"IT"

Just because I'm an I-T guy that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about "IT." Here's a little more detail. Soon our leadership team will begin reading a book by Craig Groeschel entitled "IT, how churches and leaders can get it and keep it"

Lately something has been happening with our team and our church. Before we have even ordered the book, I think we are beginning to see the signs of "it". What is "it" you might ask? If I could exactly detail it we might not be seeing it, but I'll try to explain the best that I can. When a football player has a break out game he knows he's got it. When someone who has dreamed or trained for something all of their lives they are not afraid to try it. When a business explodes not just because of their product but because they are it.

"It", is hard to describe, but you know when it's shown up because things start to go the right way, everyone is on the same page, people don't feel left out, people want to be a part of it. "It" changes the direction of the leadership, "it" sparks creativity, "it rises new leaders", "it" is when what should be starts to be. I'm beginning to see the signs of "it". I'm seeing it in my life, I'm seeing it in my home, I'm seeing it in our team, and now we are seeing "it" in our church. What's changed? How do we keep it? Here are a couple of things that I've seen and noticed?

1) Vision may be birthed out of a leader but it's accomplished through a team.
You'll never get "it" by yourself!

2) Give a chance for people to shine.
You never know what you might be missing if people don't get a chance to shine.

3) Give trophies more then tasks

• Trophies=appreciation, encouragement, quality time
• "It's not about giving somebody something to do, it's about making people feel valuable enough that they feel they can do anything."
• Value people and they will value the Vision

4) Notice progression in the small things.
It's easy to miss small progression when your living with a big vision.

Just a quick jot of my thoughts, I know i've been promising multiple blogs throughout the week but it's been so busy, sorry. Harvest Party is this Friday so we'll see how far blogging goes again this week.

When life gives you more questions then answers Pt. 1

Do you remember the first roller coaster you rode on? The first roller coaster I ever went on was called the Cyclone, I don't remember my age, but I know I was terrified and I went on it more because of peer pressure. Needless to say I had fun and went on the roller coaster several more times that same day. What's fun about going on a roller coaster for the first time is the speed, the uncertainty and the surprise.

You know life is a lot like a roller coaster, there are unexpected turns, unexpected drops, moments of exileration, moments of anticipation it's fun and crazy all at the same time. The unexpected is fun on a roller coaster but in life it's not fun. It's amazing how we can have faith in the engineer and mechanic of a roller coaster more then the engineer and mechanic of our life. Anytime you do something great for God you will often find yourself living with the unknown. What's known, is God, and he does not change. What's known, His word and it's eternal? What's known, I am a child of God and He promises never to leave me. Find peace in what's known about God and what's true of your position in Christ. Leave the uknown to God...

Ever feel like your missing out?

I haven't been able to blog this week because I had some major projects dumped on me at work. So I just wanted to share a quick thought? Back to the question, Ever feel like your missing out? Kinda feeling like that. This week Catalyst 2008 started. I really wanted to attend last year but we never had a chance and this year I didn't even try. Catalyst is a Next Gen Leadership conference with incredible speakers and incredible worship. I saw a pic tonight of the worship and it looked awesome. I was looking forward for my wife and I to share this weekend with the team but it never happened, but there will be other times, other conferences, and other events. This year has gone by so quickly, I can't believe it's over in less then three months. I want to go out with a bang. The clock is ticking... Every day has to matter. There's an urgency in my life to do the things that are important with my spiritual life, my family, my relationships, and ministry with excellence more than ever. I want and I need to get better, I just want to live my life well. It's funny how something like missing a conference can speak to your life. My goal is to squeeze as much out of these last three months of 08 as possible. Doesn't mean being busier it just means being better. I dont want to miss out.

Are you in over your head?

Last week I read a quote that couldn't of come at a better time. It spoke to my life so much because it was exactly what I was feeling. So here it is:

"I’m learning that the only way to allow God to truly use you is to be in over your head. From Abraham, to Moses, to David, to Ester, to Paul, we see time and time again God showing His power through men and women who earnestly sought God to accomplish what they could never do on their own."

You've heard the saying life is a marathon not a sprint. Their are times when you feel like life is a sprint and you have the energy, the passion, the zeal to do it. I truly believe you have to take advantage of those seasons because the time is limited I call those "my burst times". Then you come to the "place of the in between." Just like a marathon runner who is in between stages, in between those cups of precious water, in between that next landmark. The times of in between really remind you that you are in over your heard. It's reality check time, it's heart check time, it's discipline check time. The problem is, the "in between" is an area where most folks just check out. I faced an in between time last week. I needed that precious cup of water and could not see it. I remember asking my pastor a few months ago "How and what do you do when you feel like you just don't have it for the upcoming Sunday, when you feel like someone else should preach" The response I received was " I preach anyway thats when my best sermons come out." Sunday morning went incredible I felt effective even though I was in the place of in between. What I learned was that your cup of water could be closer then you think so don't check out, check into the presence of God, your heart, your discipline all those things that I mentioned last week that make you the best you. Secondly, the in between will last as long as it's needed. I've learned so much in the last 10 days even feeling so drained mentally and spiritually. Had I not refelected on where I was at and what was needed I could still be in the "in between." If you feel like your in over your head, your in a good place it just means your chasing a God dream instead of a dream that's your own. I will post more on the times of "Burst" and "In between" thoughout the week. Keep running the race! Stay in over your head!

Fishing Routine Pt. 2

I remember when I was little my brother and I got a Nintendo entertainment system for Christmas one year. We must of stood up playing Super Mario Brothers all night. One game that we loved was a game called Contra. It was a two player shooting game that was a lot of fun. I remember being stuck on certain levels and though the game would never end. Anyway we finally beat the game and continued to play it even after beating it, we would even try and pass the game without dying. Pretty good huh?

Sounds a little like life? Sometimes we are just stuck playing the same game in journaling, marriage, parenting and our spiritual life. I'm not talking about playing church or stuff I'm talking about remaining at the same level. God desires to take you from "Glory to Glory" from one level to the next. So you put in the new game cartridge of life, new chapter, new season whatever you want to call it you go to a new level, but your discipline, standards, and heart remain the same. In other words my life is being called to a different level on the outside then my inside can handle. Here's what happens when the inside doesn't match the outside, everything is effected relationships, leadership, creativity, energy, passion, everything feels like its R-O-U-T-I-N-E. The level you were on was good at the time but your old ceiling is now your existing floor, so everything that makes me strong on the inside must get stronger. Practically speaking that book you really enjoyed reading some months ago was really good for that time. That podcast you listened to several months ago was really good for that time. That time you spent with family was really good for that time. Everything that I consider a discipline, a standard, everything that makes my heart dream must intensify. Does the level that I am living at on the outside match what's taking place on the inside? If not all you will feel is tired, frustrated and empty. Here's another question, Who do I have to become on the inside in order to live out my biggest dream? Settling for anything else...is just routine.