hardly normal

OBEY! My first public sighting!

Published

on August 25, 2008

. 1 Comment

I don’t know if it is because I just love the NYHC punk rebellion of it, the gorilla marketing aspects, the raw designs, or because it is so different but when the art director at work turned me on to “Obey: Supply & Demand : The Art of Shepard Fairey” I was hooked. If you are into art, design, marketing, or just a lover of all things eclectic this book is a must.

Andre the Giant Has a Posse started in 1986 as a street art campaign by artist Frank Shepard Fairey and the Obey Giant has now literally affected pop culture around the world. From one “skater” kid putting stickers on walls in North Carolina to now being seen in every major city, TV appearances, a clothing line and even the Obama poster - Obey is not just a sticker design that caught on; it is propaganda on fire.

my first Obey Giant in public After reading the book I had a passion to see an Obey Giant in public. As a drove around LA I looked and looked and looked. Because it is street art a Giant can be anywhere and they blend in with all the madness. The book is filled with all kinds of cool photos of Andre sightings. The art director was even going to print one and plant it someplace to make me happy. Well, I was at Starbucks on Sunset near Alvarado. The one with the Subway and laundromat which is so LA and bam, across the street on the awning of an old theatre were three giants looking right at me! I probably looked right at them a countless amount of times and did not notice.

So keep an eye out in your hood. The Obey Giant is everywhere. Now I have to figure out how to make a Giant wallpaper for my iPhone

Real faith is…

Published

hardlynormal

on August 18, 2008

in Change, Character, Church and My Big Mouth

. 8 Comments

Again I need to give you a disclaimer. I am not a bible scholar and I am not a theologian. Agree or disagree these are my views on a subject matter that I feel has been greatly abused.

Writing down the make and model of the new car you want to receive and then placing the piece of paper in the center of a room for people to circle around and pray over is not faith – it is magic! For a few years now I have been really confused and frustrated because I see people being taught rituals and not truth. Tithe, pray facing west, fast, make a collage of all the material junk you want, add some scripture, and presto chango God will honor your WORKS.

This type of teaching gives people false hope. For one, if we don’t receive the miracle we are praying for we blame ourselves thinking we did the ritual wrong. We then try and correct our wrong searching for a new ritual instead of resting in Him. People also get hurt because their neighbor was blessed doing the ritual, why not them? Yes, there are testimonies of the “miracle check in the mailbox” that basically result from the law of averages. But the majority of these type “miracle” testimonies are exaggerated, evangelistically speaking that is, to prove to us the rituals work.

I also find it interesting the people that teach these “faith” rituals that borderline on magic are the first to speak out against Harry Potter, or have a medicine cabinet filled with drugs quickly prescribing meds to people for any ailment, or are overly scared of legal action to the point of paranoia. Behind the scenes most demonstrate little faith as if their teachings are all a charade.

When I was homeless I didn’t tithe nor did I pray yet I was delivered from living in a park and homeless shelters to a good paying job and new car. From April 07 to early 08 I had crisis after crisis in my life that made homelessness seem like Disneyland. I not only tithed my offerings were another 10% making my total giving a little more than 20%. I fasted, I prayed, I believed with EXTREME faith, I wrote my needs on paper for others to pray over, I even had the collage on the wall with scriptures just like I was taught, I spoke the right words and believed for the very best. More importantly I became passive, I started to work harder and harder, I did my best to keep my mouth shut yet my circumstances kept getting worse. I was doing everything right yet wrong kept on happening. I became more confused. Why was the magic faith not working? I tried it both ways and life keeps coming at me! Could it be rain falls on the just and the unjust?

My eyes opened this spring while I was dining with a friend at a Chinese buffet in Columbus Ohio. Another opportunity had just fallen through and for the most part I was beat down hard. No money, no food, and it looked like things were going to get worse, which they did! In that moment of clarity I knew God loved me and that as long as I persevered He would take care of me. I might not get the car I wanted, but He had something better, which he did as I type this from Los Angeles, my home, the place where I belong! I never prayed to move back here nor did I sow a seed. The more I surrendered giving up my WANTS and desires the more He gave me just what I needed. That simple and no magic! Just rest in Him!

