Dear Friends,
We are preparing for an amazing time of growth at Newport Mesa. Church leadership innovator and author Reggie McNeal will be our featured speaker at the upcoming Newport Mesa Church Leadership Weekend, September 20th and 21st. In preparation for the weekend, we are reviewing reviewing "Six Tough Questions for the Church," from Reggie's book, The Present Future. Let's look at his questions each week and discuss them together.
This week's question: HOW DO WE DECONVERT FROM CHURCHIANITY TO CHRISTIANITY?
What do you think?
Blessings,
Dave
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
TENSION
TENSION.
The word has bad connotations – a headache, an argument, personal stress, friction between people. But tension is a necessary element in our lives.
Consider the tension created when you first sat on Santa’s lap – he was so scary, big, and authoritative, but you knew you needed to climb up there and confess your childish lusts to him so you could get your order filled! If you had run from that tension – who knows what would have happened? Instead of a Sega Genesis, you might have gotten that lame Pong game your dad thought was so cool. Good thing you took the risk…
We need tension when we communicate. Our messages must create, relate, or respond to tension in order to be meaningful. In persuasive messages, we must create a sense of need before our offer of a solution will have value. If we give driving directions, the driver feels tension to arrive at their destination on time. When we respond to others with an empathetic shoulder or hug, we are ameliorating tension that already exists.
Consider the job of a rope. When it sits coiled on the deck of a cruise ship, it is worthless and just takes up space. But when the ship reaches its destination, the rope comes to the rescue and is put under tremendous tension in order to keep the ship from drifting away from the dock. So it is with our messages. Unspoken, unwritten, or unfelt, they just sit on our hearts languishing. Relief, edification, clarification, and good results only come when our messages are launched into an environment of tension.
Romeo and Juliet.
Democrats and Republicans.
Bosses and employees.
Your tires and the road.
Christ and the cross.
Thank God for tension. May you create it today.
Much love,
Dave
The word has bad connotations – a headache, an argument, personal stress, friction between people. But tension is a necessary element in our lives.
Consider the tension created when you first sat on Santa’s lap – he was so scary, big, and authoritative, but you knew you needed to climb up there and confess your childish lusts to him so you could get your order filled! If you had run from that tension – who knows what would have happened? Instead of a Sega Genesis, you might have gotten that lame Pong game your dad thought was so cool. Good thing you took the risk…
We need tension when we communicate. Our messages must create, relate, or respond to tension in order to be meaningful. In persuasive messages, we must create a sense of need before our offer of a solution will have value. If we give driving directions, the driver feels tension to arrive at their destination on time. When we respond to others with an empathetic shoulder or hug, we are ameliorating tension that already exists.
Consider the job of a rope. When it sits coiled on the deck of a cruise ship, it is worthless and just takes up space. But when the ship reaches its destination, the rope comes to the rescue and is put under tremendous tension in order to keep the ship from drifting away from the dock. So it is with our messages. Unspoken, unwritten, or unfelt, they just sit on our hearts languishing. Relief, edification, clarification, and good results only come when our messages are launched into an environment of tension.
Romeo and Juliet.
Democrats and Republicans.
Bosses and employees.
Your tires and the road.
Christ and the cross.
Thank God for tension. May you create it today.
Much love,
Dave
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
PERSEVERANCE.
“NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP.”
Winston Churchill’s famous quote, pasted to the top of my computer screen, inspired me through a long, difficult season. Churchill, of course, was Prime Minister of Great Britain during the time of Hitler’s assault on London and surrounding cities; when for weeks at a time the German Air Force pounded British civilians every night, reducing most of that great and historic town almost to powder.
Life can beat us nearly to death sometimes. We feel like the Londoners whom Churchill sought to inspire with his bulldog courage and relentlessness. What a timeless and powerful leader he was. He had great faith in the British people and in their resolve that, ultimately, good would triumph over evil.
What kind of faith do you have? In whom do you place your faith?
