Catalyst 20 Years Later: Erwin McManus

Erwin McManus rocks my world - I first heard him live 4 years ago at Group's National Convention.  The paradigm-shifting works he is accomplishing at Mosaic in Los Angeles is breathtaking.  I had a student last year who was moving to LA ask me where a good church was for him to go to.  I said to try Mosaic, and when he visited with me over Christmas break, the spritual depth and maturity as a result of sitting under McManus was palpable.  Here's the notes I took @ Catalyst...

John 9 - the Blind Man at the Siloam Pool

We are chasing daylight - work while it's still light! 

Relevant is an over-used term.  Relevant means someone else got there first and now I'm trying to be the same!

We need to lead the way in 5 ways:

1.  Shift from Standardization to Uniqueness.  Did Jesus die to clone us all? 

2.  Move from Utility to Creativity.  Instead of "plugging people in" at churches, we need to light them up!  Avoid dream-suckers.  Status quo is evil - it consumes our planet.  The first sermon by Peter in Acts 2 = this is a movement of dreamers and visionaries (he quotes Joel of all places!).  Live with urgency for the world.

3.  Shift from Homogeny to Diversity.  Our churches reflect narcissism.  Do you want people to go to church with you and not to live life with you?  People don't leave their tribes without their leaders!  Homogeny = it's all about me.  Make people your highest value.

4.  Reject Pragmatism and move toward Mysticism.  Our churches today are too self-help.  Step into the invisible reality of the Kingdom of God!  People aren't looking for "truth;" they want people who have been face-to-face with God and have lived to talk about it.

5.  We need to shift from Conviction to Compassion.  Be a movement of compassion - that's what Jesus was all about.  Community answers this question:  Does love really exist?

Catalyst 20 Years Later: John Maxwell

John Maxwell - "The Leader that God Uses"

1.  I want to make a difference...    A leader has a passion to make a difference.  Behind every vision is a holy discontent.

2.  ...with People who want to make a difference...    The leader that God uses understands that TEAMWORK makes the DREAM WORK.  Example:  Nehemiah wasn't a construction worker; he built teams.  Go from "me" to "we."

3.  ...doing Something that makes a difference...    That leader has a commitment to do something of importance.  Never try to explain God until you've obeyed Him.

4. ...at a Time when it makes a difference.    We over-exaggerate yesterday; we over-estimate tomorrow; we under-estimate today.  Make important decisions early and then manage them for the rest of your life.

Catalyst 20 Years Later: Donald Miller

Long before being known for StoryBrand, Donald Miller was known for his bestseller, Blue Like Jazz. Here’s my notes from his 2005 talk at Catalyst.

We set a new world-record with Guinness for the most people sitting on whoopee cushions at the same time (9,000).  Then Donald Miller came out.

HANDS-DOWN THE BEST SPEAKER AT CATALYST PERIOD.

Seriously, I had reservations walking into the conference about Miller based on his stream-of-consciousness writing style, but he was not only the funniest speaker, but also revealed a tender heart of genius.  I'm getting all his books now.

Donald Miller - "I don't have a title for my talk."

1925 - the Scopes/Monkey Trial was a defining moment for Jesus followers.  The Church shrunk away from reaching our country at that point and began building walls - "Us versus Them" mentality.  Church begins building Christian universities, schools, book publishers, music companies - the Christian Culture begins.  Example:  First building at Wheaton College is a tall, ivory-looking building that keeps out the outside world.  Stone inscription on it says it was built in 1927.

"We even have our own Christian fast-food; it's called Chik-fil-a."

"We have built our own Salt Lake City and franchised it as the suburbs."

"Are you surrounded by people who just validate your opinions?"

Paradigm shifts must occur in the Church. 

1.  Other People Exist.  "I'm in a movie about me.  I'll prove it to you - when I walk offstage, my movie follows me and continues.  You think you are in a movie about you.  But you're wrong.  You are all just stage extras in a movie about me!"  Hilarious.  "We get worked up if we have to be delayed or cut off by a driver ahead of us.  If we don't get cheap crap fast, we get frustrated!"

2.  Nobody will listen to you unless they know you like them.  The question everyone is asking is, "Am I loveable?"  We all seek validation - we put hot models on t.v. wearing certain fashions that we then run out and buy and wear so that we feel validated. 

We were validated in the Garden of Eden.  We felt so loved & validated that we walked around the Garden naked.  We didn't worry about what other people thought of us.  That doesn't happen today.  When I walk around naked, that's all I think about - me being naked.  It's not like I can forget.  I don't go to the grocery store and walk up to pay the cashier and go, 'Oops, I forgot my wallet - HEY!?"

Our jobs as pastors is to take God to the wound people have.  Period.

