It's Your Move--Orange Conference Opening Night

Tonight Reggie Joiner had the author of Same Kind of Different As Me Ron Hall share a few inspirational stories about Denver and their friendship that developed. The book is great and the brief conversation that Reggie had was good. The one quote that I wanted to share was this:

"We worship a homeless man on Sunday, but often ignore the homeless man on Monday."

Enough said...get the book. (One thing about the book, every page is engaging and heartfelt. I was actually moved to tears several times when I read the book two years ago).

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Also tonight Andy Stanley was the main stage speaker and delivered a great message as always. To be honest I am not sure how it totally connected with the theme of the conference "It's Your Move" but nonetheless he gave us some great points to ponder.

In essence; "We are stewards of the message of eternal life. We are stewards of the message of a better life here on this earth."

• He went on to talk about the pagan culture and religion when the church was birthed. 
• This perspective was totally counter culture to what was happening in the time of Jesus. 
• Compassion and generosity was what propelled the church out of the first century. 
• We may lose sight of what this country (the U.S.) really has in light of our nation being transformed by a Biblical world view. 
• Andy tied in Galatians 5:16-45 and stated how the Spirit of God drives our decisions. Paul was writing this to a pagan culture and the church that was being birthed was reminded about how this was against the nature around them, but to continue to move forward with acts of love, peace, joy, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self control. 

This is a brief snapshot and putting a conference experience in as few as words as possible. 

What is my action plan in light of tonight's message?

There are people who are waiting for me to make a move that is bigger than myself and bigger than a program. Allow the Spirit of God to move in the direction that He desires and not what I desire?

The Past is a Limitation

If you have not read Community: The Structure of Belonging by Peter Block I would highly recommend it for those who desire to innovate and create new narratives for their communities. I wanted to share this brief quote with you.

"Conversations that focus on stories about the past become a limitation to community; ones that are teaching parables and focus on the future restore community."

It is very easy to limit an organization, family, ministry, therapy, leadership, or simply the "water cooler" conversations to what life was like in the past. Often times it is difficult to shift the conversation to the future because we are trapped by fear or paralyzed that change may occur if we ask the right questions. The future is based upon the questions one is willing to ask. Peter lays out a plan on how to move the conversation from the past to the future. His premise is that we are stuck on problem solving and not creating new and engaging stories.

What conversations about the past are you having that is limiting the future?

Creating One Action Item for Class Sessions at Orange

I am currently in Atlanta for my first Orange Conference and I am impressed with the level of engagement that the people at ReThink have created. Over the last several years they have been challenging ministry leaders to ask the question; "What would it look like for the church and family to work together in a seamless strategy to reach the next generation for Christ?" There are tons of ideas, books, speakers, resources, and a plethora of people engaging in the pre-conference today asking various questions around this topic. Many times going to any conference one easily feels overwhelmed with the amount of information and will easily get confused on what action to take when they arrive home. My encouragement to those attending would be to pick one takeaway idea from each session that you can take action on when you arrive home. I have not always done this, but this is what I did when I went to the D6 Conference in the fall and it allowed me an easy overview and one page review to send to my elders as well. Here are my suggestions:

1. Take notes and scribble as much as possible. Try not to limit yourself on what you hear, but try and capture the essence of what the speaker is saying. If you feel overwhelmed just keep writing. You will have time to process later. 
2. Immediately at the end of the class ask yourself, "What one idea or thought do I want someone else to know from this class or session?" Take this one idea and write it down at the top of the page that you took notes on. Highlight the idea so you can easily find it later. 
3. An idea is dead unless you create an action item. This one may be more difficult, but this is when you ask yourself what action steps need to happen when I get home in light of this one idea. For example and action step could be; "I need to schedule a 45 minute meeting over coffee with a parent to ask them if they will lead this or that program." You may not need an action plan for each big idea, but it is important to consider how each idea is integrated into your strategy back home. 

Coming to a conference is refueling and refreshing. Some could day it is like camp for adults and ministry leaders. As we all know the camp "high" often only last a few days maybe a few weeks. So go ahead have fun, take, notes, ask the questions, and create an action plan. Either you have invested time, money and energy to be here or your church has created the budget for you to be here. Either way start thinking now on small steps of what does this mean back home and what action steps will I take to make it happen. 

"It's Your Move"

The Ugly Middle

This morning I read Steven Pressfield's new book Do the Work. I actually got it for free from the Domino Project a few weeks ago, but the download was not available until today. It magically synced on my app on my phone and I got busy reading. Here is one quote I love from the book.

"The hospital room may be spotless and sterile, but birth itself will always take place amid chaos, pain, and blood."

Simple, yet epic.

