Getting out in order to See in
Written on 1 January 2011 by Dave Betts
I heard this proverb from a friend the other day which goes something like this…” if you want to find out about water don’t ask a fish”… Often when we really want to know what’s going on we need to remove ourselves from the ‘what ever’ it is we are in to be able to see and understand what it is we are really involved in. Asking those who are immersed in the activity, organisation etc… is like asking that fish what water is like? Perspective is everything… Viewing things from different angles is achieved through a number of ways; literally stepping out for a while, or asking the tough discovery questions of yourself or of others. Discussing objectively with someone from a different background of life experience or even belief system. Seeking out perspective will keep us not only fresh and interesting but sharp and Effective. I love the scene from Dead Poets Society where Robin Williams asks his class to stand on their desks, when asked why by a bewildered pupil his reply was we all need to see things from a different perspective… Breaking the box not only means doing different things but starts by seeing things differently. May 2011 bring a new way of seeing what you do. Dave
We need a revolution
Written on 23 October 2010 by Dave Bettshttp://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/sir_ken_robinson_bring_on_the_revolution.html
Life is lived forward but understood backwards
Written on 16 October 2010 by Dave BettsIf we seek to first understand how everything is connected we will never move forward, for it is only when we look back that we are able to see how the dots join together. The ability to trust that someone somewhere knows how it will all work out enables us to move forward with confidence unafraid of failure.Check out this talk by Steve Jobs… very well put together and inspiring.Time to move out of the box of the known and restrictive and forward into the newhttp://www.ted.com/talks/steve_jobs_how_to_live_before_you_die.html
Brand new workshop - “Breakout in 2011″
Written on 21 September 2010 by Dave Betts23rd-oct-2010.pdf
If you are in the KZN area, then on the 23rd Oct 2010 Mike Ivy and I will be hosting a morning workshop aimed at helping people find alignment with their hearts passion, purpose and desires! ITs time to no longer feel squeezed into a box that does not speak with the same voice as your heart. Break with old patterns of behaviour and thought and prepare to enter 2011 with a whole new energy… for info email me on davebetts1@gmail.comSee you there…Video podcast to follow
Innovate or die
Written on 3 September 2010 by Dave Betts
If you have been around the business world for any time then this is one word that you should have become very familiar with - Innovation!Unfortunately we seem to have relegated such a powerful word to the Research & Development labs of big tech companies. This is a crucial error for all of us. The fact is if we dont keep asking ourselves the vital questions that keeps us moving forward and on the edge then we not only become less effective but ultimatly irrelevant.This word should be equally at home in the Church leaders meeting, Scout Group planning meeting or family conference as it is in the bored room.Innovation keeps us coming back to the ideals that sent us off in the direction we are going. Constantly asking WHY and WHY NOT, constantly saying WHAT IF?A culture of innovation is a culture where failure is seen as an important and vital part of success. In fact I would go as far as to say that failure is the key to success! Creating the right enviroment to be politically incorrect and just say what really wants to be said, or to voice what really isnt working anymore… creating anintolerance of the present creates a future…it fuels the desire to go back to the drawing board and ask the first things first questions.Diversity inspires innovation:Decision making is far far better with diverse views of any flavour.Creating a culture where we encourage the divers viewpoints. If we cant give a good answer for why we do something then why indeed do we do it? Just because it was good yesterday has no place in todays decision making! Diversity does not mean lack of of unity it just means that we don’t fall into conformity!Celebrate:
Celebrate! Innovative organizations are places where people enjoy their
peers’ work, good tries, good screw-ups, milestones reached, etc. Celebrating these events, large and small and very small, is a fullscale part of the “innovation culture.”
So how well DO we celebrate? Do we encourage Trying? How about screw-ups! A culture of celebration is linked to a culture of innovation. Trying, failing, trying again is all part of a highly effective team, family, business or even church!
Breaking out of the box
“To grow, companies need to break out of a vicious cycle of competitive benchmarking and imitation.” —W. Chan Kim & Renée Mauborgne, “Think for Yourself —Stop Copying a Rival,”
Financial Times
It always amazes me that those who have the ‘new’ idea, that do that ‘new’ thing are so often labelled the crazy, insane, herotic or just plane daft, but as soon as there is success they are quickly called genius, inspired or even saviour!
We need to redeem our child like sense of imagination, we need to start to dream a little more and dare to see outside of the box!
Happy Dreaming, happy innovating!
Leadership continued…
Written on 21 August 2010 by Dave BettsDeveloping the Leader within You…developing-the-leader-within-you-notes.pdf
People centered Leadership
Written on 15 August 2010 by Dave BettsPeople centered leadership is a big leap from program or performance centered leadership. One focuses on achievement and produce, the other on fruit and re-produce. We live in a very relationally aware age where people are more than just tools to get a job done…Leadership vs. Management
Leadership requires that we keep the end in mind at all times. It never looks at what is but at what is to come. It is not interested in maintaining a status quo but rather an environment for growth.
