Things I learned at Leadership Live day 1

This has been an amazing 24 hours so far. I told Susie last night it is hard to put into words everything that i have learned.  But I thought I would put down a few of the highlights from yesterday.

• The most dangerous person on your team is not the one who opposes you it is the one who is just out of alignment
• people follow for a variety of reasons

some because of your marriage

some because of your education 

some because of you life stage

• people will watch how I handle conflict 
• people will leave for as many reasons as they came to you church
• team will out perform individuals every time
• Every leader must get a stranglehold on what they are not good at
• where you step today will be where you stand tomorrow so make sure you are careful where you step
• The easier the product is to access the more people will utilize it 

This is how to get your volunteers to reproduce what you want

• people model what gets noticed
• people model what get celebrated
• What get celebrated and noticed gets replicated

Well there are a few things from day one it has been incredible so far I cannot wait to learn more today.  Here is what I think is the most amazing thing about the SMT at Granger they are just real guys who are doing ministry together and want to help others.  They are approachable.  WOW that is a huge difference from other SMT's of other large churches.

More later.

What's In Your Wallet

Well We have been going through this new series called "Green" for the past few weeks and man has it been incredible. The first week we tackled the MasterCard slogan "what's in your wallet" and I think we really made some strides with this whole idea of debt and also how to put a little more green back in your wallet. Here are some stories that I received from people after last week.


story 1:

The way I save money is by washing clothing...I find miscellaneous dollar bills and I hide them until things get a little tight. Each week I try and put away about $10 and then when necessary...my stash becomes the saving grace..:) (Tip: Switch hiding places often...)
Also, I try to pay about 15% ahead on all the bills...when there is an emergency (car breaks down or Christmas comes around the corner and nothing has been purchased yet), no stress. The bills are tiny and non threatening.

Story 2:

When you go out to eat with you wife or significant other split every thing except the drink and you will find yourself spending about 1/2 the money and eating about 1/2 the calories. Also you most likely won't have left overs that sit in the fridge accumulating mold that will just get thrown out next week when the smell hits you as you look for a snack!

story 3:

Because of your teaching we spent some of Sunday afternoon creating a budget which included getting to our safety net goal, determining how much we could spend on fun every month, specific events for this year that we are saving for, and determining exactly what are our financial goals.

I know these are just a few and I am sure that there are many more but I guess I really just want us to stop spending money that we do not have and really start learning the principle of paying off debt and living within our means. There are so many people who could do some incredible things for God and for their families but they are strapped to the man because of debt and by the man I do not mean their boss I mean their creditors. Here is what Proverbs says.
Proverbs 22:7
Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.

What does that verse say to you? please leave comments. Also I have included the video that we used for the transition. I think This nails it one the head. Enjoy.

I am back

I know all three of you who read this blog are so happy. HA HA Well I am sorry it has been a while since my last blog actually 3 months and I know in blog world that is a huge no non because no one ill continue to read your stuff if you do not keep posting. However, I thought this whole blog thing was for me not for everyone else. This is my place to mind dumb now I know some of you are saying so Paul you have not had anything to mind dump in 3 months. Well no but you need to understand that I am the worst typer in the universe. I think i am the only quite computer literate person who cannot type in the whole world. However, I will try to jot down at least a few things each week to keep everyone posted on the progress of me and our awesome church Relevant.

So about me. Well Susie and I had an awesome summer we spent 2 weeks at the beach with our kids one in Daytona and one on Anna Maria Island on the Gulf Coast. WOW that was awesome except for me trying to surf again which I had not done in 8 years. Let's just say I suck at surfing now. Not that I was good before, however my son Anthony is a natural he did awesome. Speaking of Anthony he is now playing football. Although I a not sure if his ADD distracts him in his quest to play. Sometimes at practice when he is playing linebacker is see him staring at the grass. Go figure like father like son. He is doing awesome in my eyes. Ashlyn is amazing she seems to be learning more each day and 80% of the time she is a real treasure. However, the other 20% she is still a treasure but the joy in the treasure seem to be buried in here stuburnness. Maybe you know what I mean. Susie and I are dong great working on our 18 year of marriage WOW it does not seem possible. Susie is really amazing. I do not know how she takes care of our home and kids and also does all of the stuff I ask her to do for the church. She is the best wife ever.

So about relevant. Well it has been one of the greatest summers we have ever had of course it is only the third but it has been great for a couple of reasons. i will bullet point them and briefly explain.

• We did not take a vacation from church this summer- Here is what I mean many churches feel like summer is a low time of the year so they coast through without programming anything creative therefore no one feels like they will miss anything if they are gone. Why should they come. We did two of the best series we have ever done this summer as far as I am concerned and the results are in and they are awesome.
• we had 115 first time guest this summer
• we had 12 people receive Christ
• we baptized 20 people in July
• we averaged over 250 people each week
• we launched preview Sunday night services that were well attended
• we launched 14 new growth groups in August
• We have a staff that knocks it out of the park every week. I can honestly say that in all of my years of ministry I am working now with the hardest working team that I have ever worked with. Carl (worship dude extrodinare check out his new CD on i-tunes) yes he is amazing, Jamie, Jason you guys are truly amazing and I am blessed to work with all of you. You rock. BTW i did give them vacation over the summer. I am not that cruel.
• Satan was working me over. I know some of you are saying how does that make the summer great. Well when Satan is working me over then God must have some great things in store and He did. I feel more excitement about the future of Relevant then ever before. Yeah God.

Well that is about it for now. You can pray for us as we launch our Sunday night service every week this Sunday. Check out the video for it here.

Have an awesome week.

Paul

fierce conversations

Today I want to share some thoughts I got from a new book by Susan Scott called "Fierce Conversations" Here are the keys points.












"Fierce Conversations"

Principle 1: Master the Courage to Interrogate Reality

Everyone has a different take on reality and unless we decide to interrogate it on a regular basis we make wake up to the fact that reality has changed.


Principle 2: Come Out from Behind Yourself, Into the Conversation, and Make It Real

While many fear "real", it is the unreal conversation that should concern us. Unreal conversations are the conversations that happen around to water cooler because as leaders we will not face reality.

Principle 3: Be Here, Prepared to Be Nowhere Else

Speak and listen as if this is the most important conversation you will ever have with this person. It could be. Participate as if it matters. It does.

Principle 4: Tackle Your Toughest Challenge Today

Today is the day to have the conversation you have been avoiding. All confrontation is merely a search for the truth.
Make things hard up front so they can be easier down the road.

Principle 5: Obey Your Instincts

Don't just trust your instincts. Obey them.

Principle 6: Take Responsibility For Your Emotional Wake

There is no trivial comment. Something you may not even remember saying may have had a devastating impact on someone who looks to you for guidance and approval.

What people hear from your mouth they will associate to you and if what comes out is always negative or sarcastic that is who you become in their eyes.

Principle 7: Let Silence Do the Heavy Lifting

- Insight occurs in the space between words.
- Learn to love the sweet territory of silence