I’m participating in a long, massive blog post project Stuff Christians Like is conducting.  The topic: “Is that contestant on American Idol a Christian Scorecard”….Here’s my one clue:

The contestant is from Alabama. (82% of all residents of the state of Alabama are Christian. Look it up. I’ll wait.) = + 1 point

To add up your score with over a 130 other ideas on this scorecard, visit stuffchristianslike.net.

Kent Shaffer is an influencer, a creative and innovative genius, and apparently never sleeps. One of the best church leadership blogs I follow is Church Relevance.  It is considered an honor to be considered for one of Kent’s lists of top churches or top Christian blogs.  He is the co-founder of Acre Scout, which helps connect buyers to commercial real estate, including churches.  He is an active part of Lifechurch.tv.   He consults regularly for churches and ministries wanting to become more effective and efficient.  You can follow Kent on Twitter HERE.

Here are 10 questions with leader Kent Shaffer:

When you were growing up, is this what you thought you would be doing vocationally?  If not, what did you want to do?

Growing up I had regular intervals where I expected to have a career in ministry when I was older. I also had seasons of expecting to be a fireman, policeman, spy, comedian, mechanical engineer, artist, or marketer. But I never fathomed (even a few years ago) being able to have the career and opportunities that I have today.

What’s the most different job you’ve had from what you are doing now and how did that job help you with what you are doing now?

It is hard to label one job as the “most” different. I’ve had a handful of odd jobs that have all taught me something. Working at a movie theater taught me that the quality of the grunt workers in the trenches often makes or breaks an organization. Working as a site coordinator for an intramural sports league taught me that conflict is inevitable and should never be neglected. Working as a local band manager taught me the importance of viewing your organization through the eyes of your audience and not rose-colored glasses. I’ll save some of the other stories for another time.

Who is one person, besides Christ, who most helped to shape your leadership and how did they help you?

I had the privilege to work for and be mentored by Jim Wideman who is considered by many to be a pioneer of modern children’s ministry. He taught me how to develop leaders, manage them, and create efficient systems.

Besides the Bible, what is one book that has most helped to shape your thought process in life and ministry?

Another mentor of mine, a marketing professor named Dan Fisher, recommended that I read Coercion by Douglas Rushkoff. It is not the most impactful book I’ve read, but it was the catalyst that got me started exploring the importance of behavioral science in ministry. It led me to learning from Malcolm Gladwell, Paco Underhill, Jim Collins, and many others.

What are three words other people would use to describe your work style/ethic?

Comprehensive, Strategic, & Unconventional

What is your greatest strength in leadership?

Holistic Strategy

What is your greatest weakness in leadership?

Either insensitivity or too high of expectations.

What is the hardest thing you have to do in leadership?

Follow through with necessary confrontation even if it will cause change that I dread.

What is one misconception about your position you think people in your church may have?

I have a bivocational role with the non-profits I help. At my church, LifeChurch.tv, I work primarily with their Digital Mission Initiatives and sometimes assist or talk ideas with the curriculum development, leadership development, or campus teams. The biggest misconception that people have about my role is simply understanding what it is. As a volunteer, I have the opportunity to switch departments and collaborate in whatever department needs me the most. In contrast, staff positions typically have a more rigid department focus.

If you could give one piece of advice to young leaders from what you’ve learned by experience, what would it be?

Put your benchmarks against what God says is possible and not what man has achieved.

Has Kent’s ministry impacted you as much as it has me?

Most growing churches will have incredible stories to share today about their Easter services yesterday. At Grace Community Church, we are still overwhelmed with all God did with us.

In addition to the normal celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, I love the energy that Easter brings to a church.  That energy, if channeled correctly, can fuel a church beyond one day per year.

The problem I see with many churches, however, is that they stop the work put into the Easter services a few days too early.  Many churches close the church doors on Easter Sunday, begin the celebration of all God did and take a much deserved rest, but they leave some of the best work of Easter’s momentum undone.  One of the most important parts of effective Easter services that last beyond one day is to spend time evaluating after Easter Sunday.

Today and/or this week is the best time to evaluate. Your church staff/volunteers should be asking questions such as:

• What worked?
• What didn’t work?
• What did we miss?
• Where did we hit home runs?
• How could it have been better?
• What follow-up with visitors do we need to do now?
• What changes would we make next year?
• What did we do that had the greatest impact?
• What did we do that had little or no impact?
• What groups of people did God bring to the church? (Many times, you’ll see patterns…lots of single moms, young couples, young professionals, etc.)

Don’t close the books on this year’s Easter services until you evaluate.  This time next year, you will forget the answers to many of these questions.  Ask the questions, record the answers, then use them to make your church better all year and save that information to improve even more next Easter.

How does your church evaluate Easter services?

I have talked to dozens of marriages in need of help, but the couples are too ashamed or proud to ask for it or accept it.  Somehow, I think if we admitted that all marriages struggle at times, it would help the ones in trouble to seek the help they need.

My Bible describes the process of becoming one (marriage) as a “mystery” (Ephesians 5:32), yet many people mistakenly believe they can do it on their own.

Would you do me a favor?  Will you consider these 5 questions?  Then, if you have had to work on your marriage; if your marriage has had to learn a few things the hard way to make it work, help us all by sharing some of your experience here on this post.  Perhaps the combined synergy of transparency will be good for all of our marriages.

