BillSimmonsLive

My Planning Rhythms

Planning is a big deal. You've heard it…when you fail to plan…you plan to fail. I think this quote is very true when it comes to leading a church.

Effectively leading a church of any size requires planning. God is into planning so don't tell me that we are just being "led by the Spirit". Planning is the act of a Spirit-led leader. Besides, we call it the Plan of Salvation.

Over the next couple of weeks, I want to share my thoughts and principles regarding planning. Let me start by defining my planning rhythms.

Short-Term Planning represents the next 12-15 months – The church calendar has natural rhythms that come around every year. We always know there will be an Easter; Christmas, and summer mission trips. Sunday is coming every week. I've yet to be surprised when a Sunday arrived. This is why we should constantly prepare for the next 12-15 months. What messages series will we preach? What outreaches and mission trips will we achieve? What staff needs to be hired? How will we recognize and appreciate our volunteers? How will we serve the immediate needs of our local community? How much money will the next year cost and how do we plan to invite new people to join us as financial partners (tithers)?

Mid-Term Planning represents the next 2-5 years – When planning, we should anticipate the impact of what we are doing now, will have on where we want to go next. Where do you see God leading in the next 2-5 years? What have we been doing that we need to stop doing? What are we not doing that we should be? If we are going to go where God is leading, what needs to change? What staff, facilities, finances, infrastructure, (and so much more) do we need if we are to get to where we are going in the next 3-5 years?

Long-Term Planning represents the next 5-15 years – Decades fly by a lot faster than I used to give them credit for. This might be a sign of my aging but the truth is still a reality. The world is changing at lightning rates of speed. Will our church change at the rate needed to keep up with the unforeseen changes our world will experience in the next 10 years? God already knows the future and desires for us to be prepared for it. What vision is God giving you for the next 5-15 years? Who are you sharing this vision with? What plans need to be in place to put your church on track for this vision to become a reality? What obvious challenges will need to be addressed? How will you plan to address them? The elephant in the corner of the room will need to be addressed.

Long-Range Planning represents the next 15-30 years – My personal email address is carpe2morrow@aol.com. This play on words is a mix of Latin and English. Carpe means to seize. My desire is to Seize Tomorrow. I think too many churches are behind the curve. But to just catch up with current times is insufficient. The modern day church desperately needs to get ahead of the curve. We need to seize tomorrow. Planning this far out requires church leaders to dream. Dream audacious dreams. Plan according to your God-given dreams. Slow the train down and realize that God does do a sudden work but more often He takes His time. If you believe your church will be around in 15-30 years, what do you need to plan for? What will it be like?

Start planning now, the future is on its way!

How do you break down the way you plan? Do you need help defining or refining your plans? Have you ever thought of using a coach?

Facebook Code of Conduct

Yesterday, I talked about understanding why we are on Facebook. Today, I want to share my Personal Code of Conduct on Facebook. It is as follows:

1. Be real…but be positive
2. Don't comment on everything I read
3. Hide comments from people I do not interact with on a regular basis
4. Affirm people when time allows
5. Delete people who openly speaks passive- aggressive lies about the church and its leaders

I believe it is easy to be lured by negativity. This is why it is important to determine how we plan to communicate and conduct ourselves on Facebook.

How to intentionally, remain positive when lured by negativity?

Why I Facebook

Facebook is a verb. It is more than a company…it has become an action. It's what we do.

The question is: Why?

I recently preached a message about Taming the Tongue. I suggested one place we have lacked wisdom is in how we use Facebook. I submit Facebook has become a passive aggressive playground. This is why I've learned to have a personal purpose for why I Facebook and why I blog.    

1. To share life with Family and Friends
2. To influence people at SpringWell by communicating what God is doing
3. To influence Church Leaders around the country

Facebook is not a place for me to vent about people without actually mentioning who they are or playing the victim. We should avoid negativity and downright mean-spirited comments. This includes what we say about the Church and government. Tomorrow, I will share my Facebook Code of Conduct.

Chime in: Why do you Facebook?

Leadership Development

 

 

 

I am obsessed with a passion to expand the leadership capacity of those I influence.

God (and Scott) began to really challenge me last fall with the above thought. As I envision 2011, my goal is to intentionally equip and empower those around me. As a Leadership Coach and Church Health Consultant with Legacy Coaching, I am passionate about serving pastors and church leaders to help them lead more effectively.

At SpringWell, my focus is with our Staff; Elders; Management Team; Church Health Team; Growth Group Leaders; and Serving Team Leaders. I consider these teams to be the CORE of our church.

