#382 - 5 WAYS TO REGAIN YOUR EMOTIONAL ENERGY

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What do you do when you don't have enough emotional energy to put towards your leadership? What do you do when you find yourself giving less than your best in the conversations, presentations, and facilitation of meetings because you feel emotionally worn out? What do you do when, in the majority of interactions you have with your team, you are physically present but emotionally absent?

I am currently having to ask myself the above questions in light of a week filled with emotionally draining circumstances, experiences, and challenges. But, I know I must take the proper steps to regain my emotional energy because if I don't/can't I will not be able to lead effectively. So here's what I'm going to do, and I recommend you do the same:

1. SLEEP

Discipline yourself to get 8 hours of rest. Cancel a meeting. Re-schedule a commitment. Turn a project in late. Do whatever you have to do to sleep. Your lack of sleep is hurting more than it is helping. You have justified it by labeling yourself a "hard worker", but at the end of the day, because you have not had adequate rest, you may have worked hard, but you have not been able to bring your "best self" to your work. Your team needs a healthy you more than they need a "hard-working" you. SLEEP.

2. DISCONNECT

Discipline yourself to turn. it. off. For an eight hour period (while you're awake!), fully disconnect yourself from your work. Don't check your email. Don't work on the project. Don't have any conversations with team members. Don't lead. When you are emotionally drained, your disengagement may be a greater gift to your organization and team than your engagement. DISCONNECT. 

3. PLAY

Discipline yourself to have some fun. (And I don't want to hear, "Well my work is fun!") It may be, but you also need to learn to have fun in ways outside of work. Exercise. Play a sport. Read. Write. Engage with your kids. Enjoy the outdoors. Eat a great meal. If you don't know how to play, you will not make it as a leader. If you don't know how to find joy in something other than the success of your work, you have put too much pressure on the success of your work. PLAY.

4. VENT

Discipline yourself to create space/time for you to share (with the appropriate person) the struggles you are facing as a leader. Many times you will find yourself empty of emotional energy because you are full of work-related stress. By venting, you empty yourself of the feelings of frustration, discouragement, anger, and allow room for emotional energy to be re-gained. VENT.

5. PRAY

Discipline yourself to, in silence and solitude, connect with your Heavenly Father. Dwell on God's goodness. Think upon His blessings. Meditate on His grace. Cast your cares upon Him for He cares for you. Cry out for strength. Cry out for insight. Cry out for wisdom. Admit your weaknesses. Admit your failures. Admit your inadequacies. Before God, posture yourself not as the leader, but as the one who needs to be led. PRAY.

I use the phrase "discipline yourself to" with each of these because they are indeed disciplines. No one can do these things for you. No one is as aware of your emotional energy level than you are and no one can take these action steps for you. Do what you need to do, TODAY, to regain your emotional energy, the effectiveness of your leadership depends on it. 

Why do you think it is so difficult for leaders to take the proper steps to guard and maintain their emotional energy? Please leave your comments below, I'd really like to know!

#381 - A LEADER'S MOST VALUABLE ASSET

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As a leader you are expected to bring so many things to the table. Vision. Direction. Inspiration. Knowledge. Passion. Expertise. The list goes on and on. But what is the most important thing? If you could focus on one thing to acquire, maintain, and give to your team, what would it be?

Bill Hybels, Senior Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago, Illinois has these thoughts,

"A leader's most valuable asset is not their time but their energy and ability to energize others."

In leadership circles, much is said about time management, but very rarely do we hear about the concept of energy management, and in my leadership experiences, I have learned that what Bill Hybels has to say is absolutely true.

You may be able to manage your time to a tee, but if you don't have any energy to bring to that time, what good are you in the meeting, conversation, planning session, etc? 

But it's not only a physical energy that I think we need to bring to our teams. I'd encourage you to be aware of two types of energy. Physical and emotional. Though the physical energy you bring to your team is extremely important (physical strength, physical alertness, physical wherewithal), I would argue that your emotional energy is equally important.