Last year in May I had the opportunity to witness this firsthand through the birth of my daughter. The room is quite enjoyable and relaxing, until that moment. Until that moment when you hit the pain of child birth. This is the ugly middle. This is the moment in time when one chooses to overcome a great conflict and struggle because on the other side we know that a great story awaits. A great story awaits for all those who are willing to cross the ugly middle. Once we cross the pain of birth a great story is born. We have to choose to enter the room and wrestle with the ugly middle and overcome what Pressfield calls "resistance."

What resistance are you facing?

What are you waiting to give "birth" to?

Mentors Are Priceless

My dear friend and mentor lives a humble life and does not ask for or seek recognition from others. However, he is a man of influence because of the way he lives his life. I have thought of him twice today. Once through a conversation this morning and then again because of this article I read about mentoring elementary aged children at school. For several years he took it upon himself without an official role or an organization leading a program, he quietly served several young boys once a week as they read out loud to each other. We will never know the value or return on investment with those relationships, but I am confident the return is priceless. According to the article, children between 9-15 who have mentors, the mentors have been highly effective in helping keep kids on the right track. Now that sounds like a good ROI worth investing in.

Are you a mentor? Your life is worth giving and investing in someone else. May you be encouraged to go and mentor someone.

Poke the Box

Seth Godin faces the resistance everyday. The difference between Seth and most everyone else is that he choose to push through the resistance and create. He is an artist. He is a creator. He wants you to do work that matters. Right now you can get the March 1st release of Poke the Box for one dollar.


Poke The Box from Seth Godin on Vimeo.

Want to know more about Poke the Box or the Domino Project go here.

Cultivate is...

Is an internship program that I am developing by the faith and leading of God's guidance. Cultivating the next generation of Christian leaders is imperative to their success as they transition from a full time student to full time ministry.

What an internship is NOT:

Busy work.
Hanging out.
Giving someone else a break

What an internship IS:
Experience
Equipping
Empowering

Today I was going to be interviewing interns at ACU who would be willing to invest in themselves and others by  partnering with us in a one of a kind internship experience. However, due to the weather we are currently rescheduling interviews. 

It is my desire to have an internship program at High Pointe Church of Christ over the next few years that provides an experience, equips and empowers leaders for an eternal purpose. I pray that God will give us two people this year who have a desire to be mentored and cultivated into the next Christian leaders.

For more information please use the contact link above.

Just Make A Decision

Sometimes I can be indecisive as an individual. I will never forget the countless conversations I have had with my dad. Typically it would unfold like this; "Son, where would you like to eat? 'I don't care." And our conversation would go back and forth until we ended up at the Golden Corral were there would be unlimited options for one who could not even decide what to eat in the first place.

Early last fall I heard it said, "people want leaders to make decisions and even if it turns out to be the wrong decision at least you made a decision." Essentially the point being is leaders make decisions. Leaders will make right decisions and wrong decisions. Everyone will make decisions and we pray we make more right decisions than wrong ones.

As a leader this point has been on my mind lately after finishing Decision Points by George W. Bush. This is a great book and I would recommend to those who are leaders in any position.

Many times we need to carefully make decisions by seeking Godly counsel, praying, and waiting for clarity through the Spirit to give peace.

However, there are many times when you just need to make a decision so you don't end up at Golden Corral with tons of decisions to make.

Sharing Your Goals or Not?

Last year I got intense about making goals and new years resolution. In fact there were 7 general categories with 3 defined goals under each category. I accomplished many of those goals and failed on many more. I shared them with a close group of friends and asked for accountability. I had big dreams for 2010 and don't misunderstand; 2010 was a big year and I am truly thankful and blessed. However, one of my biggest mistakes might have been sharing my goals with others. Or at least that is what some people think. Watch the talk from Derek Sivers at TED below. Essentially once you share or state your goal or resolution you brain can sometimes function as if you actually have completed the goal.


What are your thoughts; to share your goals or not? I think there is a balance. However, I did not share my goals this year or make any detailed plan of major improvements.

Differentiated Leadership

In one of my ministry related classes at Lubbock Christian University we had to read this book titled Generation to Generation by Edwin Friedman who died at an early age. At his death he was almost finished with Faliure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of Quick Fix. I would highly recommend both of these books. I have applied the principles out of Failure of Nerve since finishing the book in late 2009. Not sure what it means to be a differentiated leader, well possibly the quickest why to define it would be; "grow up and make decisions and don't let other peoples baggage become apart of you or how you make decisions." Here is a quick video for those who do not desire to read.

1st Year vs. 6th Year of Youth Ministry

The early days at my first job as a youth minister was very unusual, despite the fact being newly married and out of state this was a very joyful and stressful time. I clearly remember one time stating to Jessica, "What am I supposed to do?" You see when one does not have clear direction, and a church does not have a clear direction, a minister can be left wondering what their purpose is on a daily basis during the 9 to 5 work week. I knew I had to prepare a lesson for Wednesday and Sunday, but I was not real sure what to do beyond this small window of time each week. 


