1. Start something new.
    Momentum is never triggered by tweaking something old.
    It is triggered by introducing something new.

2. What is new must be improved.
    “Improved” means it is a noticeable improvement over the old.
    If you are in an environment where you can’t afford to do 
         anything new, you are doing too many things.

3. Momentum is sustained by continuous improvement.
    Take the stuff that is working, and try to
        find a way to make it work better.

One of the most compelling statements Andy made follows:

“You know when you have momentum.

In “church world” we can go for generations with no momentum, and no concern over the lack of momentum, as long as we can pay the bills.  As long as we can pay the bills, a lack of momentum is not a heartbreak!

Momentum is very disruptive in traditional churches.  It breaks the systems. There will emerge an invisible dynamic that will emerge to press down the momentum….because momentum disturbs.

If you have momentum, and you don’t know why you do, you are one stupid decision away from killing it.”

Andy Stanley

I’ve been watching an interesting process play out on Anne’s blog. She’s been trying to engage her social network to generate donations for Soles for Souls. They’re trying to raise money to provide 50,000 pairs of shoes to people who need them within 50 days.

What’s interesting to me is that Anne shared the fact that about 3,500 people have blogged about or promoted the cause in some form or fashion, but only 1,500 have actually made a donation.

Stories like this make me wonder…

• Why is there a disconnect between what people say and what people do?
• Anne has certainly made an impact, but, generally speaking, are social networks really that powerful if they don’t lead to action?
• Has the MySpace and Facebook generation started substituting talking about good things with actually doing good things?
• When does the online generation lose credibility when the offline generation still carries the load financially and with their time?

I don’t have data. Maybe my perception is just based on poor anecdoctal evidence. Or, maybe the online generation is all talk and no bite.

Now, excuse me while I go Twitter…

I met with Pastor Rick yesterday and laid out my vision for him for the coming year and it was awesome to be told that I had his support.  He was ready to see our church plant new campuses, and was eager for me to assist.  I will try to keep track of it all here, but the opportunities are exciting.  My pay is minuscule, but the retirement plan is awesome.

·          You want to be you, and not pieces of everyone else.

·          www.churchsmart.com “Eight Healthy Ingredients”

1.     Empower Leadership.  Give away the credit.

2.     Gift oriented ministry.  Identify the gifts and match them with needs in the ministry,

3.     Passionate Spirituality. 

4.     Functional Structures. (Legal and government)  the key is to make it easy and fun.

5.     Inspiring Worship.

6.     Holistic Small Groups.  (All Life, an extension of the pastoral arm of the church.)

7.     Need oriented evangelism.  (Heart for the lost.)

8.     Loving Relationships.

·          Look for visibility.

·          Accessibility.

·          Size.  Not too Big and not too small.

·          The Best location for a plant is a school auditorium.

·          Don’t spend too much money.  It isn’t worth the stress. (Willow Creek offers discounts for movies theater rentals.)

·          Think portable first.

·          Consider all possibilities for your location.