Effectiveness vs. Efficiency
Asking the question what is the most effective way of bringing a change puts the person being trainined at the centre, asking how can I do this efficiently puts You in the centre. Is there a better way? It’s about asking the right questions. If you are dealing with very large numbers we often fall into the trap of efficiency. When we work on a reproducible mindset then we are only concerned with effectiveness. We never are dealing with large numbers, but rather with a core group. As we start to change out thinking so the questions we ask changes.
Spontaneity vs. Structure
Show a family that enjoys spontaneity and I will show you a secure family. We often hold on to our structures as they provide a sense of security, but in fact all they do is mask our insecurity. Our security needs to come from the depth of relationship we have with one another and not upon any external structure.
Discernment vs. Measurement
Measurement is good, it shows us how things have physically grown. We measure our children’s height, shoe size, we measure our spending etc. but we can’t measure our maturity, these things can only be discerned. If we were to spend more time discerning these things we would be surprised at what we find. Discernment again is centred in the other person not upon our own personal growth. It puts the other persons development at the heart of what we are doing. True leaders learn how to discern rather than measure.
Cause vs. Effect
This is the same as saying its all about the root and not the fruit. A trap that most leaders and parents fall into is to be reacting to the fruit or effect instead of responding to the root or cause. Often it is much easier to deal with the fruit of something or effect of something than it is the cause. Real leadership requires taking the time to unearth the roots that bring about the fruit. It requires understanding and much patience. In most busy programme driven environments we simple don’t have the time to do this and so we find ourselves chasing the effects over and over again. Getting our thinking right means that we need to constantly ask what is the root of this and make time to work it through. Again this highlights our need to be people centred not performance centred.
Release / empower vs. control
A controlling parent in a home always breads insecure kids. This is seen also over and over in business and family situations. A very controlling leader produces either REBELS or ROBOTS. Neither of them are secure. People who are not heard or given room to grow often rebel or just give up and toe the party line. Everything about making disciples is about empowering and releasing. Control is the paradigm of management but not family. Control is only necessary where there is no relationship and only works for a period of time. A controlling personality comes from the root of insecurity. To become releasing requires first that we become secure. If you need people you can’t lead people. If you need people around you to qualify you for your job you will never be able to release them. It is often much easier to do something yourself but if this happens all the time who learns? This is seen right through parenting, when you include the kids in doing a task it takes 4 times longer and is never as good. The short-term view is this is a frustrating exercise, however the long-term view is this is training for the future. We have to lead and parent with the end in mind always.
More to follow next time…
Punishment vs. Dicipline
Written on 9 August 2010 by Dave Betts
A new revelation of Grace is sweeping through the body of Christ in the world today. It is a beautiful thing to behold. For some it is bringing huge freedom and a sense of rediscovering Jesus, for others (mainly in church leadership) it is brining fear and confusion. This however is a normal reaction to any new or renewed revelation. The answer to knowing its origin is in its fruit and I am amazed at how this revelation is brining people including myself back into a real and genuine love for Jesus and a freedom from condemnation.I do want to add something to the already hotly debated issues. We have come into a real understanding that God will never punish us for our sin, he has dealt with that on the cross once and for all. So we do not live in the fear of punishment from God any longer. However we are Gods children and like natural parents he does from time to time need to discipline us. This is one area that we need to be confident in, God’s disciplines are essential for what he wants us to become. You see punishment has to do with the past. What I did, but discipline has to do with the future what I will become. God always disciplines us in the context of what he sees us becoming. When we are secure that God loves us, and is not angry with us, and will never count our failings against us, we can start to embrace his discipline as a son or daughter.This has really prompted me to look at the way I deal with my own children. Do we punish our kids or do we discipline them. Is it always in the context of their future? A real challenge not to just deal with what has taken place but to deal with the root and not the fruit of the action. This way we tap into something that affirms love and moves us forward towards our destiny.This is not only true for the way we parent but also the way we may Pastor or lead others. Are we willing to care enough to be involved in their future and not just their past or present.May the revelation of Gods never ending Grace continue to transform our hearts
WHO before WHAT
Written on 7 August 2010 by Dave BettsWell its been a while since I have put anything down on my blog, so here goes.
I was speaking to someone a few weeks ago, and it made me start to really question a few things. This Pastor was very excited about his pending church plant. He was excited about the venue, the name, the times of the services and the team that were going to come with him. Nothing wrong with that, all are great things but the longer the conversation went on the more i got uneasy. The one BIG thing that was missing in the conversation was the WHO. There was no clear direction on the WHO he was going to reach. The fact is that unless we get a handle on the WHO we cant even begin to start on the WHAT! The reality is that we are in danger of lots of more of the same. You see church planting has a winning formula, that is if you want to attract yet more christians to your services!
