Leadership Lessons

I am so fired up about our new leadership connect group that jumps off tonight at 6:30! This is a group for ANYONE who wants to learn, grow, and develop the gift of leadership. Tonight we’ll be discussing the 7 biggest leadership lesson’s that I have learned in 7 short years of vocational ministry. Here’s a peek at that list:

1. Think long. Enjoy the process. Your labor is not in vain.

2. Stop apologizing for leading.

3. My biggest source of stress and pressure is myself (with crazy folks being a close 2nd…kidding!)

4. Be present.

5.Value purpose over form.

6. Be real. Always.

7. You will see what you are looking for. Perspective is everything.

(This list has been posted in various forms on my blog over the last year)

iLead

One of my passions is developing leaders, especially “2nd Chair Leaders”. As long as I can remember I have tried to empower people who feel called to lead in ministry and life in general. I had to learn a lot of stuff on my own early on in my life so I try my best to equip and lend a hand to folks who feel a “call”. In a couple of weeks I’ll be kicking off a “Leadership” group on Wednesday nights at Xtreme. This is NOT a group just for folks who are currently in some type of leadership role in a church or organization. This is a group for ANYONE who wants to learn, grow, and develop the gift of leadership. This is also NOT a group for the uncommitted or know-it-alls. We’ll be drawing from some of the greatest leaders in the country and I believe we’ll all benefit from our time together. Topics covered will include:

Servanthood

Communication

Team Building

Mentoring

Family Life

and more. If you are local and interested shoot me a message for more details.

Catalyst Thoughts Pt 2

13,000 people each reading a passage of scripture out loud and at the same time=entire Bible read in 60 seconds!

This has been a mind blowing 2 days. Tons of information. Much more revelation and confirmation. Here are some thoughts that impacted me, although these thoughts barely scratch the surface of my experience:

Andy Stanley

Fairness ended in the garden of Eden. Do not be fair, be engaged.

You can’t shut it all out, but you can’t take it all in. Be engaged

Jim Collins

The only mistakes you learn from are the ones you survive.

The signature of mediocrity is chronic inconsistency.

Joel Houston

We tend to put man in a space that can only be occupied by God.

The way we become present is by removing ourselves and letting God become present in us.

Dave Ramsey

Don’t advance beyond your supply lines.

Opportunity is attracted to excellence.

Francis Chan

God does not listen to all of our prayers (very scriptural statement).

Am I present enough in my prayer life that He actually hears me?

Mark Driscoll

Fear = vision-hope

The only solution for fear is to FEAR NOT.

Cornell West

A hatred of badness is not the same as actively loving people.

Pastors and churches are the glue that holds society together.

Priscilla Shirer

What happens in the pew should make a difference on the pavement of our lives.

Something is wrong when you are with God and you are dong all of the talking.

Catalyst 2011 Thoughts

My view

1. First, thanks for all of the birthday calls, txts, emails, and messages yesterday! You all made my day! I am truly blessed to have such great friends, family, acquaintances, and strangers in my life.

2. I’ve been enjoying my very first experience at Catalyst Leadership Conference in ATL and let me tell you…my mind is blown!

3. I confess, repent, and ask forgiveness for ever judging or hating on this conference. God has met us in a powerful way (like He’s anything but powerful?!)

4. Also, it has been over the top! Free cookies and snacks in random places, GREAT music, a ferris wheel, corn hole, hammocks, and other random, yet excellent fun.

5. For those who’ve always wanted to come but thought the price was too steep let me encourage you: what you will get in experience, teaching, and FREE STUFF more than makes up for the registration fee. I was given easily $300 worth of T-shirts and books alone…on the first day.

6. The theme this year has been “Be Present”. Very convicting.Tomorrow I’ll try to post some of my notes/thoughts from the speakers.

7. I miss my wife and sons!

Us vs. Them

God has really been beating me down about my pride lately. I get to lead a great group of Christ-followers and soon to be Christ followers. We are a part of a network that is all about advancing the Kingdom and bringing grace to the lost and hurting. I feel a freedom that I’ve have not felt in 7 years of pastoral ministry. It is exciting to be way behind enemy lines in the battle for the souls of men. It’s an honor to have seasoned pastors mentor me, sharp young leaders befriend me, and others look up to me.