Here are the questions:

1. What if couples weren’t made to feel guilty, or a failure, or as if you were all alone, if you decided your marriage wasn’t all it is supposed to be?
2. What if the stigmas against seeking help for marriage disappeared?
3. What if seeking counseling or asking for help figuring out marriage became socially acceptable?
4. What if couples were commended for admitting mistakes in the marriage and it was seen as a part of the process in making the marriage stronger?
5. What if couples realized that every marriage has struggles; that no marriage is perfect, but that good marriages got that way through hard work?

Has married life been hard for you at times? Share a comment, even if it’s just “Yes, my marriage is a work in progress”, and let’s encourage some marriages to seek the help they need.

All the Monday Marriage Moments can now be found together in one category HERE.

When He had said this Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” John 11:43-44 NIV

This event triggered the Pharisees to crucify Jesus. Lazarus had been dead four days. Jewish tradition prompted the family to bury soon after death, but the Jews also believed the spirit hovered over the dead body for up to three days. This time too had passed. Lazarus was a fully dead man! It was a real miracle to bring him back to life, and this was too much for the Pharisees.  What the Pharisees underestimated was that this power would continue to be exhibited in the life of Christians for thousands of years to come. If you are a child of God, you have been brought from death unto life.

Jesus had raised Lazarus from the grave. We should love the story because it shows the power of the Savior. We can know that if He can raise the dead to life, we can trust Him to help us make our house payment or whatever struggles our life may hold.  We need to remember that today. Since Jesus has power over death, is there anything in your life that He can’t handle?

Jesus came to give us life! Jesus told Lazarus to take off His grave clothes, to quit “living” like he was dead. Shouldn’t we do the same thing? Have you received Christ as your Savior? Is your name recorded in Heaven as a child of God? Have the angels sung “Glory” over your salvation? Have you personally, without reservation, believed that Jesus died for your sins, and that the only way you will enter Heaven is through the grace of His shed blood on the cross?

Well, TAKE OFF YOUR GRAVE CLOTHES! Quit “living” among the dead. Look alive! Jesus saved you by grace, through faith, not unto death, but unto life! Shouldn’t that make a noticeable difference in your life today? SO LIVE! Don’t let this world steal your joy. Don’t let Satan rob you of your peace. Stop worrying over tomorrow.  Start living!

Take off your grave clothes and LIVE!

What’s one huge request of God that you’ve been praying He will do? (Do you trust that He can?)

Happy Easter!

I was reminded recently that God is powerful enough for the giants in my life.  Reading the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17) challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and attack some of the current challenges I am facing.

You have challenges too, I would suspect.

What’s that one thing in your life that:

• Taunts you constantly…
• You can’t seem to face…
• Has you confused…
• Won’t go away…
• Has you running scared…
• Backs you in a corner….

What’s the Goliath in your life that needs slaying?

Is YOUR God big enough to kill the giant?

My God is…

Grab your slingshot…

“It happened, late one afternoon…” 2 Samuel 11:2

…and the rest is history…

It was just a normal afternoon, until David crossed the line…

He was laying on the couch…

He was minding his own business…

He was innocent at the time…

Then the beauty caught his glance…

Still innocent…

But the glance became a passion…

What started as an innocent glance…became an obsession….

David used his power and the situation as an opportunity to gratify his desires…

It was all downhill from there…

Next came adultery…and lies…and murder…and death…and family strife…and…

What can we learn from David’s failure?

You can’t stop yourself from being tempted, but you can stop yourself from allowing temptation to control your life….

Before the glance becomes your downfall….

Guard your heart and mind…

Be careful little eyes what you see….

Have you been allowing little temptations to take control of your heart and life?

What book would you like me to give away?

And the winners this time are:

Christopher Sykes
Mason Slater
Steve Oh

Thanks…stay tuned next week for more Free Fridays.

I am loving Free Fridays. I get to hear from some great readers and I get to give away some free stuff. Do you like free?

In honor of my Tuesday interview with Stuff Christians Like author, mega-blogger, Jonathon Acuff, I am giving away three (3) copies of John’s new book, appropriately named “Stuff Christians Like”. (I guess that’s his legal name, because that’s what’s on his book.) Some of you know him as @ProdigalJohn. You can read that great interview HERE.

The Amazon descriptions states: Using the same humor and honesty that galvanized more than a million online readers from more than 200 countries, blogger Jonathan Acuff brings his insightful take on Christianity to the book world with Stuff Christians Like. From prayer shot blocks to Metro worship leaders, no stone is left unturned in this hilarious look at faith.

I’ve just received my copy, so I’m starting to read it now, but from reading John’s blog on a regular basis, this is sure to be a fun read.

Here’s what you need to do to enter:

To enter:
Comment on this post with your name. (Simple enough?)

Make sure you enter your correct email address or Twitter name to register or in the post, so I can find you.  I will give away three books to three different people. You have until tonight (4/2/10) 9 PM CST to comment. A RT on Twitter is always appreciated. (I will use Random.org to select the winner and I will eliminate double entries. You can only enter once per post.)

Best wishes!

I am fascinated by the story in 1 Samuel 23:1-5.

David saved a city, without any assigned position of leadership.  Sure, he had been anointed to be king, but he wasn’t yet “sworn in” to office.  He was a king in waiting.

It reminds me of an important principle about leaders.  Real leaders don’t need to have a position to make a difference.

David’s first leadership assignment was self-appointed, when he went after Goliath, because his people were too afraid to act.

Leaders lead because there is some cause worth leading, no one else is taking leadership, and they are willing to risk their personal comfort and reputation to see it through to completion.

What cause do you see that needs championing?  Has God called you to be a leader?  Do you feel the urge to lead?

Then start leading…That’s what leaders do…