Mark Waltz | ...because People Matter

Michael Franzese | Insider Business Tips from a Former Mob Boss

Skills are skills. Christ-follower or not. That's why I've never understood the choice some Christians make to find a "christian plumber", "christian roofer", or a "christian surgeon." Skills are skills. You can be a Christ-follower and be a poor plumber, a rotten roofer or a scary surgeon. Skills are skills.

Before Michael Franzese was transformed by God's grace, he was among the best at what he did. He made money. Lots of money. He was a successful businessman - with the mob. Michael had... and has skills.

That's why I think you should read Michael's latest book, I'll Make You An Offer You Can't Refuse (Thomas Nelson). If you run a business, lead people, want to be successful in life, or want to better navigate a difficult financial climate, read Michael's book. Michael has skills.

And, Michael has met Jesus. And that's changed - not his skills, not his street smarts, not his seasoned experience - but, Jesus has changed his motivation (and he operates within the law now). And that changes the outcome.

That's why I recommend Michael's book to pastors and church leaders, too. Michael doesn't just understand financial success, he understands people, goals, and bottom-lines.

I had a chance to ask Michael some questions about his book. Read on to hear from Michael in his own words:

Me: Michael, your story of life inside, and outside, the mob is captured in a gripping way in your book, Blood Covenant. In it you shoot pretty straight about the change Jesus Christ has worked in your life. What motivated you to write this new book - about business?

Michael: There are business insights I wanted to share that I developed from my old life that I am sure would be beneficial for all those engaging in or planning to be in business today. Insights that can’t be learned in a classroom or boardroom but rather that were developed on the streets.

30-Day Sex Challenge | Week One

If you're married and you attended the first week of our new series at Granger Community Church this weekend, you know about the 30-Day Sex Challenge. If you picked up the book (over 500 copies were sold), you know a little more about the challenge.

Personal conversations, Facebook, and Twitter-world were marked with a variety of thoughts about the challenge. Mark Beeson announced during weekend services that he and Sheila were taking the challenge, doing the 30-days, something like that. Others commented that they were "working on the challenge - the reading part, that is." I overheard one man say that his wife asked him to do the reading and give her the summary. I don't know if she'll make a similar request of the sex part or not: "just give me the summary."

I've heard a female or two suggest that the whole challenge must be a "man's idea." I silently agreed, but defended the challenge as "mutual."

The temptation for every married man will be to declare "day one" of every-day sex as soon as possible. The likely temptation for many women will be to read the book first, looking for any loopholes to the challenge that's become very personal.

Here are some considerations as you embark on week one of the challenge:

• Read the Wirth's (they authored the book) story in part one (pages 1-36), including a sneak peek at the book's 4-part challenge (spiritual, emotional, sexual, and physical). This will give you context for this intimate journey of rekindling and enhancing your marriage relationship, not merely a 30-day check-off of sexual obligation.
• Review the Granger Notes from the weekend message. Specifically, use the "Questions to Ponder this Week" on the back page of the notes. Identify at least two to three questions to discuss with each other. They're all great questions, but I personally recommend question #3, #4, #6 and #10.
• Spend a little time this week remembering what drew you to each other in the dating season of your relationship. Remember the butterflies in your stomach, the all-day consuming thoughts of seeing each other again, the little, special things you did for each other to say "I'm thinking of you" and "I think you're special." Practice a couple of those things this week. Open the car door for her again. Cook his favorite meal - with candlelight. Send a card - in the mail. Call on the phone and ask her out - for a real date that you actually plan.

It's week one. Seven days. Don't put it off. The reading, I mean. And make time to talk about it. What you read, of course. And, really, it is a 30-day sex challenge. Don't put if off. Yeah, I mean the sex. Just do it.

Press Release | January 5, 2009

Group Publishing issued the following press release yesterday:

Pastor Mark Waltz Challenges Churches to Leave "Lasting Impressions"

When new people visit your church, it's a big deal. When they come back, it's an even bigger deal. Author and Pastor Mark Waltz has written a follow up book to his popular book, "First Impressions". His new book, "Lasting Impressions", explains how to create a Church culture of belonging.

