Troy H. Jones

We are just one click away from every idea in the world.  All you have to do is surf the web, read a blog, or listen to a podcast–and there are unlimited ideas to copy  and put into practice at your church or organization.

We all need to be inspired by leaders. But there is a danger.  The danger is we become parrots, not pastors.

To “cut and paste” another man’s dream in your church is being a parrot not a pastor.  Let that sink in for a moment.  God didn’t call me to copy ideas, he called me to create dreams.

This hurts for sure. I have done this.  This short cut is easy. 

What is the problem?  The problem is we limit our creativity, leadership, and personal growth.  The process of developing the blueprints for your church or organization is more important than the blueprints themselves.  We take the easy road.  Any “parrot” can copy someone. We need to stretch ourselves, get away on a personal retreat and hear from God, pray our guts out and unleash the creativity in your life, church and organziation

Here is another problem—God creates every church different.  Just like human beings have different personalities, strengths, and weaknesses–so every church  God has a specific DNA…God is to creative to  just have you “cut and paste” and think you are being relevant. 

With all this said, we need to learn and grow from leaders.  I am not suggesting that we should reinvent the  wheel on everything.  If an idea resonates with you….great.  No problem. 

There is an old saying, “Give a Man a Fish, Feed Him For a Day. Teach a Man to Fish, Feed Him For a Lifetime”.  We need to learn to learn.  Don’t just take a persons “fish”—learn how he caught  it.  There is a big difference.   Leaders want to know how they caught the fish.  They don’t care how big the fish is–how did you catch it?  What are the timeless principles?

Every time you  listen to another leader, keep these things in mind.

1. Look for insights, not ideas (big difference.  Ideas are good.  But insights are better)
2. Look for principles, not programs (what are core principles to take away?)
3. Adapt, not adopt (when you take an idea…adapt it to your culture and church)
4. Create, don’t copy (Leaders create.  They don’t copy.  Let an idea inspire you to create something for Jesus)
5. Discover what questions they ask, not the answers (Listen carefully to the questions they are asking..not the answer they are giving.)

Are you a parrot or a pastor? 

For what it is worth–after I hear any speaker, visit any church, read a book or listen to any pod cast–I stop and capture on one piece of paper all the nuggets.  What are the take aways? What are the principles?  What are some insights that will help? And, yes, are there one or two ideas that can help me upgrade my leadership and ministry?

So often we set a list of goals and then forget about them.  Why?  I think we start with the wrong question.  Instead of asking–what are my fall goals? or “what are my annual goals”.  We need to start with the question–what is bugging me?  What is driving me crazy about my life, ministry, church or job?  Answer that question.  Once you answer that question you can begin to determine what are your goals. You can start putting them in writing.

God speaks to me by giving a gnawing feeling in my stomach.  Something is broken.  I can’t just put my finger on it.  We have taught ourselves to ignore these uncomfortable  thoughts.  We need to learn to listen. This may be God speaking.  (or just bad pizza….another conversation)

The fall is a great season to set goals.  I set fall and spring goals (instead of annual goals).  I define fall as–Sept through December and Spring as February through June.  I know this isn’t exactly the  correct months but it works for me.  Maybe it is just church life–but it works in my mind.  (btw-summer is an very important time for church…I set goals during this time also—I just treat them differently than fall and spring.)

Pastor and leader–what is bugging you as you enter this fall? What is your burden?  I’m not asking–what should be bugging you?  I’m not even asking–what is bugging you  in life?  What is bugging you right now?  This fall?  What is going to get your up and fight against all hell to change?  What will you  fix this fall?  

What is bugging you?  Fix this core problem this fall.

 

About one year ago I put together some practical thoughts around giving.  I have had so many people make comments how helpful this was and is to them.  Here it is…we must excel in giving.  I pray in 2009 we would all discover the grace of giving

  

In 2 Corinthians 8:7 Paul said, “But just as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”

 

For those who call New Life home, giving cheerfully and sacrificially of our finances is part of our worship. A believer does not work to accumulate personal wealth or possessions, but to be a good steward of God’s resources and model Jesus to our brothers, sisters, and community.

