What it takes to move mountains

Today I wanted to give a follow-up challenge to all of you who have listened or plan to listen to the current series called "Moving Mountains".  We  need to talk about the process of upgrading our thoughts or as the Bible teaches us, to renew our minds daily. Every day we are bombarded by, what I call, "Junk" thoughts. We wake up...check our email...make some coffee...check our social networks... Watch the news... Then we listen to drive time talk radio (ok,maybe that's just me..lol).. We are basically polluting our day before we even get started! We wonder why we feel overwhelmed, depressed, or just uninspired but the truth is this.... You are what you eat! We believe that when it comes to our food intake but we need to learn to apply that same concept to our minds. Fill your mind with junk and it will output junk. Fill your mind with crude conversations and output crude thoughts... So today my challenge is this... Go on a "Mind Diet" (thank you for the concept, Tim Sanders, in your book 'Today We Are Rich'). Get serious about what you allow into your mind. I prescribe Phil 4:6-8 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. ".      Let me know how it goes for you....

iDream

I am unabashedly all about dreaming... And dreaming BIG! As long as I can remember people have called me a dreamer (Usually in a negative fashion) but it was just part of who I was. Rather than focusing on the poverty around me or the dead end streets that so many of my peers were choosing daily I chose to daydream about all kinds of things. It was probably a form of escapism for me in the beginning but, now, as a leader I have found it to be the hallmark of every great leader I have had the privilege of knowing. I never want to find myself limiting what God can do in and through me because of my lack of imagination or my fear of failure. I know that life can be hard and circumstances can look bleak at times but I'm always reminded of this..."Your destiny is not determined by your circumstances but determined by God. Your job is to do the best with what you have and trust God to do the rest." So here are a few 'go to' thoughts:

1. Dream Big
2. Dream Intentionally
3. Dream Often
4. Dream beyond what you think is possible

So..... iDream! And so should you! No matter where you are in life. When was the last time you dreamed beyond your circumstances... Beyond what was in your control? Today... Join the iDream team and watch your life begin to change... I'm on your team! Tim Sanders is a great resource along this line of thinking that I think you'll appreciate. Check his blog out and I encourage you to read his book '"Today We Are Rich". Have fun!

 

Father's Day with a Legend

I got to spend a couple of hours with a legend yesterday. Funny thing about legendary people... They are right here under our noses but we are so busy with "life" that we give up our opportunities to soak in the essence of what makes them legendary. I'm grateful for the men of God that help me sort through life and leading a church, (Eddie Turner, Chad Rowe ,Scott Wilson, Ronnie Meek, Matt Keller -just to name a few) but I wouldn't be who I am without the influence of the legendary "happy pastor" "the real apostle" Paul Baggett. Cute names aside, He has taught me so much about life and about leading and loving people. It would require a book to really cover even a small part his influence on me but today I want to focus on one thing. He taught (and still is) me to LOVE people. I know that may seem trite or overly simple but if you know any 'people' then you know that they can be awfully hard to love sometimes. (and yes, i definitely realize that I am one of those 'people') It seems so simple but it is so profound that it can change the world. My dad taught me that if people can just see your heart... If they can 'see' the love in you then arguments turn into discussions, hurts turn into healing, and hate is overcome... But only by love. I mean, really loving like Jesus taught. Beyond someone's actions or behavior. Seeing the God-given potential in everyone around you even when they are acting like the 'devil'. I'll wrap us this post with 3 things.

1. When I'm having trouble loving someone.. I remember that someone loved me when I didn't deserve it.
2. When someone hurts you... Let it go. I have found that, usually, people don't intend to hurt you but simply don't know how to communicate their feelings. My dad has always taught me that, as a pastor, never hate those who throw rocks... Because at some point God will place them in your life again to speak into their lives.
3. Last one.... My legendary dad ROCKS! Thanks dad for being the shoulders that I stand on. For teaching me and allowing me to grow into who I am.

By the way... You can see my dad in action (yes, he is still alive and kicking.... Literally) every Sunday morning at our Hendersonville, TN campus at 9am for our Classic Service... Some things never change. Haha. You can find more information by clicking HERE.

Are You Engaging?

Have you ever struggled through a proposal or presentation? Maybe even in an important conversation that you really needed to get a point across to the person(s) involved? As a public speaker, I am confronted with that reality every week. How do I engage the audience and help them really "get" the point?I thought I'd share a couple things that I've learned along the way.

1. Being unprepared is inexcusable.  -If people are gathering to hear you share ideas then you should at least have one.
2. The more diverse the crowd is...more prep is required.  -In other words... know the crowd and speak in way they will understand

I have found that there are two ways to really bring people to the place that they are invested in the message and you capture their attention.

1. Make 'em laugh - I think this is best when telling personal stories. Be careful when using stories about other people. That can be perceived as insensitive and give you the exact opposite of the desired result.
2. Make 'em cry - move them...these include encouraging stories, sad stories, love stories and really any one that leads to the point you are talking about.  ... But please!!! Make sure the story is true! Do your research.

Last thing... Always be learning. I don't care how long you've been doing it or how good people say you are.  Great communicators learn from great communicators.  Dr. Nick Morgan is a great resource and so is Tim Sanders.  So get out there and communicate! The world needs you! You have something to say so get ready to say it! And then say it LOUD!

What are some effective ways you use to engage people?

BUZZ!

I'm stoked about the series for this month @ Living To Go Church! We will be talking about who we SHOULD be as the church and what the REALLY looks like in our personal realities.  It's the perfect time to grab someone who is jaded about church and bring them with you.

LTG Reality 3/2010