To be an effective leader, emotional energy is a must. Are you bringing a healthy amount of emotional energy to the interactions you are having with your staff, volunteers, and customers? Is your mind present? Are you listening to understand, not to respond? Are you bringing a healthy amount of emotional energy to your public presentations? is your heart engaged with the content? Is your soul moved by what you are saying? Is what you are saying just as true for you as you want it to be for those listening? Are you bringing a healthy amount of emotional energy to the work you do in private? Do you invest your emotional energy in thinking about the future of your organization? Do you invest your emotional energy in planning next steps? The bottom line is this...

The times when my leadership is most ineffective is when I am physically present but emotionally absent.

In tomorrow post, I will share some ways that I acquire, maintain, and give emotional energy to the team I'm privileged to lead. But in the meantime, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this...

Do you agree with the importance of brining emotional energy to your team? Why or why not? Please leave your comments below, I'd really like to know! 

#380 - HOW TO START RECOGNIZING BAD LEADERS

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As a leader, you are always on the lookout for high capacity leaders to add to your team, staff, or organization. But how do you know what a high capacity leader looks like? How can you differentiate between a bad leader and a good one? 

The quickest way to improve your ability to recognize bad leaders is to allow yourself to be influenced by great leaders.

Podcasts. Books. Seminars. Webinars. Blog Posts.  

There is no excuse.  Access to great leaders and great leadership content has never been as readily and easily available as it is today.

As you immerse yourself in the thinking, philosophies, habits, motivations, approaches, strategies, and personalities of world-class leaders, poor leadership will become more obvious to you.

When you allow yourself to be invested in and influenced by great leaders, poor leadership qualities like laziness, passivity, lack of vision, delegation deficiency, pride, and false humility become incredibly obvious to you!  

In the same way that you know what bad chicken and waffles tastes like after having experienced great chicken and waffles (Brown Sugar Kitchen in Oakland, CA), your ability to recognize bad leaders will be most improved by your time influenced by great leaders.

Who are some of the great leaders you are influenced by and how are you influenced by them? Please leave your comments below, I'd really like to know!

#379 - WHICH TYPE OF PEACEMAKER ARE YOU?

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Are you currently experiencing conflict with a family member, team member, or friend? Have you ever experienced conflict with someone who you love and/or lead?

If so, you know that it can be painful, wearisome, and difficult. If so, you understand that relational conflict is one of the most emotionally taxing parts of leadership that you wish never existed. If so, you also probably understand that conflict is an unfortunate reality of leadership that does exist and that it must be handled well. As a leader, you cannot avoid conflict resolution.

So if conflict is a reality, how can a leader get better at conflict resolution?

Well, at a lunch today with a mentor and friend, I was introduced to the three types of "peacemakers." I believe my mentor's insights were gained from The Peacemaker by Ken Sande. Though so much more goes into peacemaking, determining on the front-end what type of peacemaker you want to be will go a long way. 

PEACE-BREAKER

Are you a peace-breaker? When conflict arises do you run? Do you avoid? Do you slander the person you are in conflict with? Do you backbite? Do you place blame? Do you remove yourself from the situation thereby closing the door to reconciliation? Do you prefer being "right" to being reconciled? If a majority of these answers are "yes" you may be a peace-breaker.

PEACE-FAKER

Are you a peace-faker? When conflict arises do you pretend like conflict hasn't arisen? Do you disguise your anger with a smile? Do you hide your hurt with "happiness?" Do you say one thing in front of the person you have conflict with and an entirely different thing to everyone else? Do you pursue the appearance of a healthy relationship more than an actual healthy relationship? Do you prefer being fake to experiencing and extending true forgiveness? If a majority of these answers are "yes" you may be a peace-faker. 

PEACE-MAKER

Are you a peace-maker? When conflict arises do you confront it? Do you approach the person with whom you have conflict and seek to understand before being understood? Do you apologize? Do you ask for forgiveness? Do you own the part of the conflict that you are responsible for? Do you sincerely say, "I'm sorry?" Do you exercise humility? Do you pursue reconciliation until you no longer can pursue reconciliation? Do you prefer being reconciled to being "right?" If a majority of these answers are "yes" you may be a peace-maker.

Regardless of what type of peacemaker you find yourself to be today, in order to become an effective leader, "Peace-Maker" must become your goal. If as leaders, we cannot cultivate a culture of peace, disunity will ensue and failure will be our result.   

