Leadership Summit 2009 - Day One (So Far)

We've got a hundred plus folks here from Five Oaks and most of us met during lunch at the off-site Eagle Brook offices. Here are some highlights of what we've experienced:

Bill Hybels - Talked about the rogue waves of life and the opportunities they provided for the church. Pray the Habakkuk 3:2 prayer for God to do today the great acts of power he's done in the past. With the opportunities has come much pressure. He's had to "re-invent adequate replenishment strategies for the new reality."

The second session was a round table on hiring, board meltdowns and firing. Lencioni, Henry Cloud and others were part of the round table.

Gary Hamel--leadership expert, professor and author--talked about the need for change in organizations and the church to meet new realities. The church is losing "market share" out of apathy. We miss the future not because it's unknowable but because it unpalatable to us. Sometimes we're so deep in the rut that we mistake the edge for the horizon.

Tim Keller talked on The Prodigal God. The good son is lost because of his goodness, not in spite of it. Obey God to get more of God, not to get from God. Functionally we live like the elder brother. Signs: (1) Furious when our lives don't go well. (2) Devastated by criticism or react viciously. (3) Most prayers are petitionary. (4) Constantly loathe people because of pride. (5) Can't forgive. When we think, 'Jesus died for me so now I have to live for him,' we'll soon become elder brothers.

Book Review: The Hole in our Gospel

 

Just finished The Hole in Our Gospel today, by Richard Stearns, President of World Vision. The subtitle is "What Does God Expect of Us? The Answer that Changed my Life and Might Just Change the World." How's that for mouthful.

The Willow Creek Association sent a copy to all WCA churches and Willow Creek handed out 10,000 copies one weekend after their church services. So it comes quite well recommended...and it did not disappoint. If I could recommend only one book to someone to help them get a biblical perspective on compassion ministry in the context of local and global missions (what the P.E.A.C.E. Plan is about), this would be the book.

It's a very personal story, Richard Stearns story (remarkable, inspiring and one that most of us can identify with), but it's also like a comprensive textbook. Maybe too textbookish at times, but worth it if you want to learn and go deeper than normal. Reading this book was like taking all I've learned on this topic my whole adult life (a subject I've devoted tons of time and interest) and pouring it into one book that's filled with great stories. It should be required reading for everyone in our P.E.A.C.E. ministry leadership and in our church leadership. I really can't recommend it enough.

Lois and I both listened it. We were  deeply moved and challenged. Some good conversations grew out of it, as well as some soul searching in both of us. I'd recommend listening if you struggle getting through long books. I downloaded it from Audible. Some of the stories he tells will undoubtedly be working their way into my messages over the coming weeks. Please read this book.