Women and Fire

Hey, did you get a chance to read the blog post I linked yesterday? It asked the question "Where are all the female communicators in the church?" Most of the comments both there and here are variations on the same theme: they're still in the church, but their voice has been silenced by I Timothy 2. I would agree that doctrine is a big part of it, but I think it's more than that.

I am a credentialed minister in the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel which was founded by the decidedly non-silent Aimee Semple McPherson. Aimee was a controversial and dynamic woman. Whether you love or loathe her, you have to admit that she was one of the most effective and creative communicators of her day. When is the last time people were lined up around the block, waiting to get into your church because they were so excited to hear the message? That's the kind of speaker Aimee was. She was also an absolute force to be reckoned with, but that's a post for another time.

My point in all this is: many denominations are very solidly in the anti-women-speaking camp doctrinally. My denomination is not at all in that camp. Foursquare believes corporately that women can be speakers, teachers, missionaries and senior pastors. So, you would think that Foursquare would be crawling with female communicators, yes? Well...not really.

I read a statistic recently that said when Aimee Semple McPherson was the head of the denomination (in the late 1930's and early 40's), 59% of those being licensed and ordained were women. Fast forward 50 years and less than 5% of Foursquare licensees are women.

What gives? Part of it, I think, is that in order for people to attempt something that hasn't been accepted in the past, they don't just need permission - they need encouragement and role models. Aimee didn't just believe that God could use a woman to speak, she went first. And after that, she grabbed a bunch of other women by the hand and said, "You can do it too!"

Please know that this blog is not to prove that it's okay doctrinally for women to speak to men or anyone else. I had to wrestle that out in my life and I'm really clear on my position, and you'll have to wrestle it out in yours. But if you do arrive in a place where you can confidently say, "I believe that our gracious God wants to use me as a communicator in His beautiful House," you will run into plenty of people who disagree and plenty who don't really care. You may not, however, find very many who are willing to become a friend to your dream. More than almost anything else, that is what I would like to be: a strength to women with the fire of the Word of God locked up inside. I'd also love to be a cheerleader for the men of God who are willing to give those ladies the chance to stand behind a pulpit let that fire roll. In that regard, I think the world needs a lot more people like Aimee.


Hoping to start some fires,

Bo

Once Upon a Time: the Story of Introductions

One of my favorite parts of message-development is working on the introduction. It used to be the first thing I tackled but now I've learned to save it for later...it's sometimes even the last thing I write. I just find it much more interesting to introduce a message that I've gotten to know than a message I haven't really met yet.

To me, the introduction is the Once Upon a Time...it doesn't tell the whole story, but it invites us to know more. It leads us to a beautiful (or funny or scary or ugly) door and then turns the handle, urging us to step through and find out what's waiting on the other side. At its best, the introduction poses a question or a problem that we can all understand and relate to. It sets each of us off on our own search for the answer or the solution.

I once taught about unforgiveness and how it keeps us in emotional prison. As I wrote the message, I kept hearing in the back of my head, "Take the keys and lock her up..." That's a line everyone knows and it's frankly a little creepy which is exactly what I wanted. Because hey - if in the first five minutes of a my message people are thinking:

unforgiveness = creepy prison cell

...big WIN! They've already done most of the speaking work for me! My intro, therefore, was a quick review on the crazy and sometimes violent rhymes that we teach to our adorable and unsuspecting children...and the last one I mentioned was London Bridges which transitioned perfectly into the main theme of the message. The line "take the keys and lock her up" also became a mini-mantra that made an appearance a couple of times during the message as well as at the very end.

I think that speakers often give too much set up in the beginning. Let's look again:

"Today, we're going to talk about forgiveness and how it sets you free from emotional prison and we're going to look at how Joseph was able to get out of prison and forgive his brothers and then I'm going to invite you to forgive people who have hurt you as well."

It's truth. And it's definitely what the message will be about, but it doesn't intrigue or invite me into the story. It gives all the answers before convincing me that there's a question.

A good introduction is worth its 4 minutes of weight in gold...and the real gold of public speaking is "eyes up front" (i.e. attentiveness). Every speaker has to earn credibility (that's another post) and the attention of her audience (that's this post, in case you stopped paying attention.) The introduction is a powerful chance to launch a lovely lasso and draw your listener into the heart of what God wants to say.

What do you think? Do you like intros? Loathe them? Struggle with them? Think they're a necessary evil? Do tell!

Where are all the Female Communicators?

Later today I'll put up a new post, but my friend, Ryan, sent me this link and I think it's really interesting and important. Where are all the female communicators in the church?

