i see dead people

Take a moment to check out this article from Newsweek. Makes you think a bit about your family life and the interactions (or lack thereof) within them and how death can be a lens into our past lives.

fundo!

Yo! Fundo was off the hook! Off the chain! Off the whatever suburban-urban slang words you can think of!

The food was really GOOD. I didn't get to eat any until the end when people were leaving and I couldn't stop. They had to pull the cheese tray out of my hands (well, not really).

We showed a HILARIOUS volunteer video from River Valley Church (click on the Volunteer Appreciation Video).

Then we gave out awards - New Life style. Whatever your area of ministry, we gave a 'gift'. A fun gift. That fit your area of volunteering.

And we talked and laughed and had a blast!

So thank you ALL for being volunteers and servants of God's! Keep it up! Here's to another great year ahead!

top 10

Well, actually I should say Top 13.

Outreach Magazine just came out with a list of America's Top 25 Multiplying Churches. Guess who was #13? NEW LIFE! WOW! That is powerful!

Take a moment to read the article and check out the list. God is moving...

Article - Top 25 list is in the middle

expectations

From Seth Godin...

Word of mouth comes directly from expectations.

Low expectations are a terrific shortcut, because when you exceed them, people are so amazed that they can't help but talk about it.

But low expectations are dangerous, because if you fly too low, you're invisible. Worse, when people expect little of you, they often don't bother listening at all.

So most of the time, you're challenged with this: high expectations that must be beat.

Broadway shows. Apple products. Expensive consulting services. Promise big and deliver bigger seems to be the only reliable strategy.

So what are our expectations in the church? Are they really low? Are they high? Do we need to make them higher?

100+

Not my age, but where our youngest child, Avery's, temperature has been all day. That stuff is SCARY!

I hate when my kids are sick. It scares me, I always think the worse, and I HATE to see them in pain. So, just keep her in your prayers tonight.

FUNDO!

I got to say, I am REALLY excited about our FUNDO night for our volunteers this Sunday night! We have some fun things planned for the night! Some funny (and real) awards, some GREAT videos, some words of encouragement, a chance to hang out and best yet - FONDUE!

If you volunteer, make sure you come out for the night. You WILL NOT want to miss this...

taking the plunge

Yesterday, we baptized 6 people at the Haymarket campus.

WOW!

Enough said...

BUZZ revisited

I am still digesting our time at the BUZZ conference. However, here are some thoughts and ideas that are still with me today...

Mark Batterson
Here are some thoughts that stuck with me from Batterson - lead guy at National Community Church in DC...

• Be patient but be proactive
• Move into the neighborhood
• Trust your gut
• Stay positive as leaders
• Erwin McManus quote - "Do not let criticism pass through the heart unless it passes through the filter of scripture."
• Don't look back...

Craig Groeschel
Craig is the lead guy at Life Church in Oklahoma. Some of his thoughts...

Limited resources + Increasing passion = Exponential innovation

• Innovative leaders...
• Heal the sick
• Break the rules
• Offend Pharisees
• Redefine success

Probably my biggest take away from the 2 days was when Craig confessed...

"I am a practical atheist".

Over the next 45 minutes he talked about how so many of us who are pastors 'believe God exists and do ministry like He doesn't.' Very true. And also true of most Christians. We like to talk God up but feel the only way we can be successful is if we go to work. That God doesn't really help us make a difference in people's lives, that it is us who makes it happen. Plus, we don't really believe God can do incredible things in us and through us. Very thought provoking...

Overall, a really good conference that was a challenge for me as a leader.