Answer: "Change?! Why would we want to change? We've always had that light bulb and we like it just the way it is! Why...my great Aunt Dorothy gave that light bulb to the church!"
I have spent a good portion of the last two days working through John Kotter's and Dan Cohen's The Heart of Change. Written from a corporate point of view, this piece chronicles imaginative and extraordinary change within rather rigid organizational structures. The premise of the work is simple... "People change what they do less because they are given analysis that shifts their thinking than because they are shown a truth that influences their feelings." The book is then filled with corporate stories of transformation.
The instructor of my present course on Missional Leadership must have felt that these mechanisms of change were transferable or applicable to the church organism. I tend to agree. Regardless of our typical consideration that "change" is a four-letter word, the Holy Spirit constantly calls us to it. After all, Jesus' first sermonic words to us were, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Translated, "Change our heart in order to encounter Jesus." Perhaps The Heart of Change has something to teach us about changing our hearts. I commend it to you. (Note link on this page.)
I continue to appreciate the comments, encouragements and notes. It is touching how many blog followers have become interested in my cycling. My last several days have been filled with 'other matters,' so the cycling has not happened. Perhaps tomorrow. I had forgotten how incredibly sandy everything gets around here, so I had to make a trip into town this afternoon for the drive train cleaning equipment that I left at home...lest my bike become completely sandblasted.
Yet another day before I can capture the sunset. As the great fire ball fell over the marshes this evening and I reached for the camera some dear friends showed up with a box of food and good spirit (note...not "spirits"). It has been a joy to feast and fellowship with them. The sunset will wait.
Much peace to you this day.
I have spent a good portion of the last two days working through John Kotter's and Dan Cohen's The Heart of Change. Written from a corporate point of view, this piece chronicles imaginative and extraordinary change within rather rigid organizational structures. The premise of the work is simple... "People change what they do less because they are given analysis that shifts their thinking than because they are shown a truth that influences their feelings." The book is then filled with corporate stories of transformation.
The instructor of my present course on Missional Leadership must have felt that these mechanisms of change were transferable or applicable to the church organism. I tend to agree. Regardless of our typical consideration that "change" is a four-letter word, the Holy Spirit constantly calls us to it. After all, Jesus' first sermonic words to us were, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Translated, "Change our heart in order to encounter Jesus." Perhaps The Heart of Change has something to teach us about changing our hearts. I commend it to you. (Note link on this page.)
I continue to appreciate the comments, encouragements and notes. It is touching how many blog followers have become interested in my cycling. My last several days have been filled with 'other matters,' so the cycling has not happened. Perhaps tomorrow. I had forgotten how incredibly sandy everything gets around here, so I had to make a trip into town this afternoon for the drive train cleaning equipment that I left at home...lest my bike become completely sandblasted.
Yet another day before I can capture the sunset. As the great fire ball fell over the marshes this evening and I reached for the camera some dear friends showed up with a box of food and good spirit (note...not "spirits"). It has been a joy to feast and fellowship with them. The sunset will wait.
Much peace to you this day.
1 comment:
I very smart man I know once told me that people only do things if it gets them something. If you want to change a habit figure out why you are doing it and come up with something else to fill that need.
Taking that one step further, I have always gotten a far better responce from people, in the corporate setting, when I started out with what they will get out of the whole deal. Once you get them salavating, they practically beg you to help them change.
That said, growning up with church workers for parents, and having sat through more than my fair share of voters meetings I tend to agree with the the punch line. It may be a little harder in a church setting. However, I believe if anyone can lead us to change it is you!
Lastly, I would lie if I said that I was anything less than pleased when you seperated the Sunday School hour from Service times. Looking back, it couldn't have been a better thing. My niece and nephew are about the same age as my children and because they always went to Sunday School instead of church, now these normally well behaved children act like total monkeys in church, and at their age that ia a sad thing.
You know I will always be a big cheer leader for you. So keep up the great work. I look forward to getting you back once you are all learned up!
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