Pilgrim's Door

The Good Run

Posted on 02. Aug, 2010 by Katherine Martinez.

If you lead a ministry effort, plan worship services, sell a product or provide a service… perhaps you think of both long and short run wins. I do.

In the short run, we want people to: come, volunteer, register or buy; so we announce the opportunity. Don’t Miss Next Weekend! Register for Bible Study! Get in a Group! Volunteer! Donate. We assume visibility is key to a short run win measured in numbers.

But this doesn’t work so well anymore. People know too much and have options. People think for themselves, because… they can. Tech and culture let us research, shop, learn/grow and recreate on our terms.

(Oh snap. It’s getting harder to make people do what I say.)

And isn’t that a good thing?

Truth. I’m glad that traditional marketing (trying to control people we don’t even know) has had her short run; and it’s over.

In the long run, the quality of our work determines the outcome– whether or not people come to our church, register for studies, join groups, volunteer, read what we write or buy our stuff. If we provide a good experience for people (out of love for God and others), and we/they talk about it online and in person, we’ll have a good run.

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Good Dads

Posted on 21. Jun, 2010 by Katherine Martinez.

This morning I ran onto a fitting Bible passage for fathers, mothers or anyone who leads a family. I’m thinking of fathers, because yesterday was your special day. From 1 Peter 5 in the Amplified.

Tend (nurture, guard, guide, and fold) the flock of God that is [your responsibility], not by coercion or constraint, but willingly; not dishonorably motivated by the advantages and profits [belonging to the office], but eagerly and cheerfully;

Not domineering [as arrogant, dictatorial, and overbearing persons] over those in your charge, but being examples (patterns and models of Christian living) to the flock…

[...]

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Collins, Core and Church

Posted on 20. Apr, 2010 by Katherine Martinez.

Looking back through highlights and underlines in Collins’ How the Mighty Fall. Here’s nice take-away. (Well, I liked it.)

A Core business that meets a fundamental human need– and one at which you’ve become best in the world– rarely becomes obsolete (32).

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Thick Skin and a Soft Heart

Posted on 10. Apr, 2010 by Katherine Martinez.

This week, I had occasion to reflect on just why I admire the people I work with: They have thick skin and soft hearts.

Maybe your world is full of people with thick skin and soft hearts, and maybe you are that kind of person yourself. You probably are! In my little world, however, this quality is rare. I’ve spent my whole life looking for it in me, and when I encounter a person who is truly thick and soft, I’m always surprised, always blessed and, of course, instinctively attracted to her or him. [...]

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The Evangelist in Psalm 51

Posted on 13. Feb, 2010 by Katherine Martinez.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, *
and renew a right spirit within me.

12   Cast me not away from your presence *
and take not your holy Spirit from me.

13   Give me the joy of your saving help again *
and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.

14   I shall teach your ways to the wicked, *
and sinners shall return to you.

This version of Psalm 51:11-14 has hooked me. Can’t even figure out the version– it’s the language used in the Book of Common Prayer.

Somehow the writer’s request for saving help, and the promise to teach people God’s ways, reminds me that the OT and NT are one continuous story of God’s saving help and God’s plan– that we are God’s teaching representatives. God’s intention for us to be saved, and then teach, is the same yesterday, today and forever– from Torah, to Jesus, to the apostles, to us, to the generations.

This passage reminds me that we cannot teach what we do not know, and we cannot lead where we will not go.

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Level 5 Indeed

Posted on 27. Jan, 2010 by Katherine Martinez.

I’ve been reading through Jim Collins’ Good to Great. Check out his description of David Packard, founder of Hewlett Packard. Collins writes: [...]

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