 

Our mission is to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. One of the primary ways we serve God is by cheerfully giving God our “firstfruits” (2 Corinthians 9:7; Proverbs 3:9).  God expects us to give, not to meet some petty, required percentage, but by digging deep and sacrificing for the sake of the gospel because Jesus sacrificed for us and all that we have is His anyway.

 

People ask me questions all the time around the subject of giving and specifically tithing.  Here are responses to some of those questions:

 

1.     What is the difference between tithing and giving?

        Principle: They are both found in Scripture.  Giving is what we were born to do.  Tithing is a very specific way we give.  Tithing defines God’s beginning point in our giving as Christ followers.

 

        Practice:  Jana and I love giving.  We tithe 10% to the local church and then give to missions, building fund and other heart felt opportunities. Tithing is a floor for us, not a ceiling.  We are not paralyzed by meeting some petty, required percentage – we are driven to be good stewards of God’s resources.

 

2.     What is a tithe?

        Principle:  The literal meaning of the word tithe is “a tenth” or 10%.  A tithe is the firstfruit of your harvest.  This is given to God through your home church in faith as a practical means to finance the mission of the church (Malachi 3:8-10, Matthew 23:23)

 

        Practice:  Jana and I have been tithing for almost 30 years. (It was easier when I worked at McDonald’s).  We believe in the local church and that our tithes make a difference.

 

3.    How do you tithe?

        Principle:  Find a systematic way to tithe.  Such as following each paycheck, once a month, or having it automatically taken out of your check, etc. (1 Corinthians 16:2)

 

        Practice:  Jana and I have our tithe automatically taken out of each check.  This makes it very simple.

 

4.    What kind of attitude should I have when I tithe?

        Principle:  The Bible says, “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

 

        Practice:  Most of the time Jana and I give cheerfully.  Sometimes out of pure discipline. But we do it because we love God and people.  We also think giving is foundational to being a healthy human being (1 Corinthians 13:3).

 

5.    Isn’t tithing just an Old Testament concept?

        Principle:  Giving is a Biblical concept.  Tithing is found in the Old Testament.  Generous and sacrificial giving is found in the New Testament (Acts 2:42-47, Acts 4:32-35). Tithing is not explicitly commanded in the New Testament but the bar is raised considerably by Christ and the apostles of the early church.  Christians must give whenever there is a need to be met.  Those who get lost in a percentage amount have lost the whole point of giving.

 

        Practice:  Usually this question implies the New Testament requires less giving.  Actually the opposite is true.  In the New Testament they actually sold land and gave it to the church.   The New Testament church went way beyond the tithe.  This is why tithing is just a beginning point in my giving.

 

6.    Should I give first to missions or tithe?

        Principle: Our first and foremost responsibility is to tithe.  This is both a scriptural truth and a practical truth.

 

        Practice:  Here are priorities of our giving:  We tithe first, give to missions second and then prioritize our building commitment and other heartfelt areas as God leads us.

 

 

 

7.     If I send kids to camp or am not reimbursed for ministry expenses can I include that as part of my tithe?

        Principle:  No!  The tithe belongs to the storehouse (Malachi 3:8-10).

 

        Practice:  Personally I love paying kids way to camp.  It is worth every penny. This is why Jana and I push ourselves in giving beyond tithing.

 

8.    What should I do if I can’t afford to tithe? Can I start with a smaller amount?

        Principle:  Start somewhere.  The Biblical standard is to tithe. Honestly, you can’t afford NOT to tithe.  If you wait until you can afford it—you will never start.  Start today!

 

        Practice:  I think the big question is “are you going backward or forward with your giving?”  No matter how much you give or don’t give right now – we should always be asking this question.

 

9.    I want to tithe but my spouse doesn’t want to, what should I do?

        Principle:  Very good question.  Be on the same page with your spouse.  Most people don’t reject the idea of giving.  Instead of pushing the “tithe” concept agree on charitable giving.  You will be surprised how open your spouse may be about giving if you frame it in the context that we should give back to this world.

 

        Practice:  My wife likes tithing.

 

10.   Is tithing just an adult thing? When should my children begin to tithe?

        Principle:  You can’t start too young to teach your kids to tithe (and save).

 

        Practice:  Since my girls were walking I have made sure they tithed 10% and saved 10%.  I tried to get them to give to me 10% but Jana wouldn’t let me go there.

