I had not planned on being a “Change Agent.” Oh, I was good with vision that tweaked and refined. It was fun being in a growing church, adding programs and staff, building a new campus. We were the flagship church for our denomination, and our church loved the central role we played. The Bible School and denominational headquarters were in our city. The President and faculty of the college sat in our pews. Life was good, and leadership was fun. But things change. I’m okay with improvements; wholesale change was not what I signed up for.

Circumstances thrust me into the role of “Change Agent”, and it was scary. A number of things happened simultaneously, over which I had no control:

• Our denominational leadership decided to shut down our struggling Bible school and merge with a Bible college in another city. Translation: denominational influence was removed from our church.
• Our conference voted to merge with another denomination. That meant headquarters would move from our city. Translation: prestige and significance were removed from our church.
• Our church had outgrown its administrative structure. Growth is good (everybody wanted that) but it meant the organizational structure had to adapt (some did not like that). Translation: power structures had to change.

I happened to be responsible to lead the church through this wholesale change. I could feel the angst rising within the congregation – and me. I remember thinking one day, “Good grief, I could get shot!”  Though I wasn’t in the midst of a literal war, it was true I could lose my job if things didn’t go well. We were headed into dangerous times. I was clearly in over my head.

Times like that make you pray earnestly. And God answered! I came across a book title that caught my attention, The Change Agent, by Lyle Schaller. It’s an old book now, but the essential message is still valid. It was exactly what I needed right then – a map for navigating change without fatal results.

The essence is that successful change happens in a series of widening circles:

1. The Change Agent sees what needs to change before others do, and is ready to do something about it.  Problem is, when someone shakes up people’s comfort zones, they want to get rid of the person causing the discomfort. I felt like I had a large target printed on my chest.  So, the first action the Change Agent needs to take is:
2. Recruit a Leadership Core. This way several are wearing targets, and people are not sure who to shoot, especially if some of the Leadership Core are people with ‘social capital,’ i.e. trusted influence. This group then introduces the change to:
3. The Wider Group. These are people who tend to be more open-minded and objective, and accepting of constructive change. The Leadership Core must be able to explain the change to the wider group in a way that makes sense to them. When the Wider Group supports the change, then …
4. The Majority eventually come on board.

I took this advice to heart, and it saved my bacon. I recruited a handful of trusted, credible leaders to walk with me. These good men and women helped me wisely navigate change, and communicated it well to their friends and the rest of the congregation. We allowed plenty of time for the Wider Group and Majority to process things; lots of meetings and answering questions.

I’m glad to report I’m still alive, and the change did happen peacefully. It took about three years to implement, and several more to prove itself. The church re-oriented its vision and focused its actions accordingly: “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

This is a general ‘map’ of how change happens, but there’s more. We explore change management in detail in the CREST Master in Christian Leadership. It could save your bacon. More than that, it could be the wisdom you need to lead change wisely, into the future God is lovingly initiating.

I was frustrated as I vented to a good friend, “What’s the matter with this church?  This is a great vision, biblically-based, and exactly what we need.  I’ve done the research.  I’ve laid it out in careful detail.  Why don’t they get it?”

I had been thinking and working on a ministry plan, and had clarity on an exciting vision to move us forward. The pastoral staff had embraced it.  My good friends were enthusiastic.  I cast the vision with passion, eager to see my congregation move into a preferred future.  But there were many people who didn’t respond one way or the other – they just listened.  Standing at the back of the sanctuary shaking hands as people left, I was looking for a response.  “Thanks pastor. Have a good week!”  Sheesh.  It was obvious they had not “bought in.” Unless they did, this vision would not go forward.

Quite frankly, I was ticked off – but it’s not a good idea to vent from the pulpit. Fortunately, I had someone to help me think things through.  His response to this particular frustration came in the form of two questions:

“How long have you been thinking about this vision?”

“About two years.”

“Well, do you think that perhaps people might need two years to think about it as well?”

I was stunned.  The truth was suddenly clear, and I was rebuked – in a graceful, friendly way.

Sometime later I came across the work of Everett Roger, and his diffusion of innovations theory.  His work, first published in 1962, explained how people process ideas at different rates.  When I read this I understood why I had such different responses from my congregation – from the friends who were immediately excited with me, to those who folded their arms and refused to budge.