Beginning tomorrow morning, I will start a four week leadership intensive with our staff. We plan to take two mornings a week for the next four weeks to focus on foundational leadership principles. I will concentrate on four leadership categories with four lessons each. The categories will be: Inward Leadership; Outward Leadership; Church Health; and Expanding Leadership.

If you serve at SpringWell and would like to participate with the staff in our Leadership Development, please feel free to do so. I realize the time of the training may not work for you. But if you can work it out, join us. Just call the office at 864.268.2299 and speak with Elaine. Let her know you are coming so we can have materials ready for you. Below is chart of all the topics.

Time Slot	Tuesday 01/25/2011 Inward Leadership	Wednesday 02/02/2011 Outward Leadership	Wednesday 02/09/2011 Church Health	Wednesday 02/16/2011 Expanding Leadership
9:00-10:00   10:30-11:30	What is a Leader?   360 Degree Leader	How to develop authentic relationships   How to be a better communicator	Being the Church in a Post Modern World   Developing Processes and Systems	7 Habits of Highly Effective People   Time Management & Project Management
Time Slot	Thursday 01/27/2011 Inward Leadership	Thursday 02/03/2011 Outward Leadership	Thursday 02/10/2011 Church Health	Thursday 02/17/2011 Expanding Leadership
9:00-10:00   10:30-11:30	Leading with My Personality   Stress in Ministry	Building Teams   Handling Difficult People	Volunteer Recruiting and Assimilation   Dealing with Change and Transition	Coaching 101   Being an Armor Bearer

Negativity Frustrates Me

I have to be honest…I get frustrated when I deal with negative people. I am all about possibilities and what ifs. But there are times when Church Leadership requires we face the very things that frustrate us.

 

Negativity is a big deal. If it goes unchecked, it spreads like a virus in a third world country. I want to face negativity head on. I want to deal with its attempt to influence God's people and create distractions. I want to call it out and defeat its attempt to confuse our church. I want to get louder about what is positive so that negativity can't be heard. Will you join me to drown out the negativity? There are more with us than against us.

 

If we are going to defeat negativity, we must better understand its impact:

 

Negative people suffer from small mindedness

Small mindedness is an attitude that I don't want other people to succeed in life or rise to greatness.

Small mindedness is based on a spirit of comparison and competition.

Small mindedness affects the way you pray, how you esteems other, you walk with Christ.

Small minded people think that there is only enough for them. So they have to control it all and take it all.

Small mindedness stops your capacity to believe God and limits your internal resources.

 

Negativity always reflects inner defeat

Jesus said, 'For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.' (Matthew 12:34).

You can easily tell the content of a person's heart by listening to the words they speak.

In your day-to-day life do you ever listen to yourself speak?

Do you notice the anxiety you express or the hopelessness you confess?

Negativity will reflect inner defeat. It often lashes out at circumstances, people, the environment or the government or leadership

It may cast blame on a father, mother, leader, boss or spouse.

I believe that in every circumstance negativity is not about any of these things. It is about the individual and what's going on inside.

 

Negativity always justifies itself

'All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits.' (Proverbs 16:2)

We can generally justify the way we think and act.

There are usually good reasons for us to feel hurt or perhaps victimized, but justifying things won't change anything.

It simply gives us a reason to accept mediocrity or failure.

Negative people draw on negative experiences and build their beliefs and opinions around them. Then they justify their position because of what happened to them.

Positive people are more likely to change themselves to line up with their potential.

 

Negativity chooses your friends for you

'Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm....' (Proverbs 13:20 NKJV)

Whatever direction your friends are heading in, will have a major influence on your future ... if you allow it.

A person determined to overcome negativity and fulfill their destiny cannot afford to be held back by dead-weight relationships.

 

Negativity magnifies and distorts the truth

Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. (Prov 12:25 NKJV)

Anxiety is built on what MIGHT happen.

Negativity and anxiety work closely together.

An anxious or depressed person cannot see straight.

Their perspective on life is blown out of all proportion. Small things seem huge, molehills turn into unbeatable mountains.

If you are looking at the world from a heart full of cynicism and bitterness, your perspective of the truth more than likely, will become magnified and distorted in a destructive way.

 

Negativity makes sweeping statements and harsh judgments

When King David began to dance with joy and happiness in the midst of a great crowd, his wife Michal watched with disdain.

 

I am ready to deal with negativity….will you join the army?