 

11.   Do I need to tithe on a financial gift? Tax return? Bonuses?

        Principle:  If in doubt, tithe.

 

        Practice:  Yes, on the financial gift and bonuses.  I don’t tithe on my tax return because I already tithed on my gross.  (Although, a tax return is a great opportunity to be a generous giver)

 

12.   Can I tithe through volunteering my time and saving the church staffing expense?

        Principle:  We need to learn to financially give our money and time. The answer is no.

 

        Practice:  Jana and I give my time and money.

 

13.    Is it ok for me to get a tax deduction from giving?

        Principle: Yes, this is called wisdom.

 

        Practice:  We get a tax deduction for my giving.

 

14.    If I tithe will God bless me financially?

        Principle:  Yes (Proverbs 11:24-25, Proverbs 3:9-10)

 

        Practice:  He has blessed Jana and me.

 

15.   Should I tithe off of my gross income or net (after taxes and deductions)?

        Principle:  If in doubt, round up.  The firstfruits principle would indicate gross.

 

        Practice:  Jana and I tithe on our gross income.

 

16.   Can I give my tithe on a credit card? Is it ok to get airline miles off of my giving?

        Principle:  This scares me.  Although in theory it is possible, you should never go in debt by tithing.  Most people should not consider this option.

           

        Practice:  We have not and do not tithe on my credit card!

 

17.    If I am in debt, should I get out of debt before I begin to tithe?

        Principle:  No, begin to tithe first.  I know this sounds strange but God will open up heaven and begin to give you wisdom to get out of debt.

 

        Practice:  Get out of debt.  Depending on how far in debt you are, I would recommend you get help.  Crown Financial is a great place to start.

 

Over the past 12 months I have been working  off and on what I am calling “10 guardrails for leaders”.  I have been thinking, reflecting and pondering these.    I have lived by these for years.  I am not a legalistic person.  But, when it comes to the opposite sex I think we have to be. I  have reflected, rewrote, deleted and added.  I have asked, “how do you create some healthy guidelines without being legalistic?”  “Is this the job of the lead pastor to provide these for the staff?”.  “How  far do you  go?”(I am considering implenting these guardrails for  all staff at New Life.)

 

 

A guardrail is a rail acting as a safety barrier at the side of a freeway, highway, road, or ship’s deck. 

 

 

In today’s world we need safety barriers.  In the day of text, facebook and emails…we need to be ok with creating some personal legalism.  Agree? Disagree?  Is this the job  of a lead pastor to provide guardrails like this?

 

 

Is  this to far?  Am  I missing something?  Are there ”rules” on this list that you think are not realistic?  If so, which  ones?  Do these guardrails stifle ministry or empower ministry? I would love to hear your observations

 

 

We have talked about this as a team.  We haven’t  100% adopted these guidelines.

 

Is this over reacting or providing great leadership?  Curious to hear your input.

1. Thou shalt never be alone with the opposite sex for any reason other than family members. (pick you up, drive you, eating at restaurant, etc)
2. Thou shalt only show affection to the opposite sex that is done with “absolute purity” 
   (1 Timothy 5: 1-2 “Appropriate hugging and touching”)
3. Thou shalt not access the internet without using “Covenant Eyes” or having someone in the room with you. (office, home, library, hotel, etc)
4. Thou shalt use Godly wisdom when communicating with the opposite sex on emails, text, facebook, MySpace, blog, twitter, instant messages, chat rooms or any other form of technology.
5. Thou shalt CC or BCC your spouse or assistant on emails to the opposite sex that  contains any  information that would be personal in nature (prayer requests, personal encouragement, etc)
6. Thou shalt not have the opposite sex in your office alone without the blinds opened and someone else in the office complex. 
7. Thou shalt not counsel or meet with the opposite sex more than once without that person’s spouse. Refer them.
8. Thou shalt avoid obscenity, foolish talk and coarse joking. (Ephesians 5:4)
9. Thou shalt not discuss your marriage problems with the opposite sex.
10. Thou shalt not pray with the opposite sex alone.  Simply ask someone to join you in prayer.   

 

Obviously there are rare exception’s to these guardrails.  We have unmarried staff.  Guardrail one wouldn’t apply in this situation.  Although if they are dating we have another whole set of guardrails that is for another conversation. 