Understanding this could save your organization.  Or at least help you understand why your exciting vision doesn’t seem so exciting to everybody.

Roger’s research found that in the average group there are five categories of response to new ideas:

• 2.5% are Innovators.  These are the people who love change!  They’re willing to take the risk for the sheer joy of trying something new.
• 13.5% are Early Adopters.  These are next to come on board. Early Adopters enjoy good ideas and are willing to give them a chance … after thinking about it for a minute.
• 34% are the Early Majority.  These are thoughtful people who do accept change, but not quite as fast as the early adopters.  They need more time to consider ideas and watch if they work before joining in.
• 34% are the Late Majority.  These folks only accept new ideas when the majority are already on board.
• 16% are the Laggards.  Laggards are very traditional, critical of new ideas, and only accept them much later when the ideas have become mainstream – or maybe never.

This chart was a lifesaver for me.  It helped me understand people and change.  It improved my attitude significantly toward those who weren’t so excited about my vision.  By understanding them, and giving them time and evidence, they eventually came on board.

At CREST, we discuss the challenge of bringing change to your organization.  This is only one factor of many! Join us to find out why 80% of all change initiatives fail, and what you can do to be in that top 20%.

It’s not easy to flourish at work.

Work can be frustrating. People, circumstances and limited resources impede goals. There are good days, and days marred by conflict, disappointment, envy and fatigue.

Work is necessary. Bills and obligations cause work to feel like a necessary evil, an obstacle in the way of more important things we’d like to do for God and the world.

I came to CREST expecting more from work in my second half: a better fit, a clear calling, more impact and a lasting legacy. I was surprised when God called me to stay in the marketplace. I was sure he’d lead me into some kind of ministry – yet here I am, supporting young nurses to flourish as they care for the sick and dying.

There’s this warped way of thinking, called Dualism, that’s hard to shake. When my parents went to Bible school in the 50’s, God only had 2 life plans to choose from:

• Plan A: Full time ministry in a church or foreign missions
• Plan B: The “other” category for those outside God’s perfect will: a secular job.

Those of us in the marketplace often feel we’re not doing much for God. And, yet recent CREST survey responses from hundreds of Canadian pastors also reveal frustration and disappointment in church leaders. Apparently, we have much in common!

Thankfully, God’s Plan A has become more inclusive in the past 60 years. In the sermon, Hope for Your Work, Tim Keller gives three principles for evaluating work:

1. Motivation: Why do you work?

Making money is necessary, but not enough. Success and fulfilment.  Then it’s all about you. Drawing from the book of Titus, Keller explains true spiritual work helps others flourish.

• Garbage collectors help citizens flourish in clean environments.
• Parents and teachers help children to grow up with maturity, character and employable skills.
• Artists and musicians enrich our lives with beauty and creativity.
• Entrepreneurs, business owners and political infrastructure provide jobs, products and services.
• Pastors and counselors help people flourish in their relationships with God, themselves, others and the world.

Together, our work develops society and civilization to the glory of God. Could this be what Jesus envisioned when he taught us to pray “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”? Might this be how our Father answers the prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread”?

2. Proportion: Do you know how and when to rest?

A clear theology of work and rest keeps us from driving to perform, impress, retire early, be perfect, meet all needs, find identity through accomplishments, get God’s attention and pile up toys. Rest is the ability to worship God as we enjoy ordinary things: the smell of new-mown grass, the taste of fresh fruit, birdsong, silence and clean laundry. Remember, God could have done anything he wanted as a man – yet Jesus spent more than 90% of his life doing manual labour and ordinary things.

3. Consolation: Do you know what to do with disappointment?

The idealism of youth can give way to the cynicism of midlife. But there’s another option: the comfort of hope in God’s redemption for the world he created. And although weeds spring up when we plant carrots, there will still be sweet, juicy carrots.

Christianity is more than just personal salvation; it’s a way of understanding everything, including work. You were designed by God to help others flourish. You carry out that work in sub-optimal conditions. Where are you finding the courage, knowledge and skills for the responsibilities entrusted to you?