Why is becoming a Peace-Maker so difficult? Please share your comments below, I'd really like to know!

#378 - THE 4TH QUARTER

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Today marks the first week of the 4th quarter of 2015. Why is this important to you? Well in sports, the 4th quarter matters most. Though a team may start off strong and though they may be winning at halftime, if the team does not close out a game well, they are susceptible to defeat. On the flip side, though a team may start off slow and be losing at halftime, if the team finishes the 4th quarter well, they can come back and win!

And whose responsibility is it for a team to finish strong? The leader. Whether it's the coach, the star player, or the team captain, the leader of the team is most responsible for the team finishing strong.

The leader positively influences his team to finish strong through his play, through his enthusiasm, through his optimism, and through his encouragement of other players on the team. 

Now putting the sports analogy aside, how will you lead your team to victory in the 4th quarter of 2015? Will it be through your personal contribution? Will it be through your enthusiasm and optimism? Will it be through your encouragement and guidance of your team members? Or will it be as a result of all of these things combined?

Leader, your team needs you. They need your best effort. They need your focused energy. They need your leadership.

Buckle down. Make a play. And finish strong. 

The 4th quarter is when champions are made!  

#377 - IF CONSISTENCY COULD SPEAK, IT WOULD SAY

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Do what you committed to doing even if you don't feel like doing it. Do what you committed to doing because the feeling of having done it is way more satisfying than the feeling of neglect. Do what you committed to doing because if you aren't building the habit of consistency, you're building the habit of inconsistency. 

It is your efforts compounded over time that will yield the results you are looking for. Every time you stop doing what you said you would do, the compounding process has to start all over again. Every decision to neglect your disciplines compounds failure not success.

Something is better than nothing. Writing some words is better than writing no words. Exercising for nine minutes is better than exercising for no minutes. Eating one good meal a day is better than eating no good meals a day. Drinking some water is better than drinking no water. Spending some quality time is better than spending no quality time. 

Consistency is your key. To unlock opportunities. To unlock potential. To unlock talent. To unlock closed doors. To unlock prisons of mediocrity. To unlock your treasures within. 

If you neglect me, you forfeit your right to be great. 

If consistency could speak, what would it say to you? Leave your comment below, I'd really like to know!

#376 - 3 REASONS I LOVE BEING A POINT LEADER

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Last week I reflected upon some reasons why I hate being a point-leader. Though I believe it was very therapeutic for me to think through some of my frustrations with point-leadership, I think it will serve me and others well to share the things I love most about leading in the capacity that I do. After all, though the lows of leadership may be low, as you will see in this list, the highs are high!

1. THE SUCCESS IS PERSONAL

As a point-leader no one experiences the joy, excitement, and satisfaction of progress being made towards the organization's mission and vision than I do. Very few emotions can compare to the feeling of dreaming up a preferred future and seeing it come to pass as a result of time, effort, and energy that you and your team put forth. The realization that the positive results that the organization is experiencing may not have come to pass without your bold and courageous point-leadership is very personally satisfying!

Though the joy of the success of an organization can be shared by all, the degree of joy is directly related to one's emotional attachment to and responsibility for the organization's success. And no one is more emotionally attached and feels more responsible than the point-leader!

2. THE TEAM IS ENJOYABLE

Without a team, there is nothing for a point-leader to lead. The point-leader's team is what makes a point-leader a point-leader! With that in mind, it is one of my life's greatest joys to identify, recruit, develop, and deploy a team of people to pursue the accomplishment of a mission.

As a point-leader, I have the privilege of casting a compelling vision to potential team members in an effort to have them fill key roles on the team. As a point-leader, I have the privilege of placing new team members in the roles that suit them most and serve the organization best. As a point-leader I have the privilege of not only developing the skills and competencies of the individual team members, but also the culture and values of the team as a whole. Finally, as a point-leader I have the privilege of sending the team out with encouragement, hope and excitement!

Each of these aspects of team-building are super enjoyable! The meetings, the conversations, the brain-storming sessions, the meals eaten, the experiences shared, the victories celebrated - there is such joy in a journey taken together. I really couldn't tell you what part of point-leadership I love more: the success the team creates or the creation of a successful team!       

