Raising two sons, 8 and 5, means we have lots of fun conversations in our home. Here are some more:
During Monday night football pre-game:
Turner: Did they say Eli Manning is playing tonight?
Me: Yes.
Turner: Will his brother Peyton Manning be there to watch?
Me: Probably not. He'll probably be working on his own job.
Turner: You mean making commercials?
While driving through downtown Atlanta:
Parker: What's that big tent for?
Me: The sign says Cirque Du Soleil
Parker: Circus of L.A.?
Praying before a meal recently:
Turner: And thank You, God, for our house. In Jesus's name, amen.
Me: That's a beautiful prayer Turner.
Turner: Well, without our house, we'd just be walking around in the woods.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Great Quote Thursday
The great threat to our prayer and our meditation on the Word of God is good ministry activity- John Piper
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Re:Group Conference Notes: Casting Vision for Groups (Breakout #4)
Last month, several members of our church staff attended the Re:Group Conference hosted by North Point Ministries. I've been sharing some notes from the conference sessions in recent posts.
The fourth breakout session I attended was "Casting Vision for Groups" led by John Ott. Here is some of what he shared:
Three results of a strong vision:
1. Thoughts are clarified.
2. Actions are aligned.
3. Emotions are engaged.
Five things you must do with vision to make it stick:
1. State it simply.
2. Cast it convincingly.
3. Repeat it regularly.
4. Celebrate it systematically.
5. Embrace it personally.
Getting to simple is complex.
Answer the audience's question of "what's in it for me".
Getting the big idea down to a simple statement is difficult.
What you do everyday matters more than what you do every now and then.
The fourth breakout session I attended was "Casting Vision for Groups" led by John Ott. Here is some of what he shared:
Three results of a strong vision:
1. Thoughts are clarified.
2. Actions are aligned.
3. Emotions are engaged.
Five things you must do with vision to make it stick:
1. State it simply.
2. Cast it convincingly.
3. Repeat it regularly.
4. Celebrate it systematically.
5. Embrace it personally.
Getting to simple is complex.
Answer the audience's question of "what's in it for me".
Getting the big idea down to a simple statement is difficult.
What you do everyday matters more than what you do every now and then.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Re:Group Conference Notes: Recruiting and Approving Volunteer Leaders (Breakout #3)
Last month, several members of our church staff attended the Re:Group Conference hosted by North Point Ministries. Over the next several posts, I will share some notes from the conference sessions.
The third breakout session I attended was "Recruiting and Approving Volunteer Leaders" led by Bob Hempen:
Establish the filter: the 4 C's:
Character; Competency; Culture; Chemistry
Character problems can cause problems like no other.
There are higher expectations for leaders. Lifestyle matters.
Setting clear expectations at the beginning makes it easier to deal with issues in the future.
Be willing to say "no" to a potential leader. People may be hurt by "no" but they shouldn't be confused. Don't leave people hanging with unknown expectations or no plan.
The third breakout session I attended was "Recruiting and Approving Volunteer Leaders" led by Bob Hempen:
Establish the filter: the 4 C's:
Character; Competency; Culture; Chemistry
Character problems can cause problems like no other.
There are higher expectations for leaders. Lifestyle matters.
Setting clear expectations at the beginning makes it easier to deal with issues in the future.
Be willing to say "no" to a potential leader. People may be hurt by "no" but they shouldn't be confused. Don't leave people hanging with unknown expectations or no plan.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Remembering Jeremy Frye
It's hard to believe it was four years today that my friend Jeremy Frye passed away following a hiking accident in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. An accomplished hiker, Jeremy was spending the day traversing the mountains and trails he loved so well.
Jeremy (I and many others just called him Frye) grew up with me. For most of his middle school and high school years, I was his Sunday School teacher. When our student choir ministry took summer mission trips, he and I always ended up loading and unloading equipment (Frye would do most anything so he didn't have to sing or "dance"). While he was in college, I hired him to work with me as a recreation assistant (since we lived near each other I offered to let him ride with me on his first day of orientation but when I got to his house he was still asleep). Eventually, we both ended up working at Sevier Heights together.
The last conversation I had with Jeremy was a phone call on Thursday evening that went something along the lines of:
Me: Hey Jeremy, can you make sure the wheelchairs get back in the rotunda after the wedding?
Frye: Sure, I've got a couple more things to get done and then I'll take care of them.
Me: Thanks a bunch. Have a great weekend.
Frye: You too, sir. You have a good evening.
He often called me "sir". Not because he had too. He spoke that way to lots of people. He was just a very well-mannered, likable guy. How many guys in their early 20's come by your house to see your first-born son and then willingly hold your newborn for a picture? Jeremy Frye did.