However, my biggest fear is that in our zeal to see change and in our passion to be progressive, we will create a new “religion” that will put people back in bondage. As a young leader I have to be careful not to demonize those who do things different than I do. As young leaders we have to guard our heart from an “Us vs. Them” mentality. If we take on the mindset that our way is the best or only way, it may feel like we are moving forward, but spiritually we’ll be spinning our wheels. God is so clear about this. He opposes the proud. Period. I pray that as we continue to dialogue, radically shift ministry philosophy, and lay it all out there for the cause of Christ, that we would walk in Grace, speak the truth in love, and not get bogged down in stuff that really doesn’t matter.

Beyond Talent

“The secret to willpower is what someone once called wantpower.” (Ch 2)

I have a love/hate relationship with John Maxwell books. I love them because they are wealth of leadership and team building information. I love them because Maxwell writes in an easy to understand and conversational style. However, I hate them because I can’t keep up with that treasure trove of wisdom! I usually end up highlighting the entire book!

In all seriousness, Beyond Talent is a great read. In the book, Maxwell gives as series of principles that along with talent, can help even the biggest underdog achieve success. Principles like passion, focus, teachability, and teamwork all add value by energizing, directing, expanding, and multiplying our God given talents. If you are hungry for the next level, ready to see your team succeed, or if you are tired of the status quo in your life, I encourage you to read this book, apply it’s principles, and start accomplishing your goals.

“Never forget that the choices you make in the end make you.” (The Last Word on Talent)

Pick up a copy here.

(The folks at Thomas Nelson gave me a free copy of this book for review)

Slander, Love, and Donkey Breath?

In my walk with Christ I’ve encountered 3 voices that constantly fight for my attention.

- Big mouths who do more tearing down than building up
- Broken people who have loads of pain and problems
- Critics who are passionate about worshipping their opinions

Guess which one Jesus wants us to give our attention too?

Let me share with you 3 podcasts from 3 great leaders that have impacted me in a huge way over the last 6 months. Take the time to listen:

1. Slander – Aaron Allison (#22 on Podcast list)

2. Reach out to the broken and you’ll always have an audience. – Jud Wilhite (#9 on Podcast list)

3. Ignoring the Jackass – Perry Noble (#6 on Podcast list)

What I’m Learning

1. Anyone who tries to glamorize leadership needs to be punched in the nose. Fulfilling? Yes. Enjoyable? Absolutely. Worth it? You bet! Glamorous? HECK NO!

2. It is much better to give than to receive. That’s not just about money. It applies to grace, mercy, love, service etc.

3. Think long. Enjoy the process. Your labor is not in vain.

What Do They Know?

According to the men who make big money to sit on TV and talk football, the Bucs and Chiefs should be in last place and the Cowboys and Vikings should be fighting for home field advantage. What do they know anyway? Some other guys who make big money to talk basketball said that the Heat would be unstoppable. A 9-8 record seems pretty stoppable to me. What do they know anyway?

Listen, there will always be pundits and so-called experts who will tell you what can and can’t be done. There will always be someone who tries to stand between you and the God given vision you have. Don’t let the doubters and scoffers distract you. Don’t let negative critics slow you down. What do they know anyway?

Expand Final

Michael Fletcher delivered a powerful and practical message on cultural relevance in the local church. The talk was 1 part ministry philosophy and 1 part practical application. We literally applied some of this message less than 24 hour after hearing it. Throughout the confrence God confirmed to us (Xtreme Leadership Team) that we are on the right track and headed in the right direction. There were times when I wondered if the keynote speakers had been spying on our leadership meetings or reading straight from our vision, mission, and values ; )

Here are a few thoughts from Michael’s talk that jumped out to me:

- The presence of God is a person, not an it or a thing!

- The church is people!

- The church has been sent into the culture to reach the world.

- The church responds to culture in 1 of 3 ways:

1. Isolationism (We’re holy and you are not. Therefore we’ll stay separate. It’s Us vs. Them)

2. Domination (We’ll force our worldview on everyone else and reject those who don’t fall in line. Our way or the highway.)

3. Incarnation (We’ll be Biblical and adapt to culture in appropriate ways to gain a hearing for the gospel. Just like Jesus did!)