 

Love to hear your honest perspective on these…

Twice a year I do a praying and planning retreat.  This is a time to spend time with Jesus and my wife.  I do this for 2 nights and three days.  I love it.  It is priceless.  I have been doing this  for 10 years of my life.  Amazing to see how God uses this time to shape my life.

I do the prayer and planning twice a year…one in summer and end of the year.  I am on one of my prayer and planning retreats as I type this. 

People ask…what are some things you do on a prayer and planning retreat?

Here is a list of things I have been doing for a decade of personal retreats.

1. Spend time walking and praying
2. Read Bible for extended times
3. Journal
4. Find new worship songs and worship Jesus 
5. Review past journal entries
6. Read a book
7. Do  something special for my wife
8. Call a old friend
9. Reflect on last year “lessons learned”
10. Calendar planning for 2009
11. Work on my personal “Core values”
12. Work on lifetime goals
13. Work on personal annual goals
14. Work on personal changes in my  life 
15. Determine “Direction and Focus” for  next season of life and church 
16. Work on future teaching series
17. Read one book on retreat
18. Listen to a good podcast
19. Write a blog (I am doing this now)
20. Watch  a movie
21. Cry  and laugh 
22. Just  be silent
23. Get a cup of coffee by myself

As I read my Bible everyday I try to find one Scripture that  I put on a 3 x 5 card and carry with me throughout the day.  I reflect and meditate  on this one Scripture throughout the day. Then I add it to a document that I put on my iphone called  my “go to” Scriptures. 

On Saturday  I read a Scripture that I felt like was my first time reading it.  I have read it hundreds of other times.  But, for some reason this Scripture jumped off the page and made me think and ask myself some gut  wrenching questions.

I love the Scripture.  I  love how practical the Bible is. 

Psalms 78:72

“And David Shepherded them with  integrity of  heart; with  skillful hands he led them”

I  love how simple, concise and profound this Scripture is.  The problem in ministry so many don’t understand we need both–a heart filled with integrity and skillful hands.  If we lack one of these we will hinder our leadership. 

A heart of integrity 

• Do you have a heart filled with integrity? 
• Does your  heart desire to be like Jesus?
• Are there any hints of bitterness in your  heart?
• Do you have any hints of sexual garbage in your heart?
• How is your heart?
• When you miss a day or two with Jesus, does your heart  miss it?
• Do you exaggerate numbers, stories, facts—is your heart filled with integrity?
• How is your prayer  life?
• When is the last time you cried?
• When is the last time you laughed?
• When is the last time you gave?
• Do you care more about position than the mission of God?
• Are you a servant?
• Are you teachable? 

What other questions would be good to add to this list?

Skillful hands

Many people think all we need is God in ministry.  We can’t do ministry without the supernatural.  We also need skillful hands.  God gives us skillful hands.   Here is the deal–I hate flying.  When I fly I would be scared to death if the  pilot said, “I have a good heart–but really don’t know how to fly”.   I don’t care if the pilot is cussing—my question is do you have the skill to fly this plane?   For sure  pastoral leadership is different.  I don’t want the pastor cussing.  But, we have a lot of pastors who don’t cuss but they have pathetic people skills, work ethics, time management, leadership, problem solving, and team building.  This is why people won’t follow  you. 

Why should that  mom in your church follow you when she cares more about her towels than you do your sermons?(just a question)

• What kind of skills do you have?
• What are you doing to grow  your ministry  skills?
• What are you  doing to grow your speaking?  (some of us haven’t  listened to ourselves speak for years.  This is a shame)
• Do you have people giving you input on your skills?
• Do you have a coach?
• How  are your skills limiting you?  What are you going to do about this?

What other  questions would be good to add to this list?

In this  one Scripture we find enough meat to chew on for a long time.  Chew on it.  Think about it.  As we go into 2009 maybe this is all we have to care about…hearts that  love Jesus and filled with intergity  and skillful  hands.

We have been asking ourselves as a leadership team, “how does a church connect people”  Very important question.  The church is about people.  Not programs, not policies, not traditions, not buildings…people.  So often churches miss this.  Our tendancy is to think if we preach better or use the latest video the  church will be fine.  We miss it.  We focus on the wrong things. 

