Posted on November 19, 2008 by Jim Henry
I had a great time last Thursday and Friday as I had a chance to head up to Granger Community Church and spend some time with Rob Wegner and Butch Whitmire. Here are the top 10 things (some profound and some not)I learned on my trip to GCC.
10. Rob has some serious “Rockband” giftedness. He destroyed me!
9. As a staff, we need to work with our Sr. Pastor and not around him (even when there’s disagreement)…this is God’s design.
8. The big screen is just as ominous from behind as it is from the front.
7. Great leaders have great people around them. Butch and Rob both have amazing teams.
6. Building a great church is a process that is often difficult and even painful.
5. Rob can throw down some pizza.
4. Butch can throw down some soup.
3. Even big churches struggle to fund vision.
2. Rob and I drive the same car…his is just 10 years newer.
1. Investing in people is a passion of mine…both of these guys are living examples of how to do that.
It was a great trip and well worth the 7 hours on the road…I’m currently in Rockband training and will be asking Rob for a rematch in the near future…count on it!
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Posted on November 12, 2008 by Jim Henry
We all have scars. Left over reminders of past wounds. Many of us have scars from childhood, while some us have scars from past relationships. Most of us carry scars from a hateful word or a hateful action, while others have scars from being the source of those things. For me, if I think about it, I’m pretty scared up. It doesn’t mean that I don’t have grace for those who have caused these wounds, but I still see the reminder of those moments. Sometimes my scars are painful…almost like I’m reliving the past. Yet, other times, my scars bring joy as they remind me of a healed relationship and the grace of God.
We all have scars, but I think the key is found in what we do with them. Will they be a source of encouragement for others? Will they be a reminder of God’s intervention in our lives? Or, will they be a constant source of pain…and a reminder of old hurts?
Jesus had scars too. I wonder what they reminded him of. The pain and suffering of the cross? The agony of being forsaken? Death? - Or, did they remind him of us…the ones He loved so dearly.
We all have scars…that’s just a fact of life. But, just like Jesus, I believe they can be a tangible example of the goodness and grace of God in our lives. More importantly, when that happens, the impact goes beyond us and begins to reach those around us. That, in itself, makes the process of being wounded more than worth it…
I think Jesus felt the same way.
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Posted on November 11, 2008 by Jim Henry
Well, it’s been a week since the election and once again, the church in America is proving just how completely out of touch it can be. Over the last week, I have received numerous emails and facebook requests saying things like, “1 Million People Against Barack Obama” - “Christians Against Obama” - “We Are Now a Church In Captivity” and so on… Are you kidding me? Do you really think, for one second, that God was not in complete control of this election? Do you not believe God has a plan? Do you honestly think that more people will be won to Christ by the church “standing up against the tyranny of the new administration” ?
As the church, we are called to have an impact in this country and to the ends of the earth. We don’t accomplish this by spending our time and energy criticizing an administration that hasn’t even taken power yet. I’ve been disappointed in the church on many occasions. I’ve been disappointed by its irrelevance. I’ve been disappointed by its inward focus and I’ve been disappointed in its disregard for the lost. But today, I think we’ve come to a new low.
The truth is, you don’t have to support Barack Obama, but you do have to pray for him. You don’t have to like the election results, but you do have to live, serve and minister under them. Our opportunity to “Be the Church” has never been more apparent…but I fear we’ll miss our chance to have an impact because we’re too busy whinning about something we have no power to change.
So church…try this for a change:
Be the source of unity in this country instead of a cause for division.
Pray for our leaders even if you don’t agree with everything they stand for.
Close your mouth, roll up your sleeves and get to work for the Kingdom.
And, most importantly, BE THE CHURCH. In other words, go where Jesus would have gone. Sit with the people Jesus would have sat with. Share Jesus, not from a platform of what “we hate” or what “we’re against”, but from a platform based on the love and grace of Jesus himself.
There…I’ll get off my soapbox now.
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Posted on November 5, 2008 by Jim Henry
I remember where I was when Ronald Reagan was shot. I remember where I was when the Challenger exploded. I remember where I was on 9/11…and I will always remember where I was when presidential history was made. Regardless of who you voted for yesterday, something special happened this election. The racial division and bigotry that so often polarizes this country and saddens the heart of God has, if only for a moment, given way to a truly historical event.
It shows that this nation has come a long way since the days of Martin Luther King, segregation and race riots. It shows that people can change. It shows that hearts and perspectives can be transformed. I was watching Barack Obama’s speech last night and was struck by the incredible diversity in the crowd. It was the kind of diversity and unity that so many historical figures have spoken about, prayed for, and hoped one day to see. For me, last night wasn’t about partisan politics…it wasn’t about which states went red and which ones went blue…it was about history. It was about a moment that none of us, regardless of your political preference, will soon forget.
In the end, history itself will tell us if the right man was elected. Only time will tell if the unity we saw in Grant Park last night was a glimpse of what’s to come…and only God knows what kind of leader will be sworn in early next year.
Regardless, this was history…and it was inspiring to watch it unfold.
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Posted on November 3, 2008 by Jim Henry
One of my favorite things about my job is getting to deal with an incredibly eclectic group of personalities. On one side you have the “artists”…People who tend to be creative, emotional, passionate and yes…at times, irrational. Then you have the “techies”…People who tend to be analytical, detail oriented, task driven and yes…at times, irrational.
It gets even more interesting when you realize the number of “sub-groups” that exist within each of these groups of people. It sounds like it should be a giant pain in the tail, but the truth is…I love it! I love that God has created so many different personalities. I love that artists are like finger prints…no two are quite alike. I love that 10 different techies will come up with 10 different solutions to a simple problem. But most of all, I love taking 2 groups of people that have so little in common in regards to their personalities and helping them find a common ground in ministry.