(PRWEB) January 5, 2009 -- Group Publishing and Church Volunteer Central are pleased to announce the release of Mark Waltz' transformational new resource for equipping ministry: "Lasting Impressions".

"Lasting Impressions" provides... (continue reading here)

Lasting Impressions | Connection Church Review

Tami Frailey, staffer at Connection Church in Canton, MI, recently posted about her takeaways from "Lasting Impressions: From Visiting to Belonging." She writes:

I was waiting until after the holiday rush to blog my review on Mark Waltz's latest book: Lasting Impressions – from Visiting to Belonging. I wanted to be sure this review didn't get lost in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

I just finished reading the last page of a good book. “Lasting Impressions: From Visiting to Belonging” is the latest book by Mark Waltz (you can follow him here on twitter) the Pastor of Connections at Granger Community Church. This is a meaty read filled with great stories woven into the fabric of connection. I don’t want to give too much

We Need to Meet

Danny Franks, Connections Pastor at Summit Church in Durham, NC posted this anticipation back in November. With wit and hyperbole he wrote about our parallel roles as connections pastors. The hyperbole is found in all the places he calls me hero and final authority.  That I am not. His comments do, however, offer one of the most fun endorsements for a book before it's ever read! I'll be tracking Danny down to see what he's thinking post-read of the new book. Danny writes:

I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve pre-ordered a book, and I’d still have five fingers left over.  (In case you’re wondering: no, I’m not a genetically altered six-fingered mutant.)

Editor’s Note: ask him about the toes.

But today, I count myself in the ranks with you oddball Harry Potter and Nicholas Sparks fans.  Today, we are four weeks away from a book I’ve been anticipating like Jason Gaston anticipates duck season.  Last week, I pre-ordered a copy for myself and one for every member of my Connections staff (sorry to ruin the Christmas surprise, guys).  I even ordered a few extra, because you never know.

The book is called Lasting Impressions by a hero-I’ve-never-met, Mark Waltz (his blog has been a constant presence in my “You Need to Read…” links).

Before you get snarky: yes, he is a Connections Pastor as well.   No, we’d never heard of him or that title when I was hired as the CP here back in ‘03.

Yes, he calls his guest services team First Impressions.  No, I’d never heard of him or that title when we named our guest services team.

Yes, his last name is Waltz.  No, I don’t know how to dance.

Even though I’ve never met Mark personally, he’s a kindred spirit.  He was the First Impressions Guy before First Impressions were cool.  His first book is the first and final authority on the subject of caring for and loving on the guests at your church.  My copy is so marked up and written in that I should probably order another one just for the heck of it.

But on December 9th, I get to read Mark’s take not on how to greet guests, but how to keep guests.  And as a guest-services nerd, that excites me very, very much.  If you’re a pastor - or if you have anything to do with people at your church - order this book while I catch my breath from all the obnoxious sucking up. 

Editor’s Note: got any ideas of a good book title if J.K. Rowling and Nicholas Sparks ever co-authored something?

I'd like to meet Danny. I'll bet he'd write a different post. That'd be interesting reading.

Read this article and more (and see Danny's mug shot) in the Book News section of this blog.

Lasting Impressions | Mark Beeson's Thumbprint

 

Lasting Impressions, my second book, releases officially today. The truth about the two books I've written applies to any teaching, coaching, or future writing I'll do. My ideas and thoughts have been influenced, even created in some cases, by others. I've been influenced for good or bad by many people and sources. But the influence I've intentionally leaned into in my life has been the influence of people I respect, people I want to emulate, people who have marked me for the better.

It's the precise reason I dedicated this new book to my friend and senior pastor, Mark Beeson. Here's the dedication from the book:

To Mark Beeson, founding and senior pastor of Granger Community Church. This book is the result of your vision to reach people with the good news that they matter to God. For over twenty years you have been about helping people take their next step toward Christ… together. That’s been your mission at Granger since 1986 when you and your family moved to Northern Indiana to pioneer a new approach of ministry in the local church. You’re always asking, “What’s your next step?”

And everybody has one. Everyone has a next step. And you’ve led the way by leaning into your own next step. Thank you for modeling this norm. And for allowing me to do life with you, for allowing me to hear the tension you feel, to see the challenges you face and to experience the courage you find to take your next step. Your modeling reminds me that the title “pastor” behind my name doesn’t eliminate my need to grow, to take my next step. There is always a next one.