At New Life we have developed some defining statements to help us focus on people and not programs.  These statements are simple reminders for us as a team.  Language creates culture.  These are statements that help keep us on our toes. 

When new people walk in—everybody steps up. 

This includes everybody.  Whenever someone new walks in our door–everybody must step to the plate to serve.  No expections.

The first step to connecting someone is remembering their name

Every  week I bring a 3 x 5 card with me.  I write down peoples names I meet.  I pray for  them during the week during my quiet times. 

 

Read people before you direct people

 

So often churches try to push people into their programs…join a small group, get involved in ministry, etc.  We need to learn to read people.  They may of just received news from the  doctor that they have cancer…and all we care about is our programs…what is wrong with us?  Do we really care?

 

We will never be so big that we don’t love people one at a time.

 

The moment we are so big that  I don’t have time for people…I am done. 

 

People attend because they are invited, they stay because they are included

 

We are funny in the church.  We actually think people attend our church because they received a cool flyer in the mail.  Yes, this happens.  But, lets get real.  People attend because some  invites them.  But, here is what we have learned at New Life…they only stay if they are included.  People  want to belong.  We have to find creative ways to include people.

We do for one what we wish we could do for all

 

We get what we train

 

This is  so important.  Often I get frustrated with our  host teams volunteers or ushers.  Sometimes they don’t seem to be serving people.  Who’s  fault is this?  Mine!  We get what we train.  We ask people to be host team members and then we don’t nurture or care about them. 

 

Think “Steps, not programs”  

 

We need to think in terms of steps, not programs.  What are the easy steps for people to connect?  Are they obvious?  Are they strategic?

 

Connecting people isn’t a department it is a discipline of the church

 

Connecting people is the church.  It is the mission of God.  You can’t hire this out.  You can’t put  this on someones job description and then forget it. 

 

We do for one what we wish we could do for all

 

Pastors sometimes will say, “I can’t call everybody” or  “I can’t personally welcome everybody”…very  true.  But here is my rule of thumb…I do for one what I wish I could  do for all.  I can’t visit everybody in the hospital..but  it is good for me to get out of my office and visit someone.  I can’t personally call every new person..but every once in a while I need to grab my cell phone and make that call.  Not only is this good  modeling for my staff and church..it  is good for my soul! 

 

 

 

Who Contributed?

I emailed 20 people I respect with one question, “What are you doing now to foster spiritual and emotional health 20 years from now?” I received back incredible and insightful responses.  I took seven of these emails and created this document.  These are random thoughts and insights from people I respect.   I looked at these seven emails and created the following categories as I saw themes and common threads of thought.   Many of these thoughts are directed towards Lead/Senior Pastors, but all leaders will find incredible insights. (I sure did!)

 

Here are the seven people who contributed to these thoughts through emails interaction:

Alan Johnson 

·        Les Welk

·        Jeffery Portmann

·        Marc Pearson

·        Mel Ming

·        Pat Schatzline

·        Wes Davis

Thoughts on Bible Study  

 

Thoughts on Prayer

• I use travel time often for just plain speaking in tongues. The more options you are employing the less dry things are likely to get. I am seeking to add corporate prayer by making prayer appointments with leaders, since I don’t have the luxury of having a single local church and building nearby.
• Incorporate regular times of fasting at varying intervals. I myself am not a long time faster, but I do fast Friday’s and then do 2 and 3 day ones like at least once per quarter. Being really active in my work, going longer makes it a bit harder.
• You see David fell because he tried to be a king instead of remaining a worshiper who worked at the palace. I made up my mind I never wanted to fall or quit.
• I regained my prayer life.  So that means I go to bed earlier to get up early. I really started hanging out with God.  I know that sounds trite, but I had never had that type of walk. Now Jesus and I are great friends.
• One of our elders and former pastor meets with me every other week just for prayer

