This is Broken

As a staff, we recently did an exercise that we called "this is broken". We took the concept from Seth Godin who did a twenty minute talk on the idea at the Gel conference in 2006. If you get a chance to check it out sometime, it's pretty funny...here's the link.

We found this exercise to be very helpful and it has changed the way we look at things.

So the other day I was pumping gas and saw this picture:

At first glance this seems promising, right? I mean, the economy is tough! I'd like an extra 15 bucks, wouldn't you? Unfortunately, this add scheme is broken. Take a look at the fine print:

WHAT THE CRAP IS THAT ABOUT?!?!?

Give me a break! I would be better off going through the hassle of getting a part-time job at McDonalds and quitting after 4 hours if all I wanted was $15. The thing that is so amazing about this add is that someone was sitting in a conference room somewhere discussing the fact that they needed people to sign up for their credit card and THIS was the plan that they came up with. In the words of Seth Godin - "Broken!"

Of course, before I get too frustrated about this add I need to say that I'm guilty too! There are things at Elevation Church that I want people to experience like participating in our 4 Gs: giving, using your gifts as a volunteer, getting into a group, and growing the church by inviting your lost friends. Am I making it easy to commit to these Gs? Or, does the person who is trying to get involved feel like I felt when I read this credit card add?

I have broken systems that I oversee right now. But if you have fallen victim to some of them at Elevation Church, please know that we are committed to fixing that!

To Pastor Furtick...

Wednesday night I was able to go with Pastor Furtick and other members of the leadership team to a conference.

This particular conference was was a little different...there was a point in the evening when Elmo was hyping the crowd to very loud gospel music. The sermon was intense...and over an hour long. In the sermon there was a 10 minute instrumental breakdown that provided us with an opportunity to praise God and dance before Him - it was awesome! If you haven't had the opportunity, or if your mind is too closed to enjoy a good, old-fashioned, charismatic ho-down then you're missing out...

The very next day, we were at a different church. There were greeters at the door, free coffee and lots of conversations going on in the lobby. Pastor had an opportunity to preach a phenomenal message (that was very different then the one we had heard the night before). The music was unbelievable! This experience was much different then the previous night, but equally as awesome!

These two churches could not be more different in look and feel. They are cut from different molds and employ different methods. They have different philosophies and approach their communities from very different positions.

On the other hand, they are both doing everything they know to do to make an impact for the kingdom of God. They are reaching lost people and Jesus is being exalted.

The most profound part of this story, however, is that we seemed to fit in at both churches.

There are some stupid lines that we (denominational believers) have drawn and I am glad that I serve a leader who has been gifted to walk freely back and forth over those lines. We serve a leader who is confident enough in what God has called and gifted him to do that he can engage with just about anyone and come away with something that will help us achieve the vision God has given him.

Pastor,

Thanks for creating a culture that allows us to seek God fully without conventional, man-made, self-limiting restraints. In the same breath, thanks for being so convinced of who you are, and of what God has uniquely gifted you to accomplish that you can see everyone as a potential partner in ministry. It's an honor to be part of the vision God has given you to reach our city. Through your gift thousands of people will come to faith in Christ, and thousands more will go on to be used by God in the advancement of His kingdom!