training

About a month ago I registered to run a quarter marathon in August. I started my training this week. I have run for two whole days in a row. I'm pretty sore, but I'm glad to be running again.

As I was running, I was listening to Rick Warren's leadership podcast and he was having a discussion about the huge importance of reading in the life of a leader. I started off thinking it was going to affirm me, but it really challenged me on how and what I read. I read a lot of current stuff, but I read almost nothing old, nothing "classic". I'd like to change that. I would love to get your suggestions on where to start.

the wonder of God

First, if you have not yet read Mark Batterson's book, Primal, do that.

I'm preaching a sermon series based on that book and yesterday I was studying through the chapter talking about what Batterson calls "primal wonder". It left me seeing more, noticing more of God's awesome creation. On top of that, we had a thunderstorm last night. It was so cool to just look at that small taste of God's power.

I encourage you today to slow down and drink in the wonder of God today.

leading is carrying the weight of others

We all had the same misunderstanding of leadership as kids. We all thought that leadership was telling other people what to do. If we grew up and did any sort of leadership, we know that's not the case.

Jesus taught leadership as serving. He said we ought to lay our lives down for people. It's amazing how much weight we feel for those we lead if we are truly serving them. If we see our job, as a leader, to serve those we lead, we can feel their pain, their worry, their joy.

I can feel some stuff, both good and bad, on our leadership team at Freedom Valley Church right now. It's a heavy load today, but I'm so filled with joy to work with such great leaders who have put themselves on the line for the sake of God's call on their lives.

Perspective

I just flew into Chicago and as we were coming in we did bank turn right over the heart of downtown. As I looked out the window, I thought "Wow, that Sears tower (or whatever it's called now) doesn't look so tall."

Well, it is tall. Really tall. Imagine how differently that building would look from the ground vs. my seat on the plane. Imagine how differently the challenge you're facing today would look if you decided to change your perspective.


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Failing under pressure

I read in Proverbs "if you fail under pressure, your strenght is too small". I fail so often when it comes to my kids. I just can't seem to muster the patience required. Please preay for me. I need my strength to increase so I don't fail those little guys under pressure. Lord knows they create some serious pressure :)

learning some things

Just finishing up my first ever vacation week as the lead pastor. I sure learned a lot. I learned that it's much easier to leave your head "at the office" when you're working to serve another man's vision. It's a whole new ballgame when it's your own vision - the thing you believe God has called you to do with all your heart - on the line. I also learned that when the church office is in your house, you better get out of said house if you want a real vacation. I learned that immediately after a team milestone is no time for the team's leader to drop off the radar.

I learned a few other specifics too, but none of them are as important as the overall principle God taught me. I'm the leader round here. Yeah, that's a "duh" statement. But it's something God needed me to teach me first-hand.

Now, I'm not saying that my team dropped the ball and the wheels fell off this week. Far from it. I'm just saying that I can feel that we could have built more on Easter's momentum had I been on task this week and that in this very young stage of our church, my team needs me at these crucial times.

I'm going to be out again this coming weekend preaching at Freedom Valley in Gettysburg and I'm glad for the opportunity to serve Pastor Gerry and that wonderful church he leads, but my heart will still be in Tulsa with our growing little group we call Freedom Valley Church in Tulsa, OK.

new levels

Since I've entered into this journey of becoming a leader, I've been growing all along; at least over the long haul, even if I've stagnated during some seasons. With that said, this week has been challenging to me as a leader like no other time I've ever spent. I've been to plenty of conferences, but I've never been so deeply challenged like I was this week. Matt Keller and the Next Level Church staff are the real deal, all the way through. Not only did I learn a ton and get challenged like crazy, but I met some people I think could be very key to the long-term vision God has built into me to help start healthy churches. I'm tired, overwhelmed (in a good way) and grateful all at the same time.