For the past 10 years CREST has been studying what happens at midlife and its impact on the second half.  Our speciality is helping people find clarity so they can flourish.  Here’s what we’ve discovered:

• There’s a significant shift at midlife, often accompanied by angst or disorientation as one major life phase ends before the next becomes clear.
• According to Robert Clinton in The Making of A Leader, only one in four will navigate the shifts necessary to flourish in the second half. Most need a guided process; a safe place to discuss and debrief the journey. This is a deep and comprehensive adjustment; it does not happen in a one-off seminar. It takes a journey of at least two years.
• If you navigate these changes successfully, your best years are in the second half. The potential benefit is enormous. If you don’t, you will likely flounder. The cost is enormous.

When you flourish, so will those you serve. Click here to learn more about CREST Leadership Encounters available for you, your board, partner, team or key leaders.

Interested in clarifying your theology of work? Every Good Endeavor examines the dignity and purpose of work, how work is impacted by the fall and redeemed by the gospel. Keller ends with some inspiring and practical examples of “vocational discipleship” in action.

I was young when first appointed the main preacher of a large church. I vividly remember standing in the pulpit looking down at retired pastors, the Bible School President and faculty and the denominational Superintendent. It was intimidating for a 24-year-old beginner to preach to this crowd. I must say they were gracious, always supportive and kind. It was an amazing gift to me.

I had plenty of things to talk about – I was fresh out of Bible school, the ink on my Masters degree from Israel was not quite dry and the Bible is a big book. But there was one subject I was reticent to approach.

I remember reading the Gospels and planning a sermon series, but pausing on this subject because I wasn’t exactly sure how to explain it. I couldn’t preach on something without being confident I could accurately present the Scripture message. It would have to wait until I understood it better.

That subject was “The Kingdom of Heaven.”

What?!  An ordained preacher and not sure how to preach the core message of Jesus?!  The Kingdom of Heaven is mentioned more than 100 times in the four gospels!  Surely they taught you this in Bible school!

Well, I had been taught many good things: the core doctrines of the church, Old Testament and New Testament survey, the history of the church, how to study the Bible, pastoral theology, Christian counselling and many others. But I don’t recall anyone explaining “the Kingdom of Heaven” in a clear and compelling way.

I understood the need for confessing our sins and being saved by Jesus’ death on the cross, and had experienced it.  But was that all there was to this Kingdom?  Was it just about being forgiven so I could go to heaven some day? What about now?

I understood the doctrine of the church and the fellowship of believers; but surely the Kingdom was more than becoming a church member or doing good religious work. Perhaps world missions – bringing the Gospel to foreign cultures around the world? Would this be “the Kingdom”?

Of course the message of Jesus includes all of this – but I sensed I was missing the bigger picture.  What does “entering the Kingdom” actually mean? What exactly is Jesus inviting us into?

After many years, I’ve come to understand “the Kingdom of Heaven” as the most positive and exciting message I’ve ever heard.  It grabs my heart and fills me with joy and hope.  It’s surprising who ‘gets it’; and more surprising who doesn’t!

Click here for a video describing what I’m learning about the experience of Kingdom Living.  I’m speaking at Bethany EMC Church in St. Catharines, a large and healthy church; the senior pastor is Larry Shantz. After a brief introduction and explanation of what I do in CREST Leadership, I dive into this beautiful subject.

Why is it that the harder I try to fit in the less I feel like I really belong? We are all fundamentally wired to feel a need to belong somewhere and with someone.  Even extreme introverts who love solitude, like I do, have a profound need to know where we belong. As teens we are very extreme and overt about our attempts to fit in somewhere. But honestly, it doesn’t stop when we hit adulthood. We simply refine our methods to make them look less needy, whether it’s at work, church, the PTA or the rotary club, we want to feel like we are a good  fit in that environment. By midlife that haunting question of belonging resurfaces within us. I’ve lived in Europe and Canada, in big centres, small towns and right out in the country. Wherever I have gone I have really tried to fit in with the local milieu. Learning all the right slang was my most potent weapon. Not until recently have I started to taste the flavours of a genuine sense of belonging.

Neurological research has shown that we are literally wired for interpersonal connection. Oxytocin among other chemicals that cause positive feelings are released when we are with others with whom we feel accepted and connected. It feels good to belong with other people. This also has numerous related health benefits. Click here for more info on this.