Thank you for taking such a genuine interest in my personal journey and my family. Your cheerleading has encouraged me to be faithful with my steps. You are my good friend, even as I respect you as my boss. Thank you for trusting me to lead beside you. Your vision is my vision now. And we share it with thousands whose lives are being transformed by the grace and power of Jesus Christ.

With tremendous gratitude I dedicate this work to you.

See what others are saying about the book here.

You can order the book here or here.

Don't Read This Book: The Fine Line

Kary Oberbrunner's third book will hit the shelf in the next couple months. With the economic squeeze on, you may be a little more cautious about where your media/library dollars go. Or maybe you're making your reading decisions based on your schedule and the limited time you have with the holidays around the corner.

However it is you're making choices about your reading material these days, I offer this list of reasons to not read Kary's latest book. Don't invest your time or money. Here's why...

• Kary simplifies "relevance" ... right down to the personal daily rub. He doesn't allow us to keep the topic of "relevance" limited to our church talk.

He says, "relevance isn't about the brand of clothing we wear or the music we listen to. It's not about our vocabulary or even the exact shape of our theology. These are externals. Relevance is fundamentally internal. It's having the courage and the grace to look at a wounded man and stop to help. From that internal decision flows our relevant actions. As depicted in the story of the Good Samaritan, what makes us relevant is our love for God and people."

• Kary messes with the fine line between culture and Christianity.

He notes, "The perceived opposition between Christianity and culture stems from a dualistic, Western worldview that divides life into categories - categories like sacred and secular...God shows up in spiritual places, like church and nature; he is absent from secular venues, like sports arenas.

" This type of worldview is toxic on multiple levels." I'll stop there. Nuff said.

• Kary holds up a mirror with an often painful reflection. I saw my own life image as he talked about being a recovering Pharisee (that's his card-carrying title). I winced at the notion that I've spent too many years of my life as a separatist. I recoiled at the revelation that I've been guilty of swinging the pendulum in the opposite direction, happy to live as a conformist. I hate the fact that there's such a fine line between the two.

He observes, "Walking the fine line looks different for every person. God intends for you to wrestle with him through what it means to live in the world, not of the world. This is true especially of those "Christian liberty" issues where there is no standard answer that applies to all people, an idea that Separatists are none too happy about."

• Kary writes with an honest vulnerability that compels an equally honest and vulnerable look into your life. You'll find yourself wrestling with questions of relevance related to your ministry, and you won't escape the illumination of your internal motives as you interact with God and people on a day-to-day basis.

Finally, I'll make it really simple:

• If you don't want to wrestle with buzz topics of church world like relevance, pop culture, and relationships - don't read this book.
• If you don't want to re-read scriptures that you've sewn up and put behind you - don't read this book.
• If you want to stay comfortable in a separatist mindset that keeps you safely in a sterilized, Christian bubble - don't read this book.
• If you want to stay comfortable in a conformists mindest that keeps you immersed in culture with no balance - don't read this book.
• If you don't want a layman's guide to Dallas Willard's, The Divine Conspiracy - don't read this book.

It hits shelves on December 5th. You can pre-order it for only $10.19. You can learn more here. Watch the video here.

I warned you. It's a fine line.

Starting Book 3

No publisher yet. No contract to date.

But, I started it today: book number 3.

I'm very excited: my wife, Laura, is writing with me this time.

Slasher Time

It's in the editor's hands for the first mark-up, or slashing, as the case may be.

It's book number two for me: Lasting Impressions. By Friday I'll have the first round of edits to review, correct and add to. This process will go back and forth a couple more times until my editor is as happy as I am with the book. Or the other way around.

The final is due in mid-July, so it can hit the shelf in December.

Meanwhile I keep seeing recently released or soon to be released books on the same topic. I hope there's something new and helpful here by the time this makes it too press.

Pop Goes the Church Makes Some Noise

Tim signing a copy of his new book, Pop Goes the Church, for my assistant, Julie Smies

My friend, Tim Stevens (Granger Community's executive pastor) hates signing books as well as stepping into the media spotlight (see his comments here). But he's going to need to suck it up, 'cause it's comin'! His new book, Pop Goes the Church, is available, and it's making some noise.

