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NASCAR & Church April 30, 2007

Posted by Ken Newton in : Church Issues, Leadership , 1 comment so far

I enjoy following NASCAR.  Sunday afternoons for me often include big screen HD, wrecks and pitstops replayed over and over, and great junk food.  I’m not a fanatic, but I do know that Tony Stewart makes the sport more exciting than do any of the other drivers.  He adds the greater dimension of opinion, right of opinion, outspokenness, challenge of authority, and emotional tyrades.  Apart from the fact he is the best of all the drivers.

This past week, Tony has been taking on NASCAR itself.  He got himself in the most trouble for comparing it to WWF, and how the integrity of the sport is being compromised by the NASCAR governing body.  He suggests the sport of racing is becoming staged in the same fashion as pro wrestling.  His accusation of NASCAR “playing God” is what caught my attention.

Is that how people see God?  Overzealous, manipulating, staging life for each of us?  Without any real legitimacy or authenticity.  Only for the purpose of dictating the outcome?  The expression is a common one, used mostly within the context of someone arrogantly trying to wield power over another.  I guess those pagan people just don’t get it.  Thank goodness us churchgoers have it all figured.

Wrong…

I heard a sermon this past weekend that messed me up again.  Not off position (that would take a lot to do), rather, just annoyed me.  The context was authority, and the statement made that were there an organizational hierarchy, God would be at the top.  OK so far.  Then he said the word that made me twitch and sit up straight…. Next in line would be PASTOR.  Strangely, he then introduced church (as an institution) as the third organizational level.  And guess where I end up?  Level 4, of course.  Should I assume that if I am not a member of a church I can skip the levels of church and pastor and directly report to God?  Maybe there’s someting in that logic.  Hmmmm….

Am I missing something here?  Is that what we are communicating as the church?  Are we with our righteous strategy driving a wedge between people and God with this layer of pastor and organization?  In crisis, do people call the pastor to make the connection?  In good times, does the church as a production constitute the relationship?  Better we have no formal interaction with pastors and good church people and get to know God on our own terms and by his grace?

No  -  that’s not what I am advocating.  But I sure hope we haven’t become that obstacle.   We cannot go down the easy road of proclaiming authority and homage as the means to God.  As NASCAR is a sanctioning body, so might also the church be the same for our life’s race?  Not as in penalty or compliance, rather as in encouragement and influence about voluntary behavior (social marketing).  In the urban dictionary, a guy by the name of Jimmy said that authority is the thing that society will always hate and criticise.  The thing that keeps people in line.  Tony Stewart’s point is that authority tends to pride and self-interest, and not the product in its pure form.

As a church, our product is changed lives.  At SpringWell, that’s what we market.

So  -  once again on my perpetual pedestal…. How many letters in the word NASCAR?  Sounds like?  Get over it Newton, I mean, Stewart….

I Love Fridays April 27, 2007

Posted by Ken Newton in : GSTQ, Leadership , add a comment

I love Fridays.  Not because Sunday is coming.  Sunday is just a weekly event that is always over the top for laying out the best production.  Anybody will experience God and community and care and ease of connection through a targeted, carefully crafted presentation.  Things just don’t happen.  Many people  strategically collaborate to maximize the opportunity of reaching and connecting.  And don’t be thinking that there is anything wrong with a contrived effort.  The competition is fierce, and we can leave nothing to chance.

Back to Fridays.  SpringWell is closed on Friday.  I insist that staff have 2 consecutive days off.  Sunday we work hard.  We are involved in multiple weekday evening events.  Our lives could be SpringWell 7 days a week.  It’s important to intentionally reconstitute priorities of family and relationships.  It is too easy to rationalize abrogation of critical values and responsibilities of “ministry”.  I hate how that word is abused and how it becomes the spiritual scapegoat for failure of real ministry.

Back to Fridays.  My whole working life I have never worked a 5-day week, 8-hour day.  The fact is, I can barely get started in less than a 12-hour day.  I just can’t.  Maybe I’m inefficient.  Maybe I talk too much.  Perhaps I have found a balance of life that weights towards the workplace.  It could be that my office represents a form of accountability that I prefer over a more difficult accountability.  It could be anything for someone looking to analyse the situation.  But let me tell you what it is.  I love to work in a structured, substantive position.  It must be a position within which I can conjure change and wield a strong influence.  Change requires always coming at the present state of operation as if it is defective or sub-optimal.  You never reach a plateau.  So you never can shut down.  For me to walk out of my office is not because all is accomplished, rather it is because I reach the place where I feel guilty for not making good on my full ministry obligations.  That would be Lynda and all she represents in partnership.