Thoughts on Getting Away

• Get away for “thinking” – time alone to contemplate, think, pray, cry, call out to God, look at the sunset.  Mainly to think and clear away the cobwebs.
• I found when pastoring I had to take a 24-48 hour retreat away from church and people every month. I would usually leave after noon, arrive and check in about 3 pm. Spend some time reading. I tended to only take my Bible, notepad, prayer lists, personal planner and maybe a book. I just found I had to have the time to be the leader I needed to be.
• Spending quality “alone” time, to include spending nights away locked up in a hotel room by myself.
•  I have found when you go into ministry it is because you want to be seen, but when you get in ministry you want to hide! 
• Take naps, lay on the floor and read a novel for 15 minutes in the middle of the day, find a form of exercise where you can get outside and get away from phones and people, sit in a warm bath and soak. Small treats and breaks at the daily level can give you the energy to keep up for the long haul.
• Twice a year I get away.  I bring my wife with me.  But, she  knows this is  my time to pray, plan and refocus. 

Thoughts on Character

• Listen to the inner red flags of your life.  This is the Holy Spirit convicting and guiding you.
• Tell the truth to myself and everyone else.
• Live like an open book so no one can rightly accuse me of doing wrong (and when I do make it right immediately)
• I have found that ministry is a great mask to reality. I didn’t want to be like old guys in ministry that are just that- OLD! These are some things that I have had to do to protect family time, personal devotion time, study time, and the never ending appetite of the ministry. 
• I have covenant eyes on my computer. My  wife gets a report.

Thoughts on being in the Community 

·        Get out into the real world and hang out with people, see people, look at them in the eye, not in your position, but just as a fellow human being who follows Christ.

·        Go down and ride a public bus through S King county, walk around neighborhoods and see what people are doing. Go hang out with people at their place of business.

·        You will be renewed as the Spirit put’s his view of people and your city into you. It keeps ministry from being mechanical and technical.

• I’m the volunteer assistant basketball coach at Central Kitsap High School (it forces me to have to put energy into something that’s not directly newlife

 Thoughts about Physical Fitness

·        Physical fitness is a spiritual discipline I practice. And I can tell those seasons of my life that I am doing well or poorly in practicing it! Everything in my life is better when I work out regularly!

·        Picked up on physical exercise, walking 1 to 2 miles per day

• I rejoined the gym.  I got back in shape and became very guarded of my mornings.

Thoughts on being a Husband

• My wife and I are on the same page and understand that each will have to give and take from time to time but setting aside time to get away – whether a big vacation or one night of fun is essential for us to stay fresh. When there is something ahead on the horizon that is life-giving and refreshing it allows the day in day out wear of ministry to be lighter.
• A healthy sex life is essential so we plan times to enjoy each other as well as have spontaneous moments during the week. (The older the boys get the easier this has become!)
• We put fun things on our calendar (Including but not limited to vacation) so that we have something to look forward to.
• Keep my marriage healthy and growing.  If and when there’s a problem in my marriage, I can’t focus on anything else intently with my heart.
• My wife and I quit talking ministry at home. We have gotten back to having fun together and enjoying life.
• My wife and I do everything together.  That was a little different due to traveling all of those years, but it has really taken us to another level.
• I spend my whole day off with my wife.  We run errands, pay bills, make love, buy groceries together, have coffee together, go and see a movie…we love our day off

Thoughts as being a Dad

• I can easily get consumed with ministry and lose sight of the fact that my first ministry is to my family.
• I have been on vacation with my family for the past two weeks in a very peaceful and private cabin on Hayden Lake.  It was wonderful.  That is one of the keys to mental health I would put toward the top of the list–making quality time for family and keeping it an obvious priority.  We have never regretted doing so as our children have grown and shown the fruit of our efforts.  When your 30 year old son and family want to vacation with you, it is deeply gratifying.
• I make my family the centerpiece of my  life
• Keep focused on my family – even when my kids are grown–they are still my primary spiritual focus.  I will not sacrifice my family for the church.  The church knows this and so does my family as I’ve stated it openly many times, the last time being last Sunday.
• No matter what I go to my son’s high school football practices/ games.  I also attend my daughter’s ballet/ dance classes weekly (most of the time.)
• Since my son is a teen I always allow the youth at our home.  It keeps it real.
• Monday night is our family meetings.  We keep this short.  We discuss the week. Read a passage of scripture (no comments from me) and then I pray over the family. I have found once a week is healthy.

