Kirk Bowman's blog

On the idea of "Everything is an Experiment"

Google has a "fail fast" philosophy. That is - launch, listen, improve, launch again. It requires a significant level of honesty when assessing data on how well things are working. Change it if it isn't working!

This is probably exactly the opposite of many church's philosophy. We have had this modeled for us: Get an Idea (maybe), committee it to death, talk about how "it's never been done that way before", "wait on God's timing" - then launch it way too late and then keep riding the dead horse when we should have dis-mounted a long time ago.

Another church barrier to experimentation and improvement is putting too many things under the "God told me to do this" banner. Then it becomes really difficult to be honest about shortcomings. Because "God told me"

I do believe in God giving us direction but it might be more honest - and healthy - to say "I think this would be a good idea. Let's try it,"

Save the "God told me" for when He actually really does tell us.

I do intend to have an ongoing dialogue on our 5 work culture ideas but I wanted to post this idea.

This morning I woke up extra early - not on purpose - and flipped on the TV to check out the weather. So, I see this guy (youngish, fairly contemporary church setting) preaching away at what everybody in his church should be doing - praying, fasting, tithing, serving, etc. He is letting them have it.

I do think all of those are good things but it's the "you should" over-the-top tone that concerns me.

This a significant paradigm difference:
1. A relationship with God is all about what you should be doing
vs.
2. A relationship with God is about being connected to a God who is a "Helper"

Yes, there are things we should do. Things that are right.

But I think people are carrying enough of a load in life without having to carry all that as well.

God as a helper is not "Santa Claus who gives me all the candy I want". Please. A little more respect for God than that. But He is God. He doesn't need our behavior. We need His help

Christianity is more about believing than behaving. And good believing always results in good behaving. Christianity is more about God helping us rather than us keeping up with all the "shoulds".

There are some "shoulds" in life but to paint a relationship with God as being all about doing what we should is not really giving the true picture.

That pastor should stop doing that.

OK - all you "blog-o-rhythm" police guys (& girls) cut me some slack.

Here are some ideas we are working through as a church staff that I thought would be interesting to dialogue on.

I want to preface my words by saying we have a great, talented and hard working team of people on our church staff. I love them all.

I know it is my job as a leader to "define reality" for us, though.

So we came up with these ideas to guide the culture of our staff this year. I think these ideas will work in a lot of settings, so that's why I'm putting them out here.

So here are our 5 "work culture" guidelines:
1. I love this place, 24/7, 365, 100%
2. Yes, whatever it takes
3. Do it right, do it now, do it wow
4. Everything is an experiment
5. I win when the team wins

On no. 1 - I think it's vital to make sure we love what we're doing and who we're doing it with.

Every 7 years, Old Testament slaves were given a jubilee option. You get to go free or you stay where you are because you love it.

It's probably good to evaluate some things every so often (not on the really bad days!) and see if we are still doing things we love or just doing things out of old habits.

We wanted all of our guys to really look into their hearts and determine if they worked here because they love it wholeheartedly (still) or just because they've been here for a while.

It's a good thing to keep doing what we love, to stop doing what we don't love anymore. Or figure out why we don't love it anymore. Maybe we just need to push reset and start loving it - again.

OK - so I'm a bit of a beginning blogger and have not developed my "blog-o-rhythm" yet. I intend (promise would be a big commit at this point) to do better and post more often from here on out. I will do better, I will do better...

This is an interesting story to me.

A very popular world class violinist playing a $3.5 million Stradivarius in a subway station is basically ignored.

There's a lot of layers to this, but it immediately makes me think of the power of context and expectation.

The same guy in a concert hall with a huge expectation level from his audience transfixes everyone. And gets paid really well.

Creating great context is so important. Going to great lengths to make church great is all about creating a context for people to be touched by God. Romantic context matters (listen to me boys). Going into our prayer closet is about creating a context to hear from God. Great context makes a huge difference.

The power of expectation is big as well. No one expects world class music in a subway station. So they rush on by.

Made me think of trying to witness on Bourbon Street in New Orleans as a new believer. It wasn't really a great context to have a meaningful conversation. The "Jesus freaks" were just as much a part of the show as the strippers.

Create great context for great experiences in order to live well.

Keep your expectation level high. God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or think.

Today was an amazing and beautiful day. Great meeting with a great feel to it.

Our team has the greatest hearts for God and people. I feel very blessed to serve with them.

Guest services. Creative team. Tech team. Children's ministry team. Everybody just loving and serving and giving their best. Hats off to all you guys for all you do!

Full house. Just over 800 (811) people in church. 21 people raising their hands in adult service to respond to Christ. 15 children responded in Kids Church. 36 people moving closer to God. Yeah!

Loved seeing people that have come to our church in the past but had to move away for various reasons. They still long for "The Rock" experience and cannot locate it anywhere else.

I know God wants us to reproduce what He has given us. In satellites and church plants. In reaching beyond the walls of our church into our community.

What we have in God is way too good for us to keep for ourselves.

The best part of it all was hanging out with these two guys. Two of my best friends in life.

Whit Toland is a spiritual son of mine we sent out to Greensboro to plant a church a few years ago. He is doing an incredible job. Our relationship is fun and organic. We just like each other. Laugh a lot. Share vision. And pain. We're like Jonathan and David.

Andy Banfield is the prince of kindness. He is the most generous guy I know. He has opened the door for me to see and play golf in places no mortal gets to visit. My life is immeasurably better because of Andy being in it.

Great friends are a huge treasure in life.


This is me standing in front of the 12th green at Augusta. One day, I would LOVE to hit a shot into this green

Had a great lunch meeting at my house today. Wanted to gather a few leader guys for men's stuff coming up. Connect Groups, events, etc. Had 40 guys show up at my house for an informal "strategery" session. Loved connecting. Hanging out. Great feel to the whole thing. Wow - the future is bright!

Taught on friends at church today. Really had it on my heart to address toxic relationships. You could have heard a pin drop at one point. Sold out twice on tapes of the message.

Nothing so wonderful as great friendships. Nothing so hurtful as bad ones.

I'm believing God for great things to happen in people's relationships.

New Connect Group semester begins April 22. Sign on!

Your future is in your connections.