How to Become Very Attractive

Authentic people attract people. Dr Brene Brown’s research  has shown, however, that trying to fit in and feeling a true sense of belonging are antithetical. We can never truly feel like we belong until we fully embrace ourselves as we are and become comfortable in our own skin. This opens the door to truly accepting others as they are and then a true sense of belonging together can develop. When we fully embrace our true selves, we may find that some people reject us, people who really never fully embraced us anyway, and others will much more fully embrace us. Highly attractive people are:

• Genuine
• Comfortable with themselves
• Accepting of others
• Not trying too hard to fit in
• Genuinely positive

The Self-discovery Adventure

Self-discovery doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Many people have what is called a mid-life crisis; which is realizing that we haven’t ended up being or doing what we really dreamed of deep within when we were younger.  All the symbols of achievement we have accumulated along the way have left us still yearning for something more. Embracing who we really are and the way God designed us to be is the journey of midlife when we seem to return to this struggle of our youth but at a much deeper level. Many people make radical changes in an attempt to recapture something they dreamed of.  These changes can be good and helpful, other times disastrous. Jumping first and hoping to figure it out as you go is a huge gamble, probably not the best road to genuinely fruitful self-discovery. I believe we owe it to ourselves, and those closest to us, to take some real quality time and energy to reflect on our deepest values and dreams at midlife. If we regain an inner connectedness with ourselves, we open the door for God to transform our world by giving us much clearer lenses to see everything through.

God used CREST to help me understand myself much better and especially the strengths that I bring to the game. Many others have had the same experience. Is there a rest-stop that you need to find to open the door to your best possible second half of life? If you are getting a wakeup call from somewhere deep inside, please don’t hit the snooze button.

“One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree.

“Which road do I take?” she asked.
“Where do you want to go?” was his response.
“I don’t know,” Alice answered.
“Then,” said the cat, “it doesn’t matter.” ”
–Lewis Carroll

The first time I remember reading this I was in my twenties, reading Alice in Wonderland to my young daughter. I thought, “Well, duh! Of course.” Now, in my 50′s, I realize what a profound statement this is.

You’d think the answer to “Where do you want to go?” would be obvious to people in the second half of life. Surprisingly, for many it is not. Life is not as simple and linear as it seemed in younger years.  You had great dreams, and you were going to show the world how to live.

And then life happened. Unplanned things happened…

• An accident, sickness, betrayal
• An unexpected opportunity, a wonderful surprise, an amazing phone call

You found out that you really cannot predict your life.  We love the good things, but it’s the first list we struggle with – and we all have some ‘first list’ things in life.

We have to process those ‘first list’ things.  They provoke deep questions and earnest prayer.  We call out to God like the Psalmists, voicing our questions heavenward.

• Have you noticed that the Psalms make so much more sense in the second half of life?  I never really understood the angst and intensity of these prayers until I needed to pray them.

• And have you noticed that when God responds to your prayer, it is often with a question?  A question that makes you dig deep into your heart? (Click HERE for a blog on this)

By midlife we may feel like Alice in Wonderland – not sure which route we should take.  We ask God for direction, and he responds, “What would you like to do?”

Instead of just telling us what to do, God is inviting us to go deeper with him, to co–create the next steps.  You tell a child what to do, but you collaborate with an adult.  Perhaps by midlife God wants us to grow beyond being mere children, perhaps he wants to collaborate with us in this kingdom life.

The word collaborate is a combination of two words that mean “to work together, co-labour.” Maybe that’s what Psalm 37:4 means:

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Knowing the desires of our heart requires a thorough introspection.  In the first half of life we have been adapting to the needs and requirements of everyone around us.  We have been taught to put our desires aside, and simply serve.  But by midlife our heart is yearning for expression, and we long to live an authentic life rather than one prescribed to us.

Join us in CREST, and we will help you find your heart again.

Recently I was on a trip outside my province.  After a long plane ride I had come directly to a meeting.  I met several people and had important conversations.  Before the next meeting I went to the ‘men’s room’ and as I walked by the mirror I saw to my embarrassment that my hair was a mess.  Here I was in meetings, acting perfectly normal, thinking everything is okay – while everybody else could clearly see my messy hair.  It was an embarrassing moment.

