Scott Cheatham’s Weblog

What if your church could catch a vision as being the most loving place in your town? Perhaps others have given you indications that this might not be the case in your congregation. In a nice little story, Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges share the story of a pastor and his elder who have both had epiphany moments in their ministries to take Beacon Hill Community Church in a new direction. A letter begins the transformation and a phone call from a departing member brings about a realistic look at many church situations that exist today. So many times, the church is about the programs, ministries, and busyness of being that it forgets about the basic reason for its initial formation.

The story is of course fictional and takes our main characters on an inward journey to identify what’s most important in their lives and the lives of those they lead. In the end, a new course for the church is charted and new blessings abound. In between, many of the all too familiar problems that plague churches crop up and are dealt with through the lens of this new direction.

“The Most Loving Place in Town” is an excellent story and is designed to challenge church leaders to make their churches the centers of love that Jesus calls them to be. I would have liked to have seen more pages included to add some finality to some of the story lines the characters enter into but that was not the book’s purpose. It was meant to be a short, fast moving story. I was able to finish the book in three days and still have time to review the study questions in the back.

You can read this as a stand alone book or include it as a study guide for a small group, leadership team retreat, etc. Blanchard and Hodges weave a nice tale in a short book. If you serve in church leadership in any form, I think you’ll like “The Most Loving Place in Town”!

The Pomodoro As A Time Keeper!

Can a tomato shaped timer enhance and improve your productivity? For Italian software designer Francesco Cirillo, it made all the difference in the world. In designing his “Pomodoro Technique” time management system, Cirillo developed a way to stay focused, lessen the severity of interruptions, and get more done during his work day.

I heard of this system last week when a Twitter friend directed me to a time management piece written by the Wall Street Journal. Columnist Sue Shellenbarger tried out three time management systems and then reviewed the pros and cons of each one. Included in the three were the venerable favorites, GTD (Getting Things Done) by David Allen and Stephen Covey’s “Focus” method. Sandwiched in between was “The Pomodoro Technique”. The system is named after a tomato (Pomodoro in Italian) and has its roots in the fact that it was through the use of a tomato shaped kitchen timer that Cirillo developed and perfected his system.

In a nutshell, the system breaks down into managing your time in short bursts of productive time with a brief interval of recovery (A Pomodoro). This isn’t unlike the recovery methods discussed in the book “The Power of Full Engagement” that I reviewed last year. And it’s very much like the “Power of 48″ method I’ve discussed where you work for 48 minutes and take a 12 minute break.

The real beauty in a system like this is its simplicity and the way it can integrate with methods you might already feel comfortable with. The technique, like any time-management system, requires you to keep a log of your tasks (an inbox to process), a list of activities to accomplish each day (a results or to-do list) and a record of your achievements that you can keep either on paper or through a spreadsheet so you can manage projects more effectively and budget the right amount of time for them in the future.

I particularly liked Cirillo’s method of handling both internal and external interruptions to your work day. This has many applications depending on your employment situation but is adaptable to any method.

You can purchase a bound copy of the book describing the method or you can go to Cirillo’s site and download a free copy of the eBook for “The Pomodoro Technique”. It’s 45 pages long and took me less than two hours to read after I downloaded it. It also includes sample forms for you to use to get started measuring your projects and actions in “Pomodoros“.

One observation from my first read: This system would seem like a no-brainer for people working in offices and tied to their desks all the time be it home office or work office. For a pastor like myself, I can see the benefit in timing out the administrative and study time I need by budgeting my mornings and/or afternoons and thus, freeing up other time for visitation or meetings. Since the nature of my work has me out for several hours at a time some days, it makes sense to minimize distractions when I’m at my desk to get things done in a timely fashion so I can move on to activities that involve people, which is my main business!

All in all, I like the idea of the “Pomodoro” technique. Cirillo has found a way to simplify tracking your tasks and getting more done with less distraction and the fact that he has made the system free for downloading is quite nice indeed. Download a copy of the eBook and share your thoughts on this new way of looking at time management.

And I wrote this piece in one Pomodoro! So now, I’m taking a break!