Please know I am all about positive thinking. Positive thinking, especially changing my self-talk, is what made all the difference in my recovery. Positive thinking is great and needs to be encouraged yet we can go too far and remove reality. We are also not healed by works. Miracles don’t happen because we prayed a certain way or claimed our seed on the offering envelope. All this crap does is mess people up, alienate unbelievers and sell warehouses full of product.

Let’s be honest here. All this faith ritual magic is selfish. People don’t sow a seed for that drug addict or prostitute; they give money in the hopes of receiving a new house, car or other material possession – selfish! I believe that the church will continue to be without any real power and continue to lose people as long as the church focuses on receiving and not genuinely helping others.

Real faith is not magic. Real faith is knowing that God truly loves you no matter how bad your circumstances seem.

Why church marketing sucks!

Published

hardlynormal

on August 15, 2008

in My Big Mouth

. 2 Comments

Years ago when I first started to work in church communications I was bothered by the lack of quality and excellence. Vocals out of tune, drums and bass a little off, web pages were more for vanity than any other purpose and the print materials…yuck!

There has been great improvement in the area of excellence yet now I am disgusted, yes disgusted is a good word, because we have gone too far. Church lobbies look no different than a swap meet with EVERY ministry trying to pitch their stuff. People are given handbills at the main door and then again at all the other doorways. Lord knows we can’t miss even one person with our marketing materials. Flat screen TVs at every angle, video announcements, pre and post service slides, and yes, ads on the bathroom walls! The very same marketing tactics that are used at a baseball stadium are used in our places of worship.

I hope you watch the video in the post below this because it is a good example of what the world thinks of us. Does an external impression matter or is it more important to fill seats and raise money? Funny because when we use these gimmicks we are doing far more harm than good and it actually has the opposite effect.

Today I received an email from a church pitching a church “value card” as an invite tool. There is a picture of the card and it is modeled after a credit card with a big $10 graphic. It also says “unlimited use” so that $10 must really go a long way.

Here is some of the copy. I just cut and paste as is. The bold text is their doing and just perfect:

Promote your church and save money at the same time with our new value cards! Present this card at some of your favorite local restaurants and receive tons of incredible deals! Plus it’s a great witnessing tool. Each time you hand out your card, you’re inviting your server or cashier to church. Buy one for your family, or give them out as gifts! Value cards go on sale this week, August 17th, for only $10, so make sure to get yours soon!

Think about this for a second. You are a waiter. Already Christians are known to be cheap and horrible tippers. A party of 4 comes into your restaurant. At the end of the meal they hand you this card and say “we get a discount. by the way, come visit our church”. INSANE!

Gimmicks like this suck and damage the perceptions people have about Jesus. An invite card with a fat $10 on it! Jesus must be about money – right? Invite people and save money. Wow! Gimmicks like this are why church marketing sucks!

And you wonder why your church is not growing! Next time before implementing a gimmick think of the big picture and the long term effect! A debt campaign (give us your money to get out of debt - whacked) may have immediate financial increase yet playing a video before, between and after service, along with talking about it and handing out print materials at every door will have a long-term negative effect causing great loss.

Gimmicks are mainly used by companies or organizations that don’t have integrity or are desperate. Do we have to give Jesus the hard sale? Today people are not only aware of tricks they are sick of them. The very best marketing tactic to help fill your building is to simply love on people just the way they are. Try being real and authentic and teach your people compassion instead of how to save a penny.

Let’s all start thinking about how we really portray Christianity. Jesus is not the “Crazy Larry” guy on TV slashing prices yet that is how we represent Him when we use gimmicks. The church is entrenched in religion, rituals, pride, arrogance, ignorance, and….MONEY – so I understand this change will not be easy. But we have to start someplace and it has to happen now. The world hates us and for good reason. I am still an optimist and believe we can change and that change starts with you.