3. THE CHANGE IS POSSIBLE

As a point-leader, no one has more ability to catalyze change than I do. If the organization is drifting from its' mission, wavering in its' commitments, or faltering in the achievement of its' goals, point-leaders can, like no one else in the organization, initiate change. If the organization or business is structured properly the point-leader should have the least amount of "red tape" in their way stopping them from doing what needs to be done to get the results the organization is intending to get.

Point-leadership is exhilarating because if there is something that needs to be changed, we can change it. If there is an opportunity to be pursued, we can pursue it. If there is an obstacle to overcome, we can overcome it. Point-leaders can't place blame, make excuses, or avoid responsibility, and when there is no one else to blame but yourself, you are actually empowered to do something about it! And though that may be a heavy burden to bear for some, to the point-leader, the opportunity to pursue change with as few hindrances as possible is one of the things we love most about the opportunity we've been given!

What does this mean for you?

  1. Appreciate your position. If you are a point-leader, these are the privileges that you have been given. Appreciate them. Enjoy them. Cherish them. There are no guarantees of how long we will have the privilege of leading in our organizations, homes, businesses, and groups in the ways that we do. Approach each day with an awe and wonder of the fact that you get to lead! 

  2. If you are not a point-leader but would like to become one, serve faithfully where you are currently at. If you want to experience the joys listed above, be faithful in the positions and opportunities you have already been given. Nothing can accelerate you quicker into a position of point-leadership than excelling where you are at. Nothing can slow you down faster from becoming a point-leader than taking for granted where you at. 

What do you love most about point-leadership? Leave your comment below, I'd really like to know!

#375 - 3 REASONS I HATE BEING A POINT LEADER

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In my lifetime, I have been given the opportunity of being the "point-leader" (the buck stops with me) of a group, business, or organization on several occasions. To give you an idea of the range of point leadership experiences I've had, along with my age at the time, here is a short list:

  1. 8th Grade Class President (12)

  2. Christian Club President (15)

  3. Sunday School Director (20) 

  4. PPLSI Area Coordinator (22) 

  5. Non-Profit Organization Executive Director (25) 

  6. High School Ministry Director (27) 

  7. Lead Pastor (30) 

Throughout the years, though there have been many things that I love about point leadership, I have come to absolutely hate (I know hate is a strong word, but it best describes how I feel!) three things in particular:

1. THE RESPONSIBILITY IS HEAVY

As the point leader, no one feels and experiences the weight of responsibility for the success and effectiveness of the organization like we do. No one is as burdened with seeing the mission and vision of the organization come to fruition as we are. No one feels more accountable for the results of the organization, whether bad or good, than we do.

I hate that the responsibility is heavy because the weight of it is something that never changes! There is absolutely nothing I can do to feel less responsible, I'm the leader! All I can do is learn to carry the weight of responsibility more effectively. 

2. THE CRITIQUE IS RELENTLESS

As a point leader, no one is more of a target for criticism, blame, and flat out hate than we are. No one experiences the onslaught of "feedback" of things we can be doing better, things we could be doing more of, and things we should be doing less! No one is confronted by the never ending opinions (which are often times right!) of the things that need to be changed for the organization to reach its' full potential than us.

I hate that the critique is relentless because, many times, it just hurts! The manner in which many people go about the matter of providing feedback is, often times, insensitive, untimely, and rude.

I also hate that the critique is relentless because, whether people know it or not, point leaders are just as relentless about improving as their critics are at communicating what needs to be improved! So every time a new critique comes, the point leader has another thing to add to his already long list of things he's working to make better!  

3. THE FAILURE IS DEVASTATING

As a point leader, no one is more negatively affected by missed goals and missed opportunities than we are. No one is more saddened by ways in which the organization failed or let people down than we are. Whether it is with staff, members, customers, or potential clients, no is more crushed by an organizations inability to meet expectations than the point leader. When something the organization intends to do doesn't get done, it is the point leader who is most discouraged by missing the mark.

I hate that failure is devastating because organizational failure is an inescapable reality! Every time an organization tries something new, the potential for failure is present. On my best day, the devastation of failure cannot be avoided, it can only be managed.

What does this mean for you? 

