Whatnot

I think the emerging challenge for me these days is how do I lead organizationally (that is in light of the great and extremely practical literature on organizational leadership that I’ve used to great affect – or is it effect?) while also leading and especially LIVING relationally.  I believe it’s not an either/or.  It’s a both/and.  

But how? 

Let me unpack this a bit – I have found what I would call enormous success in taking corporate organizational principles from the likes of Jim Collins (Good to Great, Built to Last) and applying them to work within the church.  Concepts such as “first who, then what” in terms of vision have really helped me to build a phenomenal and amazing team of people and together discern where we are headed in our responsibility to the children in our community.  I’ve found it to be not only effective, but life-giving to the people I am working with.  That is, team growth, getting the job done, etc, but team health.  People are closer to Jesus for being part of this.  And that’s the stuff.

But I’ve also felt the tension in my desire to lead and live in primarily RELATIONAL way.  There is a part of me that just wants to pack it all in and invest in my neighbors.  We’re getting close to some real relationship with them, and I think the kingdom is breaking in on 6^th street.  

Thoughts?

The things I most want to blog right now would come out rather cryptic;  That leaves me stuck.  Maybe more on that stuff another day.

We’re making some great contact with our neighbors.  We’re planning a cookout/block party for the summer.  We know the neighbor’s on literally every side (we are surrounded) and they are some really beautiful people (figurativelyJ ) so this could be a lot of fun.  I think the challenge is that sometimes it seems I’m so relationally and emotionally drained from church people that I have nothing left for my neighbors.  Then it’s like…what the heck? 

Since returning from CA I am just generally unsettled and irritable.  Trying to put my finger on why.  I say “just generally” but of course it’s more than that.  I find myself frustrated with the status quo and as I look around I think a lot of people are.  They are looking for more.  There’s got to be something more to this.  And so I think “okie dokie” let’s figure out ways to help people connect with that feeling and take steps toward Jesus and the real-ness in life that He can offer.  

And I could just run with that, but it seems there are so many other things that need attention that are besides the point (because it really is about helping people connect with God and with each other like a family).  And then I get sidetracked with everything else instead of that.  But to even add to the frustration – when I am less distracted, the people seemingly so open and looking for more in life are often resistant to the offer of a deeper life with Jesus.  

So that’s why I’m a grump today.

Okay, it works!  This should increase my blogging frequency…

I gotta get the book that has this http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/mayweb-only/118-22.0.html in it.

Seriously.  I read a couple of reviews and I think Tony has offended everyone…conservative McChurch folk, CHECK; independent I-Hate-McChurch-Folk, CHECK; Democrats…okay maybe he didn’t offend them.  All I’m saying is I read his stuff and am not offended at all.  I think I just accidentally called myself a democrat (I am an independent anarchist).

More to come.

TIM

So, I’m testing out this e-mail to blog feature….here goes…

Tim