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Sun Stand Still :: Guest Blog from Steven Furtick

by Tim Schraeder on 09/30/2010 in Books with 3 Comments

Today I’m privileged to welcome my first guest blogger and it’s someone who I respect and admire who is making a significant impact: Steven Furtick. Steven is the lead pastor at Elevation Church in Charlotte and author of the new book Sun Stand Still: What Happens When You Dare to Ask God for the Impossible.

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The single greatest danger a Christian faces when reading the Bible isn’t always unbelief. It’s often nostalgia. Most Christians believe that God did the miraculous, and did it through incredible men and women of God. But that was for the special people whom God had infused with special DNA that they don’t have. Sadly most Christians wonder at the past deeds of God without realizing that God desires to do the same kinds of wonders through them today.

In Sun Stand Still, I aim to eradicate that mindset. I aim to let people in on a secret that should never have become a secret: there is no inherent difference between us and the great heroes of faith in the Bible. None. And that holds true whether we’re talking about Joshua, Moses, or the apostle Paul.

There’s a verse in the New Testament that every Christian should commit to memory besides John 3:16, and that’s James 5:17:

“Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.”

Doesn’t exactly have the same obvious power of “For God so loved the world…” But it’s incredibly powerful when you consider who Elijah was. This was the man who prayed that it wouldn’t rain and it didn’t for three and a half years. And then prayed it would and it did. This is the man who called down fire on the prophets of Baal. And raised a widow’s son from the dead.

What’s sad is that most of us focus on the second part of this verse. We’re stunned by the superior power of Elijah’s prayer life. We’d love to have an ounce of his power flowing in our prayer lives. But we don’t have to wish. That’s the whole point of this passage. We are just like Elijah.

Think about it: Elijah had access to an all-powerful God who could stop the rain. We have access to an all-powerful God who can stop the rain. The only difference is that Elijah had the audacity to pray prayers that lived up to God’s character, God’s heart, God’s resources, God’s will, and God’s abilities.

In Sun Stand Still I call this praying like a juggernaut, which simply means to pray prayers worthy of the God we’re praying to. After all, we’re praying to a God whose capability always exceeds our audacity. You don’t have to worry about ever putting God in an awkward or embarrassing position. You’re not going to back him into a corner. You won’t ever challenge him to do something beyond his aptitude.

Prayer is the arena where our faith meets God’s abilities. And there is never going to be a moment when the audacity of our faith surpasses God’s capacity to respond. The great heroes of faith knew this. And they prayed in light of it. That’s what made them stand out in their generation. And it’s what will make you stand out in yours…if you embrace the truth that God is ready and willing to use you just as he used them to accomplish incredible things for his glory.

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Great and inspiring words from Steven. Be sure to pre-order your copy of Sun Stand Still: What Happens When You Dare to Ask God for the Impossible and visit www.sunstandstill.org to learn more!

Top 10 Reads for Church Communications Directors

by Tim Schraeder on 05/13/2010 in Books, Church Communications with 13 Comments

So a friend of mine who is new to the whole communication thing was asking me for a list of recommended reads as he was starting out. I’m not a big fan of lists for the sake of making lists but I think there are some great books out there that are worth having on your bookshelf or collecting dust on your nightstand.

Church communications is an odd field since there’s a mix of skill sets involved… people skills are necessary, design skillz help, ninja skills are always a plus, organizational skills are a must… so this list is a mix of everything.

It was hard to narrow it down to a list of Top 10, but I think I managed… without any further blabber here’s my list of Top 10 Reads for Church Communications Directors [in no particular order]:

A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink
I’ve read A Whole New Mind book three times…it’s that good. This book provides a solid look at the difference between right and left brained thinking, or comparing the age of Gutenberg to the Google world we live in today. Pink  introduces the six senses [design, story, empathy, symphony, play, and meaning] and how right brained thinkers are using them to bring in the Conceptual Age we’re a part of. Fascinating stuff.

