ChrisTrethewey.com

INNOVATION Killers

I have been having several strategic conversations with people on my staff about INNOVATION. I can sense a real desire to try new ideas - think outside the box - and go where no one has gone before. (Yes, I had to throw in a Star Trek reference.) But I have been running into some road blocks as we try to innovate.  Here are some reasons why . . . i think.

Killer #1: You are scared of Change
I have noticed over the years that everyone says that they like change until the change impacts them.  Think about that.  If you are leading out the "change" (whatever that might be), you think its the best thing since 8 tracks.  If the "change" is crashing into your world, you resist it with all your might.  Innovation has built in change. The foundation of innovation is change.  It is something new - different  - not proven.

Key Thought: Don't let your fear kill a new idea that has the potential to revolutionize your sphere of leadership.

Killer #2: It's not your idea
Call this what it is. PRIDE (aka . .. ego - arrogance - selfishness). Have you ever been in a meeting where two ideas are on the table and 5 people sit in silence where two people argue why their idea is better than the other?  I have been there. I have even been the one of the "TWO".  Usually, it's not that bold and blunt.  This usually happens in more subtle of ways. Watch for it, you will start seeing it.

Key Thought: As a leader you have to fight to look at the idea objectively and make sure you are not positioning your idea.

Killer #3: You are stuck in the past
Let me preface this thought.  We should learn from the past.  The past has a lot of wisdom built into it!  So, don't ignore it.  On the flip side, the PAST will keep you in locked up in chains refusing to let go of you. Keep yourself - your team - looking forward on "what could be".  When you hear comments like, "Last year we did _________."  or "When I was at my last church I ___________."  Kindly stop the conversation and say, "It sounds like we all have had some great past experiences. My question is where should we head into the future?"

Key Thought: Learn from the past, but keep focused on "what could be".

Killer #4: It's messy
Embrace the mess.  Innovative ideas are almost always messy!! Why? They haven't been tried - proven and perfected.  The first day Disney Land opened it was a disaster.  Someone counterfitted tickets so the park was over sold.  It was an extremely hot day in Southern California and the park quickly ran out of water.  People were fainting left and right. It was a disaster of gigantic proporitions.  Skip ahead decades, Disney is one of the most innovative ideas ever to be discovered in the world.

Key Thought: Embrace the mess . . .lead strong . . .anticipate problems . . .fix the issues and you will be amazed at what you discover.

Andy Stanley - Principle of the Path

One of the books I am reading is Andy Stanley's book, The Principle of the Path.  (I am not sure if you are like me, but I have 5 different books that I am reading through right now. I should just pick one and finish it.)

Here is the essence of the entire book:

DIRECTION - not INTENTION - determines our DESTINATION.

He goes on to say . . .

The direction you are currently traveling - relationally, financially, spiritually, and the list goes on and on - will determine where you end up in each of those respective arenas.  This is true regardless of your goals, your dreams, your wishes, or your wants.  The principle of the path trumps all those things. Your current direction will determine your destination.  And like every principle, you can leverage this one to your advantage or ignore it to your disadvantage.  Just as there are paths that have led us to places we never intended to be, there are paths that lead us away from those places as well.

Here are some questions that I have been thinking through:

1. What direction do I think I am heading in . . .compared to the direction I really am heading in?
2. Do I confuse my "intentions" with "direction"? (easily done!)
3. What are the things in life that constanly compete to move my direction away from where I should be headed? (Take steps to get rid of them.)
4. What area(s) of life should I pay more attention to when it comes to it's direction?

What additional questions should we be asking ourselves? 


Andy goes on and quotes Anna Nalick,

Life's like an hourglass glued to the table.

Time is ticking . . .we never get more time . . .and the destination won't get closer if you don't start heading there now!!

Our Story

Jud Wilhite kicked off a new series this weekend at Central Christian Church titled, TORN.  This series is focused on the book of Job.  Several weeks ago Kim and I had the opportunity to share our story.  Our hope and prayer is that our story, will help others in their life journey.

Trethewey Life Story. from David Tate on Vimeo.

God gives and takes away. One couple shares about the blessings and the struggles in their journey.

Simplicity Gone to Far (Mac Wheel)

I believe in the SIMPLE CHURCH mindset with all my heart . . .but sometimes simplicity can go to far.

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

Baptism Celebration Video

Central Baptism Celebration Recap from David Tate on Vimeo.

Megachurch Myth's

(I was directed to a great resource for church leaders. Check it out.  There is some great information that will challenge your thinking.)

• Megachurch Myths Website
• Megachurch Myths BLOG
• Megachurch PDF (Download Changes in American Megachurches)

22 WORDS Blog

I stumbled upon a great blog the other day titled: "twentytwowords".  The title pulled me in, but the tag line captured my attention.

Experiments in getting to the point.

Could you imagine if . . .

• Meetings  could only consist of 22 words? How much more would you get accomplished in a day - week - year - life time?
• Phone conversations could only consist of 22 words? What would you choose not to say?
• How would you process and deliver information differently?

Shoot . . .maybe I should just stop typing since I have blown past 22 words in this blog.

Hmmmmm....

