David Whiting Live

Generic Ketchup @ Pete's Diner - part 4

OK - this is my final post on "generic ketchup." You can catch all the previous posts here: (part 1, part 2, and part 3)

Here are four final applications:

• I think facilities are a big issue on the application of generic ketchup. At home, I don't notice dirty walls anymore unless we are painting a room - then every dirty wall needing paint stands out. I don't even notice that our 11year old carpet looks pretty bad in some places unless I intentionally look at it through the eyes of someone coming to buy our house. Churches need to look at their facilities through the eyes of those who are looking for a church to attend, serve in, give to, and have their children married in. Facilities matter.
• The leaders of a church need to be the ones who speak for the first-time guests because they likely won't give feedback - even if we ask for it. We need to look at our facilities through the eyes of visitors. We need to listen to our music - its excellence and how easy it is to learn through the perspective of those who are new. I want to make sure the preaching is challenging, understandable, and interesting - even if they disagree with what I say.
• There are some things that loyal customers are willing to overlook that a new customer may not be willing to overlook.  In church, this might be the lady with the really terrible vibrato in her voice that no one really enjoys listening to but she's been doing it for so long and it would hurt her feelings if we don't ask her to sing - so the regulars don't really mind it. Out of love, they let her keep singing, ten years beyond when she should have retired from solos. The impact of that on the new visitor who is not mature in Christ is not positive.
• Old and run down might work well for diners (my daughters prefer one in town), but I don't think it works well for churches. Diners have a nation-wide reputation for being old, run-down, but great prices and great food. Old, run-down yet effective diners are common. Ugly, smelly yet effective churches are not.

One final thought - just because something would make us more popular and make it more comfortable for new people doesn't mean we should do it. In no way am I espousing that theory. The Gospel will always offend. 75 minute services will be too long for most unbelievers. Me preaching for 45 minutes isn't affective with lost people unless God is drawing them. Speaking out about issues of biblical truth and morality will turn people away quickly. We are okay with all of those things. In no way am I applying generic ketchup to truth and the Gospel. But I think it should apply to almost everything else.

Finally, I appreciate those who have sent me notes pointing out some generic ketchups we still have at Northridge. All of them (three so far) have been great to think through! Thanks!

Generic Ketchup @ Pete's Diner - part 3

The last two days, I've talked about generic ketchup. You can read part one HERE and part two HERE.

Let me give some applications to church life:

• Here is the primarly application - excellence matters. We often say that excellence honors God and inspires people. I don't think that means you have to spend a lot of money to be excellent. It simply means that whatever we do - we need to do it well.
• We must look at our church facilities through the eyes of new people. At Northridge, we know that many who walk in our door for the first time are either non-believers, new believers, or immature believers. So the look of our facility matters. If they are turned off while checking out Northridge - let it be by the Gospel, not because the facility creeps them out a bit.
• We tell our new employees and new interns that they are very valuable to us in their first six months because they will see things that we don't notice anymore. They will ask, "Why do you do that?" And sadly, we never thought about how ineffective that was. And we try very hard to see everything through a new person's eyes, but once you are no longer new - it is really difficult to see it through new eyes.
• We need to try to get feedback from new people. They will help us see things we don't notice. We likely won't change some or many of them, but being aware of what is hard to swallow for a visitor is very important. For example, we choose to stand and sing for ten to twenty minutes straight every week. That is not visitor friendly, but at this point - for the sake of corporate worship, we do it. But we need to be aware of that tension.

A few more applications tomorrow...

Generic Ketchup @ Pete's Diner - part 2

Yesterday, I mentioned my thoughts on restaurants that serve generic ketchup. You can read that HERE.

Here are a few more thoughts I have on generic ketchup (while thinking of church applications):

• I noticed the regulars never notice generic ketchup. They are used to it. It doesn't bother them and they don't think it should bother new people either. 
• In fact, the management and owners are focused on pleasing the regulars rather than focusing on making the best impression on first-time customers. By doing so - they are all overlooking glaring problems.
• No one speaks for the first-time customer. If a regular doesn't like something, they will speak up. If a new customer to the restaurant doesn't like something, they won't say anything. They simply won't return. (This one happens in churches all the time!!)
• There are some things that loyal customers are willing to overlook that a new customer may not be willing to overlook.
• Even some positive, good changes will causes regular customers to complain, but the changes were helping new customers. Loyal customers may not like a new menu because they knew where everything was on the old one. Our family recently went to a restaurant to use a Groupon that was close to expiring. Apparently, a ton of other people were using it that night also - the restaurant was very busy! I'm sure regular customers were annoyed that on a week night there was a wait. But with 700 Groupons sold (what our server told us), I imagine that restaurant was introduced to many brand new customers. Regular customers don't want to be inconvenienced so that new customers can be attracted to the restaurant.
• Loyal customers tend to be blind to obvious faults that new people see immediately. That could be a smelly entryway (at our family's favorite diner), ripped cushions in the booths, plates and coffee cups that are so old, they look dirty even though they are perfectly clean, etc...
• Old and run down might work well for diners (my daughters prefer one in town), but I don't think it works well for churches. Diners have a nation-wide reputation for being old, run-down, but great prices and great food. Old, run-down yet effective diners are common. Ugly, smelly yet effective churches are not.

