scotthodge.org

Are you a MOST or a SOME?

Most read books.  Some write them.

Most attend conferences.  Some create them.

Most fake intimacy.  Some live intimately.

Most love great design.  Some design.

Most listen to great music.  Some write great music.

Most point out problems.  Some solve them.

Most admire beautiful art.  Some create it.

Most receive generously.  Some give generously.

Most imagine what should've been.  Some imagine what can be.

Most criticize.  Some create.

Are you a "MOST" or a "SOME"?

Let's stop being afraid of those blank canvases that stare us down and scare the hell out of us.......and let's create.

Worship Leader Essentials

Two "essentials" that I think are hugely important in the lives of those who lead worship at The Orchard:

AUTHENTICITY & DEPTH.

Authenticity.  Being real and willing to lead out of their own, personal journey.  Not afraid to be honest and transparent about their struggles, pain, and brokenness.  The same on stage as they are in every day life and conversation (have you ever heard a worship leader who stands up and talks to an audience in a totally different voice than they normally talk in?)  Someone who others can look to and say to themselves, "I get that person...they're not all that different from me." 

Depth.  If the worship leader has an empty soul.....then the only thing they'll really have to offer is authenticity and talent....and neither of those are enough as far as I'm concerned.  I want worship leaders who have taken the time to LISTEN...and get quiet.  Who make it a priority to wrestle through the scriptures and songs they'll be leading people through.  Leaders whose hearts are freshly inspired by the beauty and goodness of God....and who understand that a huge part of what they do in leading worship is sharing that beauty and goodness with others.

I suppose those are pretty important essentials for all of us as followers of Jesus.  But they're especially important to me when it comes to those who are standing on stage leading our community into worship each weekend.

Worship Leaders & Pastors - I'd love to hear from you.  What "essentials" are at the top of your list?

Tough Times = Breeding Ground for Innovation

No one enjoys having a lack of resources.  Yet, it's often times that lack that ends up pushing us into greater avenues of creativity and innovation.  If we allow it to.

I remember when we had absolutely NO discretionary money or resources to do anything other than pay our bills (barely) and sometimes our staff. The bottom line was that if we wanted to do something, we pretty much had to pay for it out of our own pockets (we still do sometimes) or figure out some other creative way to get it done.  (Side note, it's amazing how differently we think about spending when it comes out of our own pockets isn't it?) 

In many regards, that was a very tough and draining season.  Yet at the same time....it was also a season where I watched the innovative muscles of our team stretch and grow in some amazing ways.  And to a large degree, I would credit those days as being a huge factor in what's helped us sustain a culture of innovation at The Orchard today.

So here's a question/comment that's been on my mind a lot lately...

Leaders, how are we taking advantage of not having "enough" right now? 

Which direction is your "lack" pushing you these days?  Deeper into MENTAL LACK?  Or.....deeper into the world of creativity & innovation?  

Let's make sure we aren't allowing our current situation to move us into a "poverty" or "lacking" mentality.  Instead, let's keep the bar raised and expectations high.  Let's continue casting vision and articulating what could be - even if the resources don't yet exist.  And instead of saying "NO" - what if we said things like, "If you can figure out a way to make it happen, go for it!"  Or BETTER YET....what if we actually challenged and empowered our teams to find ways to make it happen!  Seriously, you'll be surprised at the innovation that will surface. 

I suck at math, but I'm in the mood to create a formula, so I leave you with this:

LACK OF RESOURCES + HIGH EXPECTATIONS + EMPOWERED TEAM = CRAZY BREEDING GROUND FOR INNOVATION  (i.e. figuring out ways to get things done in a completely different way than before)

Leaders, I'd love to hear how you're intentionally fostering an innovative environment in your organization.

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.

UNCERTAINTY

It's our new series beginning this weekend at The Orchard.  And I'm excited about it because we're going to approach this topic a bit differently than most people might expect. 

Over these next few weeks we are going to be talking about everything from how times of uncertainty provide the perfect breeding ground for strong innovation and creativity..........leading (organizations, families, marriages, etc...) during times of uncertainty.......and also how important it is to remember that our ultimate allegiance is reserved for God's Kingdom.  Here and now.

The church has a strong opportunity these days to help connect people to the beauty of God's hope and redemption. 

How are you helping to connect people with that hope?  I'd love to hear your ideas!

What do YOU predict?

So Perry Noble is blogging predictions for 2009.  Here is his prediction for me:

Scott Hodge will discover a way to have coffee fed to him through an IV when he preaches, resulting in a new wave of church growth as people flock to hear twice as much information in half the time.