Change anyone?

Published

hardlynormal

on August 14, 2008

in My Big Mouth

. 1 Comment

Watch this video and then buy Pagan Christianity? This is what we look like to people on the outside. We do far more harm than good. Even though this is focused on Christian TV, it is how we act in public and inside our buildings. We are perceived as freaks and all of our rituals are artificial and not bible. Read “Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices” – it is the book your pastor does not want you to read because it tells the real truth. Jesus never wanted the church as it is today. The church was never meant to be about building campaigns but about people. We have it all messed up!

Let’s start doing church right. Change anyone?

thanks Holy Cow. my brother from another utter!

Changing my prayer life changed me.

Published

hardlynormal

on August 13, 2008

in My Big Mouth

. 2 Comments

I need to start with a disclaimer. I am not a bible scholar nor am I a theologian. This change evolved because of circumstances in my life. It also started unintentionally and just kind of happened. Agree or disagree this is where I am at right now and I have noticed a dramatic growth.

A little over 4 months ago I stopped praying to receive anything material. New car, new house, new watch, bigger TV, more money – none of that. Oh, I’ll pray for your new house and for you to receive more money, but not for me to personally receive anything material.

For the last several years I have been actively involved in ministries that were focused on prosperity, and, even though I do believe God wants us to prosper, I have seen the collateral damage that results from always focusing on receiving instead of giving.

What I have noticed is that although people may have good intentions a giving heart cannot grow when a person is primarily praying to receive. Words about giving and helping others are said yet there is rarely any real follow-through. Since we are training our hearts and minds to be selfish giving to others only happens if there is no REAL sacrifice required.

The only things I ask to receive are help, strength, wisdom and courage!

Changes I have noticed:

I care more about others
I pray more for others
I am more aware of relationships
My needs are much simpler
I am happy with what I get because I don’t expect a thing
I am conscious about money yet money is no longer a priority
I feel closer to a REAL and loving God who will supply ALL of my needs
I have peace beyond comprehension

Try it. I dare you to go 30 days without praying for anything material.

Probably one of the best choices I have made.

Bad choice, no translator, confusion - see ya!!!

Published

hardlynormal

on August 12, 2008

in My Big Mouth

. 0 Comments

I had a few errands to run during lunchtime today and one of them was a carwash. My first stop took longer than expected so I was rushing and after pulling into the carwash lot I made a mistake and ended up in the express lane. I read the signs, but I still pulled forward because the lane was empty.

Well, the express lane is…different! I have been to this carwash many times yet I always get out of my car and let the worker take my car through. In the express lane you stay in your car. The guy waved me to move forward. Too me this was scary because it was so new. And truthfully it is not what I had in mind. The guy walked up, I rolled down my window and stated “I think I got in the wrong lane. How does this work?” Unfortunately after 5 years in the Midwest I now only speak gringo so even though I had a simple question there was a huge language issue. It was not until the third person came up to my car that I was able to communicate. They of course, were able to talk to each other. But not with me! Partly because I was in a hurry, partly because I was frustrated with myself for making the wrong choice, and partly because no habla espanol I felt really uncomfortable. So much so I wanted to flee and if there was a way that I could have easily drove through without causing trouble I probably would have.

I started to think about first time visitors. Many find church because of circumstances that resulted from one bad choice after another. I know I can speak christianease and I always feel a little uncomfortable walking into a new church. Imagine someone brand spanking new walking in and not knowing the language. It has to be crazy scary. And even though they are scared and want to run they will go through with the ceremony out of social pressure.

When I had a music ministry that played all the clubs on the Sunset Strip it was a great outreach for people who might never walk into a church. I would invite friends from college and AA meetings yet many never showed. When I asked they said “we tried but the pamphlet people scared us away”, and I could not stop the people who were “over saved” from standing outside trying to get a sales quota of salvations. Even at a cool outreach and a cool location we freak people out, and they run!