Back to Fridays.  Here I am at work.  It is the best day of the week.  Nobody to bother me.  Let the phone ring  -  they can wait until Monday.  Arrive at the office at 8:00 instead of 7:00.  Start off the day on my tempo.  Have coffee with Lynda and talk her ear off about everything that is happening or not happening at SpringWell.  Stop and listen every once in a while to her stable, broader, detached  perspective.  Lie about coming home early, because it really is my day off.  Know that I will be calling her later in the day with an excuse for why my schedule has changed.  But that’s the 35-year routine, we know how it works, she tolerates, no, she supports my love of my work and sense of importance and contribution.  She creates just enough tension to bend my conscience.  The reality is, nobody else would probably have me.

People take jabs.  They will see my lone car in SpringWell’s parking lot on Friday and tell me that I must be trying to catch up on all the time I take off.  Makes me feel good  -  if you’re not there, you can’t be a target.  You know, the old 80/20 thing.  If you’re not doing something, you’re likely not to get more to do or more responsibility or more attacks.  Bring it on!  Builds character.

I am looking at what I am going to get done today.  I am excited!  It’s all about SpringWell moving forward.  It’s rich, strategic initiatives taking form.  It’s having my own mind in my own isolation to throw some more change into the mix.  I love Fridays!

And, yes Lynda….  I will cut the lawn tomorrow.   GSTQ

How Not to Get Hired… April 26, 2007

Posted by Ken Newton in : Church Issues , 2comments

Ok  -  to all you people out there who are interested in a position in a church operation, here’s how not to apply.  The conversation went like this just 5 minutes ago:

“SpringWell Church  -  Hi, this is Ken”
“Hi Ken, this is James”
“Hi James”
“Is this Ken?”
“This is Ken.  How can I help you, James?”
“Ken?”
“Yes James”
“I am calling about the position.”
“What position is that, James?”
“The position at SpringWell.”
“James, could you explain further?  What position have you heard about that I will better understand why you are calling?”

Hang up.  Dial tone.

(By the way  -  we presently have more than one position we are looking to staff.)

How’s that for making a first impression on a potential employer? James is probably now thinking that God isn’t leading him to work at SpringWell.  Obviously, the person he was talking to could not discern what position he was interested in and understand immediately the incredible giftings that James could bring.  And, imagine, having to have an intelligent conversation, and be compelled to demonstrate communication skills and work experience just to get a job in a church!

Guess what?  Churches get bigger and staff requirements increase and multiple positions must be staffed.  The methods used to hire are no different than any other business where you must identify the best person for the job.  And, you can make or break your chances within the first 30 seconds of a conversation or the first paragraph of a letter of introduction.

So, James.  Whoever you are, wherever you are out there, get past thinking that because there is a job opportunity in a church, you can expect any different treatment than applying for a CFO job in a major corporation.  Get past yourself and start honing some real world professional skills.

And don’t be hanging up on people.  Especially me.  You’re done, man.

Note:  James is not the real name of this person.  It’s the least I can do for this guy…..

It’s Worth the Effort April 25, 2007

Posted by Ken Newton in : Leadership, Looking Outside , add a comment

Other people often say things better than I can.  In fact, most times, other people say things better.  Today is one of those days where it is just easier to pull from someone else’s blog.

Perry Noble is senior pastor of a church in Anderson.  I have referenced him in prior articles, and have taken issue over some of his stuff.  But he always has something to say that is stimulating in some fashion, good or bad.  He makes you think.  He is provoking.  From time to time I actually think I am keeping up to his consistency of publication and his ideas on church effectiveness.  However on days like today, he is way out in front of me.

Early this morning as I couldn’t sleep, I decided that blogging is just too draining.  It draws out the critics.  It leaves you feeling like you aren’t influencing change, rather are just stimulating controversy.  You don’t end up second guessing your values and belief systems, but you constantly have this feeling that someone is going to retaliate.  It turns you negative. As well, to the extent you try to make a point within some strategic intent, there are no real measurables that you are having an effect other than to sour some person reading your blog. 

Well, if anybody knows what that feels like, it’s Perry Noble.  I don’t even come close to the hits he takes for his articles.  He is hard-pressed to make a difference in church effectiveness, and does speak his mind.  He is obviously a leader.  Although I will say that, at times, he has it easier than I do.  I think that because as a pastor, people do extend to him a different set of tolerances of behavior.  Goes with the turf designation.  On the other hand, non-pastoral business-ministry types (me) start off as the bad guys, and the die-hard pharisyzing cynics feel much safer on the comeback.

