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Amsterdam 5.09

Finally posted a few photos from my extremely brief visit to Amsterdam this past May. 

Click here to see them in FB.

August!

What the heck happened to summer!?  Holy smokes...  It's August.  But that's ok because this is going to be a great month!  Here's a few things coming up that I'm very, very excited about!

First....there's the Echo Conference.  It's this week in Dallas.  Mike Jones and I are headed there tomorrow.  And not only am I excited to be a part of the media/church/tech panel with my friends Bobby Gruenewald, Carlos Whittaker, and Cynthia Ware but I'm also look forward to hearing & learning from people like Phil Visher, Mark Steele, Phil Cooke, and Ben Arment! 

 

Then next week, I'll be heading to Orlando where I'll be helping host the Influence Conference!  Speakers will include: Mark Batterson, Reggie Joiner, Beth Moore, Keith Craft, and Ed Young.  We are also going to be having post-session Q&A's that you can be a part of.  More on that later...

After Influence, a couple days with the family at Disney World....and then........the thing that I'm MOST EXCITED ABOUT.........

The Orchard's annual BBQ & BAPTISM happening on Sunday, August 9th!

And here's a taste of what that's all about in case you missed it a couple weeks ago...

2008 Orchard Baptism Video from The Orchard on Vimeo.

Want to sign up to be baptized?  Go here!

It's going to be a great August! 

Three Questions to Ask When Making RISKY Decisions

Really been enjoying Jim Collin's book How The Mighty Fall.  In one of his chapters, Collins gives three important questions to ask when "making risky bets and decisions in the face of ambiguous or conflicting data."  Here they are:

1. What's the upside, if events turn out well?
   
2. What's the downside, if events go very badly?
   
3. Can you live with the downside?  Truly?
   

Woops.

Wisconsin.

A few shots from my time here.  (See, it's not just about the cheese!)  :) 

Interesting Observation...and an invite to RESPOND.

Seems like 2 or 3 years ago, most conversation about church change/transition was happening among SMALLER (100-300) to MEDIUM sized (300-500) churches who were seeking to move from a “traditional” format to a more “contemporary” style/approach.

Now.....in many of my conversations with pastors and church leaders, it seems like there are whole lot more LARGER sized (1,000-3,000+) “contemporary” churches who are now seeking to transition to something new & different.

Your turn.  And I’m serious when I say this.  I would LOVE to hear from you - ESPECIALLY if you are in the midst of a change/transition initiative. 

(And since it’s likely that smaller sized and “less known” church leaders will feel more “freedom” to reply, please...BIG DOGS...feel free to comment anonymously because I know many of you read my blog.  Or at least USED TO - before being referred to as a “big dog”.  LOL.)

Also, I would love for you to include three pieces of info in your response:

1. Church Size

2. Type of Transition (Philosophical or Stylistic?  From WHAT to WHAT?)

3. What is the SINGLE GREATEST CHALLENGE you are facing in leading your church through this change?

Bring it!  And thanks.

Change.

It's happening again on Sunday, August 9th at The Orchard.  Want to be a part?

2008 Orchard Baptism Video from The Orchard on Vimeo.