The Making of a Leader by Robert Clinton

After LeAnn and I emerged from Converge’s Church Planter Assessment, one of the recommendations I received was to read The Making of a Leader by Dr. J. Robert Clinton*.  I was familiar with the title, and knew it to be a standard among leadership books.

But something in me was a bit hesitant to read it.  I feared it wouldn’t be timely.  I assumed it would be stuck in principles that may have worked in the late 80s, but would fall short of what is needed for leaders in the early part of the 21st century.

How wrong I was.

Clinton has written a masterpiece.  This work is a surprising mix of analytical thinking on the subject of leadership with spot-on biblical and contemporary illustrations.  Clinton is extremely thorough, looking at all phases of leadership, making this book appropriate for young ministry leaders as well as seasoned vets.  (In fact, I plan to re-read this book again, going through it with my 15-year-old daughter who has displayed a lot of leadership gifts throughout her young life.)  Yet, despite at times seeming like an encyclopedia on the subject of leadership (complete with a glossary!), each chapter is incredibly readable.

While I wish I could have read this book in my first full-time ministry, I’m grateful to at least read it as we pray toward starting a new church.  I think the best way to gain from Clinton’s work is to read it about every 5-10 years.  It is timeless enough that it will feel “contemporary” to whatever stage of leadership you find yourself.

Rating: 5 Leadership Phases out of 5

 

*Note: Link to NavPress is to the 2nd edition - I read the 1st edition, thus this review is based on the 1st edition of the book

 

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Little Wolves by Thomas Maltman (Book Review)

As part of my goal to read 40 books while I am 40 years of age, I decided I should read at least one fiction book.  I enjoy fiction, but I rarely seem to make time to read it.  So when I read a glowing recommendation by Relevant Magazine in their Jan/Feb 2013 edition for Maltman’s second novel ever, I decided to put Little Wolves on my list.

40 Things To Do While 40

Well, today is my birthday.  And not just any birthday.  Today I turn 40.  Forty years since my poor mom spent 12 hours in labor only to have the doctors tell her I was breach and they were going to have to cut me out.  I came out all black and blue from the event (so if you wanted an excuse for why I am the way I am, there you go...).  But I've pinked up a bit since that day.

Since 40 is a bit of a "milestone" for most people, I've decided to make it an important year for me.  So I have compiled a list of the 40 things I am aiming to do while I am the big Four-Oh.  I've broken them up into 5 categories to keep them somewhat organized.  Some are things I have thought about doing for a LONG time and I just need to do them.  Some are to revive the creative aspect of myself that has been a bit dormant the past couple of years.  Some are simply to help me continue to do the things that I have felt called to do (mostly with my family and in ministry).  And some will require an act of God!

By the grace of God, I hope to complete all of these by Feb. 28, 2014, so I've got 365 days to get this list done.  And then maybe I'll rest while I'm 41. ;-)

Why am I sharing this publicly?  Two reasons:

#1: To hold myself accountable.  It's scary to post this for everyone to see, knowing they (you) will naturally judge the list and/or me.  But if I don't post it, it will be too easy to skimp, adjust, or avoid achieving these milestones.

#2: To inspire someone (you?) to make the next year of their life a significant one.  I don't expect you to do my list, but rather to come up with your own list.  And if you do, share it with me!  I'd love to know that someone else is setting goals that they otherwise wouldn't aim for.

So this is my list.  It's not open to input.  It'll stretch me, but it will make 40 a year I'll remember.

And no, when I turn 41, I don't plan to "rest".  I'll probably work on a degree!