Tomorrow, I'll get specific as to what I think some primary applications are to generic ketchup.

In speaking of loyal customers. My friend, who took me to Pete's Diner, didn't want me to take a picture of it because he is so loyal.  I wanted to get the front of the restaurant - it displays the very point of some of my thoughts above, but he drove away too quickly. but I did manage to get the sign...

Generic Ketchup @ Pete's Diner - part 1

I went out of town Monday and met a great, old friend for breakfast on Tuesday. He took me to his favorite, local breakfast spot - Pete's Diner.

We drove up and it looked like a typical diner (not sure what that means to you, but to me it means old, not particularly "shiny" or clean, a bit run down). But that's ok... I wasn't turned off by the outside or inside look of the place - I've been to enough diners to know that doesn't necessarily reflect on the quality of food. But I did get turned off when I sat down and saw the generic ketchup.

When I see generic ketchup at a restaurant, I image this: If they are willing to save a penny per customer (two pennies at the most) by using generic ketchup and this is one of the most visible foods, then how are they saving money in the kitchen? And all of a sudden, I don't want to eat there anymore.

The worst is a restaurant here in my town that I used to go to for breakfast. Not only was it generic ketchup, but the labels were falling off the plastic, generic ketchup bottle. And you'd open the cap to pour out the ketchup and it was obvious that the dried on ketchup around the cap wasn't just a few hours or even days ago... It might be MONTHS old. In other words, not only were they using generic ketchup, but they were REFILLING the generic ketchup bottles. I avoid that local diner whenever possible (unless the person I'm meeting picks it).

And I don't avoid it because I hate generic ketchup. I'm not sure I can tell the difference. But it tells me something about the restaurant's priorities. And for the first time, while sitting there with my friend on Tuesday morning, the application to church hit me.

What messages are we sending to new people when we do things with less than excellence? What are the "generic ketchups" in our building (cheap things that we don't even notice anymore)? What message is being received by new people that we aren't intending to send, but we are clearly sending when we save a few bucks and put "generic ketchup" on the table?

I'm not sure if that is as clear when I write it as when I think it. More tomorrow...

How Far to the Nearest McDonalds

I came across this map. it shows how far you are from the nearest McDonalds:

That's amazing to me. I've never met anyone who thinks McDonalds is a "great" restaurant. People like it because it is fast, convenient, and "known" when they travel. Although there are some that are very devoted to their french fries.

But it makes me wonder - what if we made a similar map based on this question: "How far are you from the nearest Church that is fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus?" How many churches would there be on that map? Why does McDonalds have a successful restaurant "planting" plan, but 90% of church plants fail? Can we do something about that? If so - what?

Our 16:5 conference is about helping churches grow deeper in maturity and larger in numbers. We haven't figured it all out, but we have learned a lot and look forward to sharing it with other pastors, church leaders, and key volunteers.

Make sure you sign up at www.Acts165.com.

 

Para-Church Organizations - "Barely Legitimate"

I read a great quote today from "Speaking Truth in Love" by David Powlison (p. 111):

Extramural Christian works need to remember that they are "barely legitimate" in the sense that they ought to exist only when they genuinely and intentionally serve the interests of the communities whose mature functioning will put them out of business. For example, para-church ministry becomes illegitimate when it competes with or uses local churches to its own ends. But that said, there is room for much institutional innovation and development, both within local churches and in meta- or para-church forms.

I LOVE that thought. The more mature a church comes - and fulfills the mission God has given the Church (Ephesians 4:7-16) - the less para-church organizations should be needed.  So true! Para-church organizations appear on the scene because of weaknesses in the Church!

I greatly appreciate para-church organizations - as long as we recognize their proper role - including that the very existence of that organization is because of a weaknesses of the Church!

 

5 Ways to Make Your Kids Hate Church

This is a reprint of a post by Thomas Weaver. You can read the original HERE.

1. Make sure your faith is only something you live out in public

Go to church... at least most of the time. Make sure you agree with what you hear the preacher say, and affirm on the way home what was said especially when it has to do with your kids obeying, but let it stop there. Don’t read your Bible at home. The pastor will say everything you need to hear on Sundays. Don’t engage your children in questions they have concerning Jesus and God. Live like you want to live during the week so that your kids can see that duplicity is ok.

2. Pray only in front of people

The only times you need to pray are when your family is over, holiday meals, when someone is sick, and when you want something. Besides that, don’t bother. Your kids will see you pray when other people are watching, no need to do it with them in private.

