A big front door

Spent the weekend in Houston with Al & Sarah and a bunch of our friends from our time down there. Always enjoy the opportunity to see folks.

Spent time with some church leaders and had a good discussion around the size of the 'front door'. One of the things you recognize in  the gospels is Jesus' ability to draw a crowd. The other interesting point is that at the end of 3 years of unprecedented ministry he only had a 120 dedicated followers. There may have been more, but the results were not startling.

Some times we wear small as a badge of honor. The problem with small is that visitors often feel left out. They struggle with the inside jokes, the quirkiness of the family, the disorganization, the offhand comments that so easily offend, etc.

The concept of the big front door is to create an opportunity for people to connect, to hear, to belong. The big front door represents an environment that is inclusive not exclusive.   

So how do you through open a big front door? Some thoughts....

1. Do not try to be all things to all people? Not everyone will like who you are.

2. Identify who you are and consistently communicate it and live it

3. Get rid of the inside jokes.

4. don't make off hand and potentially offensive comments

5. Make sure people who attend every week are commissioned to welcome new people

6. Make sure that everything that goes on in the service is understood and makes sense to the visitors.

7. Be organized

8. Have a desire to embrace everyone who shows up - celebrate diversity

9. Life is not a formula that can be replicated

10. don't be risk adverse - make the necessary changes to make your group relevant

11. Keep it real - non religious is probably best

12. Open up your homes to the new people - let them see you outside of the services

13. Meet round the table - food and fun go a long way to breaking down the barriers

14. New people centric, not self serving and self indulgent

15. Talk about things that are meaningful to people

There are lots more. Being small is not all bad, but it doesn't have a long term future either. In this environment, people need a real message of hope and change. It is a shame that the church often gets in the way.

Create a bigger front door and once they come, do something meaningful that will drive real and lasting change.

Transformational or Transactional

Thinking about life today and came to the conclusion that I tend to live life at a transactional level. Very task driven. In other words, life is made up of a large number of small, routine tasks that are performed and repeated on a daily basis. Another way of putting this is: going through the motions. 

None of the tasks, in and of themselves, are pointless, but in isolation from serving a purpose or a sense of passion, they are very transactional in nature.

Life is made up of a large number of small actions and you do not need to chase the 'large' action to have a sense of purpose. If there is a clear commitment to a transformational lifestyle, the many small actions that serve that lifestyle are driving lasting change.

Entering 2009, I am challenged about the need for more transformational behavior and thinking that will drive a commitment to lasting change. Our interaction with others folks can be transformational, as can the desire to see change within our own lives.

A transformational lifestyle harnesses the many transactional actions and channels them towards an end goal that leaves our lives, the lives of others and the world in a better place after the action. 

It is a lifestyle that believes all things are possible. A lifestyle that stays focused on the end result. A lifestyle where every action, large or small, serves a greater good.

If nothing else, some food for thought as we enter 2009.

6 Feet

We are following 4 teams in the McIntyre household: Texas Tech, Texas, Ball State and the Colts. The red Raiders lost in the Cotton Bowl on friday and the Colts lost to the Chargers. Hope Texas and BSU do better.

The Colts choked on a 3rd and 2 with 2 minutes to go in the game. The Chargers were out of timeouts and the Colts led by 3.  The longest 2 yards in Colts history resulted in a sack for Manning, followed by a poor punt that sent the game into overtime as the Chargers kicked a game tying field goal.  

The Colts self destructed in overtime with 3 critical penalties that resulted in a winning touchdown for the Chargers. In the space of a few minutes the Colts season came to a crashing halt. 

Mind boggling that the NFL's MVP and one of the league's most potent offenses cannot move the ball 2 yards to kill the game. The margin between success and failure in sports is so small. 6 feet in this case between moving on towards the Super Bowl or going home.

A crazy season made up of inconsistent play and too many tight games was over. We now wait to see if Tony Dungy will be back and if Marvin Harrison retires.

Monday night we will sit down to watch Texas play Ohio State in what we hope will be a convincing win. 

Playoff Weekend

Big game tonight for the Colts against a team that they have struggled with in the past. Everyone seems to have the Chargers as the favorites for this game, which will take some of the pressure off Manning. Earlier this season it came down to a long field goal from Adam Vinatieri.  

The Chargers looked great against a very poor Broncos team last week. However, the Colts have won their last 9.

At this time of year, you are playing for the right to have one more game. Lose and you are out. Your season is over. It is amazing that you can play hard all season; win nine in a row and one poor game and you are done. Now that is pressure.

Looking forward to watching the game this evening. Go Colts.

Cotton Bowl

Just watched a great Texas Tech season come to a disappointing end with a loss in the Cotton Bowl. The difference in the game were turnovers, mistakes and defense. The tech defense just didn't show up. Graham Harrell was 36 of 58 for 364 yards, 4 touchdowns with 2 interceptions. You expect the winning QB to have stats like this. Snead was 18 of 29 for 292 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. Give up over 200 yards rushing killed Tech.

They finish the season 11 and 2. To be honest, it was a great season for them.

The focus now shifts to Texas on Monday and Ball State on Tuesday. College football has been very exciting this year in our household. Really want Texas to beat up on Ohio State. Too many Big Ten colleagues.

Happy New Year

In Roman mythology, Janus (or Ianus) was the god of gates, doors, doorways, beginnings and endings. His most prominent remnants in modern culture are his namesakes: the month of January, which begins the new year, and the janitor, who is a caretaker of doors and halls.

This is always an interesting time of year. A time where we reflect on the past and at the same time look forward to the future. 

2008: In Review

+ Fiona and I started the year as empty nesters and finished the year that way, but we did have a six month period where one of our sons was back at home. Still feel way to young to be empty nesters. 

+ We traveled a lot in 2008 and probably will continue in 2009, but you can never tell.

+ Managed to see a lot friends from around the world in 2008. Definitely a highlight.

+ Enjoyed a great family vacation with the grown up kids.

+ Attended a lot of events in 2008: great concerts; the Colts; Brickyard 400; etc

+ Had a number of visitors in 2008: Fiona's Mom, My Dad, the Blackmores, Matt Wells, the Swindells for Christmas

+ Still part of a good church family here in Indy and still connected with Houston, Inverurie, Ellon and Aberdeen

+ Did a lot more speaking in 2008 than I intended on doing

+ Fiona started to play golf this year

+ Christmas was great this year. We didn't spend a whole lot this year, so the presents were ok. The big plus was having all of the kids here plus Steve, Lorna and their kids. Excellent time.

2009: ???

+ Travel will feature a lot in 2009: dad's 80th birthday, Houston, New York, Asia and UK are already in the calendar for 2009

+ Fiona's twin sister arrives for a week in February

+ Need to think through New Year resolutions that I can live with (i.e. ones I will actually execute on)

+ Navigating the business through another year of uncertainty and turbulence will be challenging

+ A more conservative approach financially is in play for 2009: spend less, save more

+ Some weight loss and better fitness levels are also on the agenda (Fiona will be happy to read this part)

As I look back, I have a lot of things to be thankful for.  While it is important to reflect, we cannot live in the past. With all of the uncertainty that is ahead of us in 2009, I am going into the year with an air of excitement about what is possible. Knowing that the throne is still occupied provides a sense of security that I need to focus on the things in life I can influence or control, but release the things to Him that are outside of my control.

Whatever 2009 holds for you, I pray that you will know His blessings and guidance every step of the way.