Please remember the ones who can't forget, the soldiers forever trying to get home, trying to let go, to be okay...

To soldiers and to the friends and family of soldiers, we pause to acknowledge you today, to say that you matter. The things you've seen, the things you've lost, the battles that you fight, the dreams that steal your sleep - may we never call them small.

And we apologize today, for the ways that we forget, for the ways that we are selfish, for our lack of understanding. Perhaps the ones who've never been there, we can't begin to comprehend words like "war" and "fight" and "home." We don't know what they weigh and what they cost.

To the ones who fought for peace and freedom, we pray those things for you. We pray rest and hope and healing, and innocence again. We pray for people who will listen and the strength in you to speak. May other people know you, walk with you in the questions and recovery. May you get the help you need, the help that you deserve.

Today, we say that we see you, and not only as a soldier but also as a person. Someone not unlike us. You are significant. You are not forgotten.

Finally, humbly, thank you.

Peace to you today.
Jamie

(From Jamie Tworkowski of To Write Love On Her Arms)

Mark Batterson is the founding pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC, and best-selling author of several books, including his most recent Primal. I always appreciate the chance to sit down with Mark, because he constantly challenges me to read more, create more, lead more, and live more. His next great adventure in a few days- swimming from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco! Amazing.

In this conversation we talk about his latest book, the great commandment vs. the great commission, the need to stay focused as a leader, and some new projects he is working on.

Mark Batterson, Part One from Brad Lomenick on Vimeo.

Michael Hyatt has an interesting blog series on Leadership Questions.

Here are the questions he's asked so far, and some of the answer. Click on the question to read the whole blog post.

Who Has Impacted Your Leadership the Most

  Robert Wolgemuth because of his:
  Integrity, Responsiveness & Gratitude

What are the Most Important Leadership Decisions

  Vision, Strategy & People

How Can You Keep Inspiration Alive

  - Connect people to the larger story
  - Remind people why they matter
  - Resist creating new policies
  - Set the pace for what you expect in others

How Do You Encourage Creative Thinking

  - Hold my own counsel
  - Enlist outside resources
  - Affirm creative thinking
  - Create a safe environment

Where Do the Great Ideas Come From

  - Outside the organization
  - People in Administrative roles
  - People in middle management
  - Even from Senior Management

  To cultivate the best ideas I do the following:
  - Retain a beginner's mind
  - Be attentive to what you are hearing
  - Don't worry about who gets the credit

Thanks, Michael, for sharing your leadership wisdom with us!

Tim Stevens of Granger Community Church recently blogged We Have a Statistical Problem - the problem of reaching non-churched people, despite the phenomenal growth of many seeker friendly churches. Here's an excerpt:

I don’t pretend to have studied the demographics in each of those areas, but in general, my sense is there is something about the “come to us” model that isn’t working to expand the gospel. Yes, it’s working for who it’s working for. But it’s not working to curb the decline of the American church overall. And that, my friends, is a statistical problem.

Some popular authors and speakers are saying it’s time to give up on church as we’ve known it. Leave the “attractional model” behind and become “missional” instead.

I don’t think it’s an either/or. I think there is an AND in the conversation that we are missing.

Go here to read the rest of his arguments: We Have a Statistical Problem.

According to a recent article from The Christan Post, the total number of US churches is no longer in decline. Based on research from Ed Stetzer & Warren Bird, revealed in their new book, 3,500 US churches close their doors every year, while 4,000 new ones are starting every year!

They attribute this to the recent popularity of church planting movements happening in the Church.

Interesting quotes from the article:
"...research shows that new churches fare better when it comes to drawing new people and they have a higher ratio of conversions and baptisms compared to more established churches, according to Viral Churches."

"'The only way to increase the number of Christians in a city is to plant thousands of new churches,' said Tim Keller, founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, according to Viral Churches."

"Growing churches make up only about 20 percent of all U.S. churches today. The rest have reached a plateau or are declining."

Read the article for all the deets: Total U.S. Churches No Longer in Decline, Researchers Say