It’s a simple question I’m asking myself.  Every year I choose several books I want to read through in the new year.  I’ll post a list later on.  Reading is a huge part of it, but there are other things as well:

  • exercise
  • diet
  • Spiritual habits
  • learning experiences such as conferences (could be for your marriage, spiritual growth, leadership or otherwise)
  • relationships (maybe you need to spend more time with certain people and less with others?)
  • find a mentor
  • be a mentor
  • Other?

I’m asking the question of myself and would love to hear from you on what you will be doing in 2010 to GROW!

I do know this.  It won’t happen by accident.  It won’t happen without a plan.  It won’t happen without intention.

So let’s have it, what are you going to do in 2010 to grow?

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Leading with a Limp

by admin on November 24, 2009

This book by Dan Allender is a revolutionary approach to leadership.  I know that the book has been out a few years but somehow I missed it.  Or perhaps I could say that I read it at exactly the time in my life when I needed to read it.  The premise of the book is simply that God favors leaders who make the most of the power that comes from brokenness.

This is not to say that strenghs don’t play a part.  They do.  In Allender’s words:

“Our calling  is often shaped as much by our weaknesses as by our strengths. We tend to run with our strengths and avoid those people and tasks that expose our weaknesses. But the story of God is not a saga of human potential; it is the revelation of the kindness and passion of the Father who seeks and redeems sinners. Therefore our strengths may help us with certain tasks and opportunities, but it is our frailty and sin that make known the glory of God’s story (150).”

As a leader I know the temptation to “act like you have it together” and not reveal weakness or struggle.  There is danger in doing so:  lose respect of others or some choosing to leverage it against you.  Yet I’m seeing that there is a greater danger if you don’t: miss out on God’s power working through you first and foremost.

Allender suggests there are four realities to embrace to be broken:

1. I am never sufficiently good, wise, or gifted to make things work;

2. My failures will harm others, the process, and myself, no matter how hard I try to avoid failure;

3. The greatest harm I can do is to try to limit the damage I cause by not participating, by quitting, or by pushing for control;

4. Calling out for help from God and others is the deepest confession of humility.

Our “limp” at the end of the day is there to deflect the glory to God and get it off of ourselves.  After all, look at the damage we do when we hog the spotlight: trying to control situations, bullying others into “our” way, not being receptive to God’s still small voice, building a better kingdom for myself instead of building God’s kingdom, etc.

Allender challenges leaders to embrace Paul’s title of himself as the “chief of sinners.”  When this is accepted and lived out God is positioned in our lives in such a way that there is no doubt he has been at work.

If you are interested in the notes I took from this book you can find them here.  It’s the best leadership book I’ve read all year, maybe all decade.

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The waiting continues…

November 21, 2009

It’s ironic that in the midst of The Waiting Room series we are forced to delay our annual Oklahoma Thanksgiving trip with possibility of canceling. The flu hit 3 of our kids and it has delayed our trip thus far. It’s frustrating waiting without knowing whether or not we will be able to [...]

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The new Suncrest-East Extra e-newsletter

November 19, 2009

We have a brand spanking new Email Newsletter for Suncrest-East.  If you attend or are interested in staying up to date on the happenings of East campus, will you subscribe?  This is designed as the very best way to stay informed and engaged on what is going on with East Campus.  Also, we are going [...]

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Enough for today

November 18, 2009

I’ve been doing a little reflection on the concept of the waiting room that we are using for our current message series.  You can find the others here and here.
Today I’d like to reflect a little on the experience the Israelites had in between when they were slaves in Egypt and when they entered their [...]

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The fine art of “sitting with it”

November 17, 2009

I’m continuing some reflection on the waiting room of life.  You can read the other post here.
Someone gave me a compliment yesterday.  They told me that they saw real growth in me recently.
For me, my greatest growth has come because I gave myself over to a process of transformation where I have allowed someone, a [...]

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Don’t do something, just sit there

November 16, 2009

On Sunday, Greg at Suncrest challenged us to do nothing for 7 days.  If you find yourself in the waiting room of life, maybe the best thing you can do is just wait.  Here is a phrase that grabbed me:
When it comes to waiting, I think transaction; God thinks transformation.
One of the things I have [...]

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Someone really has some issues

November 13, 2009

Every time we do a direct mail campaign we always get a positive response and a not so positive response.  We typically get a few phone calls from recipients at the office explaining that they are Catholic or whatever and would NOT like to receive mailings from us.  Or we will receive a note saying [...]

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Mall Servolution

November 12, 2009

So our team had this crazy idea…
What if we invaded the mall and served as many people as we could?
As wild as it sounded that is exactly what we did last Sunday.  A few families met at the food court and then tried to bless as many people as possible.  It was a great experience [...]

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A new church is born

October 25, 2009

It was great being with the gang at Northpointe Christian Church today as they launched.  It ocurred to me that the only other gathering I witnessed the launch of was Suncrest-East’s!  Northpointe meets in a movie theater as well so I loved learning from what they are doing.  It was a great morning with lots [...]

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