You'll note in his post that he's in Indy today doing interviews with the Indianapolis Star and appearing live on Indy's local Fox morning news show. Although I've told him this is just the beginning of an escalating interest in his book, this is about more than book signings, media appearances and conference engagements.

Tim's new book will make some noise because:

• Christians can't keep "doing church" in a vacuum as though the only place God shows up in our church buildings.
• Most of pop culture isn't an intentional tool for exploring God and faith; it's most often a simple reflection of desired hope, painful regret and, though unrecognized, an indelible stamp of God's image on every human life.
• doing church without acknowledging and speaking into the culture with an engaging, hopeful message is to choose blindness to the context in which we live.
• Christians tend to wear "badges of holiness" based on what they stand against rather than reflecting the gracious, redemptive image of God by living out what we stand for.
• America is skeptical of the evangelical church; this book's message is not self-righteous and condemning.
• This book reveals the approach to ministry that Granger Community Church has practiced for 21 years under the leadership and teaching of Mark Beeson, Granger's senior and founding pastor.
• Tim's style is engaging and humorous; his passion is God-driven and his calling is undeniable. He loves God and the people Jesus came to redeem through his here-and-now kingdom.

I thank God for Tim... for his leadership, his passion, his live laid out for the kingdom and for his personal friendship.

If you haven't gotten your copy of the book yet, check it out here.

Person Mark Beeson

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It's Coming Soon... and Available Now

If you want to see your church engage a journey to effectively communicate with real people in a real world, you have to read this book.

Although my good friend, Tim Stevens, wrote it, Pop Goes the Church goes beyond the ministry philosophy and practices of Granger Community Church. Tim's done his homework. He's a student of culture, he's researched other churches and he's engaged real conversations with real people whose lives have been transformed by a message that's relevant today.

Here's what Bill Hybels, Senior Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church has to say about the book:

In thirty years of ministry, I have never stopped believing that the local church is the hope of the world. It is my driving passion to help leaders get this, and to help them find tools to do church more effectively. Pop Goes the Church should be read by every pastor, church leader, and layperson who wants to connect people to Jesus but is finding it hard to be heard in our media-saturated culture. Some authors have suggested we should give up on the local church. Stevens, however, is making the case that a local church can be transformational in its community. He doesn't stop with theory, but gives practical how-tos and examples from churches of all sizes and styles. Pop Goes the Church is sure to become very useful for a new generation of leaders. it will compel animated conversations in conference rooms and living rooms across the world as leaders everywhere wrestle with how to leverage pop culture in and through the local church.

And Guy Kawasawki, Managing Director, Garage Technology Ventures, Author, Art of the Start weighs in with this:

Contemporary doesn't equal revolutionary. Revolutionary change is what's needed for churches to survive and thrive. Pop Goes the Church provides a curve-jumping, revolution-starting approach to changing churches, so read it and make the world a better place.

It's due out next month, but you can place advance orders through WiredChurches.com or Amazon.com.

Get your copy early... like today!

(Now, back to my own writing. My manuscript is due in a few weeks!)

I Call You Friends

I'm reading Leonard Sweet's book, "The Gospel According to Starbucks". Here's a quick note that he credits Chris Seay for pointing out. Chris credits John McKnight. I'm crediting all of them. Sweet writes:

"Jesus consistently forefronts relational languague that does not have the hierarchical components of the servant/lord language."

And then quotes McKnight:

"Why friends rather than servants? Perhaps it is because He knew that servants could always become lords but that friends could not. Servants are people who know the mysteries that can control those to whom they give 'help.' Friends are people who know each other. They are free to give and receive help." (John McKnight, The Careless Society: Community and Its Counterfeits)

Maybe a study of John 15 will help us reshape our traditional church model of accountability. No lords, please.
Let's let the resurrected Christ be Lord; we'll learn to be the friends he calls us to be.

I Can't Read My Own Book... Can You?

I came home after a fun weekend away with my family to a package from my publisher. It wasn't my second book, I'm still working on it. It was a copy of my first book, First Impressions: Creating Wow Experiences in Your Church - except I couldn't read it.