Less Clutter. Less Noise. by Kem Meyer
If church communications had a Bible this would be it. Kem condenses some of the best content from her blog and learnings from managing communications in a corporate arena and the church in this easy-to-read manual that will be a lifesaver. It’s written in short bite-sized sections that make it great to turn to from time to time or to review with your staff members or team. This is one of the best church communications books that’s out there. [Full Review Here]

REWORK
by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson
I’ve blogged too much about this book already, but it will challenge the way you think about work and give you some good food for thought as you consider your approach to work. You can read my litany of posts on REWORK here. I’ve given away about six copies of this book already!

Making Ideas Happen by Scott Belsky
If you suffer from idea overload, this quick read will help you get your butt into gear and give you practical tips on how to put action and organization into your ideas. Belsky also challenges us to work with the forces of community around us by collaborating… not always the easiest thing to do. If you have many ideas tucked away, this book will challenge you to make them happen. It can be a bit of a commercial for Action Method, but I promise it’s worth your time. [Full Review Here]

Flickering Pixels by Shane Hipps
Shane Hipps gives a bit of a contrarian view of the impact of media in the church. If anything it will give you some good food for thought and challenge you to consider the mediums you use to communicate your message.  While I might not agree with everything he has to say, it’s still a great read.


You Don’t Need a Title to Be a Leader by Mark Sanborn
The title [no pun intended] says it all. Most church communications people sit low on the totem pole of the church staff hierarchy.  It can be frustrating to navigate the awkward limbo most of us live in on a daily basis. While we might think we need to make it to the top to make a difference, this book will challenge you to act like a leader and make a difference where you are. There’s some great tips and take-aways from this quick read.

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
I read this book for the first time last year and was sad I hadn’t found it sooner. For the creative, artistic types out there, this book is for you. This book talks about one of the greatest battles we will face, the battle against Resistance… and ultimately, against ourselves. It’s a call to move beyond yourself and into who you were made to be… a creator, an artist.


The Brand Gap by Marty Neumeier
The quintessential book on branding will give you a crash course on Branding 101 and remind you that your brand isn’t your logo but the feeling you give to people when they interact with your brand/church. It’s a simple read that will give you some excellent take-aways and things to think about as you focus on your church’s brand.

All Marketers Are Liars by Seth Godin
All of Seth Godin’s books should be required reading but having to pick just one as it relates to church communications, I’d have to say this is the winner. This book challenges us to rediscover the art of storytelling and reminds us of the immense value of being authentic. Fav line from the book: “Stories make it easier to understand the world. Stories are the only way we know to spread an idea. Marketers didn’t invent storytelling. They just perfected it.”

Switch by Chip Heath & Dan Heath
Change is four-letter word in most churches. As a communications director, more times than not, you’re going to have to lead people through change as you innovate and create new ways of communicating your message. Change can be difficult, and sometimes painful, but in the latest book from the Heath Brothers , the offer some great insights on change and share how you can lead change when it’s hard.

Runners Up…

Church Unique by Will Mancini
Branding Faith by Phil Cooke
Tribes by Seth Godin
Meatball Sundae by Seth Godin
The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell
Made to Stick by Chip Heath & Dan Heath
Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath
Drive by Daniel Pink
The INDEX Books
Socialnomics by Eric Qualman
Culture Making by Andy Crouch
The Divine Commodity by Skye Jethani

Your Thoughts…

  • Agree/Disagree with any of my choices?
  • What books would you add to the list?
  • What books have impacted the way you do your job in church communications?

Addition by Adoption… Kids, Causes & 140 Characters

by Tim Schraeder on 05/11/2010 in Books with 4 Comments

Celebrities have done an amazing job of making adoption “trendy.”

Be it the Jolie-Pitts, Madonna or more recently, Sandra Bullock, Tinsletown has given adoption a major platform. And in Christendom, Christian families like the Chapmans, Whittakers and Powells have shared what a profound impact adopting children has made in the life of their families.