HA!  We'll see....  Not a bad idea actually.

Now let's make this real interesting....  What's YOUR prediction for me?? 

No, wait.  Nevermind.

Caption?

Questions about Change/Transition

Almost weekly, I receive a handful of emails and phone calls from pastors and church leaders from all over the map who have heard about The Orchard and who have specific questions about change and transition in their own organizations. 

So.....starting next week, I am going to do my best to devote one day a week to answering some of those questions here on my blog.

All you need to do is email your questions to: scott (at) orchardvalleyonline (dot) com.  We'll collect them and then I'll do my best to answer what I can and at least get some good discussion going on the ones I can't!  :)

Should be fun!  So bring 'em!

BUNCH-O-STUFF

My view:

 

It's called a BRAIN DUMP.  And man, do I need one.  So I'm spread out all over my office....chillin' on my couch doing some sorting, emailing, REM listening, and trying to figure out what's next to go on the list of "things Scott is doing that he shouldn't be doing."

So anyway...thought I'd share what's rattlin' around my noggin' right now along with some links worth checking out.  

• Leaving on Wednesday for Catalyst Conference in Atlanta.  Will you be there?  I feel like I'm heading to a giant family reunion...  Except I'm actually looking forward to it!
  
  
• How to write awesome headlines (So people will read your stuff)
  
  
• Free download of new song from Fellowship Church's new worship recording.
  
  
• Looking forward to speaking at this event in November.  I've heard so many great things about this church!
  
  
• Really enjoying using this program for mind-mapping!  I'm now using it for all sermon prep and project management. 
  
  
• Just downloaded new Anberlin and Thievery Corporation.  They're both great!
  
  
• Was recently asked to write an endorsement for Dave Gibbon's new book The Monkey and The Fish: Liquid Leadership for a Third Culture Church.  Just received the manuscript and can't wait to read it!  I really, really appreciate Dave's heart.  Hoping his book messes me up a bit!  Check out Dave's blog here.
  
  
• Oh yeah....  I'll be in Las Vegas for a couple of days next week.  Any show and restaurant recommendations? 

That's it......for now. 

Back to it.

Plasticky, Produced....and the most AMAZING, OFF THE CHARTS blog post EVERRR!

Craig Groeschel touches on something in his book, It, that's been on my mind quite a bit lately.  It has to do with finding the balance between doing things with "excellence" and still keeping things feeling raw, authentic, and real.

Over this past year at The Orchard we have added some pretty significant elements to our weekend gatherings in terms of media and technology.  Yet as we've taken those steps, we've also worked hard at being very intentional about not coming across "over produced" or inauthentic in any way. 

And honestly, it helps that most of us involved in the creative process hates anything that feels too produced or plasticky.  So our radars are always up when it comes to things feeling too canned. 

So anyway...  This got me thinking about some of the things we try to be intentional about in order to keep things feeling fresh and authentic.  Here are a few off the top of my head:

We are intentional about avoiding "churchy" and cliche-ish sounding words and phrases during worship and teaching.  Our communication style is very conversational in approach - across the board.  Still passionate and full of life....but mostly conversational.  We don't go from sounding like "regular people" to Southern Baptist radio preachers once we hit the stage. 

We are very careful not to over-hype everything we do.  What's great about this is that when we do show excitement or buzz about something, people really do believe and expect that something unique is getting ready to occur.  Avoiding over-hyping everything builds excitement equity with people.  I intentionally shy away from overusing words like "awesome", "off the hook", "amazing", etc... because using these types of words too liberally cheapens them, and over time, causes them to lose effect.  (Plus, the phrase "off the hook" just bothers the crap out of me.)

We don't try to hide or overcompensate for production mistakes.  Not that we encourage them, but we do play them off pretty well!  We've learned to laugh and make light about slip-ups during our gatherings. 

Our style of music lends itself to feeling raw.  Don't get me wrong, it sounds and feels AMAZING, but it doesn't sound like an overproduced band like this one.  (Ok, that was a horrible example!  That's not over-produced, that's just downright FRIGHTENING!) 

We stay away from anything that looks, feel, or sounds scripted or canned.  We try to say things in a way that feels fresh every time. 

Moving video backgrounds and cool lights are fun, but they need to be used strategically.  Same thing with lights and video pieces.  Too much motion can get old FAST! 

We are intentional about dressing in a way that communicates to people, "Hey!  We're normal!  Just like you!"  And then after a few weeks, everyone realizes that there's nothing normal about us whatsoever!  :)

So I'm curious....  Is this a challenge for you?  If so, what types of things do you do to help keep things feeling real and authentic?