It's printed in Korean! Who knew? I'm still playing phone tag with Group Publishing to learn how this came about. Crazy wild. Who knew this concept of creating space and atmosphere that communicates that people matter to God could transcend cross-cultural lines?

Maybe people are just people who need to know their Creator loves them and wants them in on his kingdom.

I Need to Read Seth's Book

(Thanks, John Moore, for the quote and the fine framing.)

Spiritual Transformation: CALLED

In his book CALLED: Becoming Who You Were Born to Be, Kary Oberbruner lays out a fundamental paradigm shift in discipleship. He observes that a common understanding of discipleship includes things like:

• Accept Jesus and ask him into your heart.
• Don't do bad things now.
• Withdraw from culture.
• Hang out with Christians.
• Go to church.
• Read your Bible and pray.
• Be happy that you are saved and not going to hell.
• Tell other people about how happy they can be if they follow those seven steps.

He challenges that depiction of a passionless life, suggesting that Jesus actually calls us in this way:

• I want your whole life - everything - including your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
• I want to form myself in you.
• I want to transform you and then have you transform culture.
• I want you to be in the world as I was.
• I want you to be the church, the incarnation of me.
• I want you to embody the Word to others.
• I am giving you abundant life now and will do so throughout eternity.
• Be my hands and feet in this world and see people as people, not projects to convert.

I'm enjoying Kary's careful approach in both his books (see his first - The Journey Towards Relevance - here as well). Kary has a third book due in October: The Fine-line: How to Live in the World and not of It.

The Big Idea

The team at Community Christian Church in Naperville, IL (and seven other locations across the country) have put in print an idea that is, well... simply put - big. Dave Ferguson, Jon Ferguson and Eric Bramlett have been practicing this idea since they planted their first church in 1989.

This book was just released a week or so ago - I highly recommend it. Here are a few quotes that I resonated with:

• "We can no longer afford to waste another Sunday allowing people to leave confused about what to do next."
• "Small groups tend to become overly focused on the topic of their discussion, often at the expense of developing relationships and experiencing genuine biblical community."
• "Leaders need trust. They are ever mindful of the big picture and the direction in which things are heading,...they need followers to trust that they will always do what is in the best interest of the mission of the church. That trust will challenge all to take huge risks for the mission."
• Addressing the tendency for churches to plan only a week in advance, Dave writes: "People in a pressure cooker environment have to make decisions quickly, because time is of the essence. An advance planning model affords people much more time to dialogue, pray, reflect, and seek wise counsel..."

This book will...

• help your lead, pastoral, and arts teams to create a respectful, collaborative relationship of trust.
• help you paint a pathway of evangelism and spiritual development that is intentional, realistic and clear.
• help you evaluate what's really important, resulting in focus, focus, focus.
• give you a model from Jesus' teaching: clear and intentional doesn't equal easy. Often the idea or call to action is simple - and it's really big!

Order your book here. Check out the NewThing Network here. Learn more about the Big Idea here.

Listmania: Books from 2006

Here's the first installment of a series of "lists" from this past year. Some of these lists will be "Top 10". Some will be "Worst 5". I may post a list of "20 somethings". It's my listmania, so don't look for any pattern but lists.

In each of these lists I've experienced God in some way. I've seen his grace, experienced his mystery or heard his laughter. I've been challenged, chided, cheered and usually changed in some way. It's been a great year of learning, stretching and wrestling with God. He's gracious, but I've yet to pin him to the mat.

God's used these books to help me in relationships with family and friends, leadership and ministry:

10 Reads I'm Glad I Read or Read Again

1. In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day: How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars, Mark Batterson
2. Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality, Henry Cloud
3. Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith, Anne Lamott
4. No Perfect People Allowed: Creating a Come as You Are Culture in the Church, John Burke
5. Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith, Rob Bell
6. God's Blogs: Life from God's Perspective, Lanny Donoho
7. 9 Things a Leader Must Do, Henry Cloud
8. Breaking the Missional Code: Your Church Can Become a Missionary in Your Community, Ed Stetzer & David Putman
9. 7 Practices of Effective Ministry, Andy Stanley, Lane Jones and Reggie Joiner
10. Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church, Reggie McNeal

More from John Moore

In an interview with Nettie Hartsock at her Must Read Business Books blog, John Moore talks about Starbucks' treatment of customers:

Starbucks marketers treat customers not as occasional tourists seeking superficial trinkets but as everyday explorers seeking stories. With every visit to Starbucks, customers come away with a story. It could be the story of a new beverage or a story of seeing an old friend or a story about hearing a favorite tune playing overhead while inside Starbucks.

