ASAP
As Soon As Possible

What do you think when someone says “they need something ASAP” or “please respond ASAP”?

I have several thoughts…

• Lack of planning on your part.. You are trying to make it an emergency on my part.
• Can come off disrespectful of my time
• It’s actually a really relative comment to say. Put an actual deadline to the task or thought and make it realistic. In an email or letter setting, it’s best to put,  “please respond” or “get back with me on these things by a date.”
• In the age of email.. Fb.. Twitter.. Sms.. Blackberry.. iphone… We get everything and want everything quickly, to the point where we are addicted and consumed by it. We can sit behind the desk at the office and do not get anything done on our list because we are constantly responding to everyone’s emails right when we get them without processing or investigating the email. Then it is not a clear response because it was all in the name of ASAP, so then people can misread or are frustrated by the response to the email because it’s not a clear response. I have read in books that after 3 emails about that same topic just pick up the phone and hammer it out in one setting. I have read where most high level leaders check their emails only 2 or 3 times a day so they can focus on leading people and making connections. I am still working on this.
• I have switched to having my emails go through my cell phone manually.. When I decide to check them I will, but don’t want to be consumed with them while I am meeting with others.
• If I needed something ASAP I would call that person, but most emails aren’t asap worthy

How can we be more effective with our communication?

So, what are your thoughts about ASAP?

So, please respond ASAP!! … Just kidding!!

I’m sure we’ve all heard it a thousand times from John Maxwell or someone else saying it that “Leadership is influence”.Influencing who? People! Right?

The people in our family, job, school, team, organization, or anywhere else that we encounter people are who we normally influence on a daily basis. Anytime we talk about leadership we seem to always address it in a perspective of leading other people.

I know! I know! That is leadership and how can you be leading if no one is following. Thanks for the help with my blog. I agree that is leadership but over the years I have discovered the most difficult person to lead in any family, ministry, or organization…ME! Yes, most often the most challenging person to lead is our self.

You don’t believe me? Well, the apostle Paul had the same problem I’m taking about when he wrote Romans 7:19-20 saying

“But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.” (The Message)

In over 20 years as a pastor I have had many friends fail in ministry, marriage, business and in life because they were not able to lead themselves. They were out of control on the inside even thought they appeared OK on the outside to everyone else.

Let’s be very honest with ourselves this morning. To be a great leader we must be able to lead the most difficult person in the world…OUR SELF!

How good are you leading yourself? Let’s take a deep look and ask the Holy Spirit to show us the areas that we need need to grow, change, or mature so it will truly enable us to lead other people not by principles but by Christ like character.

We are in a powerful series called SENT at church. I am praying everyone at our church catches this. We have to pull and beg people to come to church that are Christians and it makes me wonder if they really realize their full potential. God did not just save us but created us to be used by him to be SENT. God created us for more than our job, hobby, favorite sports team, house, car and even our family. We use all these excuses when the call comes for us to be sent.

Things have to be just right in order for us to help others. God is looking for a people that, regardless if they have to get a babysitter or take their kids with them on the great adventure on reaching out to others will be sent. I remember Bianca and I made it an adventure. We would just go to Wal-mart, buy sandwich meat and make sandwiches, purchase bottle water and take to the city rescue mission and hand out to the homeless of  downtown Okc.  When you do ministry or serve others as a family it raises your kids in the right perspective of loving ministry instead of hating it.  Instead of thinking it takes their family away from them they get to see the great blessing that comes over their family.

My heart as a pastor is that EVERYONE would get this in their heart. It truly is a heart thing not a money or skill thing. Some people think it’s just the pastors role to meet needs. In the book of Ephesians it says Pastors are called to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry. My heart as a Pastor is to model it by my heart and actions. There have been several times when I felt like I was not called to meet a need but since I have committed to use my life for kingdom purpose, and have the mentality of, “here I am, use me” I have met the need and have been truly blessed through the process. I have come to realize my life is not my own. My money, my house, my resources are not my own but they are for kingdom purpose. I don’t only want to be the one to fill in the gap. I want everyone to answer the call when the need becomes apparent. God wants to SEND YOU.