With an awareness of the three things I hate about being a point-leader in mind, here are three recommendations: 

  1. Pray for your leader.  We could definitely use it! I don't think there is a point-leader alive who would not readily receive your prayers for them!

  2. Extend grace to your leader. We are going to let you down. We are going to disappoint you. Being a point-leader gives us no excuse to fail you, but when we do, grace is much appreciated!

  3. Evaluate your desire to be a point leader. Are you prepared for heavy responsibility? Are you ready for relentless critique? Can you handle devastating failure? Though Jesus may have been talking about following Him, I think these words are wise as we evaluate our desire to lead others, "But don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?" (Luke 14:28 NLT)

#368 - THIS HAPPENED TO ME. I HOPE IT NEVER HAPPENS TO YOU.

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I'm so disappointed in myself. How could I let this become my reality? Shouldn't I know better? Wasn't I raised to know better? With all the material I consumed on the topic and with all the material I created and taught on the topic, How could I let this happen to me?

How did I ever allow myself to stop dreaming?

At what point did I stop envisioning my preferred future? At what point did I stop writing down long-term goals? At what point did I stop believing that God could do the impossible in and through my life? 

Maybe because it was because I got older. Maybe because it was I saw certain dreams go unfulfilled. Maybe it was because I just lost faith.

Though I like to tell myself I was just "surrendering my future into God's hands." Though I would like to believe I was just "being faithful when the amounts are small." Though I would like to argue I was "seeking God's will and not my own." I don't think that was really the case. 

Here's why. 

When I stopped dreaming, I became cynical. I became pessimistic. I became fearful. I became jaded. I became unresolved. I became a "realist." If I was truly seeking "God's will," I don't believe I would've taken on these negative character traits. 

 Well, today, all of this ends.

Today I start dreaming again! Today I start imagining again!  Today I reignite my childlike faith!

Because though I may have grown older, this childhood lesson I have not yet forgotten, 

Without faith it is impossible to please God.    

 

#367 - THE STAFF TEAM I SEE

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"Develop a right hand TEAM not a right hand PERSON." Craig Groeschel

During the first two years of theMOVEMENT's existence, unfortunately, I have already had several people transition off of our Staff Team.  I am very aware that I have made many leadership mistakes that have led to these transitions, and I want to get better.

Therefore, as I enter into a season of developing a new staff team, in an effort to become a more effective leader, one of the things I'm doing is investing time envisioning the type of Staff Team I'd like us to become. Instead of developing a staff culture by chance, I'd like to do my best to develop a staff culture by design. Here's what I have so far. The Staff Team I See...

1. LAUGHS

We laugh. We laugh at ourselves. We laugh at each other. We laugh at our mistakes. We laugh at our circumstances. Though we will take God and the mission of the Church very seriously, we will not take ourselves too seriously. And if we find ourselves short on things to laugh about, we will always take time to laugh at the absurdity that God actually choose us to lead His Church!  

2. LEADS

We lead. We are not "Yes Men" and "Yes Women." We take initiative in our roles and do not wait to be told what to do. We lead ourselves. We lead our teams. We lead the church. We are extremely aware of the fact that the health and strength of the church rises and falls on the health and strength of our leadership. 

3. LISTENS

We listen. We listen to God. We listen to each other. We listen to our members. We listen to our guests. We listen to the community. We understand that we can learn more about each other and the people who we've been called to serve by listening. We understand that we can meet needs best by listening. We understand that we can avoid and resolve conflict and frustration by listening. We understand that if we don't listen, someone else will, and opportunities will be lost.    

4. LEARNS

We learn. We learn from the Scriptures. We learn from other churches. We learn from each other. We learn from people both inside and outside of the church. We learn from both our fans and our critics. Conferences. Books. Podcasts. Vodcasts. Blogs. Vlogs. Mentors. We have an ever-increasing appetite for learning because we understand that not all learners are leaders, but all leaders are learners. 

5. LASTS 

We last. We last through ups and downs. We last through good times and through bad. We last through triumphs and transitions. We understand that every great team and every great organization has at its' foundation a group of people who have committed to last. We understand that for our mission of Overwhelming Oakland with Love to become a reality, longevity must become a necessity.   