Kennedy's Book

As a collector of time management ideas and tips, I picked up Dan Kennedy’s time management book on recommendation from a friend.  Kennedy has made a bunch of money in sales and knows how to manage his time for maximum efficiency. The book is part of a series of books written by Kennedy under the “No B.S.” label. As a Christian, you might be offended by the label but long ago, I learned that you can mine the good stuff from literature and throw the rest away. Other than the title, there’s no language to deal with within the covers and the information here is pretty solid.

Kennedy’s methods are designed for the business professional but have value to ministers also. His tips on managing the phone, focusing on goals, and preparing your execution plans are all valuable nuggets to adapt to your situation. In Kennedy’s words, he looks for the “Time Vampires” in your life, those people or things that can suck the life right out of you, and he gives you workable advice for handling them.

The book pulls no punches. Kennedy himself says you might not like all of his ideas and that is perfectly alright. Take what you can and run with it. He gets to the point, gives you a problem, a solution, and the way to get there. Chapter done. Then, he discusses something else. He writes like he speaks and he doesn’t waste paper here.

One of the things I liked most about this book was Kennedy’s insistence to focus, focus, focus! In ministry, we can get caught up in the mundane and keep ourselves busy but if we aren’t making progress in certain areas, then we really are just spinning our wheels regardless of how busy we are. Near the end of the book, Kennedy shares his best advice when he says to identify three things you know will make you successful in whatever enterprise you are involved in. From those three things, identify an action you can take from each one and DO THEM. Focus on your goal, what it will take to get there, and don’t get sidetracked by meaningless details. This rang quite true to me as I’ve heard veteran church planter Steve Sjogren say essentially the same thing in his writings. As a church planter/pastor, I could easily get bogged down by the latest craze, endless ministry programs, and meetings with others than avail nothing. These aren’t bad in themselves but when they become the bulk of our execution for the day, they rob us of truly accomplishing what God wants to do in our church and our life.

Again, if you can get past the title, there’s much to be gained here. It’s a good book with good information.

Author Terry Glaspey

I love to read. Many of my readers already know this. Between audio books, my book collection, and eBooks on my Sony Reader, I have hundreds of volumes in my collection. A few authors have spots as favorites on my shelf. One of those belongs to a man perhaps many haven’t heard of. Terry Glaspey. Glaspey is now an acquisitions manager for Harvest House Publishing in the state of Oregon. I first met Glaspey over 10 years ago when his book “Great Books of the Christian Tradition” was published by Harvest House. I had him on as a guest on my radio show and enjoyed the visit so much I had him back a few weeks later. He was interesting, well spoken, and thoughtful as a guest.

Over the years, Glaspey has written other books that I’ve enjoyed. His book on prayer, “Pathway to the Heart of God” , is excellent. His revised version of “Great Books..” is called “The Book Lover’s Guide to Great Reading” can be purchased used from Amazon is well worth the investment. Using the guide to help me select classic reading choices has greatly strengthened my own faith and given me a much broader perspective of Christianity through the ages. I have Glaspey to thank for that.

Most recently, I blogged about Glaspey’s pocket-sized “One Minute Bible Guide” which I’m planning to incorporate into the ministry of the church I pastor. What Glaspey’s does best is write for maximum comprehension. Some books I’ve read are what I would term difficult reads. That doesn’t make them bad but they require the reader to really take time with them, analyze them, and mine out the information in them. Glaspey’s books, while having depth, tend to be more easily digested on the first read.

If you are looking to pick up your reading as the holidays approach, I’d suggest picking up his guide and making some reading choices from it. You can’t go wrong reading a classic and Glaspey’s helpful reading lists and tips make the process even more enjoyable.

Have a great weekend.

A Fun Idea!

One of the most important skills anyone can learn is how to communicate effectively. One of the key components of this skill is learning how to craft your message to your listeners. Who are you speaking to? Do you know what type of person they are and what drives them? That’s what the book “Kingdomality” tries to solve. Author Sheldon Bowles with help from Richard and Susan Silvano has crafted a fun, entertaining way of looking at yourself and the people you communicate with.

