- livingthedash.tv

I recently finished reading an early copy of Tony Morgan’s new book, Killing Cockroaches.

Here are 10 reasons you should read this book…….

1) The book contains lots of Top 10 lists

A few of my favorites…..10 Stupidest Leadership Mistakes I’ve Made, 10 Signs Your Not Ready For Change, & 10 Easy Ways to Make Church Services More Boring

2) Andy Stanley wouldn’t write the foreward for a bad book

3) The foreword is sandwiched between ‘Enter at Your Own Risk’ and ‘Prepare for an Adventure’

4) The book actually contains 4 easy steps for killing cockroaches

5) Tony is not your ordinary pastor

Tony rejects the status quo and takes an innovative, creative, and cutting-edge approach to ministry.  Naturally, that makes some in the church world a little uncomfortable.  Seth Godin might even call him a “heretic”.  Fortunately, in today’s world “heretics” have popular blogs and get their books published.

6) Tony’s church is not your ordinary church

Newspring Church, led by Senior Pastor Perry Noble, exists for one simple mission:  To make Jesus famous, one life at a time.  Perry and Tony have a passionate and strategic laser-focus on that mission and, as a result, Newspring Church is making a big impact in Anderson, SC and beyond.

7) All of the 100+ blog post-like chapters are in alphabetical order

How did he do that?  Also, many of the chapters are creatively titled.  The titles make you want to read more.  A few of my favorite titles…….Actions Speak Louder Than Advertising, Christians Sound Different, Giant Inflatable Blue Monkeys, How Would Apple Do Church?, and I’m Just Not That Interested In God

8) Tony has a great blog.  This book reads like a series of blog posts.  That makes for a great book.

9) This book has lots of great interviews

A few of my favorites……..Seth Godin, Guy Kawasaki, Penelope Trunk, Mark Batterson, Steven Furtick, and Craig Groeschel

10) This book is not just for church leaders

Tony is in the church world, but he keeps a close eye on the strategies, marketing, branding, communications, and innovation of America’s businesses.  I’m in the business world, but I keep a close eye on what is happening in the church.  I believe the business world and the church world still have lots to learn from each other.  The “scattered musings on leadership” contained in this book are for leaders of all types.

Get your copy of Killing Cockroaches here.  Also available on the Kindle here.

- My church, Fellowship of The Woodlands, is now Woodlands Church.  One church. 3 Locations.  Now on Twitter @woodlandschurch

- The greatest QB ever wants to be on your football team.  And you want to pay him $25 million not be on your football team.  I don’t get that.  And neither does Mark.

- Pastor John Burke of Gateway Church in Austin is now blogging here.  Looking forward to hearing him speak @ Leadership Summit this week.

- Excited about vacationing here next week.  On our way there, we are going to check out Cross Point Church in Nashville and say hi to a few of my favorite bloggers….Pete & Anne

- Ben is making history with posts On Innovation and One Great Idea.

- CEO, Michael Hyatt is Creating a Sense of Urgency.

- Perry answers the question….”Is it OK for a Christian to Drink Alcohol?“

In the sidebar of my blog you will find a section titled Look What I Found.

This is where I share my Google Reader Shared Items with you.

Here’s some stuff I shared recently……..

• matthew wrote a cool letter to his son…..his unborn son
• tony shares some thoughts on Generation Y and what that means to the future workplace
• michael provides some advice on how to win the email battle
• mark offers some blogging tips….great tips from a great blogger
• perry tells a funny yet powerful wedding story
• carlos shared a clever Father’s Day message
• tony listed a Who’s Who of Web Apps
• pete turns his Sunday message into a Monday conversation here, here, & here

I have only been blogging for a few months, but I have been a blog reader for about 3 years.

Here are some blogs that I have discovered during that time that you might want to check out.

• everything designed – a brand new blog by Larry Lundstrom, Pastor of Innovation Technologies at my church, Fellowship of The Woodlands

• Entrepreneur In Training – a friend of mine blogs about his journey to launch a start-up company called Supplier View.

• Blogs that teach me, inspire me, and strengthen my faith – Perry Noble, Mark Batterson, Tony Morgan

• 2 ‘must read’ business blogs – Signal vs. Noise, Seth Godin

• A new favorite – Pete Wilson at withoutwax.tv

• Some cool blogs that people might not know about – Jenni Catron, Strategy Central

I stepped away from blogging for a few days last week while I attended a conference in Las Vegas.

It was my first time in Las Vegas and I must say it was even bigger and brighter and more spectacular than I expected.

I saw this quote from Perry Noble on Tony Morgan’s blog today………

I’m sick and tired of Las Vegas and Hollywood outdoing the church.

Well, after 3 days in Las Vegas, I can confirm that Las Vegas is outdoing the church.

They are putting more money into their message.

They are putting more effort into their message.

They are more effectively using technology for their message.

They are more innovative at conveying their message.

They are more creative at communicating their message.

I am so thankful for all the pastors that have decided that our message is worthy of our best effort, technology, innovation, creativity, and money.