Explorers are eager to learn, they want to linger in an area and soak up the atmosphere while tourists are satisfied with the dime tour and superficial trinkets. Most fast food companies treat customers as tourists. And many times, they even give them trinkets with a purchase of combo meal.

At Granger Community Church we're learning to embrace every person's story as a treasured journey... because every person matters to God. "Everyday explorer's seeking stories". That's the kind of church I want to be part of. I think that gets to the essence of community.

Grab a cup of coffee and meet me at church.

Tribal Knowledge: Starbucks Culture

John Moore, who's been posting a series of articles on the business application of Rick Warren's first book, Purpose Driven Church (see previous post), has begun a blog conversation around his new book, Tribal Knowledge - due out September 1.

Here's a quick glance at the 47 lessons he sites from working inside Starbucks. I don't post these here as a short-cut read of the book - rather to suggest this may be a "must read" for those interested in creating an inviting and inclusive culture of acceptance in the local church.

 

(1) Building the Business Creates the Brand

(2) Bake Marketing Into Your Business

(3) Make the Common Uncommon

(4) Tell the Story. Don’t Make Up a Story.

(5) Brand Management is Reputation Management

(6) Creating Category Intrigue Build Brand Intrigue

(7) There’s a High Price to a Low Price Strategy

(8) Only Three Strategies Exist to Drive Sales

(9) Strong Brands Always Have More Brand Credits than Debits

(10) Be the Best, Not the Biggest

(11) Locationing is Advertising

(12) Communicate the Benefit of the Benefit

(13) Keep Your Marketing Authentic

(14) Keep Your Merchandising Relevant

(15) Actions Speak Louder Than Advertising

(16) Fewer, Bigger, Better Is Best

(17) A Goliath Can Become a David Again

(18) Remarkable Things Get Remarked About

(19) Needs Are Rational. Wants Are Aspirational.

(20) Say Yes to Connecting, Discovering, and Responding

(21) Over-Deliver on All Promises

(22) Practice Local Warming

(23) Be Nice. Be Clean.

(25) Be Generous

(26) Future Success Stems From Past Success

(27) Tourists Bring Home Souvenirs. Explorers Bring Home Stories.

(28) Foster Customer Devotion

(29) Walls Talk. Take a Moment to Listen.

(30) Access Alters How a Business Achieves Success

(31) Everything Matters

(32) Make the Company Something to Believe In

(33) The Employee Experience Matters

(34) Live Your Mission

(35) Practice Passionate Followership

(36) People Quit People, Not Companies

(37) Brands Are Made Possible by People

(38) Abhor Complacency. Resist Conservatism. Fight Conceit.

(39) Build Bridges Between Old Employees and New Employees

(40) Hire Passion Over Experience

(41) Participation Is the Price of Admission

(42) Encourage Healthy Dialogue

(43) Radically Simplify Your Organizational Chart

(44) Always Measure Your Comparable Job Performance

(45) Marketing Always Has Two Audiences

(46) Profit is a By-Product

(47) Be Mission-Driven to Change the World

Order your book here. Enter the conversation here. Follow John Moore's thoughts here, too.
 

 

 

Blog Comment from God's Blog Author

In response to my post a couple weeks ago, Lanny Donoho stopped by to say hello...

hi
thanks for the good words
feel free to pass it along...or heck....have your friends buy it on amazon.
am glad the cloud passed on....as they do in life eventually.
And isn't that like life....the clouds which seem dark, move, and we end up getting burned.

take care.
lanny

Thanks for joining the conversation - and for your encouragement, Lanny. You and your friend, Reggie, are still my Catalyst highlight. Okay, that Andy guy is, too.

Click that amazon link above - buy the book!