Here are some God-inspired words from the Bible about faith and perseverance. (My dad used to call it “stick-to-it-ive-ness.” I love that.) Read ‘em and post a comment. Let’s hear your favorite verse about perseverance – or even about a story from your own life.
Free trip to Starbuck’s for the best post… =)
Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Matthew 17:20 (NIV)
… I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
Proverbs 24:10 (KJV)
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
Luke 11:5-13 (NAS)
...I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds ; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.
But be careful, because…
James 4:2 (KJV)
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
And it’s important to ask God for the things that HE wants for us. Here’s a good guideline for how to determine this:
Psalm 37:3-7 (NIV)
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Again, the importance of remembering God first and following his plans:
Joshua 1:6-9
Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
Finally, remember that God has a purpose for what happens in our lives. Sometimes we’re in for the “long haul” with our trials. What do we do with that…?
Romans 5:3-5 (NIV)
…We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Please share your thoughts with us. (See “Welcome to our New Blog” for instructions on how to post.) Can’t wait to hear from you.
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!
God bless you,
Dave
Thursday, March 27, 2008
CONTEXT.*(Point of view, perspective, semantic background, schema, life experience, background knowledge, world view, demographic, belief system, place-in-the-world, frame of reference…)
o age
o gender
o ethnicity
o marital status
o primary language
o social standing
o birth order
o religion
o education
o literacy
o sophistication
o financial standing
o family structure and history
o cultural orientation
o sexual orientation
o disabilities
o level of intelligence
o feelings about the person with whom we’re communicating (trusts, distrusts, likes, dislikes, suspicious of, loves, etc.)
o relationship to the “communicator” (peer, family member, employee, employer, friend, opponent, stranger)
o type of message (conversation, question, answer, encouragement, criticism, instruction, humor, threat, advisement, good news, bad news, persuasive, controlling, manipulative, honest, dishonest)
o setting – your turf or theirs? Neutral ground? Safe? Comfortable?
o physical comfort level and/or health issues
o active or passive audience? (Are they live & in-person, or is the message recorded, electronic, written, signage, informational print [signup sheet, rules, phone book, etc.])
Here’s the point: When you communicate, are you coming from a similar or dissimilar contextual background as your audience? You can pretty much count on the fact that it’s dissimilar. As such, how are you tailoring your language, approach, medium, and message so that it most closely fits the context of your receiver? Or for that matter, how are you adjusting your receptive language such that you understand the messages that others are sending to you, from their differing backgrounds?
For the next few days, be self-monitoring and try to identify the contextual differences between yourself and the people you communicate with. Think of how they think. Put yourself in their place, and consider: Am I understanding/speaking their “context” right now?
When you’ve done this, please share your experiences with the rest of us. I think it will be very inspiring.
Consider 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NIV):
One side note: Don’t try to BE the other person. Retain your own identity in your messages – God has worked long and hard to make you who you are, and you are his living letter. I love this quote from John Eldridge’s book, Wild at Heart: “Let them feel the full weight of who you are, and let them deal with it.”
God bless you, friends. Have the best day you’ve had all year!
Dave
P.S. Here’s another good one, from Lightspeed Venture Partners website:
I’ve been thinking a lot about context lately. Known by many names*, this foundational element of communication must be understood and respected if we are to ensure the maximum impact of our messages. This is especially crucial when we consider that we are entrusted with the message of God’s saving love for humanity.
*(Point of view, perspective, semantic background, schema, life experience, background knowledge, world view, demographic, belief system, place-in-the-world, frame of reference…)
Consider context in these examples: A great deal on new work boots probably won’t be too exciting to a concert pianist. An appeal for contributions for a new concert hall isn’t going to hit home with the single mother of 5 children. A blind man probably won’t care if his colors are “spring” or “autumn.”