I have digressed.  What I want to say is that Perry’s blog today contains some great advice from John Maxwell.  To see the entire blog, check out It’s Official – God Kicked My Butt.

My favorite point is the third one….

I don’t necessarily agree with the whole article, because I do believe there is a time to take it on, and not remain silent.  But there was enough in what Perry wrote that brought me back to why I blog.  (His timing for writing on this topic could not have been better.)  I may not know to what influence outside of my own ideas and opinions, but I have to believe it has some impact.  Within and without SpringWell.

Thanks Perry.

Misunderstood April 24, 2007

Posted by Ken Newton in : Change, GSTQ , 1 comment so far

So far no death threats for going public with my feelings about squirrels.  In fact, the better number of people who have shared their squirrel stories have given me several good ideas on how to get rid of the varmints. 

Yesterday I talked about SpringWell’s home group leadership conference this past weekend (and please know that while I focussed on the downside, there was a lot of good stuff going on too  -  I really wasn’t trying to break everybody’s crayons….).  During one of the breaks, I was introduced to someone as SpringWell’s “misunderstood staff person”.  So  -  here’s a person you’ve never met before, you’re hoping to make a good first impression, and all they have to go on in their first assessment of me is that I am “misunderstood”.  What the shrek does that mean?

Let’s see:

So let me throw back at you.  Perhaps I am misunderstood because people don’t want to understand.  Maybe having to process a new, and perhaps difficult concept, is better avoided by faulting the source.  Individuality is not so as to be misunderstood.  It is being sufficiently secure that vulnerability becomes a place of learning and connection.  Yes  -  to be misunderstood is a legitimate condition, usually because of the disconnect of behavior and attitude.  How many times have you heard or said, “if I had only known your heart, I would have better understood your words or actions”? 

Here’s my heart.  To leave a legacy of change or change in process that brings the church to a place of greater, relevent effectiveness within present and evolving culture.  To influence thinking to be outwards, not inwards.  To stimulate thinking by posturing.  To see SpringWell constantly unsettled in its thinking and strategizing that it cannot dwell for more than a moment on present accomplishments.  How good would that be!  How exciting would every moment be where we pool our thoughts and ideas of better servicing what we market  -  changed lives!

If that’s what “misunderstood” means, then I hope you misunderstand me every time I share a thought or two….

To Catch a Squirrel April 23, 2007

Posted by Ken Newton in : Church Issues , 4comments

Well – not a bad weekend. My primary mission was to rid my property of a few squirrels. They have recently decided that lawn is just an obstacle in the way of their food supply. The good news is, the trap rate was high. The bad news is, the final count was neighbors cats 2, squirrels 1. Since when did cats start liking peanuts?

By the way, it was a humane animal trap.

Along with animal control, I also was able to attend a home group leadership conference at SpringWell. Now for all those who read my blog, you might think that I tend a bit to the critical in my writings. Some people default to the positive aspects of an event, even if it is a stretch. They call it encouragement. I (because of my cynical nature, of course) call it misleading.

I also consider myself to be an encourager (I know you’re laughing now…), but that doesn’t mean honesty and objectivity have to fall off the table. Around church, we present ourselves as smiley and satisfied (a.k.a. phoney) when it comes to representing our successes of “doing church”. We don’t like to say we underachieved (a.k.a. failed) – that would make the church next door look better. Everybody knows that people only want to be part of a church where no mistakes are made, and everyone is happy and connected.

I don’t like to couch reality. I don’t care to misrepresent the product. I am not afraid for myself or SpringWell to say it didn’t work. If you hide the reality, you never find the fix. It’s not about tearing something down, but it is about dissecting, analysing, correcting, giving it another try.

There should have been 200-250 people at the conference this past weekend. For the size of SpringWell, and its emphasis to small groups, that should have been an easy accomplishment. Not even close. Where was everybody? Why weren’t they there? It seemed the ingredients were all in place – topics, speakers, breakouts, entertainment, food, and more food. Are we looking at a symptom? What might be the cause?

Do we not passionately believe that as a church community our greatest achievement is influencing people to ultimately connect into small, tight communities of care, accountability, discipleship and service? At SpringWell, we call that our kitchen environment. Are we more about the Sunday morning 1-hour church than doing life with people? Are we stuck on activity over program? Do we fail in how we communicate? Is there a better way to invest in people and develop leaders? To what extent do people’s values at SpringWell misalign with its activities and purpose?

All questions that need to be asked. Not with malice or accusation. But with the purpose of finding the better way. All questions that require answers. All questions about which change must occur. No couching, no excuses, no soft sell, no pseudo-encouragement.