While writing this blog I just received an email that they heard through facebook about how I was able to bless someone in need and since they are battling life or death sickness they couldn’t serve but they wanted to give finances toward what I did. WOW she gets even while she is sick she is obedient to be used by God and help another.

Whats your thoughts???

Leaders Litmus by Will Harper

He is the Youth Pastor at Church of the Harvest-Stillwater.

He has recently experienced growth in students and leaders in the area he serves in. He has grown in his leadership, so read below and share your thoughts.

When Jeremy asked me to guest blog, I knew exactly what I would say because I’ve recently had a sort of personal “AHA!” in my life.  You see for many years  I was content to think of myself as a leader because I understood leadership principles.  It wasnt until after I was placed in a leadership position that I realized that you actually have to apply those principals to real life, ugly and awkward situations.  So then, there it is, I had found the secret to leadership, to know leadership principals and be able to apply them in real-life situations.  Isn’t that what most leadership books teach? Doesn’t it sound balanced? But, isn’t it so reactive?  Doesn’t the word leadership imply initiative? So, there I was, stuck in a reactive state of mind, thinking that leadership was running around putting everyone’s fires out, correcting and instructing, thank God for Harvest! I am truly blessed, to be a part of a church whose pastors and leaders know how to reproduce themselves in others.  As I said earlier, I recently expierenced an “AHA” moment with God.  You see, leadership is not just learning principals, and applying them to people, leadership is about developing people to understand leadership principles; and reproducing in them your ability and most importantly, your desire to apply those principles to their lives and to the lives of those with whom they have influence.  In short, are you reproducing yourself? So, how does one reproduce themselves in another? It happens when you put people before things and set goals for the people with whom you have influence, then develop those people towards those goals.  There you have it the litmus test of a leader: are you reproducing yourself in others?

Envelope System..

We are watching our money right now to be the best stewards over it.

This will be our second time to do it

Have you ever done a envelope system?

Whats you thoughts?

Sunday Night Reflections

This weekend was a great weekend. We started a new series called “SENT”

• Too many people have yet to accept their God-given assignments as a response to a higher calling – instead of SENT they SETTLE for a lesser life
• You were saved FROM something and saved FOR something.
• We have life assignments, seasonal assignments & daily assignments.
• We had a salvation! That doesn’t get old!
  

Are you doing what you want to do or what God has asked you to do or sent you to do?
Still pondering on the Daily.. Seasonal.. Life assignments

What’s your thoughts?

ASAP
As Soon As Possible

What do you think when someone says “they need something ASAP” or “please respond ASAP”?

I have several thoughts…

• Lack of planning on your part.. You are trying to make it an emergency on my part.
• Can come off disrespectful of my time
• It’s actually a really relative comment to say. Put an actual deadline to the task or thought and make it realistic. In an email or letter setting, it’s best to put,  “please respond” or “get back with me on these things by a date.”
• In the age of email.. Fb.. Twitter.. Sms.. Blackberry.. iphone… We get everything and want everything quickly, to the point where we are addicted and consumed by it. We can sit behind the desk at the office and do not get anything done on our list because we are constantly responding to everyone’s emails right when we get them without processing or investigating the email. Then it is not a clear response because it was all in the name of ASAP, so then people can misread or are frustrated by the response to the email because it’s not a clear response. I have read in books that after 3 emails about that same topic just pick up the phone and hammer it out in one setting. I have read where most high level leaders check their emails only 2 or 3 times a day so they can focus on leading people and making connections. I am still working on this.
• I have switched to having my emails go through my cell phone manually.. When I decide to check them I will, but don’t want to be consumed with them while I am meeting with others.
• If I needed something ASAP I would call that person, but most emails aren’t asap worthy
  

How can we be more effective with our communication?

So, what are your thoughts about ASAP?

So, please respond ASAP!! … Just kidding!!

Sunday Night Reflections…
February 21, 2010

We had a great week at the Stillwater Campus..

Just reflecting on all the God has done through us this week..