Everyone had been polite, no one had given me honest feedback.  They simply carried on the conversation but did not address the obvious issue staring them right in the face.  And there I was, oblivious.  I wish someone at the beginning would’ve said, “Welcome!  You’ve been on a journey, so let me show you to the men’s room so you can freshen up.”  That simple invitation to a look in the mirror would have been a good gift.

It became a learning moment, a perfect illustration of leaders who are not fully self-aware.  There are many leaders walking around, acting normal, unaware that everyone else can see that something is amiss.

Here’s one example:

In the fall of 2012 CREST conducted a survey of denominational leaders in Canada, asking them open-ended questions regarding pastors in the second half of life.  Statistics about pastors leaving the ministry in the second half of life are not encouraging.  So we asked these leaders their perspective of what’s going on:

• Their greatest concern was that some pastors had hit a plateau in their development.  They had stopped learning, and had become content with a certain set of repetitive actions.
• When it came to encouraging pastors to engage in lifelong learning, the biggest frustration was pastors are so busy “doing ministry” they didn’t see the flat-lined trajectory of their life.
• The result was stuck pastors and stuck churches.

Here’s the irony: stuck pastors are pretending that everything is okay.  They are “acting normal,” putting on a bold face, shaking hands confidently.  But people can sense that something’s not quite right.  In the end, we cannot hide the truth of our lives.  We think we are fooling people, but actually it is plainly evident to everyone.

This is true of everyone at midlife.

It’s not just pastors; we all need to take a good look at ourselves.  You have been on an intense life journey, running from one responsibility to another.  It’s time to stop and take a look in the mirror – your life is likely ruffled in spots.  The fact is, we cannot hide our issues – they are evident to everybody around us. So we might as well get honest, face them, and with God’s help, change.

Here’s a mirror …

The CREST Leadership Program is a mirror you can hold up to your life; take a good, honest look and see what everybody else is seeing.  This is not just for pastors – it’s for anyone who would like to take a look and freshen up their lives. And here’s the good news – if you become honestly self-aware, you can change and people will see it. We have numerous examples of CREST students reporting that people have seen a change in their life.  It’s a wonderful thing when people confirm that you are growing, learning, and becoming more effective in your life and leadership.

Here’s an invitation …

So let me give you the invitation I wished someone had given me … “Hello, friend. You’ve been on a busy journey for quite some time. Come on in and freshen up.”

Click HERE to check out ‘the mirror.’
HERE for cohort options.
HERE to sign up.
HERE for Sabbatical ideas.

Surviving the Highway of Death

The North Yungas Road in Bolivia used to be known as the highway of death. Hundreds of people went over the edge every year.

Mid-life can also be dangerous. Somewhere in the second half of the journey there is a sharp bend in the road, and many leaders miss the turn. At CREST Leadership we are waving the flag to mid-life leaders, warning them of the bend in the road. We are trying to tell you — there is a significant shift that happens in the second half of life!

Approximately one in four will make the turn; three out of four need a guided process to navigate the turn successfully. At the bottom of the cliff are ambulances, counsellors, therapists, lawyers and wounded people. The cost is enormous.

This is the North Yungas road today.

On the other side of that bend,   your best years are ahead of you. The shift is not a quick fix though; it is a journey. A one-off seminar won’t do it. We’re here to help you widen the road, put down pavement and install guardrails on your leadership so you can lead safely, effectively and passionately.

CREST has helped leaders flourish for 10 years. We know the road. Invest in your journey and flourish!

Join a cohort starting in 2013:

Ontario – deadline to sign up is February 1, 2013

BC – deadline to sign up is February 22, 2013

Alberta – deadline to sign up is March 8, 2013

Cycling down the North Yungas Road

Then an old man remarked, “It’s a marvel to me
that people give far more attention
to repairing results than to stopping the cause,
when they’d much better aim at prevention.

From a poem by Joseph Malins, 1895

“Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it,” said Edmund Burke. While this is bemoaned of governments, it is also true of people — like you and me. If we don’t know our own history, we are destined to repeat our mistakes.

The end of the year is an excellent opportunity to make sure we know our own history. Here are some practical suggestions …

Ask yourself three key questions:

 1.  “What happened?”