Okay, we get it. In fact, we already knew it. But let’s revisit this concept just for fun and for a refresher. Consider this long list of contextual issues and the life experience they bring to bear on communication:
o age
o gender
o ethnicity
o marital status
o primary language
o social standing
o birth order
o religion
o education
o literacy
o sophistication
o financial standing
o family structure and history
o cultural orientation
o sexual orientation
o disabilities
o level of intelligence
o feelings about the person with whom we’re communicating (trusts, distrusts, likes, dislikes, suspicious of, loves, etc.)
o relationship to the “communicator” (peer, family member, employee, employer, friend, opponent, stranger)
o type of message (conversation, question, answer, encouragement, criticism, instruction, humor, threat, advisement, good news, bad news, persuasive, controlling, manipulative, honest, dishonest)
o setting – your turf or theirs? Neutral ground? Safe? Comfortable?
o physical comfort level and/or health issues
o active or passive audience? (Are they live & in-person, or is the message recorded, electronic, written, signage, informational print [signup sheet, rules, phone book, etc.])
Here’s the point: When you communicate, are you coming from a similar or dissimilar contextual background as your audience? You can pretty much count on the fact that it’s dissimilar. As such, how are you tailoring your language, approach, medium, and message so that it most closely fits the context of your receiver? Or for that matter, how are you adjusting your receptive language such that you understand the messages that others are sending to you, from their differing backgrounds?
For the next few days, be self-monitoring and try to identify the contextual differences between yourself and the people you communicate with. Think of how they think. Put yourself in their place, and consider: Am I understanding/speaking their “context” right now?
When you’ve done this, please share your experiences with the rest of us. I think it will be very inspiring.
Consider 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NIV):
Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
One side note: Don’t try to BE the other person. Retain your own identity in your messages – God has worked long and hard to make you who you are, and you are his living letter. I love this quote from John Eldridge’s book, Wild at Heart: “Let them feel the full weight of who you are, and let them deal with it.”
Ultimately, doesn’t it all boil down to a sense of balance?
God bless you, friends. Have the best day you’ve had all year!
In Him,
Dave
P.S. Here’s another good one, from Lightspeed Venture Partners website:
Posted by Jeremy Liew on his blog
Viruoso Busker
A story in Sunday’s Washington Post tells what happens when Joshua Bell, one of the world’s finest violinists, plays his $3.5m Stradivari violin in a subway station in downtown
He is not exactly appreciated. In forty five minutes he receives 27 donations totaling $32.17. Of 1070 passers by, exactly seven stop to listen. This is a guy who fills concert halls where the cheap seats are $100.
Context matters. People didn’t know what to expect, so they were not cognitively prepared to recognize the greatness of the performance.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Knowledge vs. Wisdom
Hi Friends,
Here's something to consider - Knowledge vs. Wisdom. What's the difference? Would like to know your thoughts...
How about this: Knowledge is what you know; wisdom is how you use it.
Blessings,
Dave
Here's something to consider - Knowledge vs. Wisdom. What's the difference? Would like to know your thoughts...
How about this: Knowledge is what you know; wisdom is how you use it.
Blessings,
Dave
Thursday, March 6, 2008
WELCOME TO OUR NEW BLOG!
Greetings, friends. Welcome to the first phase of the Newport Mesa blog! We're looking forward to some great times to just talk, chill, ask questions, whatever. This would also be a good place to share your thoughts about God, community, getting connected at church, and your life stories.
So - who's out there and what are your thoughts? Where are you at with God right now?
(You'll need a g-mail account - they're free - in order to respond. Click in and you'll be guided through that process. Or you can use our generic membership [nmcbloggin@gmail.com; password is "godshouse"] but please provide your first name in your comment. Thanks.)
God bless you,
Dave H.
NMC Blog Host
So - who's out there and what are your thoughts? Where are you at with God right now?
(You'll need a g-mail account - they're free - in order to respond. Click in and you'll be guided through that process. Or you can use our generic membership [nmcbloggin@gmail.com; password is "godshouse"] but please provide your first name in your comment. Thanks.)
God bless you,
Dave H.
NMC Blog Host
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