#362 - 33 - PART TWO

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As I mentioned in my previous post, this last year was quite challenging, especially as it related to my role as the Lead Pastor of theMOVEMENT. I went through some experiences as a pastor and a leader that I would wish upon no one!

But, instead of dwelling on the difficulty of the situations, I think it would be most wise to reflect upon the lessons learned from the situations. Here are three lessons that I learned this past year that I hope to hold on to for many years to come! 

1. BE SILENT. GOD IS YOUR DEFENDER.

"The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." Exodus 14:!4

Over the last several months, the above verse has been an absolute lifeline for me! Slowly but surely I am getting it through my thick skull that there are certain battles that I was just not meant to fight. One who is wise discerns which battles those are and allows God to fight them on their behalf...all while keeping their mouths shut.  

In certain "battles," when I feel I need to to convince, I need to be silent. When I feel I need to convict, I need to be silent. When I feel I need to clarify, I need to be silent.  In these battles, when I feel I need to speak up, I probably need to shut up!

And when the time is right, in the areas that God chooses, He will convince for me. He will convict for me. He will clarify for me. He will ultimately defend me. My job is to keep me and my words out of the way!   

2. BE CONFIDENT. THE CHURCH IS RESILIENT. 

"Through various seasons and transitions, the church is resilient." Brian Houston

In the midst of the difficulties that I have experienced this past year, I have come to discover that when the Church of Jesus Christ takes a hit, like a punching bag with a weighted bottom, it gets back up again! Every. Single. Time.

For over 2,000 years the "Big C" church has faced difficulties from both outsiders and insiders and for over 2,000 years the Church has advanced through those difficulties! I am just so thankful that theMOVEMENT church in Oakland, CA is no exception!

Resilient through change. Resilient through disappointment. Resilient through loss. Resilient through pain. Resilient through difficulty. The Church of Jesus Christ is resilient, and it is this newly experienced resilience that gives me the confidence to keep moving forward! 

3. BE HUMBLE. PRIDE WILL DEBILITATE YOU.

"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom." Proverbs 11:2

"Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility towards one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'" 1 Peter 5:5

The consequences of unhealthy pride are devastating. This past year, I've seen it in my own life and I have seen it in the lives of others. Pride will keep you from confessing your sin. Pride will deter you from fulfilling your purpose. Pride will discourage you from developing your relationships. Pride will distract you from growing your faith. Pride will prevent you from trusting your God. 

Pride has been at the root of all of the most challenging situations I have faced this year. With that in mind, I am desperately in need of the Holy Spirit to bestow upon me a supernatural portion of humility.

Humility to forgive. Humility to reconcile. Humility to extend grace. Humility to confess. Humility to obey. Humility to love. Humility to persevere. In my 34th year of life, humility will be the character trait I will be committed to developing most because I am convinced more than ever of the following truth, God stands on the opposite side of those with pride.    

 

#344 - A TOUGH TENSION TO MANAGE

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I have to prepare myself for the voices.

Voices telling me that, as it relates to my preaching, I should be doing more of this and less of that. Voices telling me that, as it relates to my leadership, I should be doing more of this and less of that. Voices telling me that, as it relates to my dealing with people, I should be doing more of this and less of that.

Voices telling me that, as it relates to our church programs, we should be doing more of this and less of that. Voices telling me that, as it relates to our style of music, we should be doing more of this and less of that. Voices telling me that as it relates to our method of ministry, we should be doing more of this and less of that.

And because all of the voices I will encounter will not necessarily be all good or all bad...

I'm going to have to learn how to manage the tension between leading boldly while still listening carefully.

Because...

I don't have all the answers.
I'm not aware of all the best practices.
I don't have as much experience as others.

But at the same time,

God has placed a calling on my life.
God has placed a vision in my heart.
God has placed a gift in my hands.

Though I don't know it all, there are some things I do know and I can't allow the voices to cause me to question the things God has clearly called me to do.

Leading boldly and listening carefully - though it will be a difficult tension to manage, it will also be a tension that will cause me to listen ever so closely to the one voice that matters most...God's.

#342 - GOD'S TIMING IS PERFECT

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I worry.