These days, it’s difficult to have a successful arts ministry without finding that common ground. You can take a great music team and amplify each song with the backing of a great tech team. You can take a great video and make it greater by supporting it with a great piece of music. You can create that “wow moment” each weekend when you have people working together for a common cause. Isn’t this the way God designed it in the first place? Isn’t it true that the church is stronger when we are one? Isn’t it true that we all have one undeniable piece of common ground found in Jesus?
It’s no different in creative ministry. God designed different personalities, different gifts and different callings, for the sole purpose of leading people to experience God on a deeper level. The key to managing it all is found in our Christ centered common ground. We don’t always have to agree…in fact, I find that we come up with a better end product when we have healthy debate in the creative process…but none of us can deny that Jesus is the focus of it all. Keep Him in the center and you’ll find that managing it all becomes a true joy.
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Posted on October 20, 2008 by Jim Henry
So today was the day we began clearing out years of sets, props and other stored items from underneath our stage. Not a day I’ve been looking forward to, but one that was necessary. In order to get started, we had to remove the stairs and place them on top of the stage. No problem…or so I thought.
I’m in my office on the phone when I hear a timid knock on my door. I open it and there it was…one of my guitars…broken in two at the headstock. It seems that one of our guys was moving a piece of the stairs to the backstage area when he lost his grip. The stairs fell onto my guitar stand, knocking 2 of my 3 guitars to the ground and snapping my backup acoustic like a twig.
Now the good news. It was only my backup (kind of the red-headed stepchild of my guitar collection). I’ve actually been thinking about unloading it for a while now. I rarely play it and have been eye balling several other options. So, after the initial shock, I’ve been able to find the hidden bonus in this whole incident.
Nothing but grace here… Jimmy’s getting a new axe!
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Posted on October 20, 2008 by Jim Henry
I just wrapped up reviewing the first 5 chapters of Kem Meyer’s “Less Clutter, Less Noise” manuscript. I’ll say it now, so you can budget accordingly: If you’re in church ministry, you need to get this book…period!
Kem lays out her thoughts in a way that will stick in the minds of even the most distracted of people. I can’t share any quotes from the book, but I can say that this book will change the way you look at effective communication. It’s already altered my thinking in many ways.
I can’t wait to get my hands on the next 5 chapters!
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Posted on October 18, 2008 by Jim Henry
People often ask me what I love most about being in ministry. My answer is simple…I love creating the experience. The great thing about an experience (Sunday morning, Wednesday night or otherwise) is that it is constantly changing. One week, the experience may be very upbeat, visual and “in your face”…whereas the next, it may be intimate, introspective and filled with pause.
It’s through the experience that people are introduced to Jesus. It’s through the experience that people who already know Him come to know Him in a deeper way. It’s through the experience that hearts are moved and lives are altered. The experience is an incredible tool…and when it’s surrendered to the leading of the Holy Spirit, it is limitless.
I’ve come to look at the experience as a blank canvas waiting to be painted. The central theme of the painting is the message. The mission of the experience is to amplify the message…to find a way, from the moment people walk in to the moment they walk out, to bring their focus to the message. Songs, sets, visuals, video, scripture, interviews, testimonies, lighting, effects…it all ties together and, if used effectively, can drive home the message in a way that is unforgettable…
THAT, is the experience…and THAT is what I love most about my job.
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Posted on October 15, 2008 by Jim Henry
So the other day my family and I popped into the local Wal-Mart to grab a few things. Part way through our discounted retail journey, we happened upon an older lady who was trying to find a way to lift a HUGE “Desk-in-a-Box” into her cart. Being the nice “servant” people we are, my Wife offered up my massive artist like muscles to help solve the problem.
I stood back and eyed the box as if I was sizing up an opponent and tried to find a creative way to get my hands in a position to actually slide the beast towards me. Surely it only weighed 75-80 pounds right? So I grabbed, pulled and leveraged this box off the shelf and into my arms…only then do I realize that I had underestimated the weight by at least a full 100 pounds. So then…the “manliness” really kicked in.
I thought to myself: “I can’t put the box down…I’ll never get it back off the ground. I can’t ask for help…that would admit that I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer”. So what did I do? I breathed in and mustered up every ounce of strength I could find. I twisted, bent and contorted myself until, sure enough, I had the “Desk-in-a-Box” firmly planted in the little old lady’s cart.
My wife asked; “Honey, is your back okay?”…I looked up at the old lady and knew it would just crush her if I had actually hurt myself. So I say; “No…I’m fine…no big deal”. Off went the the little old lady and her overloaded cart toward the checkout. Once she was out of site, I finally had to admit just how dim I really was.
It’s been a few days and I’m still stiff as a board. It hurts to sit for great lengths of time and playing catch with my Son lasts about 10 minutes before I’m feeling it. In the end, it certainly could have been worse. Next time however…I’ll leave it to my friendly Wal-Mart associates to sacrifice their spines.
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Posted on October 14, 2008 by Jim Henry
Let’s face it…leadership is filled with hardships. There’s nothing inherently easy about leading effectively, even if it ’s something that comes naturally to you. No matter what you do, you’ll always have to deal with the “people factor”. People (including all of us) are imperfect beyond comprehension. And even though God’s grace covers our imperfection, it doesn’t necessarily make us any easier to deal with.
Leadership is about the hard things. It’s about having the difficult conversation. It’s about making unpopular decisions. It’s about doing what God says even if it goes against “the system”. Yes, it’s about vision, passion and relationships, but those things all fall by the wayside if we’re unwilling to do the hard things along the way.
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