I don’t have any answers, but this I know! People dressed in really bad Batman and Spiderman costumes standing in front of Mann’s Chinese on Hollywood Blvd draw more new visitors on Sunday morning than most churches.

If you think your church is making an impact. Wake up! We are not even coming close!

I know this is somewhat of a repeat but if a first time visitor does not feel welcome, they may add to your salvation count, but they will not truthfully experience Jesus. God is so much more than a sinner’s prayer, a free bible, a free pastry while meeting the pastor’s wife, and a superficial commitment of love.

The way we did church yesterday is clearly no longer working today yet we are so stuck on past rituals and protocol we can’t change. Or should I say - WON’T CHANGE!

As long as we make people feel uncomfortable and continue breading “over saved” Christians we will continue to drive people away!

If church was accepting and loving would we need outreach?

Published

hardlynormal

on August 10, 2008

in Change, Church, My Big Mouth and Outreach

. 0 Comments

“As long as Christians fail to repent of self-righteousness, we will continue to speak of evangelism in terms such as outreach, which implies we will not embrace lost people but will keep them at least an arm’s length away.” “… the transformed lives of people in the church are both the greatest argument for, and the greatest explanation of, the gospel. Therefore, it welcomes non-Christians into the church, not so much through evangelistic programs as through informal relationships like Jesus developed with his first disciples … (this evangelism) considers it vital that lost people be brought close enough to witness the natural and practical outworking of the gospel in people’s lives.”

- Mark Driscoll

I found this quote on one of my new favorite blogs

http://www.vinceantonucci.com/

This really hit me today as I walked into the Angelus Temple/Dream Center’s bathroom this morning and saw a few homeless men take benefit from a sink and running water in a place that won’t kick them out. In fact, they were welcomed. One was washing up and another was shaving. Trust me, finding a place that will allow that is rare. What would your security do? Come on keep it real now!

The thought that hit my spirit, though, is why do we even do outreach? And let’s be real, the majority of outreaches I have seen and or heard about didn’t change anyone. Not really. Some I even organized and managed so I am also speaking to myself here. From my first hand experience over the last 5 years outreaches were more of a preprogrammed thing churches do. Even though many of the people have right hearts they are blind to the infectiveness of their actions. It is like we are programmed to go to where we think the poor and needy are and give handouts, have a mini sermon, get people to raise their hands – AND THEN LEAVE. Rarely did I ever see these people in church. God is not magic. People need more than a sinner’s prayer – they need to feel real and unconditional love found through commitment.

And please, if you are going to bus people in commit to it. If a few kids get unruly, maybe even throwing some pizza out the window and mouthing back to staff members, DON”T STOP busing them it. You won’t be teaching them a lesson only reinforcing the abandonment they get at home. Buy more pizza and some cleaner. If you have a bad apple remove it BUT KIDS NEED LOVE and they don’t get it at home. The best place for them is church.

I know I am squirrel chasing here but one of the many stories Pastor Tommy tells comes to mind. They bus thousands of kids into Phoenix First for service. One of the deacons came to Pastor Tommy saying “we have to stop busing these kids in. They are writing swear words on the bathroom walls”, Pastor Tommy responded “it’s not required reading”. What is more important the kids or the building? Some of you will say we have to respect God’s house. But God himself would much rather have you take care of His people than YOUR building – guaranteed! You will teach hurting kids far more by continuing to get them out of their horrible environments into a loving place a few hours every week than you will by the disciplinarian tactic of stopping the route completely.

Please don’t get mad at me for telling the truth here. And there are some churches that do great works and we need to support them. Yet most churches are simply as lost as the people they are trying to reach!

The whole point I am trying to make here is if we took all the energy and money used for an outreach and simply made our church experiences more loving and ACCEPTING, than church itself would be where it ALL happens.