I worry about whether or not enough people will show up. I worry about the quality and clarity of my message. I worry about the quality of our music. I worry about whether or not we will have enough financial resources to continue doing ministry. I worry about finding a permanent meeting space.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't worry about these things constantly and I don't worry about these things to a point where I'm depressed, but I'd be lying if I told you that these were things I was not concerned about.

But in the midst of all these "worries," I am reminded of Isaiah's words concerning the character of God in Isaiah 55:8-9:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God's ways are better than my ways. God's thoughts arebetter than my thoughts. Not only are they better but they are so much better!

And because this is true, it can also be said that God's timing is so much better than my timing!

God's timing is perfect.

And it is with that profound truth in mind that I can trust that:

The timing in which He's going to save various types of lives...perfect.
The timing in which He's going to draw certain numbers of people...perfect.
The timing in which He's going to provide a permanent meeting space...perfect.
The timing in which He's going to bring in the required amounts of finances...perfect.

The timing in which He's going to address any other concern or worry that I have...perfect.

God's timing is perfect. My timing is not.

Therefore...

I must trust...Him.

#339 - WORK IS WAITING

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We rested. We shopped. We ate. We watched movies. I read. We rafted together down the American River. Then we rested some more. Shopped some more. Ate some more. Watched more movies. And then I read some more. In summary, our vacation was awesome.

But now our vacation is over, and it's time to get back to work.

Work is waiting.

Services need to be planned. Sermons need to be written. Directions need to be given. Expectations need to be communicated. Videos need to be recorded. Phone calls need to be made. Invitations need to be extended. Funds need to be raised. Meetings need to be scheduled. Volunteers need to be recruited. Orders need to be placed. Emails need to be sent. Presentations need to be prepared. Things need to get done.

As it pertains to successfully starting a church, a lot of work is waiting.

But as I prepare myself to jump back into the work that is before me, I am reminded of Luke's writings about the early church in Acts 6:1-4:

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

Though a lot of work is waiting, I must be crystal clear on the work that is waiting for me.

Will I "serve tables?" Absolutely.

But the truth I must embrace (and not feel guilty about) as the Lead Pastor of this church is stated best by Matthew Henry in his commentary on this passage, I "must be God’s mouth to the people in the ministry of the word, and the people’s mouth to God in prayer."

Stated more simply: Prayer and preaching - this is my priority.

#329 - CONNECTION IS CRITICAL

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Though our church is only a few days away from our third and final "preview service," today I invested the majority of my day having one-on-one meetings with each of my staff members that had very little to do with this weekend's service.

Instead, I did my best to connect with each staff member relationally. And I'm so glad I did!

Being in tune with their joys, victories, struggles and frustrations as humans is so much more valuable to me than only being in tune with how they are feeling as employees. I want the people who I'm privileged to lead to be convinced that I care more about who they are becoming than what they are doing for the organization. I want them to feel that I care more about the quality of their life than the quality of their work.

This is very important to me.

In other organizations that I've worked for in the past, I have experienced what it was like to work with a boss who only had interest in the value that I brought to the organization and how I could increase that value. And though it is one of my primary responsibilities to do that as well, I believe that truly connecting with each employee in an authentic way is a critical component to employee effectiveness.

Without it, employees are left to feel, what I hope members of our team never feel...used.

#327 - WORRYING IS WORTHLESS

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I’m a bit worried.

There are so many unanswered questions that I have in regards to the future of our young church that I wish I had the answers to.

Who will stay connected to our church when we start meeting weekly? Will the financial resources that we are investing into our marketing pay off? Where will we meet on September 29, when our current venue is not going to be available? When will the financial provision come so that we can continue to do ministry beyond September 1? What is the one thing I need to do to ensure that our church launches in the strongest and healthiest way possible?

In summary, how is this all going to end up working out?

But as much as I’d like to dwell on these questions and know the answers, I understand that worrying about them is worthless.

Worrying doesn’t bring change.
Worrying doesn’t create results.
Worrying doesn’t solve problems.
Worrying doesn’t provide answers.

Worrying is worthless.

I can and should be at peace both now and always because:

Though I may have many unanswered questions, my life and our church is in the hands of the One who has all the answers.

#320 - RESPONSIBILITY IS HEAVY

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I am currently in a season of my life where I have been blessed with great opportunities.