The book features a fictional narrative of an out of sorts King whose kingdom is not operating so well. A wizard happens along to grant him a wish and the king asks for wisdom in leading his people. From there, the king is taken to another kingdom where he learns about the various guildhalls (base types) and the people who live in them (more precise types). The book groups twelve different personality types into the four guildhalls (three in each group) and the king learns about each by meeting the various types. Such titles as the “Black Knight”, “Dreamer-Minstrel”, “Doctor”, and “Scientist” make up the kingdom. A read of the book (or listen to the audio book) is necessary to understand more about the various types. Titles are deceptive. For instance, “Benevolent Rulers” are not necessarily the kings in this kingdom. Any of the twelve types can lead but the key is to learn who YOU are and then learn about those you work with or lead. When you do that, you can be much more successful in being productive and leading those around you. By the book’s end, the king is grasping the fundamentals and is already making a difference in his kingdom.

What I liked about “Kingdomality” is that the book was a brisk, fun read. As a pastor, I see great benefit in learning how to improve in communicating with my congregation. Aside from the funny titles and engaging narrative, the book provides real, applicable ideas that can be tailored to your work setting. As a bonus, you can go to the author’s website and take the Kingdomality Profile test to get a handle on your type and its strengths and weaknesses. You can take the test by clicking here. I tested as a “Dreamer-Minstrel” which suits me perfectly. My wife is most likely a “Doctor” and that gives me great insight on the way she thinks and how I can best communicate to her as her husband. When you get the basic ideas of the book incorporated into your life, it’s amazing how much benefit you can draw for such a little book.

I’ve studied many management forms and personality typing. This book was the first of it’s kind to bring a bit of lighthearted fun to the process while stressing that nobody can be pigeonholed into just one main type. Our tendencies will always be found in a type, but there are shades of grey in the typing that the author addresses.

The book was released in 2005 and is available both in print and audio versions. The audio version is quite entertaining as the book authors elected to produce the text as a dramatic performance with voice actors, music, and various sound effects. This was also a nice change from the standard reading of the text in many audio books.

I recommend this book to you. Of course, as a “Dreamer-Minstrel”, I’m expected to be quite upbeat and positive about all things so my review should logically focus on the positive aspects of this book and what benefits you can draw from it! You’ll figure that out after you read it! Have fun.

Will the growing eBook market go through the same piracy pains that digital music has in the past decade? According to a report from the New York Times it already is seeing a trend toward pirated ebook files on sharing sites similar to the well known Napster over a decade ago.

From my perspective I can see this happening but if publishers handle this situation correctly, it needn’t escalate to the levels the music industry took to try to quell piracy. Were restrictions needed? Certainly but not to the extent that the music industry took. Level heads can prevail and all can benefit if a few things are considered.

First, the cost of eBooks needs to be discussed. Seth Godin has discussed this issue on numerous occasions in his blog and in a post written fifteen months ago, mentioned the silliness of book publishers wholesaling eBooks to Amazon at the same price as their printed versions. They do this even though there are no additional shipping, production, paper, shredding, or warehouse costs with digital files. Clearly the eBook can and should sell for less. Once the file is available, it’s a matter of downloading it to your reader device or computer. Other than the server space used to store the file and maybe the relatively small cost of operating an online store, there’s not other cost involved. As a user of the Sony Reader, I pay anywhere from ten to fifteen dollars per eBook download and while I don’t totally mind the expense, I will say that I do budget myself and buy much fewer books as a result. If the cost of eBook downloads could be reduced to say five to seven dollars per download, I would be more apt to buy eBooks and more of them. Why can this not be done? Publishers first need to stop operating in a paradigm of paper. Understand that the eBook division is a different enterprise with different rules and allow for them. Trying to bind all the book sales into one does nothing but stifle eBook growth.

Second, the eBook market needs to agree on a standard file for readers. The ePub format is a start and I’ve downloaded a few files to my Sony Reader to try out. Most notably, I have the entire ESV Study Bible (footnotes and all) on my Reader in ePub format. I believe Crossway Publishers (Owners of the ESV translation) did this so they could control distribution. The format works on both the Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader (as well as other brands I’m sure) and there is no noticeable difference in quality from the proprietary formats of either device. The point is that once I’ve purchased the eBook file, I should be able to have the freedom to read it on a device of my choosing. If the Sony Reader I own needs replaced and I want to change brands (I wouldn’t at this point), I should have that freedom without worrying if my eBook library will transfer to the new device.

It’s going to take some creativity for the publishing industry to embrace the different book sale paradigm that eBooks allow. Lower the cost and establish an industry standard and watch your sales soar. Better yet, give away some of that product to encourage sales and attract customers you might never have been able to previously. Will there still be piracy issues? Yes but they will be reduced substantially. I would rather pay for a commercial download that I’m guaranteed is error free without virus worries than I would a pirated file that isn’t guaranteed to be the entire file or one riddled with errors.