 

Mistakes I Make

Mistakes are a regular part of my life. I make them often. Don't you?

Yesterday, I had the chance to meet someone who is new to SpringWell. She wanted to ask me some questions regarding a few statements I made as I preached. I told her that we were not a perfect church. In fact, there are two mistakes we make on a regular basis.

1. Giving Grace
2. Being Transparent

If we are going to make a mistake when someone is struggling, we are going to make the mistake of giving grace. What do I mean? At SpringWell, we value relationships. This will always cause us to believe the best in people. Patience, unconditional love, and second chances will always trump judgment and religious piety. Grace certainly comes with accountability, but it also comes with the time people need to deal with their stuff.

Transparency is another mistake we often make. We are not afraid to talk about the elephant in the room. There is no value to hiding your head in the sand. When things are great…we will say they are great. When things are not going well…we will speak the truth in an effort to solve the problem and make things better. This often makes some people feel very uncomfortable. Being transparent creates trust in the long run. We must have honest transparent conversations if we expect to be effective.

At the end of the day, I honestly do not think these are truly mistakes. But if they are, they are mistakes I can live with.

How about you?

Dealing with Stress

 

Stress is a regular part of life. Its learning to manage it that's the trick. I have had seasons in my life when I managed it well and others when stress seemed to conquer me.

I have learned that dealing with stress is about controlling the way I think. When we allow the problem to dominate our mind, we are controlled by the circumstances. When we focus on the pain of our circumstances, we are controlled by anxiety. We cannot control our circumstances but we can control the way we think.

So, how do we learn to think differently? Stress management is dictated by our spiritual thought patterns. We must learn to react to the problems of life with faith, not fear. When we are overcome with stress, it is often the result of faulty perceptions.

Scripture gives us great guidance:

Proverbs 3:5-6 (New Living Translation)

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. ⁶ Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

2 Timothy 1:7 (New Living Translation)

⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Philippians 4:6-7 (New Living Translation)

 ⁶ Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

The next time you find yourself very stressed….change the way you think. Use a spiritual thought pattern based on scripture.

Internship Announcement

 
I am very excited to announce SpringWell Churchwill begin an Internship starting August 1, 2010.

 

This intentional leadership development program focuses on helping interns discover their own call as a church leader, acquire specific skills relating to ministry, and form habits that will carry them into a lifetime of ministry service.

 

Interns will have the opportunity to receive practical training through one of two different internship tracks: General and Specific. Our hope is to give our interns a 30,000 foot view of the church in the General Track or detailed training in the Specific ministry related Track.

 

Interns will be fully immersed in ministry alongside a staff pastor who leads a specific area. That staff pastor will serve as your immediate supervisor and coach. Mentorship in the areas of spiritual formation and leadership development will be provided by the Executive Pastor. Your involvement will span everything from service tasks that are critical to the running of the ministry, to significant leadership opportunities designed to stretch and grow you, and then everything else in-between. While your focus will likely be on a particular ministry area, you will need to see yourself as a team player who is able to serve wherever needed. 

 

If you sense God calling you to an adventure that requires huge faith, this might be just what you are looking for.

 

Interns will raise funds as a missionary to our community. You will receive training and personal coaching to help develop partners and raise funds.

 Download SpringWell Internship Application

The Future of Spiritual Formation

I am so excited to announce that SpringWell Church is partnering with Monvee to be on the forefront of The Future of Spiritual Formation.

We will unveil this exciting web-based tool on Saturday during our CORE Leadership Retreat.

Monvee will assist those who desire to be a fully devoted disciple of Jesus Christ by developing a handcrafted personalized spiritual growth plan.

John Ortberg says, "Assembly line approaches to discipleship don't work, because everyone is uniquely wired. Monvee will help people own and design the way of life where they can experience maximum growth. People have a crying need to find a way to follow Jesus that is not mechanical or legalistic and that is concrete. Disciples of Jesus cannot be mass produced they have to be handcrafted."

One of our Core Values at SpringWell is Personal Growth. We believe every disciple of Jesus Christ must take personal responsibility for growing in character, emotional wholeness, and relational authenticity. This is why we feel providing such an innovative resource as Monvee meshes with who we are as a church. You are unique and God created you that way. Therefore, a cookie cutter approach to discipleship must be replaced with unique personalized plan, based on how you were created.

Monvee will be the perfect partner with our Growth Groups. Monvee will challenge you as an individual to take personal responsibility and Growth Groups will provide a relational environment for support, encouragement, and accountability. This is a powerful combination.