3. Focus on your morals

Make sure you insist your kids be honest with you. Let them know it is the right thing for them to do, but then feel free to lie in your own life and disregard the need to tell them and others the truth. Get very angry with your children when they say words that are “naughty” and “bad,” but post, read, watch, and say whatever you want on TV, Facebook, and Twitter. Make sure you focus on being a good person. Be ambiguous about what this means.

4. Give financially as long as it doesn’t impede your needs

Make a big deal out of giving at church. Stress to your children the value of tithing, while not giving sacrificially yourself. Allow them to see you spend a ton of money on what you want, while negating your command from Scripture to give sacrificially.

5. Make church community a priority... as long as there is nothing else you want to do

Hey, you are a church-going family, right? I mean, that’s what you tell your friends and family anyways. Make sure you attend on Sundays. As long as you didn’t stay up too late Saturday night. Or your family isn’t having a big barbeque. Or the big game isn’t on. Or this week you just don’t feel like it. Or... I mean, you’re a church-going family, so what’s the big deal?

That's a Problem

Just a random thought...

When someone is more committed to a single MINISTRY of the church than the overall MISSION of the church - that's a problem.

16:5 - A Couple More Notes and Photos

I wanted to send one last batch of notes and photos so those who prayed can enjoy some of the blessings from the 16:5 conference.

Here is part of one note:

I was blessed to the core of my being by the conference at Northridge. It scratched right where many of us are itching. Thanks for being willing to be a voice in the wilderness and a pioneer on a front that desperately needs exploration...

Here is another:

I recently attended the 16:5 conference at Northridge Church. Thank you for putting together this conference to help others see how we can becomes churches that are fulfilling the purpose of the church. We as a deacon board are listening to your series Northridge Exposed to get our thinking process stimulated.

... I fear we are one of the churches that will be gone in the next 20 years if we don't change soon. While I am older than you, I see us needing desperately to move in a different direction... The conference was a fantastic tool to stimulate how we might turn outward instead of inward...

Here is one of my favorites (from one of our own volunteers):

Thanks for bringing into the light things that I was grieved about for so long but couldn't always put into worlds. As you were speaking at the last session on Monday, my heart was just burning within me, and I just wanted to scream, "AMEN!!!" Guess I should of but that's not me. :) I can so easily identify with the 'expecting unbelievers to act like believers,' or the 'self-righteous judgmentalism,' (glaring down the ladder at others' shortcoming), or just writing the world off like they all have 'gone to pot.' As if we didn't need mercy when we were unsaved, or just starting out! Things that would just burn me up and confused me as a young Christian, and you just nailed so many of those things and I learned a whole lot more as well.

... God changed my heart Monday night and I'm so excited about it because I saw another glimpse of the heart of God and I know He wants to do that in me! I'll always have my ladder on my desk to remind me...

And a few final pictures:

One of our MVP volunteers. Every pastor I know wishes they had a "Jeff" like our Jeff!

Just another cool pictures by Michele...

A children's ministry discussion before Tuesday AM's first breakout.

Thanks for your prayers, volunteering, and participation in 16:5!!

16:5 - A Couple of Notes and Photos

Since you prayed for 16:5 - I wanted to let you rejoice in some of what God did. With small changes (to keep anonymous) - here are some notes we received from 16:5:

... I wanted to thank you again for all the work you, your staff, and the volunteers put in. Besides the content, discussions, and speakers being very relevant, the timing of teh event was perfect. You know what issues exist at ______________ and where we are at... It is discouraging to see a church you love stagnate. There is such a great potential in our area for an exciting, vibrant church and I see that we are supposed to fulfill that role. It is a difficult time for our church.

Thank you again... It's a breath of fresh air to see what God can do with a congregation committed to Him!

Here is another note:

We wanted to give you and Northridge a big THANK YOU for the Acts 16:5 conference. From the volunteers... to the quality of the breakouts and passion of the general sessions, to the delicious food and helpful, free resources - you treated us like royalty! We came home with so many ideas and have already had our first brainstorming meeting!

We also wanted you to know specifically how your sacrifice helped us. (We did get the hint about life-change stories, see?!!!) The timing of this conference was so ideal for our church. That Tuesday night we had a scheduled meeting with our Elders, Deacons, Building Expansion Team, and Finance Research Team to discuss our path forward... Your conference changed our path! We obviously have a lot to lear! We want to honor God by doing this right. Thanks to the exposure to ideas and people at your conference. I am much more confident that we are on the right path.

So let me epxress clearly from all of us at our church, and all those who are not yet part of this church... (but will be): "Thank you for the tremendous energy, time, and resources you poured in the 16:5 Conference. it was just what we needed!!!"

That is just a sample of two of the letters.  It is SO encouraging! Here are a few more photos:

I took text message questions at the end of each general session. If you can't read the screen, this question was: "Where does cultural relevance end and sin begin?"

We talk a lot about cultural relevance, but seeing how many use electronic Bibles reminds me of just how old I am. I still actually like to hold a book... :)

Seems like Gretchen might be getting in trouble from her home church pastor...