If the publishing industry acts now with a proactive plan including the ideas I’ve mentioned, I doubt it will see the problems that some claim are coming. Let’s not ruin a good thing folks. The eBook market is primed to change the way we think about publishing. Let’s enjoy the diversity rather than stifle its creativity.

For the past few years I’ve been using the technique of “Mind Mapping” to help me think through many different situations. What’s that? You don’t know what a Mind Map is? Mind Mapping is another twist on brainstorming that has become popularized through a British man by the name of Tony Buzan. If you search YouTube for his name, you’ll find a number of videos that give a basic breakdown on the technique and how you can use it. There’s even Mind Map computer software available, some for free, others for a fee that will help you bring mind maps to life on your computer screen.

If you’re interested in learning more though, I would highly recommend Buzan’s brief but well written introduction to the process called “How to Mind Map”. How to Mind Map is a small, pocket sized book that breaks down the basics of how to get started with this “radiant thinking” technique as Buzan calls it.  He starts with a basic rundown of the process, helps you design your first mind map, and then spends the rest of the book highlighting various ways you can use mind maps to work through problems, outline a book, plan your week, and even plan your future. That’s just the start of what this little guide will do for you. There are a number of books on mind mapping available but most are filled with a lot of clutter designed to sell the book and not the process. How to Mind Map is all application and very little filler. It’s the finest one volume guide to the process of mind mapping that I’ve read and the only one I’d recommend to someone getting started with the process of mind mapping.

In the beginning, I started mind mapping quite simply with just a pen/pencil and paper. But as time has gone on, I’ve seen the benefit of color and have changed to a dedicated notebook and a collection of colored pencils that help me visualize the process. I use mind maps to takes notes at college, outline my sermons, plan special events, and to outline books for reports or reviews. I’ve used them in other areas as well but this gives you an idea of the versatility of a mind map.

For me, linear note taking is a bore. I’ve tried it and it doesn’t help me. If I’m making note of one thing, I can get by with it but if I’m planning a multi task project, taking notes in a class, or even laying out my week, I like sitting down with a blank sheet of paper, my colored pencils, and just get to it. My mind feels refreshed, and I have a visual picture that helps me see logical connections with concepts and that’s the key with mind maps. Your brain thinks this way so it’s natural for you to draw it out.

Give mind maps a try. Order this book and see if it doesn’t help you think clearer and better than you have ever thought before.

Bob Franquiz’s latest book “Zero to Sixty” is a primer for church leaders looking for ideas to help them in the minefield that is today’s ministry workplace. Franquiz leads a large church in Florida and is a prodigy of Bob Coy’s who also leads a large congregation in Florda. Coy’s church has been recognized as one of the fastest growing congregations in America by leading church publications and it’s obvious that Franquiz was a good study.

The thing I like about “Zero to Sixty” is that the book is applicable to any size ministry setting. Franquiz breaks the book down into four key strategic areas. These areas are: Leadership, Staffing, Ministry, and Personal Development. Under each heading, Franquiz lays out easy to digest, helpful ideas that you can use to avoid unnecessary pitfalls. In the early stages of my own church plant, I’ve hit several minefields that I could have avoided if I would have had this book. No book is going to keep you from having setbacks but I enjoy reading others’ comments from similar situations so I can at least minimize those times.

The book was an enjoyable read.  Some highlights were the chapter on “Frankenstein” churches.  These are churches that have no defined vision and a hybrid of just about any type of ministry to satisfy a few. Many church leaders I know fall into this trap and have to learn to say “no” to many things to keep the church focused. Tied in with that idea is the chapter on building a small group culture. This is something we are still working on at the church I lead but suffice it to say, you can’t have 150 things vying for people’s attention. Focus is the key. Another highlight for me were the chapters on personal growth. This is an area I’ve blogged about recently and a key area of concern for me as I try to develop new leaders.

In all, Franquiz delivers a helpful book with very usable ideas that you can adapt to your ministry setting. I highly recommend “Zero to Sixty”.