Now after 5 years of working as a youth minister and transitioning into a new church here are a few things I would recommend a new minister do and this is what I am trying to do currently as I enter into my sixth year of youth ministry at a new church.

Communicate: At every level of the church you want to provide clear and concise information often, to the elders, ministers, staff, parents, and the students you are working with. You cannot communicate enough. Everyone is experiencing a change and transition, but if you communicate with honesty and transparency people are more likely to trust you.

Accountability: What are the goals for yourself during the initial months (3, 6, 9, 12)? If there are not any goals then set up a structure of accountability for yourself. Leaders are accountable for their actions and the direction they are leading. Place yourself around others who can help you achieve the goals and provide accountability. Ministry can be an ambiguous job for others to understand, but providing the right framework of accountability will help you monitor your job performance and responsibilities.


Strategy: You are communicating, you have accountability around your goals, but do you know your strategy to your your destination. Asking yourself what is the end result of everything you do will help you question why you plan and implement a specific vision for your ministry. Beginning with the end in mind will help you build a strategy on how to get to your destination.


Relationship: This is by far the most important area in any ministry related job. If you do not take the essential time building relationships at the beginning no one will care about your vision or desire you may be trying to initiate.


This is not a comprehensive list, but just a glimpse of a few things that have been on my mind.

Taking Action

My brain is filled with stuff. When I say stuff I am referring to my never ending to-do list, prayer list, class notes, ideas for a project, and all the randomness that I try to sort through on a daily basis. I am a organized person, but just because I am organized does not mean that I am efficient and often I do not get things done today that should have been done yesterday.

Recently, I have started using the Action Method Online to try and create synergy in my daily life and work flow environment. If you are anything like me than you understand the value of being organized, but wish there was a better method to the madness. I have used my email inbox as my to do list, post it notes scattered on my desk, and the ever so trendy moleskin to try and accomplish important matters.

All of the madness is finally making sense because I am using Action Method Online on my home computer, work computer, and an app for my iPhone. If you are like me than you need to start taking action because your projects and ideas are to important not to get shipped out the door. In Seth Godin terms this is allowing me to smash my lizard brain on a daily basis because I am choosing to ship and take action.


What do you use to take action? How is that working for you? 

Communication and Alignment

We are all leaders in a system. You may lead at home, school, a business, little league coach, etc. The point is many people are failing the tribes they are leading due to a lack of communication. Effective communication happens within the context of a conversation. The quote below summarizes what happens when communication fails.

The following quote is from Michael Hyatt's (CEO of Thomas Nelson) blog earlier this week as he announced his partnership with SoChuch.

"I know that effective communication is critical. You can’t maintain organizational alignment without it. And if you can’t maintain alignment, you will fail in your mission. Period."

How are you doing in your communication?

Do you know your mission?

What are doing to maintain organizational alignment?

Dreams Becoming a Reality

Watching the NFL draft has my emotions running. Not because I really care about the NFL.  In fact, I can count on one hand how many games I watched last year.

You see the draft is about dreams. Dreams that have shaped these men for many years. Now their humble dreams are becoming a reality.

That is what captures our hearts, minds, and imaginations about watching the draft. It sparks a hope and creates wonder in us as adults to see if we have the capability to still dream.

However, they did not get to the stage overnight or arrive by merely dreaming. Here are three things that helped all of these young men get to the next level from a dream to a reality:

• Focus
• Discipline
• Perseverance

Do you still dream? Have you given up on your dream becoming a reality?


What are three things that you think helped these young men reach their dreams?

Yardstick of Change

Inside a closet in my grandparents house there is a treasured wall in my heart. This wall has small lines from the the ground to the ceiling, (well not all the way to the ceiling). These lines have dates,  names, and numbers that mark a distinct spot. 

I recall my grandparents placing the yardstick in the closet to measure each line. Each line was a reminder of how much one of the grandchildren grew during a specific time. Typically this time spanned between 6 months to a year. The older we got the less marks each person had on the wall. Not that we did not want to be measured, but because there came a point for all of us that our vertical growing slowed down. After each time my grandparents "marked the spot" they would then use a yardstick to measure that line and proceed to write the height by your name and date.

I cherish this wall because I have the highest mark at 6' 4" and I can recall the days as a little child staring up at the wall inside that closest wondering how tall I would get.

The problem with that wall...is really my problem and our problem of how we measure change.

We all have a certain yardstick that we want to measure change by, but that disappoints us and it disappoints the one we are holding the yardstick up to.


How do we measure change?