Catalyst 20 Years Later: Louie Giglio

Arguably the second-best talk of the whole conference, Louie tore-it-UP as he walked us through the paradigm of worship.  After awhile, I stopped taking notes because I couldn't keep up and decided to just buy the conference DVD instead.  Here's the stuff I managed to jot down:

Louie Giglio - "Be Consumees, Not Consumers"

My prayers lately are getting shorter and shorter as I realize more and more just how BIG and HUGE God really is.  I mean, really, what can I share with such a big God that He doesn't already know?  And when I enter such a big God's presence, everything I want to share pales in comparision with HIM.  My prayers are like, "Whatever.  Amen." 

"Whatever YOU're thinking, I want it."  We have only one shot at life.  "You are prized by Majesty who has given supremely."

2 Timothy 4:6:  Paul is being poured out as a drink offering and ready for his departure...

Worship = Revelation of God + our Response.  "All of me for all of You."

When was the last time you sang "Shout to the Lord" in church?  Ya, that's what I thought.  Great song, but we sing songs to death and become cravers of new things.  (Dude, I've been saying this for YEARS!!). We become infatuated with the EXPERIENCE of worship when it's supposed to be me in Your Hands.

"Me in Your Hands" = God's nail-scarred, trusting, dependable Hands.  He's not the Wounder; He's the Wounded.  He's also an all-consuming fire (Hebrews) and our worship should reflect awe & wonder.

"Be consumees, Not consumers!  Be a sacrifice on the altar."

Consumers say, "What's in it for me?"  Consumees say, "Use me up; I'm in it for You."

Consumers say, "It's something I buy."  Consumees say, "I've already been bought."

Consumers say, "My preference."  Consumees say, "What God requires."

Consumers are about downloading; Consumees are about bowing down.

That's where my notes ended.  He spent a lot of time going through the history of worship - awesome stuff.  Laid the smack-down on emerging worship saying, "Why the labels?  Isn't it just worship?!"

Catalyst 20 Years Later: Andy Stanley

I’m reviewing my personal notes from the 2005 Catalyst Conference and sharing them here for what it’s worth.

Andy Stanley - "When Opportunity Knocks"

Centered around a leader's integrity, Andy walked us through 1 Samuel 24:1-12.  I loved his sarcasm throughout!

1.  You leadership ability has the potential to take you further than your character can SUSTAIN you.

2.  Leaders get into trouble when their integrity doesn't keep pace with the momentum created by their GIFTEDNESS.  There is no correlation between giftedness and maturity!

3.  Our commitment to integrity can easily be eroded by our love of PROGRESS.

4.  The excuses we are most tempted to use are:  God PROMISED it or I DESERVE it.  (Ooh, that's good!)

Talking about David's opportunity to kill Saul while he relieved himself in the cave:

A.  This had all the makings of a God thing.

B.  When opportunities line up with our PRAYERS and PASSIONS, it is difficult to exercise RESTRAINT.  Emotional environments are a fog!

C.  Opportunities must be weighed against something other than the uniqueness of the circumstances surrounding them.  An open door isn't necessarily an invitation from God!

David's response:

A.  David weighed the oppurtunity against three things:

     1.  The LAW of God ("The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my MASTER..."

     2.  The PRINCIPLES of God ("...for he is the annointed of the Lord.")  Principle at work here:  You do not replace what God has put in place.  This is where I was cheering Andy on.  Seriously, serving under a senior pastor, integrity dictates that you must be 100% on board with his God-ordained vision.  Should you ever disagree, you do not have the right to usurp your senior pastor's authority (beyond just Matthew 18); you must get back on board with him asap.  I could go on a rant here, but allow me to just say that seeing too many fellow youth pastors split from churches to plant new ones in the same town is the makings of church division (see 1 Corinthians!).  It grieves God's heart and violates His principles.  There, I'll get off my soap box now...

    3.  The WISDOM of God ("And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done me...")  Wisdom:  Is this the story of how you became king that you want to share with your grandchildren one day?

B.  Everything that looks like a God thing, and feels like a God thing, and is suggested by others as a God thing isn't necessarily a God thing.

C.  The most direct route to what you want is rarely the BEST route.

Application:

A.  Weigh every opportunity against the law, principles, and wisdom of God.

B.  Decide every day that you will not sacrifice integrity for progress.

C.  Give the right people an all access pass to EVERY major leadership decision.  Being the leader does not exempt you from the need for wise counsel.  It NECESSITATES it.

It's My Fault

What does it take to win? I pray every single week that the lakers take a win home. And while you can have some of the best skills and the best players...it sometimes isn't enough.

Ultimately, it's about finding a way to win, even when the odds seem stacked against you. It's about leading with integrity, humility, and an unshakeable commitment to continuous improvement.

how to develop a winning spirit

1. Own your reactions
- How you respond to adversity can determine the ultimate outcome.
- When we encounter difficulties or setbacks, it's natural to point fingers and blame others.
- We as leaders should step back and own our reactions, this will allow us to regain control of the situation

2. Learn from mistakes
- Mistakes are inevitable.
- Instead of dwelling on mistakes see them as opportunities to learn and grow.
- It's not about being perfect; it's about being better.