If you are looking for a fresh idea on discipleship, Neil Cole’s book “Search and Rescue” might be just what you are looking for.  Cole’s book highlights his primary method of Christian discipleship called “Life Transformation Groups” or LTG’s for short.  These groups of 2 to 3 people meet weekly for 3 simple practices.  These include: reading scripture, confession of sin, and praying for the lost.  Groups meet to ask each other accountability questions of their choosing and to discuss the reading for that week (30+ chapters of bible reading per week!)  They then close with prayer for the lost friends and family that are on each person’s prayer card.  That’s a simplistic view of the LTG but it’s the heart of the group.  When a group grows to 4 or more (sometimes even 3 people), they are encouraged to branch off another group and continue the process.  Cole advises that due to the nature of the group’s goals, small is better.

There’s a lot of material in this book.  Nearly 2/3 of the content is Cole breaking down the biblical book of Second Timothy as a means of training and discipleship.  The remainder of the book is a breakdown on the LTG and how it can be implemented in various churches.  Throughout the text, Cole shares stories of his days as a California lifeguard as illustrations of the principles he shares in each chapter.  A large appendix concludes the book with various helps to give you ideas on starting your own LTG’s in your circle of friends.

I liked Cole’s challenge to get more people reading larger amounts of scripture.  So much of what is passed off as “reading the bible” these days is nothing more than a chapter or two and the hope that something there sticks.  Cole promotes the idea of getting the “big picture” message of various biblical books as a means of transforming individuals.  For certain, a more detailed study can and should be done of the various passages we read.  Cole asserts that this will happen naturally as larger amounts of scripture are read, questions will arise that will bring this discipline about.

All in all, I enjoyed this book.  For the ideas in it to work requires dedicated, praying people who will invest in the lives of others.  My biggest concern is, will we make that time?  It seems more and more, we see superficial connections being made in large services and a lip service small group that glosses over the message of scripture.  This is what passes for serious discipleship in many churches these days.  Making that personal connection and commitment is what can make all the difference in the life of a new believer.  This is what Cole ultimately argues for and in that, I think he is successful.

Some may disagree with his ideas but the think I enjoyed about this book is that it made you think.  That’s always a good thing.

Thumbs up for this work.

Miller's Excellent Book

One of my favorite Christian writers is Calvin Miller.  Miller weaves excellence in his storytelling with deep insight that’s able to be grasped.  My first introduction to Miller’s writing was his 2002 tale of “Pastor Sam” in “The Sermon Maker”.  I recently re-read the book and thought I’d share some thoughts on it with you.

“The Sermon Maker” is a tale of a preacher who feels like his preaching’s gone dry.  It doesn’t help that he has a lady in his church that critiques him at every turn.  In a moment of desperation, Pastor Sam cries out to God who answers his prayer by sending “Sermoniel”, the angel of hermeneutics (fancy word for sermon preparation).  In the three short sections of the story, Sam is challenged to look at his preaching in a different light, consider his relationship with God, and how he lives as a shepherd amongst his congregation.  Without giving too much away, the story weaves through various trials that come up during this process with Sermoniel popping in from time to time to right the well-meaning preacher.  The ending I’ll leave untold but it’s worth the read.

This book was Miller’s fable on learning a preaching method he calls “Narrative Exposition”.  Learning the art of telling a story to captivate listeners without compromising the power of the gospel message.  An interesting feature of this book is that the story is told only on the “odd” numbered pages while the “even” numbered pages are reserved for detailed notes Miller ties to footnotes in his story.  You can read the book by trying to follow the notes as you go but for me, it was easier to read the story first and then go back and read the notes.  A few years after this book’s publication, Miller wrote a detailed book on the subject titled “Preaching – The Art of Narrative Exposition”.

For me, the story was as enjoyable the second time around as it was when I read it six years ago.  Most anyone who presents God’s Word each weekend knows the feeling of having “struck out” with the message.  I think we all can identify with Pastor Sam when he struggles with his inner self-esteem, his “agitator” Emma Johnson, and the dialog he has with Sermoniel.  You can sit down and read this book in a night or you can break it up into three short sessions (one session for each section of the tale) and review the notes on each section before proceeding to the next.

The Sermon Maker is still available as a paperback so you can get it reasonably.  I hope Miller makes more of his works available as ebooks because this is one I certainly would like to have a digital copy of as well.  It’s a great book and highly recommended to all who preach and study God’s Word.