I caught cats instead of squirrels. I experienced a failed conference. I am disappointed. I can’t help that and I don’t want you to think otherwise. I am disappointed in myself for not having done more than I did in making things a success. Why did I catch cats instead of squirrels. Hmmmm… Maybe it had something to do with the bait….. 

Mac – Here I Come! April 20, 2007

Posted by Ken Newton in : Customers, Marketing , add a comment

Why do growth and customer service always seem to be at odds with one another?  Most likely because the emphasis shifts from being driven by customer need to production and inside efficiences.  Attention is turned on to process and the market becomes assumed.

Here’s an illustration. 

Almost 6 months ago I purchased a new Dell computer system.  For me, this is almost an annual event as technology advances so quickly and I find each year’s new features so appealing.  The incentive of my most recent purchase was that as soon as Windows Vista was released, those people who bought computers including this feature would be provided Vista as an express release and at a discounted pre-purchased price.  OK  -  this means that everything is up front and you are trusting Dell to make good on their sale. 

Well  -  here’s what appeared in The Guardian on April 19th:
 

Hasta la Vista? Long delays for promised OS upgrade

Thousands of customers worldwide are still waiting for the replacements offered for Windows XP.

Nearly three months after the launch of Windows Vista, thousands of people are still waiting for their promised upgrade to the new version of Microsoft’s operating system.  Vista finally launched on January 30, missing the vital Christmas sales period. In order to boost sales of PCs over the festive season, Microsoft and OEMs – computer manufacturers who sell PCs with Windows pre-installled – agreed to offer a scheme under which people who bought PCs with the XP operating system between October 26 last year and March 15 this year could upgrade to Vista for a nominal administrative charge.

However, fulfilment of this huge “Express Upgrade” scheme has left many people still waiting for their upgrade. Internet forums are abuzz with complaints about the delays.

Guess what?  I’m one of the “thousands of customers”.  I can go out and buy Vista right now.  But I have already paid for my copy when I bought my computer, and it would cost me a lot more to buy it now than what I paid months ago.  I have spent quite a few hours over the last couple of days being indignant (by the way  -  I have redefined the execution of the word in my expression of disappointment with Dell “customer service”), and I have come up short for any satisfactory resolution.  I have even filed a complaint with BBB.

Two points here.  Firstly, I want to get the word out that Dell stinks.  Along with that, Microsoft is probably even worse for being in cahouts on this one.  I could easily make the shift over to Mac real soon.  (Lots of cheers from Randall and Joe for that decision!)  And if I can influence anybody who reads this to take Dell and Microsoft down a few notches, then more power to it.

Secondly, and to the extent I try to tie in my thoughts to some strategic point about SpringWell, it just reminds me how easily it is to focus less on what we need to accomplish and more on how we do it.  The old discussion of placing the activity at a level of greater importance than the purpose itself.  Spending too much effort on the how and not enough on the why.  Forgetting customer service and the customer we are trying to create.  Making ourselves more important than who we are trying to reach and influence.  Remember  -  our product is marketing.  Changed lives!

Let’s not ever become another Microsoft or Dell.

Canadaland April 19, 2007

Posted by Ken Newton in : GSTQ , add a comment

I have a confession to make.  A while ago, in an article I wrote about a capital campaign here at SpringWell, I used the word Canadaland.  Well  -  I did not give proper credit for the word.  It was not my concoction, rather it was created by someone else, and has become the descriptive of the land of my nationality.  If I don’t give proper recognition, I anticipate this individual will soon begin to make my life difficult.

So, Randall, the word “Canadaland” is of your creation.  I hereby extend all rights and royalties to you for its continued useage.  You are particularly deserving of this credit, as you are also one of the few people I have met around here who can accurately recount all of the Canadian provinces in complete east-to-west order.  You may never have been there, but you would probably never get lost for knowing what province lies ahead as your dog team charges eagerly through the hot summer snow.

Now you have to understand the quirky behavior that stands behind Randall’s ability to remember the names of the provinces.  Most people would just memorize the names and their order.  After all, how difficult is it to remember less than 15 words?  But, oh no  -  he has created a story for every word, and when asked to list the provinces, the whole exercise probably takes 10 minutes given each short story.

Nonetheless, he knows the provinces, and he makes me proud!  Seems everybody around here has heard of Niagara Falls, and cold Canadian air that gets pushed south just to be spiteful from time to time.  But, apart from those two significant identifiers, what else goes on and where it occurs north of the border is not much of a matter of public information down south here.