This is the normal place to start. The fact that you remember something is the first indicator that it was significant. You don’t remember everything about this past year; in fact, that is the important role of memory – sorting through the thousands of events and storing the important ones. Brain research indicates that’s what’s going on during your REM sleep.

If you are like me, you may find it challenging to bring up much more than what happened last week, let alone the whole year! And this is why Burke says people repeat their mistakes – they have forgotten their history, and have not brought forward the learning of experience.

So … we have to pay more attention. Here’s a way: flip back through your calendar.  It’s surprising how much we do remember, but it’s just below the conscious recall level. A calendar will help you bring it up from the subconscious memory bank.

 2.  “How did you feel about those events?”

Explore the memory by recalling your feelings. They are attached to your memories, and with a bit of reflection you will be able to recall them.

Why is this important? Because emotions are reliable indicators of your values. When you feel excited or joyful about something, the event or experience is affirming your values. If something makes you fearful or angry, then a core value is being threatened or trampled. Processing the emotional memory of events is an insight into what is core to you.

Go back through your journal for the year. If you do not journal it is likely that many of the good lessons learned in your experience will be lost, and you may have to go through the lessons again (echoes of Edmund Burke). A good journaling habit is one of the best ways to capture the deeper thinking of your history.

 3.  “What have you learned from those events?”

Humans instinctively seek for meaning. Without a coherent meaning our lives feel worthless, without hope.

If ‘all things work together for good,’ then what is the good? What have you learned about yourself? About others?

Kirkegaard’s aphorism is that “Life is lived forward, but understood backwards.” It’s at the end of the year looking back that you are most likely to get the best understanding of what happened. Reading your journal entries later is an intriguing experience. You may see things from a different perspective. This is when you get the gold from digging through your memories.

Write it up in your journal

Recording all this into your journal is an excellent way to hold on to the lessons God is giving you through your life’s experiences. Experience is the most powerful teacher – if we are paying attention. Without attention, we don’t learn and we end up repeating mistakes. Edmund Burke was right.

Christmas is the annual reminder of our faith history – that God became man, lived among us, and showed us the way to the abundant life. If we lose memory of this history …

CREST Leadership has mentored leaders just like you for over 10 years. And after a decade of practice and hundreds of survey responses from people at midlife, CREST is now launching a new version of our life and leadership program that is more accessible and affordable!

CREST 3.0

In one year, find the foundation from which leadership influence flows. Get this clear, and everything else flows much more naturally.

We have found a way to reduce the two biggest hindrances from signing up for CREST: time and money.

• Time reduced:
  • Now a one-year commitment (with an optional second year)
  • Three Encounters instead of four (Encounter = three-day intensive retreat)

• Cost reduced:
  • from $3900 to $2500
  • Content sharpened: the ‘Best of CREST’ from 10 years experience
  • More coaching: eight sessions
  • More interactive learning in each Encounter
  • High impact leadership tools you can apply immediately after each Encounter

Check out 3.0 HERE

If you were thinking of signing up, this is the time. It will never be more affordable than this.

We have new cohorts starting in BC, Alberta and Ontario in 2013.

Here’s why we are so excited to work with midlife leaders … if there`s any group of people with potential, it’s YOU!    

Our survey with hundreds of midlife leaders indicates you are serious about living a life that matters, that you want to leave a positive legacy. This is deep within you.

But “finishing well” is not automatic or easy; there are real and direct challenges to that goal. The research tells us that three out of four leaders need a guided process.

CREST’s speciality is helping midlife adults make the transition to a resilient second half.

CREST 3.0 has the map:

• A one year learning journey
• Gives you a map to bring clarity to your midlife journey
• Provides life coaching at no extra charge
• Shows you how to build a resilient life
• Gives you leadership tools you can apply immediately
• Creates the environment to do this with others – you are not alone on this journey 

Sign up HERE; your life is worth it.

And here’s how you can come FREE!

The value of the CREST experience is amplified when you bring others from your leadership team. Compassion Canada’s CEO, Board Chair and team of VPs did just that.   Click HERE for their story.

Recruit four or more from your team, aside from yourself, and your tuition is free.

Click HERE to find an upcoming CREST cohort near you.