Flickering Pixels

I started reading a book yesterday titled Flickering Pixels by Shane Hipps. Let me be transparent for a moment. I haven't read the entire book. I also can't say that I have totally grasped what I have read. (Never claimed to be an intelligent man.)  But . . .what I have read and what I have comprehended has challenged me in so many different ways!

Here are two thoughts that Shane throws out:

1. You can't change methods without changing your message - they're inseparable.

He goes on to quote Marshal McLuhan.

2. The content or message of any particular medium has about as much importance as the stenciling on the casing of an atomic bomb.

His simple (yet complex) point: The message and the method are the same. You can't separate the two. 

Let that soak in for several weeks . . .and then think about how you communicate to your audience.

Reflections after . . . 1458 Baptisms

There are times in life that you quickly realize that you are part of something so big - so God ordained - that it stops you in your tracks. It forces you to pause and look at life through an entire different set of lenses.  You encounter a picture of God that blows your over simplified vision of who you think God is.

This past weekend . . .was one of those weekends.

Central Christian Church had a "Baptism Celebration" weekend. The vision: Give people an opportunity to get baptized.  The Goal: 500 people.  The results . . . the impact . . .the movement of God . . . difficult to put into words.

Here is my feeble attempt to share what I learned through this incredible movement of God. (These thoughts are extremely raw. Still trying to process what I experienced the past 2 days.)

1. Set a big goal . . .and then expect God to blow it out of the water.
   I remember the exact day where the goal of 500 baptisms was thrown out. Wow!! Big.  It stretched us.  It made us get strategic in all areas of the church.  God had an entirely different plan.  500. Small. What did God do? He tripled it.
2. Teach Clearly - Simply - with Conviction
   Jud Wilhite (our Sr. Pastor) taught one of the best messages on the subject of baptism that I have ever heard.  He laid out clearly what the Bible taught.  He dispelled traditions that have plagued this action and even held the "church" accountable to their choices (or lack there of).  If someone didn't get God's desire for their life . . .they were asleep!
3. Take the excuses away
   Jud, in his message, laid out a series of "excuses" why people might not want to get baptized that day.  He then shared the remedy to their excuse.  1) You don't have clothes with you . . .we have shirts and shorts for you. 2) You don't want to get your car wet . ..we have plastic bags for you to place your wet stuff in. 3) You don't have time . . .we are letting church out early today. (and the list goes on).  He then said . . ."If Jesus walked 60 miles to be baptized. If Jesus walked to a cross to die for you.  You can walk 100 feet and get wet." Powerful statement.  People had no excuse except to follow God's command.
4. Let the Mess Ensue (aka - Flexibility)
   It is important for me to state this first: The Reach team had this event extremely well organized. They hit the ball out of the park! So this thought doesn't fall under the category of "you don't have to plan and prepare adequately.  With that said . . . it was organized chaos.  The biggest services brought over 400 people at one time to be baptized.  It was crazy at times, but there was a sense of calm that I discovere. People were taking a bold step of faith. They didn't mind.  Don't control it.  Don't over structure it.  Smile and allow the experience to happen.
5. PAUSE:
   Don't let the bigness and craziness of the weekend stop you from experience the movement of God.  I forced myself several times to just stop and watch and allow what was happening in the lives of so many settle deep into my heart.  I saw a teenage girl baptize her grandma.  I saw multiple dad's baptize their kids.  I saw husbands and wives baptize each other.  I saw entire families baptized at once.  God's movement was mighty and profound.

The "FIX" is sometimes just that "SIMPLE"!

I was in the gym Sunday running on a treadmill.  (I hate treadmill's!! I would rather be outside running in hurricane force winds instead of running on a treadmill.) It is the same treadmill that I have been running on for the past week.  It is kind of like church . . .you find the exact seat/pew/chair that you like and then you sit in it every Sunday.  Well I walked into the gym, went into the movie cardio room (very cool), and started up the treadmill.  I had 7 miles to run, so I was going to be there a while.  Over the past week I had noticed the cardio machine right next to me was out of commission.  Let me be clear. There wasn't a sign on the treadmill stating that it was "out of commission". It wasn't unplugged. Countless people would walk onto this treadmill, try to start it and discover that there was a message scrolling across the screen in red letters.

Motor Failure

Each person would push several buttons, quickly give up, and would leave to find another treadmill. I thought to myself each time, "I wonder if anyone has told the gym workers that this treadmill wasn't working?" 

On Sunday, something interesting happened.  The scenario repeated itself several times until this one guy walked in.  He followed the same procedures as every other person over the past week . . .except . . . When he got off the treamill he didn't leave to find a new one.  He walked infront of the treadmill. Bent over.  Unplugged the treamill . . .waited a few seconds . . .and plugged it back in.

Guess What?

It Worked!

Think about this for a second.  How many people over the past week do you think walked into that gym (that's open 24 hours) got on the treadmill - gave up - and found a new one?  Hundreds? Thousands?

Here is the point:

The "FIX" is sometimes just that "SIMPLE"!

What issues within your leadership sphere that needs to be fixed?  Have you been overcomplicating the "FIX"?  Have you been putting off dealing with it because the "fix" seems to be just to overwhelming? Have you been overcompicating the "FIX"? Have you been allowing your team to overcomplicate the "FIX".

Maybe . . .just maybe . . .the FIX is as simple as unplugging and plugging the treadmill back in.