Adoption isn’t just trendy, though… it’s something that’s close to the heart of God and all Christians are called to care for orphans. All throughout the Scripture we read accounts of God’s command for His people to care for the orphans…

You are the helper of the fatherless. LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more.

Psalms 10:14,17-18

And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.

Matthew 18:5

And, adoption is a beautiful picture of the Gospel. It’s what God did for all of us through Christ… He adopted us into His family.

I’m adopted.

It’s a looong story that could make a short novel, but I was part of an open adoption where both sets of parents knew each other and agreed adoption was the best route for me . There was one small hitch… both families were a part of the same groups of friends and we all lived in the same small town. So… long story short… I met my biological family when I was nine years old and have had a relationship with them ever since.

To me, it was a lovingly selfless act on both ends… of my biological parents to recognize that I needed to be with another family, for my adoptive parents to make room in their hearts and lives for me… and for both sets to take the risk in allowing me to have 2 families.

The entire experience wasn’t without its hard seasons… highs and lows, good and bad… but in the end, I’m thankful for how it all played out and for the huge blessing I’ve had to be a part of two families who have shown me God’s love and grace in an incredibly tangible way.

The legacy of adoption in my family didn’t end with me… my brother and his wife decided there were plenty of children in the world who needed children so instead of having their own, they have adopted three gorgeous children from China. Seeing them engage in the process of adoption was a beautiful thing. And their kids … amazing. I can’t imagine my life or our family without them.

So, to say adoption is close to my heart would be an understatement.

Addition by Adoption

My friend Kevin and his family recently adopted a beautiful boy from Ethiopia named Milo.

Some adoptive familes blog about their experience adopting [my brother and his wife did], but Kevin and his wife took a unique approach: they tweeted… and now their tweets are a book that’s available starting today on Amazon… Addition by Adoption… Kids, Causes & 140 Characters.

Addition by Adoption chronicles the Hendricks’ journey to and from Ethiopia in 140-character sound bytes. It’s a candid, touching story that is a must-read for anyone who wants a front row seat to the incredible thing that happens when a family chooses to bring an adopted child into their life. As an adopted child, I’ve always wondered what went through my parent’s minds and what the experience was like for them…  this book sheds light on that and is a gift to adoptive families or anyone interested in exploring adoption.

It’s only $9.99 on Amazon and will benefit a great cause… a portion of the proceeds from the book will go to charity:water to build a clean water well in Milo’s home country of Ethiopia. So just do the right thing and get a copy. You’ll be glad you did.

Read more about Addition by Adoption here.

What About You?

Have you been adopted? What’s your experience been like?

Have you been jaded by the trendiness of adoption in the celebrity spotlight?

If you’re considering adoption, what’s holding you back?

Making Ideas Happen

by Tim Schraeder on 05/03/2010 in Books with 12 Comments

How many of you have Moleskines full of ideas or random thoughts? What about a file folder with random notes, napkins with coffee stains and scribbled notes on the back, or newspaper clippings that set off a creative spark? Or that folder on your computer filled with half-written blog posts, the outline for your yet-to-be written book, or random thoughts typed frantically at midnight for a crazy new idea?

We all have ideas, but, as Thomas Edison famously said,

“Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.”

This past week at Q, where the tagline is “ideas that matter” I heard some of the best and brightest share important ideas that will be crucial for the future of the Church. But there’s one small hitch… despite all of the great one-liners and challenging ideas presented, none of it will really matter unless we actually do something.

In his new book Making Ideas Happen, Scott Belsky, CEO of Behance, argues that ideas are worthless if you can’t make them happen and offers this simple equation…

Making Ideas Happen =  The Idea + Organization and Execution + Forces of Community + Leadership Capability

The Idea

The era upon us is filled with problems and opportunities that require fresh innovation like never before. We need to conceive new ideas to address the problems and opportunities that surround us – and we need to defy the odds and make these ideas happen.

