off road disciplines
Growing up in Arkansas, I experienced the excitement of off-roading for fun. It was always an adventure, and though the direction could be planned, sometimes the results could not. Those moments though proved to never be boring.
Earl Creps' book, Off-Road Disciplines challenges leaders and essentially all believers to develop disciplines into their personal lives that may seem somewhat un-normal. These disciplines are unnatural and sometimes require sacrificing pride and knowledge. But it is the practice of these disciplines that produce missional leaders who live with a purpose in mind.
Missional leaders always find a way to connect with culture, and in doing so help to connect the culture in which they live to Christ.
Earl’s challenge on a believer’s friendships is timely for the church. Those we surround ourselves with on a consistent basis help to shape our focus of to whom we should minister. And perhaps our busy schedules prevent us from building relationships that might connect someone with Christ.
Off-Road Disciplines is truly a book that penetrates the paradigm of the reader and demands an inner evaluation of life philosophy and practice. Articulately writing from experience and study, Earl Creps has produced a book well worth the time of any reader. The adventures of off-roading are unpredictable, but always prove to be an experience worthwhile. Labels: books, christianity, leadership
maverick tickets
I just got invited to go the Dallas Maverick's game tonight.
I'm real excited. I've never been to an NBA game before, so it should be a lot of fun.
Plus, the Mavs are the best team in the league. I can't wait to see Dirk, Josh Howard, and the rest of the Mavs beat up on the Hawks tonight.
Labels: personal
cliches are true
I had lunch today with a couple of sectional youth pastors today.
It was so refreshing to just connect with a couple of people who understand exactly where I'm at.
I'm learning it's so important for me to have relationships like this. People who have been there and done that, yet who are not arrogant about what they are "teaching you."
It's easy for me to respect people like this, and I feel like I can learn a lot from them. They are more concerned about me than they are trying to fix my situation.
I guess the old cliche is true.
"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."
What a great personal reminder for me today.
Labels: leadership
what a weekend
Lacey and I went out for Valentine's on Friday... so much for a good time spent together. I'm finally recovering from whatever hit me square in the stomach on Friday night, and then it took a shot upside my head and the rest of my body too.
I missed our church's biggest event of the year on Saturday night, even though I worked all day to finish up the set-up. I just couldn't go any more. I was dead and felt so gross. I also missed Sunday as well, including speaking to all of our couples at their home fellowship.
I'm behind a little this week, but working hard today and tomorrow to get caught up to get ahead once again. Hence, slow blogging, but now it is etched into my weekly schedule that will start on Thursday.
I'm learning quickly to schedule my time better and delegate more. It's the only way I can truly be effective over the long haul.
Labels: harvest time, personal
god is faithful
There are several things we need to buy at the church to take Thrive to the next level, but things have been difficult financially and haven't allowed us to do so.
1. A new sound system.
2. A new stage.
3. A truss system for our lights.
4. A drum shield.
5. Media Shout, or another great presenter software.
I've started asking God to do some big things that only he can do, and included in that was to bring financial resources to make some of these things possible.
God always come through in a big way.
I met with two guys last week about approximate costs for the staging and truss system. They were a big help with it all. And after talking to his wife, one of the guys is going to completely donate the money to build the new stage.
Man, I was so excited when he told me this. It was simply God answering my prayers. God is so faithful to provide the resources when we need them. It was huge confirmation for me that I needed because it just reminds me that God does know where I am at.
Things like this rejuvenate me and get me going and allow me to focus on other areas.
Labels: thrive
my perspective
I have been reading Earl Creps' Off Road Disciplines.
I love what he says, speaking of a believer's perspective and how it is so easy to focus on the wrong things. It's also easy to spend most of our time with only believers, and we don't make a conscious effort to build relationships with non-Christians.
Speaking of where our time is spent:
"If it is among church people, then our vision is focused on them. If it is among the unwashed, non-Christian, pagan gentiles, it is most likely for them..."
"The sought see me as unapproachably busy, making the ministry itself something that blocks our relationship rather than building it."
I love this challenge from Creps to build quality relationships with those who have not chosen to put their faith in Christ. It may not always be easy or conveinent, but if we don't, the unbelievers God has placed in our life may never place their faith in Christ. Fulfilling the Great Commission to these unbelievers is our personal responsibility.
Labels: christianity
asking big
I've been really challenged to pray for big things... not just the things that fix themselves, but things only God can do.
Here is what I'm asking for Thrive:
1. Deep connection between students, united by Christ.
2. Every student will find a place of serving on a ministry team.
3. Unprecedented influence in the surrounding schools.
4. Contagious excitement to live for God and the possibilities of what only He can do.
5. Ministry that reaches hundreds and even thousands of students.
These requests are not things I can accomplish. I need God's help.
But I'm going to work like it all depends on me, and pray like it all depends on God.
Labels: christianity, thrive
stage designs
This morning I have been dreaming, brainstorming, and researching stage designs. I have been looking online at metal, truss diagrams, and lighting options. The current design we have right now has a lot of things I don't like, but we're having to just deal with right now.
One of the things we are wanting to fix are the lights. We meet in a gym, so we don't have a lot of options with the overhead ones. But the setup for the can lights on stage almost enclose the stage and make it look weird. I hadn't been able to pinpoint what I didn't like (I just knew something was wrong with it) until this morning. I saw a picture at History in the Making and it was it.
So, now we are going to look at building some free standing trusses to open up the stage and eventually do something pretty cool with a major truss design on the back of the stage.
It got me going this morning with excitement about the future and what things could be. I love to look into the future and then build to that place. It's what I absolutely love to do.
If you have any ideas or suggestions, just let me know.
I'm still trying to figure all this out. Labels: thrive