(Picture: bubbels)

Book Review: Everyone Communicates Few Connect

John Maxwell has done an outstanding job in his latest book in Everyone Communicates Few Connect



This book is not for everyone because some do not have a desire to connect. This book is only for those who wish to improve his or her connecting skills and abilities. The book is practical and the language of the book echo's Maxwell's writing style. There are numerous quotes that he uses to frame a chapter or a section around that one quote. Neither good or bad that is how Maxwell writes. Occasionally Maxwell seems to "bragging" about his success or possibly he is being relational and showing how he has used the principles in the book to connect with others.

Here are a few practical tips that may seem like common sense to most, but unfortunately common sense does not mean we implement these traits into our daily life. Three questions that we long to know when connecting;

• Do you care for me?
• Can you help me?
• Can I trust you?

Finding common ground in relationships is important and overlooked. To overcome this one needs to ask questions and explore the other person's interest. This can be done by what some would say "playing ignorant" in your conversations. Once you approach someone as a "know it all" or arrogant walls are built and connection is lost. Asking questions allows you to be in a place of humility  and sometimes this may be achieved best by playing ignorant. This principle has to do with simplicity in speech or what Maxwell said as "talk to, not above." People are longing for conversations not debates. Practice humility by asking genuine questions. Here are a few questions to help you connect;

• What do you dream about?
• What do you sing about?
• What do you cry about?

A highlight from the book is the guide at the end of each chapter that explores connecting one-on-one, in a group, and in a audience. This is a book that everyone needs to practice, but the reality is only a few will implement these practices in his or her daily life.

One area he did not address is the need to disconnect from our media, cell phones, TV,  Facebook, Twitter and the numerous other outlets that are causing us to lose this idea of presence and how that helps us connect with others.

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Another book review from Thomas Nelson and Booksneeze.com

My Pa was a Fighter

My granddad (Pa) was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy in the late 1970's. He was not expected to live very long after his diagnoses. He was a fighter and an encourager to all who met him. He never whined or complained nor was he concerned with his predicament of losing all of his muscles right up until his death. No, he choose to use his muscles and live life to the fullest. I have many fond memories of my granddad. I am not sure what it is exactly, but even today 10 years after his death he inspires me to be a better man, husband, and a future father.

I will try to write more about him because his story deserves to be told. In fact you may even be confused about MD and not know much about how a man in adulthood can be diagnosed with MD.

Well, let me scan in a few pictures and wipe the tears away and tell you his story.

Must Watch Monologue...No Really

May your Kingdom be established in our presence!





May your Kingdom be established in our presence!

Missionaries from Honduras Doing Missions in Haiti

Honduras or Haiti which country do you serve? Both are extremely poor. Both require and need help. Does it have to be one or the other? Is there not an option for both. Many times in any spectrum of our life we swing from one side of the pendulum to the other side as if there is always a black and white to every issue in life. In fact, much of life I am coming to realize is lived in the gray.

Last year we were scheduled to go to Honduras on a mission trip in August to serve with Mission Lazarus. However, due to unforeseen circumstances and being responsible for a group of teens we canceled the trip. I am disappointed that I did not have the chance to serve with an outstanding missional organization. I look forward to the future when one day I may have an opportunity to work and serve alongside Jarrod Brown and the other missionaries and staff at Mission Lazarus. (Photo courtesy of email attachment from Jarrod Brown.)

Since our first communication with Mission Lazarus in 2008 I have kept close tabs on their work with the orphans, coffee farm, preaching, medical clinic, and ranch all in an effort to reach the people of Honduras for their mind, body and soul.

I wanted to pass along the recent blog updates and video below about the work they have done in Haiti since the earthquake. This is taking the entire Story of redemption and the incarnation of Christ not only in their outreach, but to the ends of the earth. Below is a video from Haitian women singing in the midst of their pain.

Praises Amidst the Suffering from Meredith Jones on Vimeo.

Leadership 2.0...This Includes You

Recent conversation nugget between myself and a friend:

"Only 5% of leaders will realize a situation and make proper adjustments. Others will freeze in light of the current plight, the remaining portion will be in a cascading spiral of destruction."

This has been evident in the last few weeks within the political arena. This a current reality of the financial meltdown. In fact, this small statement is true with everything from marriages to churches to counseling.

To avoid this read about Leadership 2.0 and what is required for all leaders including, parents, spouses, CEO, ministers, and therapist.

Michael Hyatt describes the new leadership era on the Catalyst website as this:

"Leadership 2.0 embraces change. Like Web 1.0, old-style leadership was fairly static. Leaders resisted change and were more focused on preserving the status quo. However, Leadership 2.0 embraces change. New-style leaders are on the cutting edge of experimentation. If something doesn’t work, they change course quickly. They are more concerned about driving the right outcomes than maintaining business-as-usual."

Other things mentioned that this new leadership era needs to have; transparency, engagement, community, and a few other great nuggets.

Be sure to go over and read the remaining points from Leadership 2.0


(Photo: zowiedust)