Forget Excellence...

...think "remarkable" instead.

Excellence is subjective and overwhelming.

Remarkable is doable: a small tweak and improvement to the “normal” that surprises people.

The pursuit of excellence feels like a never-ending journey.
     How do we know we've arrived?

The pursuit of remarkable is done in incremental steps.
     Success (and failure) is easily measured.
         Each failed step teaches.
         Each successful step builds momentum and creates a new (and better) normal.

You can pursue excellence and never be remarkable.

A steady pursuit of the right kind of remarkable will always equal excellence.

- - -
Want to know more about being remarkable? Read Purple Cow* by Seth Godin.

Want some practical ideas for pursuing remarkable? Here are ten.**

What's one thing you you've done (or thought about doing) to make your worship gathering more remarkable.

Drop me a note in the comments section or shoot me a quick thought on Twitter (@jonnicol). 
Thanks! ~jon

* Full disclosure: this is an affiliate link, meaning that if you buy it through this link, and I make untold riches (about 85 cents). I only endorse a product that I love and think you might too.

**This one is free!

Small Church/Big Worship - 2 or 3 More Numbers That Matter...

In the last SC/BW post, we talked about numbers. Numbers matter. We can't scale NorthWillowBackHillPoint down to 100 people. These large churches have more people on staff than most churches have, well, people.

But there are a few numbers that are common denominators, and no size church gets to claim sole ownership.


The first number is ONE. One God who sent his one (and only) Son. One who died for all. One who was resurrected and ascended, who sent His Spirit to make us one as He and the Father are One.

The other number is two. Or three. Gathered in Jesus' name, that is. He promises he'll be there among us. The trick is the preceding verse - if two or three agree.

Let's start by agreeing on a few things
1. We can't out-megachurch a megachurch.
Kmart couldn't out-Walmart Walmart. It almost died trying. Target didn't try. Target found their own a niche as a trendy discount store with insanely effective marketing. So be unique. You have an amazing mix of talents and gifts in your church that have positioned you to make a unique impact for the Kingdom. We have to quit trying to accomplish another church's mission. Let's tap into the One and figure out what us 2 or 3 (or 120) should be asking for in His name.


2. "Excellence" is nauseating.
I was with a young pastor who was telling me about how "excellence" was one of his church's key values. Even the way people like him say it - "EX-sel-lenz!" (I just threw up a little in my mouth.) The whole excellence thing is important - and I know where he was coming from: smaller churches have been notorious for phoning in many aspects of corporate worship. But excellence is SOOO subjective. And it's so easy to get caught up in trying to "be excellent" and forget to "be His."

I like the word 'remarkable' instead. Remarkable only requires that we go beyond expectations in some way. Your coffee might be Kroger brand and served in white Styrofoam. Your worship center may still have orange carpet (and matching pew cushions). Your band may only have two guitars a keyboard player. But if they can come together as trio (and not try to be the Hillsong-esque rock band), and play fitting arrangements, and draw in the crowd of 75 people to experience true worship of Jesus - now that's remarkable. You might just have someone "exclaiming, 'God is really among you!'"

It won't matter that your coffee sucks.