You have to lead yourself well. You will not be an effective leader if you don't learn to lead yourself well. If you want people to follow you, first focus on leading yourself well. Leading yourself well requires:
1. Having a consistent prayer and Bible reading time
2. Being on time
3. Doing what you say you will do
4. Telling the truth
5. Having a great attitude
6. Tithing and giving offerings above the Lord's tithe
7. Spending less than you make a month
8. Living on a budget
9. Following through on your commitments
10. Working hard when no one is looking
11. Keeping your cool when the going gets tough
12. Fixing your own problems and not expecting everybody else to fix them
13. Taking responsibility and ownership for where you are in life and where you are going
14. Producing results
15. Living with integrity
16. Loving people
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
FIND Conference Update
1. Yesterday I got up at 4:15AM and headed to the Oklahoma City airport.
2. I met one of my Executive Directors, Josh Brown, at the airport at 5:40AM for a 6:40AM flight.
3. We went to Atlanta and then on to Charleston, South Carolina.
4. The FIND conference is a church planters’ conference.
5. I was one of the speakers at the conference and spoke at 4PM yesterday.
6. I spoke on 10 Things I Wish I Would Have Known (before I started PC).
7. My time with the church planters went well.
8. I really enjoy investing in church planters.
9. All of the speakers have been great.
10. The session that spoke to me the most was Chris Hodges’ talk on four P's. It was convicting!
11. Josh and I are flying home today. I can't wait to get home! It's been a busy season of traveling.
12. I can't wait to see my wife and kids. I love them so much!
2. I met one of my Executive Directors, Josh Brown, at the airport at 5:40AM for a 6:40AM flight.
3. We went to Atlanta and then on to Charleston, South Carolina.
4. The FIND conference is a church planters’ conference.
5. I was one of the speakers at the conference and spoke at 4PM yesterday.
6. I spoke on 10 Things I Wish I Would Have Known (before I started PC).
7. My time with the church planters went well.
8. I really enjoy investing in church planters.
9. All of the speakers have been great.
10. The session that spoke to me the most was Chris Hodges’ talk on four P's. It was convicting!
11. Josh and I are flying home today. I can't wait to get home! It's been a busy season of traveling.
12. I can't wait to see my wife and kids. I love them so much!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Weekend Highlights
1. I had a great weekend with my family. The Oklahoma weather was great.
2. The little things mean the most to me: our Friday family date and then a good Red Box movie with my wife, priceless family time.
3. My good friends, Keith & Winnie Chandler, renewed their wedding vows on Saturday. It was very inspirational seeing this godly couple, who have been married for 25 years, reaffirm their commitment to God and to one another. One word describes this occasion: powerful!
4. I preached a message called Hells Bells. The message went well. God used it in a great way.
5. Bottom line, God doesn't want anybody to spend forever away from his presence.
6. I'm so excited about what God is doing at PC. The momentum we have is incredible.
7. Yesterday, we started promotion of our new series, Teenage Love. The promotional video for this series is one of the best, if not the best, we've ever done. Our Media Team is knocking it out of the park. I will post the video soon.
8. It's all about more changed lives. I love it!
9. I'm very grateful for the staff that I get to serve with week in and week out.
10. Thank you, volunteers, for serving faithfully every week. You are making a tremendous difference.
2. The little things mean the most to me: our Friday family date and then a good Red Box movie with my wife, priceless family time.
3. My good friends, Keith & Winnie Chandler, renewed their wedding vows on Saturday. It was very inspirational seeing this godly couple, who have been married for 25 years, reaffirm their commitment to God and to one another. One word describes this occasion: powerful!
4. I preached a message called Hells Bells. The message went well. God used it in a great way.
5. Bottom line, God doesn't want anybody to spend forever away from his presence.
6. I'm so excited about what God is doing at PC. The momentum we have is incredible.
7. Yesterday, we started promotion of our new series, Teenage Love. The promotional video for this series is one of the best, if not the best, we've ever done. Our Media Team is knocking it out of the park. I will post the video soon.
