Chris Bean

Been awhile since I’ve finished a book! Although I have 5 or 6 in progress, actually reading one through to the end has proven challenging over the summer. But this particular book was part of my professional development as a campus minister with the CCO. Though not what you would call “required” reading, it’s a book that my supervisor referenced as an inside look at his own style and approach to leadership.

Early in the book Allender discusses the question “Who is a leader?” and makes several great points. We often limit leadership to an elite group of slick, effective, and polished individuals…even in the church. But this author correctly points out that “Anyone who wrestles with an uncertain future on behalf of others–anyone who uses her gifts, talents, and skills to influence the direction of others for the greater good–is a leader.”

Later on he says “You find your greatest effectiveness as a leader when you lead with a distinct limp.” This is perhaps the central point of the book and his philosophy of leaders which he bases on Paul’s own style and claims in the New Testament to be the “chief of sinners.” Paul even prays for a failure/limp/obstacle to be removed but acknowledges that Christ’s strength is made perfect and put on display through our weakness.

In a church culture of success-driven and C.E.O’esque patterns of leadership, this is not necessarily a popular concept. For a leader to admit weakness, failure, sin, anger, pride, narcissism, struggle, etc?!? But consider the whole point of leadership from a Kingdom perspective. It’s not about making the leader look good, effective, or successful. It’s about bringing glory to God and influencing people towards the Kingdom through reconciled relationships.

In a section on exhaustion and disillusionment these words prescribe wisely: “To reduce chaos and complexity in our lives, we must build in margins and set boundaries; we have to limit what we do.” And in the same vein, “Busyness…is moral laziness because it involves refusing to live with courage and intentionality.”

The final chapter I would call attention to has to do with calling. In my own personal experience, wrestling with the notion of calling and identity in ministry has been one of my greatest challenges over the past several years. I’m still steeping in the brew created by this statement: “Our calling, however, i soften shaped as much by our weaknesses as by our strengths.” Allender acknowledges that this style of leadership may not be for everyone and we need to ask some difficult questions of ourselves. Additionally, the context within which we seek to live out our calling (which should be all about character development…spiritual maturity of ourselves and those we lead) is extremely important.

Does anyone remember that game perfection? You set the timer and you try to put all the shapes where they belong before your heart pounds out of your chest from the dreaded inevitable buzzer?!? In my own leadership/ministry journey over the past few years…I felt as though I kept trying to ‘fit’ myself into the right spot. I felt like a square peg with only round holes being offered as my context for leadership and calling. With a lot of grace, guidance, and wise counsel…I learned some of the things this author speaks of regarding calling and context.

I resonate with much of the book and find that it’s particularly helpful in positioning myself to be lead by someone who leads with a distinct limp.

I had a preliminary visit to this cafe a few days ago with a friend. I ordered a cappuccino and he had a double espresso. Today I’m having the drip coffee…so that gives me enough experience with their drinks and cafe to give them my unofficial crit. 

Coffee Shop #4: Coffee Emporium–Downtown Cincinnati Location

I really had not planned on visiting this location so early in the process since I reviewed their Hyde Park location as my first stop. But I recently found myself downtown with a friend looking for a good cup of coffee so we stopped here.

As I walked into the cafe, the first thing that caught my attention was the roasterie to the left. It’s always good to find locally roasted coffee. Unfortunately, the atmosphere was tainted with too many flavored coffees on display as you make your way to the bar area. I’m NOT a fan of flavoring the bean. Feel free to add something to your coffee after you brew it…but flavoring coffee is like painting a bright gaudy color over the top of some beautiful piece of hand-made natural wood furniture. Now you know how I really feel! 

Having said that, C.E. does a nice job of roasting their coffee and offering a variety of options. I could choose from Ravens Blend (a dark roast), Guatemalan, Solstice, & a Vanilla flavored decaf some’in-some’in.

Drip Coffee score: 4 out of 5 stars

The cafe itself is spacious and decked out with a nice assortment of tables, couches, soft chairs, etc. Musical ambience is very appropriate but not overpowering. The girl at the register was quite personable while the barista was that perfect combination of intense, aloof, and confident.

There’s a great “third place” vibe and I hear there are some terrific musical events which occasionally provide an even greater allure. And although I usually don’t pay much attention to the food/menu…I will be back to try the Reuben…one of my favorite sandwiches ever. And the chocolate chip cookie is well worth the buck-fifty too.

Hospitality Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

On to the espresso! I could tell by the equipment (a 3-group La Marzoco and a pair of Mazzer grinders) and by watching the barista dose into the portafilter that this would be a quality experience of espresso. Sure enough, it was perfectly extracted shot of espresso with a beautiful crema. I was so excited to taste it that I forgot to take a picture to share with you. My ONLY complaint with this espresso is that it was a little dark and smoky for my taste. I like a little better balance of sweetness and acidity than this particular roast offered.

Espresso Score:  4.5 out of 5 stars

Where most cafes fail, this one excelled. The cappuccino was a perfect 8oz blend of espresso and beautifully steamed/aerated milk. Using my favorite bovine lactation…Snowville Creamery…certainly added to the richness and sweetness of the capp. And not only were all the components there, the drink was aesthetically perfect with a nice heart-shaped foam cap spanning the entire surface of the porcelain cup with a dark outline of the crema surrounding it. Although the “perfect cappuccino” is a very elusive find, I have no choice but to score this beverage as pretty much there.

Capp Score: 5 out of 5 stars.

Overall Score: 18 out of a possible 20

So not only is this cafe worth a visit, it’s probably worth driving downtown from the surrounding villages and burbs of Cincinnati…which is exactly what I did.

As I was sitting in a campus ministry training seminar today with my CCO peers, we were discussing ways in which theology should inform our understanding and application of the Gospel.

Faith & Repentance are the mechanisms by which we grow. Our guest speaker, David Kim from Gotham Fellowship in New York City (out of Redeemer Presbyterian Church w/ Tim Keller) pointed out that sanctification is the process by which we become more like Christ.

For some reason, images of Tony Horton and flashbacks of P90X workouts popped into my head. Tony calls it “muscle confusion.” That’s why those P90X workouts have so much variety and a 90-day rotation system. To make a muscle grow, you must force it to encounter resistance and in every-increasing doses. In addition to that, varying your routine keeps the muscle from becoming comfortable with a particular movement which results in a plateau.

This can certainly happen within the context of our sanctification and spiritual growth. Unless we are continually coming to a place of faith & repentance, the stream of our spiritual life becomes stagnant. Stagnant water stinks. There’s no flow…direction…energy.

Just a couple of evenings ago, I set aside some time for prayer and repentance. Over the past few months, for a variety of reasons, my sense of God’s presence and my own willingness to engage the Scriptures and prayer had become quite weak. This very lesson was being spoken to me by the Spirit and thankfully I responded (this time). The extent to which that time of prayer on Sunday evening restored my soul and transformed my mind continues to surprise me. In describing the experience to a friend, I likened it to the feeling of responding to God at a Thursday night youth camp service…when you walk away from a time of prayer and repentance feeling about 50 lbs lighter!

In order to continue a trajectory of spiritual growth…we must continually engage our faith muscles and do the heavy lifting of repentance.