I have some theories I'll share tomorrow, but I'd love to hear your thoughts today...

Clear vs. Compelling

The old speaking adage goes: 1. Tell them what you're gonna tell them. 2. Tell them. 3. Tell them what you told them.

Can you imagine if movies were structured that way?

1. The wife will be killed and the husband will then get revenge on all the bad guys except the one who will get away.
2. So, the wife is killed and the husband goes on a rampage, avenging his wife's death and killing all the bad guys. Except one gets away.
3. The wife was killed. The husband killed all but one bad guy.

Sigh. Boring.

I love messages with a storyline. Messages that take me on a ride through a question or a problem, a possible solution and a call to action make me feel like I was able to discover truth and not just listen to a talker. I get that the theory behind this technique is clarity and I love clarity - but I believe it can be delivered in a compelling sort of way.

Tomorrow - and all this week - we'll be looking at easy ways to give messages some tension and mystery to help audiences engage in fresh, new ways.

So, what do you think of the old adage? Would you use it yourself? Do you think it works? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

5 Ways to avoid picturing people in their underwear

I would love to know what knucklehead first came up with the idea for scared speakers, "Just picture everyone in their underwear." In what universe is being surrounded by nearly-naked people more relaxing? It's truly terrible advice.

The thing is, though, that no matter how many times I speak, I generally deal with nerves at some point in the process. Here are some things I've discovered that have worked:

1. THIS IS WAR
God picked David to take out Goliath and He has - for whatever reason - asked you to tackle this speaking assignment. Close your eyes for a minute and imagine all the things that might have been going through His heart when He chose you to communicate His truth to this particular group. How might you grow from it? How might they? How can He be glorified, even in the middle of your anxiety?

2. COURAGE IS POWERFUL
I've found that instead of asking Him to take away all the fear, it's sometimes more effective to simply ask for the gift of courage. Jesus didn't promise His disciples that He would remove all the scary snakes and scorpions (Luke 10:19), but rather that they would have authority to stomp on them. Need some stomping strength from the Word? Here you go: Deut. 31:6, 2 Chronicles 20:15 & 17, Psalm 31, Romans 8:15, 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 John 4:18.

3. BREATHE
It's amazing how often I forget this one very important skill. Deep breath in, deep breath out.

4. THE BUDDY SYSTEM
Speaking outside of my church (where people already know and love me) is more intimidating and so I've learned to take someone who does know and love me along for the ride. When I run out of bravery, it's good to have someone there to pray and cheer-lead and say, "You can do this!" If all else fails, they can remind you to picture people in their underwear. (Check out what strong friends did for Paul's courage in Acts 28:15)

5. HOW DO YOU GET TO CARNEGIE HALL? PRACTICE!
Nothing gives me more violent jitters than the feeling of being unprepared. For me, being fully prepared involves about 20 hours of work (I'll post on my prep process soon), but for you it may look different. Whatever makes you feel ready to roll, do it. If you need notes, use them. If notes get in your way then practice your talk enough to be able to leave the notes behind. One thing that is absolutely non-negotiable for me is a little bit of practice. Musicians practice. Athletes practice. Speakers really, really need to practice. More on this down the road.

So that's five quick ways that I tackle the tumultuous speaking stomach. How do you deal with fear?

First things first.

I am incredibly blessed to be able to make a living doing what I love most: communicating life changing truth to all kinds of people. My ministry resume, however, includes lots of years of filling holes. Are you familiar? Hole-filling is the season of doing whatever needs to be done while you figure out what you would really like to do. For me, that meant spending time hugging babies in the nursery, cleaning the restrooms, folding bulletins and all manner of other odd jobs before I discovered and landed in what I think is my sweet spot. That season of learning and serving and searching and discovering was more important and invaluable than I can say.

So, for about eight years now, I have served as a teaching pastor at Westside Church. I teach in our weekend services, our college interns program, youth ministry, discipleship venues and anywhere else they need me to teach. I also speak at conferences outside our church and I love that part of my life as well. After years of maintaining a schedule of about 100 gigs annually, some of which were wildly successful and others I would love to have permanently expunged from my memory bank, I've learned a lot about what works and why.

But I haven't learned everything. Not by a long shot.

So, I decided to build a little cybercity where we could all gather our favorite resources, tips, tricks and new ideas for those who are working to powerfully communicate the outrageous love of our amazing God. So, whether you speak to 2 or 2000, I hope you find something here that excites and encourages you.

Good times ahead,

Bo