• We had great Department/ Leader meetings Tuesday night
• I had several key relationship building meetings this week
• Started a Harvest Stillwater fan page on facebook to help create a buzz… more details on this coming soon.
• We had great connect groups Wednesday night and Radiant (Young Adult connect group) had its largest group showing !!!
• Several people came and help Chad & Andrea move. They moved in the cold and rain. I looked around and there was all ages of people helping them move. Youth, Young Adults and Adults. It made me realize when we do things for others its a opportunity for all ages not just a select age group to be involved. I loved what Chad’s father said “ we drove down here to help my son move but His church really made it happen” isn’t it cool that the church is so practical and relevant for all areas of our life?
• We split up in two groups for church set up and this is going great. Group 2 finished in record time!! My goal is to have 4 groups a month by June.. Strengthening our Leadership base…
• Worship was great today We ended with a song “Stand” here are the words…
  

You stood before creation
Eternity within Your hand
You spoke the earth into motion
My soul now to stand

You stood before my failure
Carried the Cross for my shame
My sin weighed upon Your shoulders
My soul now to stand

So what can I say
What can I do
But offer this heart O God
Completely to You

So I’ll walk upon salvation
Your Spirit alive in me
This life to declare Your promise
My soul now to stand

So what can I say
What can I do
But offer this heart O God
Completely to You

So I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all

So I’ll stand
My soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours

• We had 2 great meetings after Church… 1. Kelly Hancock came from okc campus to talk to some our leaders about developing a effective prayer team 2. Nicci our worship pastor shared some new vision thoughts to the worship team. I am so proud of growth in her the last several months.. Its awesome to see how a leader grows so does the area and team.
  

• We have a lot coming up and I want to make sure you don’t miss out!!!
  

Youth America Encounter.. This is not a youth service but the next generation coming together.
Girlfriend lunch this Thursday 11:30am
Hillsong London March 21 Sunday night OKC Campus
Mens Retreat March 26-27

Here is some quick thoughts about Today’s message
Marriage Rehab #4

*Temptation is a form of spiritual warfare – temptation is CERTAIN.
*Matthew 6:13 – lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
*The failure of a marriage doesn’t happen instantly, but over time.
*Defeating the 5 fatal temptations that attempt to destroy marriages over time.

#1 – The temptation to search for the perfect mate

*Unrealistic expectations cause you to pick apart your spouse.

#2 – The temptation to trust the flesh

*Matthew 26:41 – the flesh is weak – so your spirit must be strong!
*Don’t give in to the desires of the flesh – have no confidence in the flesh.
*Many men & women think they are untouchable & invulnerable to compromise.
*Every person has their kryptonite – have to keep your guard up.

#3 – The temptation to be trapped in the past

#4 – The temptation to take your spouse for granted.

#5 – The temptation to leave your God-pursuit

Share your thoughts about church??

Marriage Rehab

Rehab tr.v. re·ha·bil·i·tat·ed, re·ha·bil·i·tat·ing, re·ha·bil·i·tates

Our young people just came back from our church winter retreat.
Not sure if these thoughts were mentioned in the retreat, but I have been thinking a lot about church growth and what it takes to grow. Its takes vision and people who are committed to see the vision come alive in their lives and in the lives around them.

Psalms 1:3 “He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.”
He is us, referring to us being planted or rooted in something and producing fruit.

Here is some thoughts about this..

• What are you planted in?
• How deeply planted in Gods word are you?
• How deeply planted in Gods house are you?
• Planting.. What are you giving your time, treasure and talent towards?
  

Temporal or eternal purposes?

• A love it that we have college students that are from out of town that move to Stillwater to get a education and find out they have a opportunity to build a church as well.. They spend 4 years investing in their career but get consumed with the passion of building the church and when they leave Stillwater then looked back and realize that they had more of a impact building the church and serving Gods purpose than anything the college degree could do for them in a lifetime. They won’t be remembered for the degree but the impact they made in the community.
  

• When you plant yourself you are committing to it.
• What are you committing to?
  

• Purpose – is what are you are investing your life in producing results? (fruit that remains)
  

• Healthy things grow.. What is healthy in your life? What is growing? Are there any weeds growing in your life?
  

• Prospering… What are you doing that produces fruit?
• I remember a old saying that says “what goes in comes out”
• Show me your friends and I will show you, your future.
  

Commit to plant yourself in eternal purposes and blessings will flow in all areas of your life and affect others.

Let me know your thoughts..