8. It's all about more changed lives. I love it!
9. I'm very grateful for the staff that I get to serve with week in and week out.
10. Thank you, volunteers, for serving faithfully every week. You are making a tremendous difference.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Thursday's Download
1. I didn't get home until almost 2AM last night. Shelby, our Care Director, and I went to Mount Pleasant, Texas, on Tuesday afternoon. I preached at a youth crusade Tuesday and Wednesday night, and then, we drove home after the service last night.
2. My old youth pastor from when I was in high school is a youth pastor in Mount Pleasant, and I spoke at the event for him.
3. I am tired this morning, but I am also ready to take on the day!
4. I almost have Sunday's message done. I should be able to finish it around 9:30AM today.
5. There is a dear man of God in our church who has an aggressive form of leukemia, and I am praying for God to heal him. Pray with me!
6. We are going to have a casket on the stage this Sunday. Go to http://bit.ly/5syGL to take the poll on what you think is going to be in the casket. You don't want to miss this special surprise as I teach on Hells Bells and a casket.
7. 500 MORE! Invite everybody you know to be at church this Sunday!
8. I really missed my wife and kids while I was gone on my short trip. I love them so much.
9. Our youth ministry had over 330 in attendance, and several students gave their lives to Christ! Go GOD! Chris and Jamie Smith are great youth pastors. Parents, get your teenagers plugged into our dynamic Student Ministry.
10. I won 4 out of 5 fantasy football leagues last week. The league I lost in I'm 0-2. I'm concerned about my team in that league. It could be a tough year.
11. I get to celebrate a special event with one of my board members and great friends on Saturday!
12. My Oklahoma Sooners have a bye week this Saturday. Sam Bradford, get healthy!
13. We have something special planned this Sunday! What is in the casket????
14. My wife is doing a live video chat with some other senior pastors’ wives. She is excited to connect with them today, and I'm excited for my baby. She loves stuff like this.
15. What's in the casket?? See you on Sunday at 9AM, 10:30AM & 12PM!
2. My old youth pastor from when I was in high school is a youth pastor in Mount Pleasant, and I spoke at the event for him.
3. I am tired this morning, but I am also ready to take on the day!
4. I almost have Sunday's message done. I should be able to finish it around 9:30AM today.
5. There is a dear man of God in our church who has an aggressive form of leukemia, and I am praying for God to heal him. Pray with me!
6. We are going to have a casket on the stage this Sunday. Go to http://bit.ly/5syGL to take the poll on what you think is going to be in the casket. You don't want to miss this special surprise as I teach on Hells Bells and a casket.
7. 500 MORE! Invite everybody you know to be at church this Sunday!
8. I really missed my wife and kids while I was gone on my short trip. I love them so much.
9. Our youth ministry had over 330 in attendance, and several students gave their lives to Christ! Go GOD! Chris and Jamie Smith are great youth pastors. Parents, get your teenagers plugged into our dynamic Student Ministry.
10. I won 4 out of 5 fantasy football leagues last week. The league I lost in I'm 0-2. I'm concerned about my team in that league. It could be a tough year.
11. I get to celebrate a special event with one of my board members and great friends on Saturday!
12. My Oklahoma Sooners have a bye week this Saturday. Sam Bradford, get healthy!
13. We have something special planned this Sunday! What is in the casket????
14. My wife is doing a live video chat with some other senior pastors’ wives. She is excited to connect with them today, and I'm excited for my baby. She loves stuff like this.
15. What's in the casket?? See you on Sunday at 9AM, 10:30AM & 12PM!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Anything Short Of Sin pt. 2
I want to share a list of things that People's Church has done that would be considered anything short of sin to reach people with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
1. We have used secular music in some of our videos to drive home a point.
2. We played secular music in our parking lot to drive home a message. (Our parking lot is wired with speakers)
3. We had a drum line march through the auditorium with a marching beat that you would recognize at a football game.
4. We have done some series and mail outs that have gotten us some interesting feedback from the religious community. A couple of series that come to mind are Victorious Secrets and Nip/Tuck. Some of the messages and conversations our administrative staff have had with religious people are hilarious. The current series we are in is called WICKED, and we had a lady from the community who left a voicemail asking if we sacrificed children! Are you kidding me!? LOL!