Ideas are in no short supply. In fact, I think most of us are plagued with too many of them! The process of innovating and creating is birthed with a single idea… a new way of doing something or a better way to do something else.

In today’s Church, we need new ideas and insights to better reach and impact our communities with the Gospel. However plentiful our ideas may be, unless we act on them we’ll still keep doing what we’ve always done and fail to innovate new ways to make a difference in people’s lives.

Organization & Execution

Creative professionals – defined as those who generate (and sometimes execute) ideas for a living – constitute what is most likely the most disorganized community on the planet. But these same individuals are ultimately responsible for the design, entertainment, literature, and new businesses that bring meaning to our lives.

If you’re at all a creative-type, like me, you probably live your life with a certain degree of chaos and disorganization. We somehow equate clutter with creativity, but this book slapped me the face to bring order to the chaos.

It’s only when you are organized that you are fully prepared to effectively execute.

Forces of Community

Ideas don’t happen in isolation.

We need one another and must take advantage of the forces of community around us.

At Q last week, Charles Lee challenged us with the idea of what it means to collaborate in community.

There’s a certain element of risk and fear in sharing your ideas with others, but it’s the crucial element that will cause your ideas to gain traction.  Sharing you idea with others will help you see your blind spots, provide accountability, and ultimately free you to make your idea happen.

If you’re in church communications, the Church Marketing Lab can provide an excellent way for you to get input and advice from other church communications people. Or, Behance offers the Behance Network, same idea, just a broader audience.

Leadership Capability

The quality and scalability of your creative endeavors rely on your capacity to lead. Your ideas will thrive only if you manage them as a leader rather than an independent creative visionary. Leadership capacity is what makes the pursuit of an idea sustainable, scalable, and ultimately successful.

In the book, Scott Belsky offers practical tips on how to effectively lead teams and insight on how to manage the most challenging person to manage… yourself. Whether you’re working with a large team or working for yourself, the ability to lead is an indispensable commodity in the creative world. And, one of the the more challenging areas is the practice of self-leadership. Some of the greatest hindrances we face on the road to making our ideas happen lie within us.

Bottom Line: Your Ideas Matter

“It is not naïve or a cliché to say that the creative mind holds the answers to all of the world’s problems. It is merely a fact. And so, you should balance your desire to use your creativity with a sense of responsibility. Please take yourself and your creative pursuits seriously. Your ideas must be treated with respect because their importance truly does extend beyond your own interests. Every living person benefits from a world that is enriched with ideas made whole – ideas that are made to happen through your passion, commitment, self-awareness, and informed pursuit.”

– Scott Belsky

Who This Book is For

YOU.

I love this book and think it’s an essential read for any creative, church communications director, or anyone that has many ideas but is unsure of where to start. It addresses obstacles that stand between vision and reality and will challenge you to action.

[Sidenote: It does serve as an informercial for Behance’s Action Method, but the content is useful regardless of the sales pitch.]

I’m Making My Idea Happen

I read Making Ideas Happen two weeks ago and decided it was time to make an idea I’ve had that will change the way we communicate at Park happen. I’ve written out the action steps to make it happen, assembled a team, and we are in the process of making the idea happen. It’s going to launch in early June…I can’t wait to share it with you!

Make Your Idea Happen

Liking what you’re hearing? Download an excerpt here, pick your copy on Amazon or be one of the lucky ones to get a free copy from me!

I’ll be giving a copy of Making Ideas Happen away on Friday… here’s how to enter:

  1. Tweet This: I just entered to win a copy of “Making Ideas Happen” by @scottbelsky.  Comment here and RT to enter – http://bit.ly/apZ8De
  2. Comment Below: With your Twitter handle [so I can verify you did step 1] and share the biggest obstacle that stands in the way of making your idea happen.
  3. Check back Friday at Noon CST: I’ll randomly choose one person to win!

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