Opportunities to lead.
Opportunities to teach.
Opportunities to create.
Opportunities to impact.
Opportunities to disciple.
Opportunities to pioneer.

I am so thankful for these many opportunities, but with these opportunities comes a responsibility that, often times, is heavy.

The responsibility of effectively leading a brand new church, that impacts a city, can be daunting. The responsibility of creatively preparing messages, that communicate the heart of God, can be overwhelming. The responsibility of wisely handling the resources, that I've been entrusted with, can be intimidating.

And most days, I feel so under-qualified, ill-prepared and un-deserving of the opportunities given and the responsibility that is attached to them.

And though the above may be true, today, I find rest in the following truth:

The same God who gives me the opportunity is with me in the responsibility.

I am not alone in my leading.
I am not alone in my teaching.
I am not alone in my discipling.
I am not alone in my preparing.
I am not alone in my pioneering.
I am not alone in my fundraising. (Thank God for that!)

I do not have to bear the burden of my responsibilities all by myself.

God is with me.

And it is because of that fact that I choose to boldly move forward with every opportunity I am given!

#317 - OUR MAIN THING

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Because the gospel is endlessly rich, it can handle the burden of being the one “main thing” of a church. -Tim Keller

As a church planter, one of my distinct roles is to lead the formation and development of our church’s culture.

In other words, I have the responsibility of deciding the behaviors that our church will value and the behaviors that our church won’t value. It is up to me to determine the things that our church will be known for and it is up to me to make sure we avoid the things that our church won’t be known for.

And the options and labels are plenty.

Missional. Attractional. Organic. Biblical. Acts 2. Purpose-Driven. Seeker-sensitive. Spirit-filled. Discipleship-focused. Relevant. Modern. Creative. Hipster. Contemporary. Traditional. Affirming. Accepting. Open. Inviting. Multi-Cultural. Multi-Generational. Family-friendly. Cutting-edge. Etc.

But as great as many of the above labels are. I’ve settled on a different one.

Gospel-Motivated.

I am convicted and compelled to lead our church in such a way that everyprogram we run, every initiative we back and every service we provide must be a result of and a response to our faith in the glorious Good News thatJesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15)

Why? Because I am convinced…

A true Gospel root bears quality Gospel fruit.

It is only by recognizing what Jesus has already done, that we can faithfully do what He wants us to do. It is only by realizing who we already are in Christ, that we can freely become more like Christ. It is only by receiving what God already achieved for us, that we can fully achieve for God.

Our motivation for loving is because, through Christ, God loved. Our motivation for giving is because, through Christ, God gave. Our motivation for sacrificing is because, through Christ, God sacrificed. Our motivation for forgiving is because, through Christ, God forgave.

It is for this reason that, as it relates to the “main thing” or foundation thattheMOVEMENT is going to be built upon, I am “betting the farm” on the depth, width and breadth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

When it comes to the gospel, I am “all-in.” And I sure hope it pays off because this gospel is not only the motivation of this church…it is the motivation of my life.

What is the “main thing” in your line of work?

#316 - 3 TRAPS I MUST AVOID

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As I set out to plant the church that I believe God has called me to plant, I must be careful to avoid the following traps that I will be prone to fall into:

The Comparison Trap. I must plant the church that God has called me to plant, and I must be the pastor that God has called me to be. I can learn from and be inspired by other churches and pastors, but I cannot let what they are doing or experiencing be the ultimate measuring stick for my success. I must define my success as a church planter by how obedient I am being to what God is calling me to do.

The Church-olatry Trap. I must keep Jesus first. Jesus is my God and I shall have no other gods but Him — ministry included. The attendance, the offerings, the testimonies — these things cannot be the source of my joy. Though these things may be good and of God, the moment my source of fulfillment is found in them, they have become my idol.

The Celebrity Trap. I must focus on making Jesus the hero. I am not planting a church to make a name for myself. I am not planting a church to build a platform for my agenda. I am not planting a church to extend my kingdom. I am planting a church to extend the Kingdom of God on earth. If what I am doing in leading the church becomes a greater focus than what Christ is doing in building the church, I have failed.

What traps must you avoid in your vocation?