So, Randall  -  thanks for taking the time to expand your horizons!  Next thing we are going to work on is the proper use of the word “eh”.  And, one day, tell me again the story that goes with Saskatchewan.  Only you could build a plot around a name like that!

Hey  -  continued success at Skyline Post.  I’m impressed! 

GSTQ….

Crazy & Brave April 18, 2007

Posted by Ken Newton in : Church Issues, GSTQ , add a comment

I think I find myself a bit amused today.  Maybe not for reasons that you would consider amusing.  And I think there are also some important points to be made for why I feel this way.

I have impressed myself!  I have kept a pretty good pace and frequency of blogging over the past couple of months.  I quickly came to enjoy putting my thoughts out there and being somewhat vulnerable.  I have defined my target as people who are interested in, or like to be challenged about, church within a systems context.  As I see the word searches that are being used that bring people to my blogs, I am more convinced that what I write will influence people’s way of thinking at that level of discussion.

And, yes  -  I do have a bit of fun trying to detonate some paradigms, particularly those who still consider church to be effective in today’s culture using a form that may have worked 150 years ago.  And there is no question that every chance I get, I will try to influence public (parishioners) opinion that church is for those in need, and not for what necessarily feels good.

Here’s my point of amusement.  People are saying to me that I must be crazy, or that I am brave for writing what I write.  It’s as if they are concerned for my safety, and that perhaps I should be more mindful of reprisal.  For expressing an opinion?  For taking the time to research and shore up my belief system by being open-minded and tolerant?  For putting position out there and hoping it stimulates change or provides perspective in return?  For being honest?

Brave or crazy certainly needs to be about something a little more significant than knowledge or opinion.  And, connection can only occur in an honest and candid setting.  Someone once told me that true connection can only come through the deepest level of disclosure.  In that we are created for relationships with God and mankind, to suppress or conceal oneself probably falls into the category of sin.  It is a failure to engage by giving and receiving the truth.  You will never get to connect with me if you don’t know who I am, otherwise it is all a facade.

All I can say is, don’t worry about me.  I just like putting it out there.  I want you to know how I think and by what means and arguments I come to share what I believe.  Not to offend.  Not to lobby.  Not to discourage.  Not to build camps.  Maybe (just a little) to increase the awareness of SpringWell through strategic illustration and links.  And, at the end of the day, as confused and controversial you may consider me to be, I guarantee you will know my heart and my mind.  Then, at least, we have a point of connection.

For now, just call me Crazy Braveheart…..   GSTQ

Organizational or Relational? April 16, 2007

Posted by Ken Newton in : Church Issues, Systems & Structure , add a comment

I had a great meeting this morning with a colleague.  For some time we have been working on a matrix organization for SpringWell.  It’s one of those tasks that started off simple enough, but as we got more into it, and deeper into the leadership requirements of this enterprise, the more complex it became.  Where I had thought an organizational model would be fairly straightforward for a church, it turned out to be quite a bit different.

At SpringWell, we have 3 environments amongst which people move and connect.  They range from entry level through doing life with other people and cycling back into service.  As well, there is a varied functionality constituted about demographics and suppliers.  There are vertical and lateral influences through these departments to ensure no silo entities can take root, and to maximize support and allocation of specialties across the operations.

Apart from the obvious problem of publishing a 3-dimensional model in 2-dimensional form (which is still a problem without having an in-house holodeck), the greatest difficulty was in blending organizational heirarchy with interconnectivity.  Typically, there are levels of position reflecting scope and accountability.  They are usually top-down and imply degrees of importance.  In some way they go against partnering and collaboration.  They tend to compartmentalization.  While important from the standpoint of decision-making, outlook, strategic influence, overarching influence, and skills limitation, they seem too stiff a structure relative to the values we represent as a church.

So what we came up with was a relational model.  Yes, there has to be an organization with positions and descriptions and objectives and means of measuring performance.  But more or less, that is probably best shelved along with constitution and bylaws.  It’s there, but it is really only about the formal structure.  What really becomes the real effectiveness of leaders in collaboration is the means and nature of the relationships.  I think we have absolutely captured that in our model.

And you’re reading this and wondering how anyone could be so taken with the distinction and its importance.  I love this stuff.  I so enjoy redefining the stale old definitions.  I like words and structure that best represent the context within which we can move forward as a church.  It’s my world…  I hope some of you can’t wait to see the finished product.  And others of you are just staring at this blog thinking I must be crazy to think you could find anything remotely intellectually and emotionally appealing for this “exciting” development.

Either way, it really doesn’t matter.  I’m having fun.  And, all that is important is that we do our best and within the best form to “draw the spiritually thirsty…”

I’ve had a great day!