Comments on: Why do I always find myself critiquing?

By: tony morgan

tony morgan — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:32:27 +0000

You’d think differently if you ate my rice.

tony

By: nicetomeetyou

nicetomeetyou — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:47:53 +0000

Hi I am Buddhist and we have a great insight on this: One should not peer into another’s ricebowl trying to find faults.

By: Wes H.

Wes H. — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:58:22 +0000

I am not a member of the catalyst filter subscription website, but I wonder if it would be there. it is supposed to have a lot of the archived messages.

By: Sheila Branscombe

Sheila Branscombe — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:16:57 +0000

I couldn’t have read this at a better moment. As with Bill Simmons, I too am both critical AND a critical thinker. If an environment has not fostered a culture of critiquing, or if one does not have some positional authority or relationship, then offering up one’s critical thoughts may be perceived as simply being negative or critical. Sometimes it is the presentation of information and the spirit in which it is delivered that makes it perceived as critical/negative. When I am critiquing, I am usually looking at the big picture and trying to figure out the how and whys, the connections and the outcomes. But honestly sometimes I am just frustrated at the lack of critiquing in churches and that makes me critical! LOL.

On that note, I just want to add a big thanks to Willow Creek in pioneering the evaluation/ research of church! Way to go!

By: alex mclean

alex mclean — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:01:12 +0000

Wow. You have given me hope - all this time I thought it was just me (Ok, not really - but I do find myself in the minority). Thanks for sharing all those resources. On my way to read up.

By: Laura McGill

Laura McGill — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:49:52 +0000

It’s in a boxed set of cds- Andy Stanley’s “The Best of Catalyst” - available through North Point - really great stuff! Not sure if it’s online or not.

By: Larry Boatright

Larry Boatright — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:00:12 +0000

Hey Tony
I don’t see where to listen online, but I think I found this talk over on Catalyst’s website under a Best of Andy Stanley CD offering…. here’s the link… http://estore.injoy.com/shopinjoy/product.asp?memid=31&pagevarid=163&pf%5Fid=CDC0707&dept%5Fid=700

It’s only 39 bucks for 6 messages…

Hope that helps!
larryboatright

By: john in colorado

john in colorado — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:45:12 +0000

this is SO helpful. last night our church launched a new service on sunday evening aiming for 20somethings. it was SO tough to try to get into the service because i am critical AND a critical thinker. i left asking myself this same exact question. my challenge now is to be encouraging to the leaders of the team and then express my thoughts in the right moment.

By: Bill Simmons

Bill Simmons — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:54:04 +0000

Tony:

This month I am celebrating my 20th year of ministry as a church leader. I struggled personally with this issue in the early years. Partly because I was insecure and wanted others to approve in my leadership.

Something changed about 10 years ago. I had a friend help me understand the difference between being “critical” and being a “critical thinker.” He affirmed my leadership as a critical thinker. This was liberating to my personal development and understanding.

Being critical is about seeing what is “wrong” and declaring what seems inadequate. Being a critical thinker is about viewing the environments around us and constantly asking how things can be improved. Critical thinkers are problems-solvers. Critical people just point their finger at the problem.

I challenge our team to be critical thinkers and invite them to share what they are seeing.

By: Jim Moss

Jim Moss — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:19:31 +0000

Tony,
Thanks for the incredible insight. I’ve struggled through these feelings for the past several years. Just got through reading Andys articles and I’m now on my way to print them off. Thanks for sharing. You Rock!