To repeat something I heard this morning, you cannot build a great church until you build great people. Love on people. Not just at the trailer park, the mall, or the place in your town where the homeless gather, but at your church. Before you plan your next outreach take a good look in the mirror and see if you really are a loving church for that demographic. If so, than the seats will already be filled with people from the areas you minster in! They will be attracted to you and your outreach ministry is effective. If you are only welcoming to a certain kind of people, let’s say upper-middle class, than love on them because all people hurt and have needs. Not everyone is called to reach the poor, and not everyone is called to reach people with money. Just stop trying to be something you are not.

Rich or poor, the key to reaching people, all people, is to sincerely welcome them inside and outside of your building - and without exception.

Why do we separate outreach? What would happen if we ALWAYS gave the love we show in a park in our church experiences?

Non-compete in ministry

Published

hardlynormal

on August 5, 2008

in Change, Church, Leadership, Managment and My Big Mouth

. 1 Comment

First I have to come right out and say I only have myself to blame for being bit by a non- compete since I was the one who suggested to the church leadership were I was employed that it should be implemented.

I WAS WRONG!

If ministry is truly about building the Body of Christ it should not matter if an employee’s talents are used at the church down the road. A church leadership that implements a non-compete is 100% thinking about their own growth and not God’s people. It is a selfish action based on fear.

I have also seen church leadership carefully select who in the organization is asked to sign a non-compete agreement. If your co-workers are being asked to sign a non-compete and you are not asked it is an indication that leadership wants you to leave. This should be common sense. Leadership values the people it is concerned will leave and/or leave to help a nearby church grow and therefore requires a non-compete. One purposes of such an agreement is a scare tactic to get a valued employee to stick around. For those employees leadership does not value and actually wants to leave a non-compete may prolong their exit.

Employers rely on fear to get you to sign, and ignorance that you won’t check the laws in your state to see if a non-compete is enforceable. Some employers know, but don’t care, that their non-compete agreements are not enforceable. Each state has different labor laws and you need to do a little research before you sign anything! A non-compete is binding only if it’s reasonable in scope and necessary to protect the company’s interests. For example, it might be enforceable if it restricts you from working for a competitor for six months within a 25-mile radius, but not beyond that scope or if you can prove it will seriously impact your right to make a living. Remember – that state you live in wants you to be employed!

You should also be compensated for signing a non-compete. If you’re a new-hire at the time your employer asks you to sign, then employment alone might be compensation enough, at least for a court. But if you’ve already worked there for awhile and your employer doesn’t offer you an incentive to sign it, other than termination if you don’t, then a court might be on your side if you refused to sign and your employer retaliated.

The bottom line is this. Even though an employer gives a healthy Christmas bonus it still does not mean they don’t abuse employees with covert employment policies such as shunning. It is not right for any company or organization to abuse their workers and the church must elevate above all this mess and lead by example. This week I had several conversations with people who were deeply hurt by the ministry they worked for. These people are not victims because they worked through the hurt and continue to work for God. Telling the truth does not make you a victim, staying down does and without the truth people will continue to abuse people.

A preacher will stand behind the pulpit and claim we are not of the world, yet have their HR department implement a non-compete agreement. Please take a long hard honest look at yourself. Are the actions you are taking today motivated to help people, truly help ALL people, or just to keep you in control of the kingdom you created?

Please forgive the duplicate but I felt the following statement needed to be repeated:

Belonging before believing

Published

hardlynormal

on August 3, 2008

in Church, Leadership and My Big Mouth

. 1 Comment

I hate Home Depot. I squirm every time I have to go there because I feel uncomfortable. I am not a handyman, and even though I do enjoy hard manual labor, I don’t have a clue about drywall, tools, paint, nails, hardware, or any of that home improvement stuff. Even if the sales person is nice I avoid them because I don’t speak the language.

I am going to be point blank honest here. If I was new to Christianity and walked into either of the last two churches I worked for I would not feel comfortable enough to want to “join the club”. Oh, I may have raised my hand near the end, filled out a salvation card because of peer pressure, I may even go down front and have an emotional release with tears running down my face. But my life would not have changed. I bet this is the case for most people although there are a small few that get “saved” and stick around a month, maybe more, which leadership uses as validation. A few people actually win the lottery every week , too.

