This weekend I finished Next Generation Leader: 5 Essentials for Those Who Will Shape the Future
by Andy Stanley.  This is one of those books that I should have read a long time but just kept putting off.  Andy is a wonderful communicator.  I have been blessed to listen to many of sermon series from Northpoint Community Church.

In this book Andy outlines the five characteristics that he feels are vital to being a successful leader for future generations.  These 5 characteristics are:

1. Courage
2. Competence
3. Clarity
4. Coachability
5. Character

Unlike many books on leadership, I feel that Andy strikes a nice balance with the time that spends on each component.  Many books I have read on leadership are simply too long.  Andy covers some high quality information in a mere 160 pages.  The questions at the end of each section also helps readers delve deeper into the concepts that he discusses.

When I first read the book I wondered why I left character for last.  Had I been writing the book I would have put it first because it of its importance.  But in the opening paragraph to this section Andy explains:

“Character is not essential to leadership.”

“We all know leaders who have led large organizations and garnered the loyalty of many followers, and yet lacked character.  They demonstrated courage and competency.  They were clear in their directives.  They may have even sought the advice of others.  But they were not men and women who were known for doing what was right.”

Reflecting on this, I know that he is right.  I don’t like it, but he is right.

I know there are lots of books on leadership out there.  I know many of them say essentially the same thing.  I think the difference comes from the ability of the author to communicate clearly with his readers.  I believe that Andy’s style makes it easy for anyone to understand and apply it to your life.

Tags: Andy Stanley, Book Reviews, Books, Leadership, Ministry, Next Generation Leader

For me, this Sunday will mark my last day as a minister. Sunday morning I will teach my last class at Goodwood Blvd Church of Christ. I will give my goodbye hugs and then take one last trip to Florida with my family before I go up to Searcy in order to begin my new job.

My new job title is Records Coordinator, not minister. My work will be at a treatment center for teenage boys, not a church. I will no longer be required to host Tuesday night Bible studies, travel to Honduras for two weeks during the summer, or plan the other numerous events associated with being an Associate Minister. For the first time in about 6 years I will be free to go “church shopping.” I have been use to be one of the members greeting the visitors and I wonder how I will handle the transition. It has been over 3 years since I have had the opportunity to simply sit in a class and learn rather than teach. I won’t have to leave early on Sunday morning or Sunday afternoon for an elders meeting.

But will I ever stop being a minister? I believe very strongly that every member is a minister. From observation I do believe that the axiom 80% of the work gets done by 20% of people is true. I definitely want to be in that 20% wherever we go. But also believe that one of the keys to being a good minister is equipping others so that you don’ have to shoulder the load yourself. So I am praying that when we get to Searcy that we can find a congregation that can use our talents to further God’s kingdom.

If there is anyone out there who has some advice about making the transition from church to “secular” work, I would to hear it!

Tags: Church, Minister, Ministry

This has been a great week for blog posts, it was really a challenge to narrow my list down, but here they are:

1. Ben Witherington III has become one my favorite writers.  I recently added his Socio-Rhetorical Commentary set to my Logos software and it has quickly become my go-to resource (for the New Testament books which are available).  Needless to say, I was very excited to find his blog.  Here is does a masterful job with the virgin birth.

2. During the difficult economic times we should all be asking ourselves WWAD (What would the Amish Do)?

3. Beyond Relevance has done an excellent series of posts concerning church marketing, starting with a video examining what would happen if Starbucks marketed like the church.  Here is this week’s offering on being better than the “shop down the road.”

4. Before the true Christmas rush hits, realize that the greatest gifts you can give cannot be bought in stores.

5. Church marketing has been a popular theme with a couple of the blogs that I read, but not everyone is a big fan of it.  Take Tony Morgan for example, who, a couple of weeks ago, suggested that churches should stop marketing.  This post helps clear up Tony’s true view on the matter.

6. I have not actually played the game yet, but the idea of teach kids about world poverty through an addictive game like this sounds like a winner to me!

7. This is from a new blog I have been reading, Stoned-Campbell Disciple.  Bobby’s thoughts express and connect many of the same thoughts I have been having since reading Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell.  In this post Bobby is examining the pattern of Exodus throughout the Bible.

8. I have loved how so many of the things written on ProBlogger can be taken and applied to the church.  So if this is the only link you click on, take his advice and build a strategy for your community.

9. Sometimes it is the little things in ministry, which often go unnoticed, that make a big difference.

10. Gen-We. check it out how the next generation is making a difference. Thanks to the guys at Rethinking Youth Ministry who first wrote about this.

11. Honestly, this is from last week, but it was too good to pass up.  First, Mike Cope is speaking about one of my favorite paintings, but now I know, the rest of the story…

Again, sorry for such a long lists of links this weeks, but hopefully you will find something here that helps you in your walk with Christ.

Tags: Christianity, Church marketing, Links, Ministry

That was the quote from Todd Graves, CEO of Raising Cane’s, from the Fox TV show Secret Millionaire. I would have missed except for the fact that our local paper ran a story about it yesterday. The premise is that a millionaire gives up their life for week and go work a minimum wage job.  During that time they form relationships with the community and at the end of the experience, they must choose someone from the community who will receive $100,000.

Todd and his wife Gwen rose to the challenge.  They served an area still recovering from Hurricane Katrina.  The newspaper said that one day he and his wife worked at a restaurant, although the TV episode didn’t show it, as well as many other places (for those of you who don’t know, Raising Cane’s is a restaurant, a rather amazing one that I will miss when I move away from Baton Rouge!).

At the end of the show the Graves gave away close to $400,000 dollars in the community they worked in.  If you are interested, you can go here to learn more or see the episode. You can even get in on the giving action here.

The Graves seemed pretty clueless at the start of the show. In one clip they go shopping, which seems to be difficult for people who have a personal shopper who does that for them.  The total comes up to a whopping $98, leaving them with on $17 for the rest of the week, forcing them to have to put items back.

It was a reality check, maybe the most real one of any reality TV show. I admire the Graves, for their willingness to step out of their comfort zone.  I think it will also be exciting to see what happens with the people who were on the receiving ends of those checks (you can track each of them here).

Must of us don’t have a TV show that can be used to get the word out about things like poverty, the HIV crisis, poor drinking conditions for 1.1 billion people in world, or a number of other issues.  But we can do something.  My question is, what are you doing?

Tags: Ministry, Plaquamines Parish, Poverty, Raising Cane's, Secret Millionaire, Social Issues, Todd Graves

Leaving is hard.  Starting new things can be hard.  Having the desire for a fresh start is not hard.

All three of these statements describe where I am at at this point in my life.  I am in the process of leaving my job of three years as an associate minister to become the Records Coordinator at a treatment center for teens. Leaving will be hard.

At the first of the new year I will be beginning a new job.  I already know that I have my work cut out for me at my new position.  There is no question that this job will be challenging for me.  Doing something new can be hard.

I have the opportunity to make a fresh start in a familiar place.  There is something exciting about being somewhere new.

These things are not just true about my new job, they are also true about this blog.  My previous blog, chaotic ministry, focused on my hectic life as an associate minister.  Since I am moving on from that position I felt it was necessary to change the blog.

If you were a reader of chaotic ministry, then I think you will find that much of the content here will be very similar. Let me take some time at the start to explain the name: a flyleaf is the dedication page of a book. A montage is a collection. Therefore this site is dedication to the myriad of things that have influenced my faith.  I hope that the things that I share here will be encouraging to you all, especially as you seek to strengthen your faith in Christ.

Tags: Christianity, Faith, Ministry