----

40 Things I Plan To Do While 40

Personal

• Read 40 Books
• Develop a Productivity System (GTD or something similar)
• Watch a foreign film
• Watch at least 4 films from the 100 Films list
• Get a tattoo
• Compose a song
• Edit / Update "Take Me Apart" book
• Release a Christmas EP for our financial supporters
• Memorize 40 Bible verses
• Host a party for those who built our house

Marriage/Family

• At least 40 dates with LeAnn (2-hours of 1-on-1 time)
• 10 "dates" with each kid (1-hour of 1-on-1 time with each kid almost each month)
• Read a book series with my 6-year-old son.
• Watch all 6 Star Wars movies with my 9-year-old son.
• Read the LOTR Trilogy with my 9-year-old son.
• Watch the LOTR Trilogy Movies with my 12-year-old daughter.
• Read a book and meet weekly for 8 weeks to discuss the content with my 12-year-old daughter.
• Read a book and meet weekly for 8 weeks to discuss the content with my 15-year-old daughter.
• Spend a weekend at a cabin with the whole family
• Spend a night away with LeAnn

Health/Fitness

• Swim 340,000 yards
• Swim 100 yards in 60 seconds
• Run a mile in 6 minutes
• Complete a triathlon
• Join the fall tennis league
• Weigh 150 lb

Financial

• Save $4000 dollars

Ministry

• Start a church
• Baptize at least one person
• Attend Exponential Conference
• Raise over $200,000 dollars for the new church
• Meet with 40 community leaders
• Find a ministry mentor
• Go on 40 prayer walks
• Start a small group
• Raise up at least one small group leader out of my own small group
• Hire a worship director
• Hire a children's director
• Find a Leadership Resident/Future Church Planter to work alongside me
• Lead the new church to do at least 4 service projects 

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It isn't Christmas until I can listen to this masterpiece

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Zip Line!

This past week, my awesome wife and I got to spend a couple of days praying, resting, learning, eating, and playing with other church planters from the Minnesota/Iowa district of Converge.  One of the "play" events we got to do was go down a zip line.  It was a ton of fun (despite the look on my face)!

 

 

See the full gallery on Posterous

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the Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler with Jared Wilson (Book Review)

That darn Amazon free shipping.  Gets me ALL the time!  I go to buy a couple of books, but I'm just short of the $25 limit to get free shipping, so I ended up buying one more book so I can save approximately $5.76 on shipping.  That's how I ended up purchasing Matt Chandler's first book, the Explicit Gospel.

But I'm glad I went for the free shipping!  The Explicit Gospel very carefully addresses the issue of the gospel, and Matt (with Jared's strong writing skills) aims to bring a very balanced, yet thoroughly biblical approach to looking at this amazing core doctrine of Christianity.

I have listened to so many Chandler sermons that I could hear Matt preaching as I read the book.  So yes, that means he was yelling at me occasionally!  Several of the stories or illustrations used in the book I have heard used in the podcasts from The Village (the church Matt pastors), but that didn't diminish their effectiveness in bringing light to Matt's point.

While I am glad I read Matt's first published work, I think I went in with too high of expectations.  The book is good and worth the read, but it didn't have the force I was expecting.  Don't get me wrong - Matt is very forceful with his points (just like he is in his preaching), but perhaps it was the force with which he writes that makes his point lose some of it's force on me.  Matt is a bit more black & white than I, so he states things as if they are a closed case, which gives the impression he isn't open to listening.  While I was hoping to be personally impacted by Matt and Jared's writing, I couldn't help at times but to think about close friends who would disagree with Matt's point, and because of the force with which he makes his point, they would tune him out, rather than hear the important point he is making (and I would agree with).

The best part of the book is the last section on "Implications and Applications (of the Explicit Gospel)".  But in order to appreciate it, you must work through the first two sections - The Gospel on the Ground (God, Man, Christ, Response) and The Gospel in the Air (Creation, Fall, Reconciliation, Consummation).

The greatest chapter for me was the final chapter about "Moralism and the Cross".  That chapter alone is worth the price of the book as it addresses the issue of "therapeutic moralistic deism" so prevalent in American culture.  I'll probably use parts of it when I counsel people.

Matt always challenges me.  Even when I'm not sure I agree, he makes me think and wanting to get back to the Scriptures to see what they say for themselves.  The Explicit Gospel continued that in my life - and for that, I'm grateful I made the time to read it.