Pastor Tommy and Matthew Barnett and all the staff at the Dream Center have loved me just the way I was, or am! They NEVER tried to change me or to have me conform to their way, they just loved me. Seriously, when I had 10 pieces of metal in my face, a mohawk and a 6′ iguana around my neck they loved me. When I wear a suit they love me. When I smoked cigarettes they loved me. Once, Pastor Matthew caught me off guard as I inhaled a cigarette. He put his arms around me and started to pray for me. I held my breath as long as I could and I eventually exhaled smoke right into his face as he was praying. He never said a word about it.

Today I didn’t carry a bible to church. Last Thursday I did. Same church and I felt comfortable either way. One church made me not only carry a bible but it had to be a certain kind of bible. Another church when I started to use my PDA as a bible I was chastised (the future is coming people, print bibles will be a thing of the past before you know it). What does it matter if you have a bible or not? Come on wake up! As an unchurched person I didn’t carry a bible. Walking into a church where having a bible is MANDITORY it would make me feel uncomfortable. It would make ANYONE who does not have a relationship with Jesus feel uncomfortable. Tell me, does holding a bible make me a better Christian? Please know I agree with carrying a bible but I don’t agree with making people feel uncomfortable if they don’t, or trying to control people to your ways!

I got on the subject about Windsor Crossing with a few friends who I love and respect. Windsor Crossing is a gorgeous church that has a sincere outreach focus and is one of the fastest growing ministries in the St Louis area. My friends said they went but the reason they didn’t like it is because people didn’t carry their bibles. HUH? I went there several times and I carried a bible. Some people did, and some didn’t, and that was not a big deal. The big deal was how Windsor effectively created community. I felt very comfortable there and that is probably the reason for their growth. As an unbeliever it would be easy for me to find friends and more importantly spiritual and emotional healing at Windsor. I felt welcomed and loved just the way I was.

A few months back I happened to witness one of the most horrifying situations I have ever seen in my 15 years of fulltime ministry. A homeless man went to the altar, but he was followed by armed police with handcuffs drawn. Street people by nature are very aware of everything that happens around them. I guarantee you this homeless man on his knees at the altar did not feel comfortable with police poised ready to pounce on him. As horrific as what that man must have been feeling it is not as bad as the impression that was given to the church, and especially people visiting. You may give toothpaste and water to homeless on the weekends but in your own” living room” clearly they are not welcomed. Ironically it is not the homeless population that presents a security risk. All the shootings that have happened in recent years the people looked like normal folk. Having security show such force over one homeless man at an altar is ignorant and shows the real heart of the church. Maybe not the pastor’s but the church he created and maintains. Sadly even though members of the church and many staff were very disturbed by police showing such an unnecessary show of force no one would voice their concerns to leadership. Nothing changed and the next person who looks a little unkempt most likely will be “greeted” the same way.

Is your church environment REALLY welcoming to the unbeliever? As Pastor Tommy and Matthew Barnett often say “if you don’t have a few beer cans and cigarette butts in front of your church you have a country club”. Of course, not all unchurched smoke and drink, the point is unless you allow people to be themselves chances are they won’t stick around long enough to have Jesus stick to their spirit.

Pastor Tommy is my hero. He loves everyone and loves them right where they are at. Because he and everyone else at the Dream Center has never tried to change me, or control me in anyway, I was made to feel like I belong, and now I believe.

Services at Angelus Temple/Dream Center are not for everyone meaning you may not like the music or the lights, but everyone no matter who you are or where you came from is made to feel welcome - and that makes all the difference.

People pay me to help their churches grow. I can tell you what a first time visitor thinks on the first visit and what questions they ask after 6 months. I can tell you when to call, what to write and how to train your greeters to go deeper. But the key to church growth is really none of that crap. Love on people with a sincere heart, don’t try and change anyone allowing everyone to be themselves, and create a healthy environment where people can feel like they belong. Then step back and let God do the rest!