5. We will sing a secular song if it drives home a point we are trying to communicate.
6. We performed a dance routine to Michael Jackson's video Thriller.
7. After our last experience is over, all of the big screen TV's have the NFL football games showing. This draws men to church.
8. We have TV's in the men's bathrooms above all the urinals. Men are the hardest group to reach, and this is another tool to reach out to men.
The list above are examples of things we do that would be considered anything short of sin to reach as many people as possible. Everything we do at People's Church has a purpose. We aren't doing things just to be cool. Our motivation and passion is to reach people who don't know Christ! Our passion is to create unforgettable experiences that excite and inspire our church people to bring their un-churched friends to check out what God is doing at People's Church. It's all about MORE CHANGED LIVES!
1. We have used secular music in some of our videos to drive home a point.
2. We played secular music in our parking lot to drive home a message. (Our parking lot is wired with speakers)
3. We had a drum line march through the auditorium with a marching beat that you would recognize at a football game.
4. We have done some series and mail outs that have gotten us some interesting feedback from the religious community. A couple of series that come to mind are Victorious Secrets and Nip/Tuck. Some of the messages and conversations our administrative staff have had with religious people are hilarious. The current series we are in is called WICKED, and we had a lady from the community who left a voicemail asking if we sacrificed children! Are you kidding me!? LOL!
5. We will sing a secular song if it drives home a point we are trying to communicate.
6. We performed a dance routine to Michael Jackson's video Thriller.
7. After our last experience is over, all of the big screen TV's have the NFL football games showing. This draws men to church.
8. We have TV's in the men's bathrooms above all the urinals. Men are the hardest group to reach, and this is another tool to reach out to men.
The list above are examples of things we do that would be considered anything short of sin to reach as many people as possible. Everything we do at People's Church has a purpose. We aren't doing things just to be cool. Our motivation and passion is to reach people who don't know Christ! Our passion is to create unforgettable experiences that excite and inspire our church people to bring their un-churched friends to check out what God is doing at People's Church. It's all about MORE CHANGED LIVES!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Anything Short Of Sin
The first time I heard this statement was from my good friend, Craig Groeschel, Senior Pastor of LifeChurch.tv. When I first heard this statement, I agreed with it in my mind but not in my heart. There were things other churches were doing to reach people for Christ that I was critical of. I wasn't critical of the pastor or the church, but I was critical about some of the methods they used to reach people. I even said these words to my wife, "I will never do that."
I am so glad that God changed my heart. I've had the privilege to get to know or meet some great, cutting-edge and creative pastors. Almost all of these leaders have great hearts. They love Jesus with everything within them. They love the people in their cities and want to do anything possible to see those far from God come to know Christ. Over time, I have learned that my critical eye was more narrow-thinking, pride, insecurity and a lack of exposure. Not only has God changed my heart, but our church is now doing some of the things that I said I would never do. I think God has a sense of humor! More tomorrow.
I am so glad that God changed my heart. I've had the privilege to get to know or meet some great, cutting-edge and creative pastors. Almost all of these leaders have great hearts. They love Jesus with everything within them. They love the people in their cities and want to do anything possible to see those far from God come to know Christ. Over time, I have learned that my critical eye was more narrow-thinking, pride, insecurity and a lack of exposure. Not only has God changed my heart, but our church is now doing some of the things that I said I would never do. I think God has a sense of humor! More tomorrow.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Weekend Highlights
1. WOW! What a GREAT Sunday at People's Church!
2. We had the biggest attendance ever! 3254 people came, and 157 people gave their lives to Christ! UNBELIEVABLE!
3. The Thriller encore performance was great! It was a great way to intro my message on Defeating The Dark Side.
4. The message went well. I know God did a big work in the hearts of many people.
5. I taught about how we all struggle with temptation (the dark side) and how to overcome the dark side.
6. I also taught our church the process to sin. Understanding this is key to defeating the dark side.
7. My Oklahoma Sooners looked good.
8. I can't believe USC got beat by Washington. HA HA HA!
9. I didn't like how Nebraska got beat at the end of the game. I wanted them to represent the Big 12 with a win.
10. This coming up Sunday, there is going to be a coffin at church. I can't tell you the BIG surprise! You better be at church this coming up Sunday!
