Out of Imagination
All the speakers at Awaken have ten minutes to speak. I knew it was going to fly by, but what a rush of adrenaline. Serious time warp! I had to start wrapping up the minute I started ramping up! Thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
I decided to speak on one of the greatest dangers we face as leaders. Neurological studies have shown that over the course of time, there is a cognitive shift from right-brain to left-brain. And if we don't find a way to stop the shift, memory overtakes imagination. We stop creating the future and start repeating the past. We stop innovating and start imitating. We stop doing ministry out of imagination and start doing ministry out of memory.
A few years ago I read something R.T Kendall wrote that impacted me: "The greatest opposition to what God is doing today comes from those who were on the cutting edge of what God was doing yesterday."
I don't want that to be me!
One of the byproducts of the neurological shift away from right-brain imagination toward left-brain logic is that we become too logical. And it seems fitting on April Fool's Day to say that great leaders are illogical. The people God uses the most are people that aren't afraid of looking foolish. In fact, if you aren't willing to look foolish you're foolish!
I shared a little bit of our coffeehouse experience in my ten minutes. I still remember feeling so foolish when I called the previous owners of 201 F Street, NE. It was owned by two Jewish lawyers. NCC was only about 100-150 people at that point. And we didn't have one red cent in the bank. It felt foolish asking if they would sell the property when we didn't even have the capability of buying it. But that's one dimension of faith--the willingness to look foolish.
I Corinthians 1:27 says that God uses foolish things to shame the wise. Nothing has changed. He still uses fools. So maybe the church should adopt April Fool's Day and make it a holy day!
I decided to speak on one of the greatest dangers we face as leaders. Neurological studies have shown that over the course of time, there is a cognitive shift from right-brain to left-brain. And if we don't find a way to stop the shift, memory overtakes imagination. We stop creating the future and start repeating the past. We stop innovating and start imitating. We stop doing ministry out of imagination and start doing ministry out of memory.
A few years ago I read something R.T Kendall wrote that impacted me: "The greatest opposition to what God is doing today comes from those who were on the cutting edge of what God was doing yesterday."
I don't want that to be me!
One of the byproducts of the neurological shift away from right-brain imagination toward left-brain logic is that we become too logical. And it seems fitting on April Fool's Day to say that great leaders are illogical. The people God uses the most are people that aren't afraid of looking foolish. In fact, if you aren't willing to look foolish you're foolish!
I shared a little bit of our coffeehouse experience in my ten minutes. I still remember feeling so foolish when I called the previous owners of 201 F Street, NE. It was owned by two Jewish lawyers. NCC was only about 100-150 people at that point. And we didn't have one red cent in the bank. It felt foolish asking if they would sell the property when we didn't even have the capability of buying it. But that's one dimension of faith--the willingness to look foolish.
I Corinthians 1:27 says that God uses foolish things to shame the wise. Nothing has changed. He still uses fools. So maybe the church should adopt April Fool's Day and make it a holy day!
16 Comments:
thanks Mark. it was a great talk. took away a good sense of a need for imagination and foolishness.
Great talk, Mark - you squeezed in a lot of well-thought-out stuff in ten minutes!
Anywhere we can get the audio?
That is one of the most powerful 10 mins I have been a part of in a long time. Thanks for that concise thought.
Hi Mark,
Just a shot in the dark but I will be in DC the 2nd weekend of July and would love to talk with you more about the coffee house idea. Any possibility that I can buy you a cup of coffee and pick your brain a little.
Mahalo,
Mike
mohara@gbckapolei.org
www.gbckapolei.org
mikeisonline.wordpress.com
Great talk today, Mark. You should consider a night job in neurological sciences.
I didn't even know I had a right brain. Thanks for pointing out that God can, indeed, use the foolish things of this world to bring honor and glory to Him. My left brain is now smiling.
this is a great post mark...really interesting...i love the spirit of cheerleading on the next dudes to come along...glad you had a great time at awaken...peace...mike.
I know what you mean. As a person who comes from a vineyard background I was shocked to find myself reacting negatively to new sounds in music/worship when I heard them.
Its so hard not to become stuck in your ways and know what is right vs what is new and what is wrong vs what is old
Mike,
I actually think I'm out of town second week, but let's connect when I get back to DC and I'll take a closer look at schedule.
You can email me at mark (at) theaterchurch dot com.
Thanks,
Mark
For audio check out www.awaken2008.com. Not 100% sure how sessions are being taped.
Mark
Pastor Mark,
I have started my own extreme life makeover (maleover) one of the things I have taken on is to revive my artistic abilites that seemed so foolish. I am still unemploy how coan collaging, listening to new kinds of music buying completely new and differrent kind of clothing get me not only a job but i job that I love? So far I notice that I include teh clerks at the stores that I go to, my family and friends that they too are participating in my extreme life makeover
Hey Mark,
It was great to have you come out to LA and share with the protege's. I also enjoyed the conversation we had later about DC.
I didn't get to ask you this at the conference but I am still curious.
You said that "novelty stimulates the right brain." Could you maybe blog a little bit about some of the things you do to introduce and re-introduce novelty into your life and the community you're leading?
Thanks
Wayne
Wayne,
sometimes it's as simple as changing Bible translations. It can re-engage your imagination. In terms of leadership, I think it's throwing a consistent curve ball or change up. I'll try to post some things on it. But once reason we brand and rebrand all our series is novelty--reengages the imagination.
Mark
First, thank you for your thoughts from Awaken. They really resonated with me.
I don't have a left brain, and God has called me and my right brain to be a visionary. When I talk to most people about using holograms in worship design, they look at me like I have two heads.
But, God has called me here. Thankful there are several in leadership that understand.
Which leads me to the second thought; do you know anyone that took pictures of the conference staging? One of our leaders was talking about it today. I love to see it.
Thanks again.
Dorothy,
Not sure about pictures. Maybe the folks at Mosaic would have some?
Keep using that right-brain :)
Mark
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