The Lord said “I didn’t say that”

Published

hardlynormal

on August 1, 2008

in Blogs, Change, Church, Leadership, Ministry and My Big Mouth

. 1 Comment

This week I happened to have one of the most amazing experiences of my Christian walk. So amazing it might be considered a miracle. It was to me!

My boss held a “debrief” meeting to openly and honestly address a few concerns employees had about an all staff meeting held a few weeks earlier. In ministry, that alone was amazing because open and honest communication is often suppressed. As the meeting started we all got on the subject of saying “The Lord said…” and my boss, who was leading this meeting, said something like “we won’t have any, ‘and God said’, because when you say, ‘and God said’, how can you argue? God said it and that is that. We want truth and not manipulation.”

WHAT! No lightening? No locust? No one was fired for saying something that was straightforward and real?

As a team we then went on to discuss how the older generation of Christian leaders use “and the Lord said” as a form of manipulation. These are not bad people, they just don’t know any better. It is how they were taught because their leaders did the same thing. Chances are, God didn’t say anything and they are simply speaking their own personal wants. By adding “God said” it has to be God since he/she is a pastor, right? So you do it, believe it, swallow it, and the only thing God said is, “I didn’t say that”.

Too me, that is using the Lords name in vain. Yupper our grandmothers all used that scripture to keep us from swearing, but let’s be real. God’s name is used far too often for stuff He had nothing to do with, and mostly by pastors and their wives!

We also talked about how voicing a difference of option is NOT a rebellious spirit. And if anyone tells you it is a rebellious spirit they are trying to manipulate you. WHAT! Are you kidding me? How can that be? Question the man of God? That is what we are taught so we keep quiet and the church remains sick.

Many of you who are regular readers of hn.com (I can recommend a good clinical physiologist) know I have been writing about how the “old school” style of authoritarian leadership in the church MUST change, and is changing because of the internet. In posts like It’s too late for Jerry but is it too late for the church? I write about the lack of self-awareness and in A marketplace flop - how do you deal with failure? I write about what happens when organizations are not honest. Pretty much you can find that theme evolving throughout this blog, but for the most part it was my gut.

This last week I had a conversation with one of the most brilliant leaders nowadays who is literally influencing positive change throughout the Body of Christ. We were on the topic of how toxic leaders in the church world suppress honesty because they would have to face the false reality they have created. A reality that keeps them in an “ivory tower”, and keeps their church from truly being effective. Worse yet, these church leaders have a horrible effect on the views of the unchurched.

As we talked further and I continued to get more and more thrilled, without any prior communication my gut feelings were being echoed. We touched on the subject of change and how the internet finally gave suppressed believers a vehicle to speak open and honestly. Church leaders could no longer manipulate us into silence, and that not only is a good thing - it is a God thing!

I have to honestly say I am once again in awe of what God has done for me. I believe in the church yet after working the last 5 years in fulltime ministries that suppress the truth and refuse to see realty I was starting to give up hope. God has placed me in an organization that allows open communication and is on the forefront of change for thousands of churches, and a local church where loving people is not a pretense and much more than a tagline.

Leaders, if you don’t allow your people to speak openly and honestly you are closing yourself off to reality. If you only allow your opinion chances are you are a toxic leader and you hinder your own personal growth, and your own minsitries growth. You cannot control people’s thoughts so you might as well know what they are thinking. Open communication is healthy and it will lead to healthy change. Yes, there may be conflict but by running from conflict you are causing more harm than good. Only by working through conflit can we find real love.

If you are an employee or volunteer in an organization that does not allow open communication, and you have respectfully tried to influence change in a positive way to no avail - leave! The organization is not growing in a healthy direction and in time you too will become unhealthy. It is ok the leave. It is not a sin no matter what you are taught. You will be better off in a ministry where God can use your gifts and talents than remaining with a supressive leadership that is more concerned about control than doing what is right and truly being effective.

How can we encourage healthy change and healthy communication in everything we do?