If the goal is to have a congregation to preach to each week, then go right ahead, find a hall on a Sunday, get a great band and her presto you are a sucess… however its another story if you start asking the question before you start, how do we reach those who would never come to church? lets be honest if they were going to go to a church like that, surley they would have gone already to one of the 50 or so that do exisit here?… just a thought.
What I am passion about, is for God to raise pioneers that are willing to break the mould by asking the WHO question before the WHAT… imagine what God could do with that!
Why Plant Churches (part2)
Written on 13 June 2008 by Dave BettsWHY PLANT CHURCHES?
This is the second part of a 2 part article drawn from research done by various church planters including Tim Keller & Mark Driscoll looking again at this crucial question of church planting.
In the last article we looked at the first question that we often get asked in regards to Church Planting…“We already have plenty of churches that have lots and lots of room for all the new people who have come to the area. Let’s get them filled before we go off building any new ones."
Lets have a look at the second key question that is asked… “Many people say, ‘what about all the existing churches that need help, doesn’t church planting detract from helping them”?
We also plant churches because…
We want to continually RENEW THE WHOLE BODY OF CHRIST.
It is a great mistake to think that we have to choose between church planting and church renewal. Strange as it may seem, the planting of new churches in a city is one of the very best ways to revitalize many older churches in the vicinity and renew the whole Body of Christ. I say this for these 4 reasons: -
First, the new churches bring new ideas to the whole Body.
There is plenty of resistance to the idea that we need to plant new churches to reach the constant stream of ‘new’ groups and generations and residents. Many congregations insist that all available resources should be used to find ways of helping existing churches reach them. However, there is no better way to teach older congregations about new skills and methods for reaching new people groups than by planting new churches. It is the new churches that will have freedom to be innovative and they become the ‘Research and Development’ department for the whole Body in the city. Often the older congregations were too timid to try a particular approach or were absolutely sure it would ‘not work here’. But when the new church in town succeeds wildly with some new method, the other churches eventually take notice and get the courage to try it themselves.
Second, new churches are one of the best ways to surface creative, strong leaders for the whole Body.
New congregations, attract a higher percentage of pioneer type people who value creativity, risk, innovation and future orientation. Many of these men and women would never be attracted or compelled into significant ministry apart from the appearance of these new bodies. Often older churches ‘box out’ many people with strong leadership skills who cannot work in more traditional settings. New churches thus attract and harness many people in the city whose gifts would otherwise not be utilised in the work of the Body. These new leaders benefit the whole city-Body eventually.
Third, the new churches challenge other churches to self-examination.
The "success" of new churches often challenges older congregations in general to evaluate themselves in substantial ways. Sometimes it is only in contrast with a new church that older churches can finally define their own vision, specialties, and identity. Often the growth of the new congregation gives the older churches hope that ‘it can be done’, and may even bring about humility and repentance for defeatist and pessimistic attitudes. Sometimes, new congregations can partner with older churches to mount ministries that neither could do by themselves.
Fourth, the new church may be an ‘evangelistic feeder’ for a whole community.
The new church often produces many disciples who end up in older churches for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the new church is very exciting and outward facing but is also very unstable or immature in its leadership. Thus some disciples cannot stand the amount of changes that regularly come through the new church and they move to an existing church. Sometimes the new church reaches a person for Christ, but the new disciple quickly discovers that he or she does not ‘fit’ the make up of the new congregation, and gravitates to an established congregation where the customs and culture feels more familiar. Ordinarily, the new churches of a city produce new people not only for themselves, but for the older bodies as well.
This is then why we say that Vigorous church planting is one of the best ways to renew the existing churches of a city, as well as the best single way to grow the whole Body of Christ in a city.
There is one more reason why it is good for the existing churches of the region to initiate or at least support the planting of churches in a given area. We plant churches—
As an exercise in KINGDOM-MINDEDNESS
All in all, church planting helps an existing church the best when the new congregation is voluntarily ‘birthed’ by an older ‘mother’ congregation. Often the excitement and new leaders and new ministries and additional members and income ‘washes back’ into the mother church in various ways and strengthens and renews it. Though there is some pain in seeing good friends and some leaders go away to form a new church, the mother church usually experiences a surge of high self-esteem and an influx of new enthusiastic leaders and members.
However, a new church in the community usually confronts churches with a major issue–the issue of ‘kingdom-mindedness’. New churches, as we have seen, draw most of their new members (up to 80%) from the ranks of the unchurched, but they will always attract some people out of existing churches. That is inevitable. At this point, the existing churches, in a sense, have a question posed to them: "Are we going to rejoice in the 80%–the new people that the kingdom has gained through this new church, or are we going to bemoan and resent the three families we lost to it?" In other words, our attitude to new church development is a test of whether our mindset is geared to our own institutional turf, or to the overall health and prosperity of the kingdom of God in the city.
Our challenge then is to keep our eyes on the BIG picture. To have a Kingdom mindset and willing to release the pioneers in our churches to Plant New Churches in the harvest fields