Monvee will be available to those not attending the retreat for a cost of $40.00. This will give you lifetime access to developing your personalized spiritual growth plan. You will be able to update your plan periodically based on the stages and seasons of your life.

You will hear much more in the coming weeks and months. We are thrilled to be ahead of the curve as we partner with the exciting innovation that is going to take the church and discipleship into a completely new level.

Rest & Reflection

Our office has limited hours this week and next due to the holidays. I was also able to use the last of my vacation days for some extra rest and reflection. I normally use vacation time to disconnect and decompress. I try to avoid emails and phone calls related to ministry to recharge my personal batteries.

Instead of traveling this vacation, we are staying home for the holidays. I am spending these two weeks mixing personal pleasure and ministry preparation. This is a detour from my normal routine of total disconnection. I am excited about resting, reading, and reflecting at a slower pace.

I have learned true rest is not recovery from what we have been through; but preparation for the future.

Here are a few things I believe about the future:

In regards to SpringWell:

• God is up to something at SpringWell. You want to be there when it happens
• Whatever God is up to will require BIG faith!
• Empowering Leaders must be a front burner issue
• Unity around our vision and values cannot be compromised
• Prayer and Fasting will play a major role in tapping into the unexplainable

In regards to my family:

• This will be a year of healing from the pain of the last few years. (Our son's divorce took us through a grief like I've never known)
• Greenville will be cemented in our hearts as we establish this as our home for the long term future
• Renee and I will commit to sharing our marriage (along with its joys and struggles) with others to help them find grace, forgiveness, and health
• We will do everything we can to spoil our grandson, TJ!

In regards to Legacy Coaching:

• Coming along side Pastors and Church Leaders will remain our focus
• We will implement some new and creative ways to influence Church Health
• New doors for networking will open based on relationships (Because…it's all about relationships!)
• We will beat the drum that each church is unique and should focus on its own DNA without apology
• We will free pastors and churches from the frustration of imitating the models of other churches and leaders

Enough reflecting….I need to rest some more….thanks for reading.

What are your thoughts?

Book Review: TransforMissional Coaching

The 80's were about management; the 90's were about leadership; and this decade has been about coaching. This has been my personal progression as a church leader. When I look back at the books, I have read during these seasons of my life, it has been clear how they influenced my development.

I am currently reading several books regarding coaching. TransforMissional Coaching has been one of the best this year.

The premise is effective coaching enables transformation that leads to focused Missional ministry. To be truly transformed we must experience our character becoming like Christ. The reaction to this change is we clarify our calling. This is the merging of the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. The two cannot be separated.

As an Executive Pastor, TransforMissional Coaching has helped me understand the need to lead our staff as a coach. I really do not like the term "boss" nor do I want to be one. I am a leader among equals and strive to empower our staff and leaders to be everything God has called them to be. Coaching conversations that produces clarity in their character and calling is my ultimate goal.

As a Leadership Coach and Church Health Consultant, TransforMissional Coaching has reminded me of the impact intentional coaching can have on a church leader. Organizational change begins with change (transformation) in the leader. Walking along side a leader who is growing and changing is a great blessing.

If you desire to be the most effective leader you can be and hunger for meaningful conversations, I highly recommend TransforMissional Coaching.

My Anniversary

Today is my Blog Anniversary. I wrote my first blog 2 years ago on October 12, 2007. Since then, I have blogged about 150 times. My topics have covered issues regarding life, leadership, and church health. I have been honored and humbled by the influence blogging provides. As I have reflected today, here are some thoughts I have about blogging:

• When I don't blog….I am too busy
• When I blog….it's a sign I am reflecting
• Reflection is a sign of spiritual health
• People have visited my blog from 43 different countries in 2009
• I need to consider more video blogs
• I need to blog more often
• Never underestimate the influence you have
• Despite your intentions, some people will misunderstand you
• I love it when I receive a comment on my blog
• People like bullet lists

Memories or Vision?

Yesterday, I heard Andy Stanley make the following comment: If your memories outweigh your vision....the end is near.

I found myself thinking about it most of the day. It caused me to pray and ask God to open my eyes to the grander vision he has for my life.

What is the grander vision God has for my…Marriage…Family…Ministry?

My blessing is my challenge. I am blessed to have great memories in each of these areas of my life. God has done some incredible things in my marriage, in my family, and through my ministry. The challenge is to not allow these memories to outweigh the grander vision God has for my future.

I plan to take some time over the next couple of weeks to seek God's grander vision. I am confident He has great plans for Renee and I, for my family, for SpringWell, and Legacy Coaching.

