As I stopped in for my morning coffee on the way to the office I was once again reminded of a leadership principle for us all. In my words, “Know it before you Blow it“, but here is how the back of my Starbucks cup read.
“In my career I’ve found that ‘thinking outside the box’ works better if I know what’s ‘inside the box.’ In music (as in life) we need to understand our pertinent history…and moving on is so much easier once we know where we’ve been.”
- Dave Grusin
Award-winning composer and jazz musician
This is the reason we have placed a survey on the blog so that we can evaluate thousands of churches around the world and see where we are in leading street to the seat in our congregations. We will be compiling this survey on March 31, 2007 and will bring you the results of thousands of churches and how they are fairing in these areas as well.
As you read my blog you’ll find tips, tools, surveys and ideas that you’ll think you need to go out and immediately instill in your congregation, or maybe you want. But if you do it is very important that you know the history of “your box” before you start blowing it up to work on things “outside the box”. Know it before you Blow it…UP.
Now I am an out of box guy all the way, but understand that sometimes living outside the box comes with it own set of issues as well. To tell you the truth, with so little time until Christ returns I’ll put up with living outside the box and live with the calculated risk of being a change agent for the kingdom.
Just a thought!
© Kerry R. Mackey, All Rights Reserved
So I stop in Starbucks on my way into the office this morning and wouldn’t you know it, “Brother Bill” was there to greet me with a smile and offer me my usual; venti mild drip. Not only that he asked me how our conference was going this week as he knew we were hosting 1700 Small Group’s Pastors from around the world on our campus.
He went on to say that he had throughly enjoyed having our participants with him for this week. They told stories of their favorite coffee shop back home. What they were doing here, what their families were doing back home, what they were learning, etc…
What caught my attention was that Brother Bill had made himself known to complete strangers from around the world, because of their relationship with Starbucks.
In addition, Brother Bill asked me how my wife was doing as she is due with our 3rd child on March 8th.
Those little things go a long way in making someone feel “a part”…like they “BELONG”.
How might you help persons feel a part this weekend on your church campus?
© Kerry R. Mackey, All Rights Reserved
I’m just an old country boy at heart from Northeast Texas so hospitality, respect, and treat’n people right is how I was raised. I guess you would say it’s something that resonants with me even to this day.
And if you know me very well you know I am a huge country music fan. I was riding home yesterday when and old favorite came across the air waves on GoCountry 105.1 FM. A buddy of mine Shawn Parr will appreciate you listening.
When I think of “street to the seat” the words of this song come to mind. So as you look to help persons belong this week think through making your place be, “down home where they know you by name and treat you like family.” Everyone is looking for it so let’s do our best to provide it.
“Down Home“, by The Group Alabama from 1991
Just off of the beaten path
A little dot on a state road map
That’s where I was born & where I’ll die
Things move at a slower pace
Nobody’s in a rat race
And these days that’s a special way to fly
Chorus
Down Home where they know you by name and treat you like family
Down Home a man’s good word & a handshake are all you need
Folks know if they’re fallin on hard times they can fall back on
Those of us raised up Down Home
In the corner of a hardware store
Gathered round a checker board
Old men telling lies & crowning kings
Kids driven round the old town square
Tops rolled down in the cool night air
Go & see what’s shaken at the Dairy Queen
Chorus
When I was a boy I couldn’t wait to leave this place
But now I wanna see my children raised
Down Home
Down Home
Folks know if they’re fallin on hard times they can fall back on
Those of us raised up Down Home
Where they know you by name and treat you like family
Down Home a man’s good word & a handshake are all you need
Folks know if they’re fallin on hard times they can fall back on
Those of us raised up Down Home
Down Home
Way Down Home
Down Home
Down Home
Way Down Home
Down Home
© Kerry R. Mackey, All Rights Reserved
As I right this blog I am sitting alone in an airport somewhere in southern Asia. By myself. An alien in a foreign land for which I know very little about. Over the past ten days as I’ve travelled through Singapore, Sri Lanka, India, and Taiwan I have begun to understand what “foreigners” must feel like when they attend our churches. I’m not talking about persons from other countries although I am one at this very moment. What I am referring to is the non-believer and how he/she must feel as they visit our churches.
You see I’m the foreigner today. I stick out in more ways than one. I don’t look like I belong here. I don’t speak the language for which there are as many as there are people groups, I don’t understand their directional signs, comprehend their gestures, or have the same faith system.
I’d submit that these are the same feelings persons have when they attend our churches each and every week.
Just a Thought!
Ephesians 2:19 (MSG) 19 That’s plain enough, isn’t it? You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building.
© Kerry R. Mackey, All Rights Reserved
