Outliers

Read a great book on vacation. Gladwell argues that SUCCESS is not just about being the best and brightest but others factors surrounding the person.

To be successful...

• Yes, you have to have an IQ, some talent or gift; but this is not enough.
• Timing of your birth and the next _______ revolution (ie. bill gates was born in 1955 so by the time of the computer revolution he was the right age)
• Family Background - 2 parenting styles: Concerted Cultivation = parents involved in developing the child's potential vs. Accomodation of Natural Growth = loving accomodation as the child develops naturally. People with concerted cultivation have a greater chance of success.
• Community and Culture: people who come from a culture of honor that are easily offended when called an asshole have less chances of being successful.
• 10,000 hours or 10 years of preparation to become an expert. (the beatles performed eight hours a night in strip clubs 7 days a week for 7 years before coming to the US)
• Persistence - attitude not ability
• Hard work that is meaningful: autonomous, complex, relationship between effort and reward
• OPPORTUNITY - "to build a better world we need to replace the patchwork of lucky breaks and arbitrary advantages that today determine success...with a society that provides opportunities for all." So give a guy a chance.

Gladwell gives great anecdotal evidence that success needs a threshold of intellegence and ambition but also the right history, community, opportunity and legacy.

I would argue one chapter is missing. Behind the scenes in all of our lives we have a God who is working out the details. More than we wanting to reach our human potential, God wants it for us more. I believe He orders the steps of the righteous and all we need to do to succeed is to respond to His leading. Gladwell does a good job of sketching out what the response looks like.

Cruisin'

Kristan and I took a cruise to celebrate 10 years of marriage. We left the San Diego port on a Monday, sailed two days at sea, spent a day in Victoria, then disembarked the next day in Vancouver. We chose this cruise because we honeymooned in Victoria and wanted to go back.

Some thoughts and memories...

• Sailing on Holland America's ship the Ryndam was like expecting to go to a contemporary mega church but ending up at your grandmother's traditional church.
• Don't make out with your wife on the deck. It will sunburn one side of your face and people will then ask questions or make dumb comments.
• Formal night is unnecessary. We dressed up, sat next to strangers at dinner and had shallow conversation. The fun part was that I played a part... I was a professor of psychology and human sexuality.
• I like mojitos.
• We both got wobbly legs and vertigo. Sea sickness is not fun.
• We spent some time in our cabin watching movies, getting a facial, taking a nap and obviously some things described in Song of Solomon.
• We exercised everday. Kristan took a spinning class and I did some weights and cardio.
• Victoria was the highlight of the trip. We went straight to the Sticky Wicket for lunch, had tea and cookies at the Humboldt House (the B&B we stayed at 10 years ago), went to the mall, bookstore, internet cafe and had dinner at Cafe Brio. Went back to the Sticky Wicket then back to the boat.
• The ship's crew sang a farewell, "Love in any Language" by Sandi Patti. Yes, it was as bad as it sounds but so bad we couldn't stop laughing.

ORIGINS/ Catalyst

Good times and good people. Some highlights...

• "The raging Mississippi River has no effect on the Pacific Ocean. Is what we're doing having an effect on what matters" - Erwin McManus
• "I left the passionate pursuit of God's Presence and became a pastor." " I wanted a big-ass church!" - Naeem Fazal
• Alan and Debra Hirsch's book is coming out about Untamed Jesus followers vs. Domestic disciples. Can't wait!
• The Origin's Project: Jesus, Humanity, Innovation
• The higher up in leadership you are the more complexity and uncertainty. "I will always be uncertain, I'm certain of it". In uncertain times, have clarity and flexibility. - Andy Stanley
• "Pleasing everybody creates mediocrity." "Don't let the bozos grind you down." - Guy Kawasaki
• Line #1 Christians: Believe enough for the benefits. Line #2 Christians: Believe enough to comfortably contribute. Line #3 Christians: Believe enough to give their life for the gospel. - Craig Groeschel (the guy with big guns!)
• Culture's foundations and pillars: Eternity, Morality, Accountability and Charity - Ravi Zacharias (brilliant!)
• "I'd rather be a church builder than church critic." - Brian Houston (sorry bro, I'm really trying)
• There are 27 million people in slavery today! More than anytime in history. What to do??? make it unprofitable, enforce laws, after care shelters
• Churches are either "come and see" or "come and die". they need to be both. God wants faithfulness and fruitfulness. You need a process for discipleship. - Rick Warren
• The Acts Church was unstoppable. Our church is easily stoppable (pastor, style, time, location, music etc.) - Francis Chan
• "The size of the vision God gives you is directly related to the amount of pain and discomfort you are willing to endure." - Perry Noble (looks like a hillbilly serial killer but the man brought the Word!)

Blog Stalkers

For those who follow blogs and like to comment...
I've googled blog etiquette and added some of my own.

• Comment, don't blog on my blog. If you have that much to say buy me a cup of coffee!
• Post comments that are related to the entry.
• If you have your own blog, don’t blatantly promote yourself on other’s blogs. Especially if the entry is unrelated to you.
• If you don’t like it, move on. If you don’t share a blogger’s opinions, don’t make it your mission to spam his/her blog with your vile personal attacks. There are so many blogs to choose from in the blogsphere, find a new one to frequent.
• If you’ve accidentally posted repeat comments, apologize to the blog owner, preferably via email. You could post the apology with another comment, but be careful not to have it posted multiple times again.
• Rude and childish behaviour just because you’re an anonymous commenter or are behind a pseudonym is unacceptable. As much as good manners is required in the real world, it works the same in the blogsphere.
• If you’re emotionally riled by a blogger, pause before you hit submit. You might regret what you wrote.
• Before you write...think, read, converse, think again.

Jesus Followers and Church Goers

Church used to be simple. People who followed Jesus went to church. They shared a common life and weekly routine. They would laugh about the CEO (christmas and easter only) attenders and cry over the occasional "hypocrite". Church isn't simple anymore.

Jesus and Church don't always mix. I've observed 4 kinds of people...

1. Do follow Jesus, Do go to church.

The good ol' days! People follow the life and teachings of Jesus and unite with a group of others to do the same.

2. Don't follow Jesus, Don't go to church.

I respect these people's honesty. They don't follow the life and teachings of Jesus and don't waste their time pretending like they do.

3. Don't follow Jesus, Do go to church.

These people give me ulcers and adrenal fatigue. They are involved in the organization of the church but don't or half-heartedly follow the life and teachings of Jesus.

4. Do follow Jesus, Don't go to church.

The next generation. People are leaving church to follow Jesus. This is a call for us as the church to follow Jesus again in a kick butt fresh expression kind of way.

Nazarene Government and Infrastructure

Wondering why this has bothered me...maybe I figured it out.

It seems to me that this structure is an internally focused church and does not line up with our core value of Missional.

Parishioner vs. Missioner

I found a new word in the dictionary that lights my fire!

Old School Word:

Parishioner = a member or inhabitant of a parish (church)

New Word:

Missioner = a person sent by a church on a mission

In a fight, who would win?

Parishioner vs. Missioner

out of shape sitting in a pew vs. calloused hands helping others
sunday school answers vs. real life questions
invested vs. invested and involved
supports missionaries vs. becoming a missionary
comfortable with a busy life vs. life is busy bringing comfort