I look forward to sharing.

How about you? Do you memories outweigh your vision?

Fierce Conversations: Book Review

Fierce Conversations is one of the best books I have read in a long time. The reason is I can put what I have learned to use right away. Many books are inspiring but very few actually cause us to change our behaviors.

There are so many quotes I enjoyed; I would not know where to begin in sharing them with you. I will say this book challenged me in a huge way. I've never been one who enjoys idle conversations that stay focused on the surface. Fierce Conversations opened my eyes to how I can influence each conversation to be a meaningful one. As a result, I was inspired to share with our staff some lessons regarding Confrontational Conversations.

Below are some of the notes. If becoming a more effective leader is important to you, I highly recommend reading this book.

 

Staff Meeting Notes from June 9, 2009

 

How do you have a conversation where you need to confront an issue?

 

What does it mean to confront someone?

 

Fierce = robust, intense, strong, powerful, passionate, eager, unbridled

 

Four Purposes of a Fierce Conversation

 

1. Interrogate Reality
2. Provoke Learning
3. Tackle Tough Issues
4. Enrich Relationships

 

Why do we avoid such conversations?

 

Seven Components to Opening a Fierce Conversation:

 

1. Name The issue
2. Provide specific example that illustrate the behavior or situation you want to change
3. Describe your emotions about this issue
4. Clarify what is at stake
5. Indentify your contribution to the problem
6. Indicate your wish to resolve the issue
7. Invite a response

Core Values: Bonus

Over the last week or so, I've been sharing the core values that drive my ministry life. They are the hills I am willing to die on. These 7 values guide every decision I make as a church leader. Let's review:

 

• Authentic Relationships - People not programs and relationships not religion are built through biblical community.

  Acts 2:44-46; John 15:12

   

• Transformation - Life is a journey and best developed through biblical application and taking responsibility for personal growth. Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 5:22-25

 

• Reproduction - Church growth is the result of growing people…growing people. Matthew 28:19-20; Ephesians 4:11-13

   

• Team Ministry - Servanthood expressed through shared vision and values produces synergy. Philippians 2:4; Romans 12:5

 

• Cultural Relevance - Creativity and excellence in our forms and methods maximize effectiveness. 1 Chronicles 12:32;

1 Corinthians 9:22-23; Colossians 3:23-24

 

• Simplicity - Church is not meant to be complicated therefore we strive for balance as we live out everyday Christianity.

  Matthew 6:33

   

• Prayer - Private and corporate prayer is relied upon in every area of our lives and this church. Matthew 7:7-8;

  2 Chronicles 7:14

 

How about you? Have you gone through the journey of discovering your core values?

Core Values 7 of 7

 

Prayer - Private and corporate prayer is relied upon in every area of our lives and the church.

 

Ministry is too tough to be accomplished in my own power. This is why prayer is so important. Prayer is a humbling experience. It positions us to a place where we are dependent on God.

 

Prayer is birthed in relationship. It is an act of faith. When we engage in prayer, we are acknowledging our need for God to be involved in our lives.

 

It is my desire for everything I do to be bathed in prayer. It is only then I have confidence to move forward.

 

How about you? Is prayer a value in your life? Are you living out that value or just wishing you were? How has prayer given you confidence?

 

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.        Matthew 7:7-8

 

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.    2 Chronicles 7:14

Core Values 6 of 7

 

Simplicity - Church is not meant to be complicated therefore; we strive for balance as we live out everyday Christianity.

 

The most radical thing in life is balance. We live in a world of extremes. The church has many times fallen into the same trap. This is why I crave simplicity in ministry.

 

As a church leader, I strive for simplicity and balance in all we do. The church has too often complicated things. We create programs to oversee programs and put committees together to develop rules for our rules. All of this is very exhausting.

 

Christianity is about radical balance. The Sermon on the Mount is full of examples. Jesus calls us to find ultimate balance in Him and through the Kingdom of God.

 

How about you? Does life seem complicated? Do you crave simplicity? What needs to be simplified in your life?

 

Here is the scripture I use as a foundation for this value:

 

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.     Matthew 6:33

Core Values 4 of 7

 

Team Ministry - Servanthood expressed through shared vision and values produces synergy.

 

I learned many years ago, doing ministry with others is a whole lot more productive and fun. I actually hate to do ministry on my own. I am very intentional about making sure team is a part of everything we do.