3. Build resilience
- By embracing responsibility, you'll develop the resilience to face even the most challenging situations. 
- When we embrace responsibility for our outcomes, we develop the resilience and adaptability required to bounce back from setbacks and keep moving forward.  

5 Statements of Humble Leaders

Humble leaders seem to practice these five statements regularly:

1. “I CAN IMAGINE _______.” "I can imagine that was difficult... I can imagine you were stressed... I can imagine the situation was complex..." The heartbeat of this statement is an awareness that other leaders and teammates have experiences that must be thought about and imagined in order to be relevant. A humble leader stretches to think of others and what they go through rather than become self-consumed.

2. “I MIGHT BE/WAS WRONG.” No know-it-all leader is humble… or even correct most of the time. They just think they are right. A hallmark of a humble leader is the ability to apologize and admit shortcomings. It sends a powerful message to the team that mistakes both will happen and are safe to happen… even by those in leadership.

3. “I WOULDN’T KNOW, YOU’D KNOW BETTER.” A humble leader knows both what they know and what they don’t know. They know the limits of their skill and knowledge. They aren’t afraid to step aside and default to someone else. In doing so, they ensure the team is equipped in the most effective and trustworthy way.

4. “I DID THAT WELL.” This seems counterintuitive, but a humble leader actually knows what they do well. Similar to the previous point, they know their limits, but they also know their attributes, gifts, and talents. They know they don’t do all things well, but they unpretentiously qualify themselves into their roles.

5. NOTHING. Humble leaders listen well. They ask great questions, and then they shut up and learn. They don’t automatically fill in answers or strategies, but let the team or rising leaders work out solutions. Often, a humble leader can say more by what they don’t say than a prideful leader who rambles on.

Which of the previous statements do you wish you’d say more often?

8 Qualities of a Great Leader

I’m always looking for common denominators when I get around great leaders. What do they have in common? What habits do they have in their life? Here are 8 qualities that I have observed all great leaders have in common:

1. THEY LIVE A MISSION > ME LIFESTYLE

Great leaders are mission-driven, not me-driven!

They never give their life to a WHAT, they always give their life to a WHY. See how this changes when you define your true motives in life!

Take some time this week with a pen and paper and write down your why. Write down why you exist, why you have your gifting and talents, and why you have a grace for a particular area of your life.

2. FAILURE DOES NOT DEFINE THEM

Great leaders understand that they might have MADE a mistake, but they are not a mistake. They know that they are defined by their relationships, their mission, and by the fact that they can keep on going.

Failure is a part of leadership. We should see failure as an opportunity to learn and improve. The only true failure is not getting back up and trying again.

Choose to be a leader that doesn’t let a season or decision define you. It might have been a bump in the road, but make the choice to move on!

3. THEY ARE LIFELONG LEARNERS

Great leaders don’t flex their muscles, their knowledge, or their success. They are always leaning into others with the mindset, “Teach me something I don’t know.”

We should constantly be evolving and changing because we’re constantly LEARNING. Are you amazed by how little you don’t know? I get excited about the future because I’m so excited to learn!

Be a leader that isn’t living off of past revelation of things you’ve learned, invest in learning NEW things. You can’t apply what you don’t know!

4. EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM IS BIG

When I get around great leaders, I'm amazed at their big spirit, big faith for the future, and big perspective. When you’re around leaders that are not great, you’ll notice the shallowness of their soul, their worldview, and their perspective.

Become secure in your soul so that you can expand who you are!

5. THEY ARE AN EXPERT AT WHAT THEY DO

Great leaders invest into their craft, knowing that they will be an echo before they are a megaphone.

We refer to this as the 10K Hour Rule. Malcolm Gladwell references this in relation to The Beatles. By the time The Beatles became a hit, they had been playing and working and writing together for so long, that they had become masters at their craft.

Put in the work of becoming an expert at what you do. It takes a lot of time, energy, sacrifice, and a lot of no's - but we ought to make the decision to become experts at what we’ve been called to do!

6. THEIR WORK ETHIC IS UNMATCHED

Great leaders work unbelievably hard. They don’t just show up and turn on the gift. They work hard and put in the time, energy, and focus.

Anybody that doesn’t have a great work ethic will not be great.

Choose to outwork everyone else. Work hard, because the gift is not the result - your work is.

7. THEY ARE NOT AFRAID OF CHANGE

Great leaders evolve and can change with the times.

What’s important is that you’re open to change. Always remember to hold things with an open hand.

Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely!

8. THEY KNOW WHY THEY’RE HERE

Great leaders know why they’re here and why they do what they do.

Discover your WHY and the rest will take care of itself.