As I remember Jeremy Frye, I'm reminded of the following and so much more:
•He loved his family
•He smiled all the time
•He loved the game of soccer (especially World Cup), hiking in the mountains and firearms
•Man, could he sweat
•He could prepare two softball fields for play faster than anybody I've ever known
•Everyone liked him; if you didn't like Jeremy Frye, you were the one with the problem
•He would have been a great husband and dad
•He was one of my all-time favorite people (maybe you're not supposed to have favorites, but he was one of mine and he knew it)
On this day in 2008, I had the horrible privilege of being in Jeremy's room with his family and some other close friends as he breathed his last breath on this earth. It was a moment and an event I will never forget. But there was, and is, comfort in knowing that his eternity was secured.
And today is a great day to remember Jeremy Frye.
Jeremy (I and many others just called him Frye) grew up with me. For most of his middle school and high school years, I was his Sunday School teacher. When our student choir ministry took summer mission trips, he and I always ended up loading and unloading equipment (Frye would do most anything so he didn't have to sing or "dance"). While he was in college, I hired him to work with me as a recreation assistant (since we lived near each other I offered to let him ride with me on his first day of orientation but when I got to his house he was still asleep). Eventually, we both ended up working at Sevier Heights together.
The last conversation I had with Jeremy was a phone call on Thursday evening that went something along the lines of:
Me: Hey Jeremy, can you make sure the wheelchairs get back in the rotunda after the wedding?
Frye: Sure, I've got a couple more things to get done and then I'll take care of them.
Me: Thanks a bunch. Have a great weekend.
Frye: You too, sir. You have a good evening.
He often called me "sir". Not because he had too. He spoke that way to lots of people. He was just a very well-mannered, likable guy. How many guys in their early 20's come by your house to see your first-born son and then willingly hold your newborn for a picture? Jeremy Frye did.
As I remember Jeremy Frye, I'm reminded of the following and so much more:
•He loved his family
•He smiled all the time
•He loved the game of soccer (especially World Cup), hiking in the mountains and firearms
•Man, could he sweat
•He could prepare two softball fields for play faster than anybody I've ever known
•Everyone liked him; if you didn't like Jeremy Frye, you were the one with the problem
•He would have been a great husband and dad
•He was one of my all-time favorite people (maybe you're not supposed to have favorites, but he was one of mine and he knew it)
On this day in 2008, I had the horrible privilege of being in Jeremy's room with his family and some other close friends as he breathed his last breath on this earth. It was a moment and an event I will never forget. But there was, and is, comfort in knowing that his eternity was secured.
And today is a great day to remember Jeremy Frye.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Re:Group Conference Notes: Developing Leaders Who Lead Well (Breakout #2)
Last month, several members of our church staff attended the Re:Group Conference hosted by North Point Ministries. Over the next several posts, I will share some notes from the conference sessions.
The second breakout session I attended was "Developing Leaders Who Lead Well" led by Justin Elam:
The success of any ministry rises and falls on the quality of leaders.
When "success" and "direction" changes, people don't know what to expect.
Say it clearly. Say it simply. That's transferable.
My role= create environments. God's role= change hearts.
Group life essentials: Promote participation; Cultivate relationships; Provide care
Regular encouragement sustains Groups leaders who do consistent ministry in the trenches.
When leaders recommend new leaders to you, they are telling you they appreciate the way you've treated them.
The second breakout session I attended was "Developing Leaders Who Lead Well" led by Justin Elam:
The success of any ministry rises and falls on the quality of leaders.
When "success" and "direction" changes, people don't know what to expect.
Say it clearly. Say it simply. That's transferable.
My role= create environments. God's role= change hearts.
Group life essentials: Promote participation; Cultivate relationships; Provide care
Regular encouragement sustains Groups leaders who do consistent ministry in the trenches.
When leaders recommend new leaders to you, they are telling you they appreciate the way you've treated them.
Re:Group Conference Notes: Connecting Adults Into Groups (Breakout #1)
Last month, several members of our church staff attended the Re:Group Conference hosted by North Point Ministries. Over the next several posts, I will share some notes from the conference sessions.
The first breakout session I attended was "Connecting Adults Into Groups" led by Jenny Boyett:
You can't grow spiritually without growing spiritually.
People with great (or horrible) experiences make great volunteers.
Survey results tell us that chemistry is the biggest factor in groups connecting and continuing. The second most important factor is geography. The third biggest factor is stage of life.
People often identify in a group based on their oldest child's age.
The first breakout session I attended was "Connecting Adults Into Groups" led by Jenny Boyett:
You can't grow spiritually without growing spiritually.
People with great (or horrible) experiences make great volunteers.
Survey results tell us that chemistry is the biggest factor in groups connecting and continuing. The second most important factor is geography. The third biggest factor is stage of life.
People often identify in a group based on their oldest child's age.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