 

Team ministry is not always easy but is always worth it. We have to be willing to embrace other personalities, leadership styles, and conflict. We must learn to celebrate diversity. Everyone brings something to table.

 

I also think shared vision and values are key to a team's success. If we all want the same thing for the same reasons, we will sacrifice without question. When I work with a new team, I always take time deal with vision and values.

 

How about you? Are you a lone ranger or team leader? What about team ministry gives you life? What are the challenges you face in developing teams?

 

Here are a couple of scriptures I use to support this value:

 

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:4

 

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Romans 12:5

Core Values 3 of 7

 

Reproduction - Church growth is the result of growing people…growing people.

 

Today's core value is the direct result of transformation. We all reproduce what we are. The best church growth strategy is when changed people…change people. When growing people….grow people.

 

What are you reproducing? God has an expectation for each of us to influence the lives around us. What is your influence producing?

 

Here are a couple of scriptures that guide this value in my life:

 

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Matthew 28:19-20

 

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;    Ephesians 4:11-13

Core Values 2 of 7

 

Today, I would like to share the second of seven core values I have for ministry.

 

Transformation - Life is a journey and best developed through biblical application and taking responsibility for personal growth.

 

I learned very early in ministry God was the ultimate change agent. Being a fully devoted disciple of Christ meant I could no longer accept the status quo. We are to live life as examples of what transformed people are like.

 

I also found myself frustrated in those early years of ministry when Christians expected the church to do everything for them. This is not God's plan. He expects each of us to take responsibility for our own personal and spiritual growth.

 

Change and transformation are expected when we begin to follow Christ. I want to live a life where I expect the same thing in my life and the life of those who call themselves Disciples.

 

How about you? Are you taking responsibility for your personal and spiritual growth? Are you living a stagnant life or are you being transformed? What needs to change? Here are a couple scriptures that guide this value in my life:

 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.    Romans 12:1-2

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.    Galatians 5:22-25

 

Core Values 1 of 7

Over the next week or so, I would like to share my personal ministry values. These are the hills I am willing to die on in ministry. I consider them to be clear, constant, and non-negotiable.

This is about the way I am wired and how I believe God has designed me to accomplish the vision He has for my Calling.

This list of Core Values is the result of a journey of discovery I took several years ago. I spent a lot of time reflecting, questioning, and getting input from those around me. Here is my first value:

Authentic Relationships - People not programs and relationships not religion are built through biblical community.

I have discovered relationships are one of the most important things in my life. Not superficial relationships but rather relationships that authentic and biblical.

I have found this to be both my strength and weakness. The strength shows itself in my commitment to those with whom I share community. The weakness demonstrates itself through the wounds I experience when a relationship goes through unresolved conflict.

This commitment to relationship frees me to confront any issue (good or bad) for the sake of open communication.

I've learned God only cares about three things: Relationships, Relationships, and Relationships.

The success of any relationship is dependent on only three things: Communication, Communication, and Communication.

The scriptures that guide this value in my life are as follows:

Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart.      Acts 2:44-46

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.    John 15:12

Problems

Anyone can make me aware of the problems…

…I want to know, who will help me solve them?

Legacy Coaching Web Site

I am so excited to announce that Doug Cowburn and I have gone public with our new web site for Legacy Coaching.

My blog is reaching people from several difference audiences.

• As a way connect and communicate with the members of SpringWell.
• To keep my family, friends, and ministry colleagues up to date concerning my life and ministry.
• To challenge and serve church leaders regarding leadership, church health, and change.

Legacy Coaching is just another way to help encourage and support church leaders. I plan to blog more about this in the future.

I would love to get your thoughts regarding the new web site.

Who Really Makes a Difference in your Life?

I was reminded today of the Charles Schultz philosophy of life and what we value. I thought I'd share them with you.

Charles Schultz Philosophy
  

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip. You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just read them straight through, and you'll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.  

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.  

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America.  

 4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.  

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.  

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

                       

 How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

 

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.  

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.  

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.  

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.  

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

 

Easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.

 "Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia." (Charles Schultz)

Staff Field Trip

Today I took our staff on a field trip in place of our weekly staff meeting. Many of them had not been to the home we are remodeling for the GAIHN Project. We met up with Ellis Beddingfield and Danny Greene who are heading up the project. We had a chance to celebrate what God is doing, tour the house, and have a prayer walk on the property. We stayed about 1 hour and then went to lunch at 5 Guys. It was great to share, pray, and eat together as a staff. We really felt like a team today. Here are some pictures of the house we will remodel: