Refining Leadership

Today leadership is more crucial than ever before.  You can see it all around you, solid leadership breeds consistent, functional, productive ministries, teams and businesses!  When you see something that has or is successful in their field, more often than not the people that are in leadership positions within that organization are constantly looking for ways that they can better lead.  They are continuing to refine their skills, knowledge and practices.  The refining process happens to increase value & quality. 

Gold is one of those precious metals that has benefited from this economic downturn in the last couple years.   Gold has increased in value and people have started cashing in on this.  Cash 4 Gold stores, Joe's Gold... you name it stores are popping up buying gold from people who are strapped for cash and then turning around and selling it for more than they paid.  The more refined the gold, the more pure the gold is the more its worth.  Gold is refined in intense heat, the dross(impurities) is taken out and the gold is made more valuable because it is a higher quality.

In order to grow as a leader the refining process needs to take place!   Everyone has a limitless ceiling when it comes to leadership.   Continuing to grow as a leader is important, here are some things that can help refine you as a leader:

1. Learning from those who have gone before you
2. There are great books out there (Leaders are Readers)
3. Blogs
4. Conferences
5. Ask those you lead how you can improve

**Be in Gods word daily, Be in constant communication with Him (prayer), ask for Him to be the leader in your life.

Dont Stop, Keep Leading!!

Lets Go

As we go through our lives we all experience seasons that we just go after it, we take life and slap it on the tail.  We have our to do list, we check things off, we crumple the paper/delete it from our Blackberry/Iphone/Droid and keep on moving.   These times are amazing, we accomplish a lot when we get into these modes!   More often than not we use these seasons to benefit ourselves, our families, our homes, OUR lives.   What would happen if we leverage this season of life, the season where we make things happen for ourselves and use it to impact the kingdom of God.   We use our internal motor that is pushing some serious RPM's and impact our neighbors, co-workers and friends with the Gospel! 

If your like me (pray that your not :))  you go from week to week and sometimes you have it, sometimes you dont.   Sometimes it comes quickly and leaves just as fast as it came.  Sometimes it sticks around for weeks, maybe even months and other times it comes for an hour and then its back to the couch (I mean come on, the World Cup is on).  I believe God is calling all of us (His children) to go after life!  When things are happening that means that oppurtunity is passing us by.   "The Go Effect" happens as we go through our life with a narrow view of our world.  The narrow view that says this life is about ME, and just like that... we have missed it.   We have missed what God is calling us to do, go and make disciples, go and love, go and take care of the orphans and widows, GO and take care of the least of these.  Most importantly we miss the most important thing of all and that is GO and love God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.

Take time today as you are getting things done, as your motor is movin, and remember that God has you here for a reason... LETS GO!

Pink Potty

We are currently involved in a fundraiser right now for the students going on the missions trip this summer to Memphis, TN.   Doing some searching online I came across the idea of putting toilets in peoples yards and making them pay to get them removed... buy potty insurance... send them to someone... etc.   We painted the potties pink and called it our Pink Potty Fundraiser!!  Novel concept.  So far it has blown away expectations, I keep hearing about people that drive by and see them in peoples yards.   Makes me laugh every time.  Big Thanks to the people at SGC for making this a very fun experience. 

Best part so far was we placed all the potties in our lead pastors yard the first day!!  He didnt have insurance.  needless to say he was gracious in supporting the students and will be purchasing the insurance ASAP!  Here are some pics...

John Wooden

The other morning I was listening to Mike & Mike on ESPN radio.  They were talking about the Legacy that John Wooden (legendary coach from UCLA, won 10 national titles and impacted many people by his example and character) left when he died this past weekend at the age of 99.   They ended up interviewing several former players and coaches and asked for the thing they would remember about Coach Wooden.   All the answers were great, thoughtful and heart felt.  One stuck out in my mind, Bill Walton.

Bill Walton is one of my least favorite analysts on ESPN, that being said his gratitude and love for Coach Wooden I will never forget!   He got choked up when talking about his former coach & friend.  He told Mike & Mike that without John Wooden in his life he would have given up years ago.   "He made such a huge impact on my life, he encouraged me when no one else was there, he coached me through my darkest days," (roughly what Walton said).  Walton was at the end of his rope, he was ready to call it quits when the man who has always been there for him made another huge impact and showed love & compassion to Bill. 

The power words have on someones life is immeasurable.  You don't have to be a legendary Coach to have an impact on someones life.  You don't have to have written books or have catchy quotes to speak truth to someone down in the dumps.  What you do have to be is willing!  Willing to step out and help, willing to show love, willing to sacrifice time in order to make a difference.  Bill Walton was forever changed by his coach, mentor, friend.

love me some facebook

Oh how we love facebook... we probably love it because its all about ME... and stalking others who you barely know!   If you can nod your head yes to more than 75% of these points then you are officially on facebook to much! :)

1. your status starts and ends the day the same... "bored..."
2. you "like" more than 25 comments a day
3. facebook is the only way you correspond with your family...  in the next room
4. you respond to someones status within 1 minute of them posting it
5. Your profile pic changes more than 3 times a day with pictures you took of yourself in your bathroom using your own camera and a mirror with the same pose every time with different outfits...
6. You use facebook as a platform to argue with everyone who doesnt see things as you see them...
7. the only time you talk with your significant other is on facebook chat
8.  you use the relationship status to break up with your girlfriend or boyfriend
9. You get depressed enough to take meds when no one sends you specialty animals in "Farmville"
10.  You consider someone your best friend after you read over their Info on facebook and not from hanging out or talking...

Love me some Facebook!