to help me and when I mess up, tell me. Neither of these guys demonstrated my greatest strength, false humility. They meant it.
Jim Collins, in Good to Great, said the leadership in Great organizations demonstrated two traits. One of them is professional humility. Percept, the demographers for World Headquarters, estimated that 80% of South Carolineans, prefer the style of leadership that, works with them on deciding what to do and helps them do it. In comparison, roughly 4% preferred a leader who tells them what to do.
You can start an argument about the need for strong leadership. You might add that biblical leadership is uncompromising and bold if you want. First, however, you might consider the model of a healthy, balanced, in tune with the Father-type leader, like er . . . uh . . . Jesus. Oh, maybe that's not fair to play the Jesus card. Paul? We see elements of strength and even a prophetic vein in their leadership. We also see humble, servant leaders.
Much of what we give to churches under the guise of strong leadership is flesh. Leaders think we are being strong, when we actually lead like we would without Christ. Selfish, self-promoting, uncaring, and manipulative are not the ways of Jesus. A club mentality may help here. At least the club mentality demonstrated in the last two presidents at the South Holston Ruritan . . .
Live Christmas Jazz in E-town last night with Randy (b-i-l) and Debbie (beloved sister). Rick Simerly is a Jazz legend in East Tennessee. Eat your heart out Steve Carmel Frappichino Scudder. Great pictures and a long, hard walk/run around the lake was also happening. Fun abounds. Merry Christmas!
Friday, December 21, 2007
From Tennessee - The Club Faces Challenges
Last night my family and I went to the South Holston Ruritan Club's annual Christmas potluck and monthly meeting. Fascinating! I will talk more about it. The 50 year-old-club has been actively involved in community affairs in the Bristol, Tenn. region. My father-in-law, Charles Owens, has been involved for years.
My mind was operating on overdrive as I watched members and their families roll through the door. This is not an expose' btw. I was impressed by many things. Clarity of purpose, focus, resourcefulness, unity and structure were just a few of the positives.
The challenge they face is the age of club members. At 48 years old, I was with the youngest group represented. How can the club be passed on to the next generation? Does the next generation even care if the club exists? How would the club have to change to get younger? How can the club enjoy another 50 years of community involvement? More coming on the future of the club.
On the road yesterday, of course. Still had a chance to talk to movement makers, Neal McGlohon, Steve Scudder, Michael Green, and exchanged voice mails with Carl Martin. Merry Christmas! I am not mad at the Happy Holidays crowd, but that felt good!
My mind was operating on overdrive as I watched members and their families roll through the door. This is not an expose' btw. I was impressed by many things. Clarity of purpose, focus, resourcefulness, unity and structure were just a few of the positives.
The challenge they face is the age of club members. At 48 years old, I was with the youngest group represented. How can the club be passed on to the next generation? Does the next generation even care if the club exists? How would the club have to change to get younger? How can the club enjoy another 50 years of community involvement? More coming on the future of the club.
On the road yesterday, of course. Still had a chance to talk to movement makers, Neal McGlohon, Steve Scudder, Michael Green, and exchanged voice mails with Carl Martin. Merry Christmas! I am not mad at the Happy Holidays crowd, but that felt good!
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