Rating: 4 baby steps (and a fall) out of 5 (you'll have to read the book to learn Matt's baby step illustration!)

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Deep & Wide by Andy Stanley (Book Review)

I had the privilege of attending the excellent Preaching Rocket conference in Chicago two weeks ago.  Much to my surprise, I (along with every other attender) was gifted a copy of Andy Stanley's latest book "Deep & Wide."

My monthly spiritual retreat was scheduled the day after I got back from the conference.  And I couldn't help myself... after a great morning in the Word and prayer, I cracked open Andy's book, ignoring the other book in my bag I intended to finish.

I have read several of Andy's books: Next Generation Leader, 7 Practices of Effective Ministry, among others.  Andy's book Communicating for a Change gave me permission to be me when I preach.  My natural style already leans to the way Andy believes biblical teaching should be done to help both believers and non-believers draw closer to Christ, so I felt very affirmed by Communicating.  And Visioneering is one of the few books I have actually read more than two times - it still rates as one of my favorite books.

But while I enjoy Andy's books and sermons, I would not consider myself an Andy-Stanley groupie.  In fact, I need to admit that I opened Deep & Wide with curiosity, but also a heavy-dose of caution.  I recently had an older individual I deeply respect express some "concerns" about North Point's ministry, and so knowing the thesis of Deep & Wide, I was eager to see if I would learn much that would help me as I plant a church, or if the concerns I have heard would be well-founded.

In summary, I think every pastor and church staff should read Deep & Wide.  Even if they completely disagree with Andy's approach or are turned off by his occasionally-mocking tone, at least they will have wrestled through why they do ministry like they do and why their Sunday morning services are structured the way they are.  Andy is incredibly passionate about reaching those living life apart from Christ.  And while my "missional" friends would argue against Andy's heavily "attractional model," at least they would be forced to think through why they believe their approach is better for their context.

What Purpose-Driven Church was to the 90s, Deep & Wide might possibly for this generation.  It isn't a book about growing a big church.  And it isn't a book about discipling people.  It is a book about how North Point has intentionally tried to bring the unconvinced of Atlanta (and now beyond) into a life-changing relationship with Jesus, and then giving them the tools to mature in this new relationship with their Heavenly Father.

I found Andy's latest work to be challenging, funny, and inspiring.  I wouldn't be surprised if Deep & Wide doesn't end up being like Visioneering - one of the few books I return to.

Rating: 4.5 credit cards out of 5  (You'll have to read the book to understand the credit card reference!)

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Does this mean Campus Crusade has to change their new name?

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Truth manipulation

In this political season, we are regularly exposed to "spin." Candidates manipulate truth in speeches, press releases, mailings, and commercials to paint the picture they want voters to see, making them the obvious choice you should vote for.

But the "spin" of an election year isn't anything new.  It is constantly around us.  In fact, it is in us.

Like Calvin, we each tell our stories in such a way that we often manipulate the truth to frame the picture in the minds of our friends, family, and listeners so that we appear better than we are.  Husbands tell partial truths to their wives about how they spent their time out with the guys.  Kids hem and haw to their folks about what they were doing in the privacy of their room or over at a friend's house.  Neighbors photoshop their stories in order to mislead one another about what is really occurring inside the home.

We all do it to some degree.  Yet when we crop the picture to our advantage, we can't be fully known.  And therefore we can't be fully accepted.

That's what makes the gospel so powerful to me.  God fully knows me.  He sees my mess.  He knows my past.  No matter how much I try to manipulate the truth, He can see right through it all.  And yet - He still loves me!

"...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

So don't spin.  Don't manipulate.  Open up to those you know you can trust.  Because you are already known by the One who matters most.

Calvin and Hobbes cartoon from GoComics daily comic, 9/20/12.

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Taking in the Waverly/Algona football game. My 8-yr-old gets to help sing the school song & National Anthem.

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