Catalyst 2: Over-committed? Create Spiritual Momentum

No Joke, this tag was on a car on the way to the Catalyst conference in Granger Indiana. I saw this and told the guys right there this is my besetting sin, trying to bring value I over-commit and fall short of the grace that has already given, and miss the opportunity to really grow as I invest in Him.  Craig Groeschel nailed it in the conference.  The notes below flow mostly from his thoughts in that time.

Less is More  Energy is the most important thing you can bring as a Leader. Go slow to get there fast.  Working outside of our of our giftedness takes more energy.   I have to run my race, not race against others.  Don't be like a swimmer who kicks off the wall.  Build a ministry on who YOU are, not against those you are not. 

Creating Spiritual Momentum

"I will DO TODAY what i can to TO ENABLE ME TO DO TOMMOROW what i CAN'T DO TODAY." 

Sharpening the saw, guarding the heart, repentance that brings refreshing.  Four things to do TODAY:

1. Do something to defeat the dark side (competitiveness, weakness, pride, ask how I can do better?  My strength is made perfect in weakness)
2. Create Artificial deadlines (80/20).  They force you to prioritize (make faster decisions), intentionally delegate, eliminate (disregard unimportant activities). Work on it, not in it.   Batch phone messages, create a culture of fun.
3. Delegate what someone else can do, authority not just responsibility.  Delegating responsibilities makes followers.  Delegating authority makes leaders.  Authority+Think+coach  = leader
4. Do something only YOU can do (more preparation spiritually):
   1. CARE for yourself.  Refreshing activities (that you love to do) taking time off, spending time with God, eating right and exercising. 
   2. LEAD your responsibilities (ministry, family, job responsibilities).
   3. Privately HONOR's Christ in you (burden of your heart)
   4. HUSBAND/DADDY to your wife and kids. 

It was Craig's last point that hit home, his daughter describing how work became "Dad's home."  He thought he was not good enough, tried to prove he was.  Now he needs to repent and de-commit.  Reminds me of the license plate that read "ADD VALU".  Men are programmed this way...by there jobs to constantly measure their performance. "The way I was doing the work of God was destroying the God in me."  Christ in you, the hope of Glory. 

Catalyst 1: Momentum

Granger Indiana

A creek without momentum becomes a pond, algae takes the oxygen and the water becomes progressively lifeless until it evaporates and turns to mud. I've been to places like that corporately and personally. 

In 2001 Bank One closed a division and I got laid off.  People were just turning things off.  Not much momentum.  In the mid 90's at the Indiana Department of Transportation, again there was zero motivation and very little momentum.   Long ago in a place far away(1980s) I was in a congregation that had basically grown satisfied with managing the building....deadness.  Worst of all was an "innovative" group that fought "the traditions of men" only to bind themselves in legalistic fear of "the world".....rather than becoming compassionate and free in the rush to bring healing and find God in the process.

"Catalyst: an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action"

Freedom comes with momentum, that's what it felt like last week in at Catalyst with  Andy Stanley and Craig Groeschel.  Several Brothers searching for a better way carpooled to Granger IN last week --Scott, Ryan, Tim, Ross, Danny, Jeremiah and Brooks (aka Danny :).    A couple of the guys have written good summaries (Scott Himes, Ryan Crozier) Here is a bit (part 1) of what we learned:

"New" triggers momentum, positive or negative events lead to change (911, economy tanked, but  heroes were born).  Momentum is never triggered by tweaking something old with minor improvements, but with noticeable change (a Quantum Leap). 

Be Bold.  Often we try not to disturb people, small continuous incremental change, but that is not real change.  Momentum is however continuous improvement, a rhythm of systematic evaluation that requires unfiltered feedback.  Debrief is the key...Visit other organizations, people that you want to emulate.  Get inside their head, ask not what they do but how they think. 

Momentum stoppers: There is a healthy tension between Leader (bold vision) and manager (managing chaos towards predictability).  However we can't allow managers to "manage away" momentum.  Passivity, complacency, and complexity are created by age.  Sometimes have to rip out good "old" things to make a way in our personal or corporate life.   Finally, a breach of trust can be a real momentum stopper.

New implies that we remain dissatisfied (not discontent), and results in a process of gardening, growing and pruning. "Less is more" leads to corporate and personal opportunity as Craig described and Andy described later in the day (see next post). 

the Next to me place

Revelation from a Son: (Into the sky, by Jason Upton)

The best song I've heard all year. My favorite parts are the description from Jason of how the song writing event unfolded with his son. Its worth listening to a couple times.

Jason describes how He throws his son up, but its the falling back into his daddy's arms, being next to him that really constitutes the joy and the power of the relationship.

Made me think about the most precious times with God is not when everything is going well and I am lifted up, but when I needed a comforter, a redeemer, and a provider....a Dad, and He was there, next to me. Maybe there is more that I still don't get, if so, please let me know.

my Daily Appointment

HABIT: In our men's group we are going through a book by Bill Perkins (Six battles every man must win).  One is the battle Over pain, and how so many men get caught in the vortex of temptation.  A critical step in the downward spiral is a point where we pathologically seek situations where we are tempted. 

Why not do just the opposite...habitually put ourselves in a position where God can speak to us?  (Darrell convinced me that the word RITUAL might sound scary).  Today I found an article here that reminded me of the conversation.  Now this guy (Scott the nametag guy) may not be talking about Christianity, but I think he has found a way to connect.  Make an appointment with yourself every day.

The idea was expressed in a recent conference "Slow down so that you can go fast".  In this frenetically-multitasking world where  we constantly react to electronics, a little time alone with God can be a very good thing. I've been doing something like this for a while, and when I miss a morning with God, it makes a huge difference. Scott (the nametag guy) writes:

"I became addicted. I never missed a day. Even on the weekends. And no matter how busy, tired or stressed I was; there was nothing more critical to achieving daily success than my Daily Appointment."

Do you take time to slow down, he cares for you 1Peter 5:7.

Sweetly Broken?

Thanks Bill for this one......a reminder that He died and He lives whether we like the music or not.

My Brother Tom

A brother I met not that long ago took me to my very first professional ball game. He didn't know me, but he cared enough to invite someone he never met, to be a part of my rescue.

I met with Tom just a couple times, but I could see the calm patience of someone who prayed, trusted and believed he had a purpose beyond his job as an insurance company manager. His coworkers understood too.

He told me one day long ago someone prayed for him, and that they did not give up over many years. He found Life, then he shared Life. Now he is struggling against enormous pain and difficulty. I ask that God gets the glory, and Tom gets more of God. Tom is dying, as all men do--though when its someone you know, someone you love, someone like Tom...its strikes a chord.

My dearest sister sent the Songs of Water , thinking of Tom and the days ahead. Sister, if you read this, know that I am with you, I share your grief and the sure hope that Tom will be lifted up into the arms of his Papa. Tom, thank you for showing us The Way, in person...

with great affection and Love,

your Brother, Brad