11. Lead Me To The Cross and Moving Forward are two great worship songs.
12. Our Production Team is hitting it out of the park!
13. Thank you, volunteers, for serving every week. Lives are being changed because of your faithfulness and passion to minister to others!
14. If Ronnie Brown gets 8 points tonight, I will win 4 out of 5 Fantasy Football games.
15. My Dallas Cowboys lost. Tony Romo hurt us big time! Come on Romo!
16. I am fighting a cold. My family are all fighting colds as well. I appreciate you praying for us.
17. God is good!
2. We had the biggest attendance ever! 3254 people came, and 157 people gave their lives to Christ! UNBELIEVABLE!
3. The Thriller encore performance was great! It was a great way to intro my message on Defeating The Dark Side.
4. The message went well. I know God did a big work in the hearts of many people.
5. I taught about how we all struggle with temptation (the dark side) and how to overcome the dark side.
6. I also taught our church the process to sin. Understanding this is key to defeating the dark side.
7. My Oklahoma Sooners looked good.
8. I can't believe USC got beat by Washington. HA HA HA!
9. I didn't like how Nebraska got beat at the end of the game. I wanted them to represent the Big 12 with a win.
10. This coming up Sunday, there is going to be a coffin at church. I can't tell you the BIG surprise! You better be at church this coming up Sunday!
11. Lead Me To The Cross and Moving Forward are two great worship songs.
12. Our Production Team is hitting it out of the park!
13. Thank you, volunteers, for serving every week. Lives are being changed because of your faithfulness and passion to minister to others!
14. If Ronnie Brown gets 8 points tonight, I will win 4 out of 5 Fantasy Football games.
15. My Dallas Cowboys lost. Tony Romo hurt us big time! Come on Romo!
16. I am fighting a cold. My family are all fighting colds as well. I appreciate you praying for us.
17. God is good!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Decepto, Master Of Illusion
Before I preached this past Sunday, we showed a short video. The star of the video was our Media Director, Andy Wynn. He was also the creative genius behind this funny video. I followed the video and spoke on Devil Deceiver. Our spiritual enemy is the real master of illusion. Check out the funny sermon opener!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Important Monday Meetings
On Mondays, I have my lunch Community Group, and then, I have my two most important work meetings of the week. At 1PM I have a Creative Team meeting that has anywhere from 4 to 7 people in it. Immediately following this meeting, I have my Executive Team meeting. It usually begins around 2 to 2:30PM. This meeting consists of four people. I want to share with you some reasons why I love having a creative meeting. I will share why I love having an executive meeting on another day.
1. More minds are better than one mind.
2. I get great ideas and creative energy from our creative meetings.
3. The creative meetings force me and others to make the Sunday experience a top priority. We spend our time planning, crafting and dreaming about Sunday experiences. There is nothing worse than planning out a Sunday service on a Saturday night.
4. One great idea can bring a message alive, and a lot of the time, I get that idea from this meeting.
5. We always have at least one lady in the meeting and oftentimes two, and they help to bring a woman's perspective to the messages.
6. I am able to share my heart about why I want to do a series. This gives our Creative Team direction in their stage design, promotional pieces and videos.
7. Our Media Team needs time to put together great promotional videos, and having these meetings helps us to be months out with our sermon series and creative ideas.
1. More minds are better than one mind.
2. I get great ideas and creative energy from our creative meetings.
3. The creative meetings force me and others to make the Sunday experience a top priority. We spend our time planning, crafting and dreaming about Sunday experiences. There is nothing worse than planning out a Sunday service on a Saturday night.
4. One great idea can bring a message alive, and a lot of the time, I get that idea from this meeting.
5. We always have at least one lady in the meeting and oftentimes two, and they help to bring a woman's perspective to the messages.
6. I am able to share my heart about why I want to do a series. This gives our Creative Team direction in their stage design, promotional pieces and videos.
7. Our Media Team needs time to put together great promotional videos, and having these meetings helps us to be months out with our sermon series and creative ideas.
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