Thoughts on Money

• I want be able to “live and give” without working by the age of 60.
• Keep away from financial conflict and debt – live within your means, have a clear plan, Carol is fully knowledgeable of every aspect of our income, accounts, payments, investments, insurance, etc., and in agreement.  Otherwise, this stuff also drains you and keeps you up at night.
• I started doing outside ventures with finances.  My goal is to be free from the church paying me in five years.  I love the business community. I eat lunch with 30 business guys a month for a dinner I host and we grow ideas.  I call it Corporate Influencers.  It is taking off. I got the idea from Larry Stockstill.  He challenged me to do it and it is amazingly refreshing.  It has allowed me to get out of the typical religious meetings. I love it. It is a hobby for me.
• Both my wife and I work on the finances. She  pays the bills—I plan for future.  I

Thoughts about Relationships

• We have normal friendships that many pastors don’t from what I hear
• I have regular accountability conversations with a few key guys in my life.
• I meet once a year with the same group of guys for two nights and three days of fun, idea sharing, prayer, deep and honest sharing about struggles and challenges we’re facing. We fight for each other in prayer and stand as brothers. We call it Sinai and this Sept. will be our 13th time of meeting.
• Found a “neutral” person to share my deepest thoughts and feelings with who is not connected with anyone else in my normal circle of friends.
• Build authentic relationships by being purposeful and intentional.
• Resolve every conflict to the extent possible – unresolved ones are draining and confusing.  Seek forgiveness before you reason yourself into thinking you’re right.
• Get close to some deep Christians – lean on them, trust them with my life, watch them operate.  I’ve done this and there is no substitute.

Thoughts on Personal Organization

• The Margin Rule – I live with the rule that you can’t put something into the basket unless you take something out
• I have found that I can get everything done in the office by spending two solid days a week in there. (from a Senior pastor—I don’t believe is true for associates—Troy)
• I stopped doing more than one lunch a week with people. Lunches were killing me.
• I let our church know that I don’t counsel.  We give a number out of a great counseling firm.  I do meet with people for coaching, but no counseling.  I had to due to the fact I realized I was really unprepared and did not have the patience.
• I receive emails from all staff on Friday with their weekly update to stay always in the loop. From that I stay on top of the daily/ weekly etc. It really helps me and the staff to communicate.
• Because we are such a young church we have tried to run it like a church of 5000.  So I have realized my entire portfolio is mainly: vision casting, people touching, finance over sight, and teaching of the word. I can’t be all things.
• I have chosen to have fun again in ministry.  So I play golf at least once every two weeks and I travel every six weeks on a Sunday.  The traveling allows me to catch vision that I cannot get at home.  God speaks to me more when I am away from everything.
• I realized phone calls and emails can’t rule my life.  That is why I love my black berry. 
• I decided to lead my staff with real expectations.  Mistakes are now moments of coaching instead lectures of pain. I started mentoring more our team.  Coaching is fun for me. 

Thoughts on Sermon Preparation

• I hide one day a week and let no one disturb me in order to sermon prep.  It usually takes about four hours, but I really enjoy my study time.
• Have other  people write a whole teaching series
•  One of my staff wrote the last teaching series “American Idols and other sacred cows – Brandon is writing the next – “Samson: sex, lies, and really long hair” – I’m teaching them how to put a series together
• Read more, read widely, and work on biblical exegesis. Not as sermon preparation, but as the fount for preaching.
• You obviously need time for the next week’s message. But for instance in 2008 you should be building the exegetical and conceptual base for stuff you will do in 2009.
• So it is almost like there are two separate tracks running. One feeds the other, and never do either of those inside of the devotional time. Devotional time needs to be a different type of deal. This kind of practice will keep you fresh over time.
• I have blocks of time throughout the week I prepare for messages.  Wednesday morning from home is one of these. Once a month (Wednesday after  elders meeting) I take the whole day to plan for future messages.

Thoughts on “Numbers”

• I realized the church will never be big enough, and the ministry simply could never fulfill all of my dreams. Only Jesus could. So I changed my success chart for each week.
• I have changed the way I think church has to be each Sunday.  Meaning numbers are huge for me, but they were ruining my life.  So now I do not get the giving report till Monday, I always ask for a round number for attendance at the end of each month.
• I also stopped being who I wasn’t on Sunday.  I was trying to be Andy Stanley. So instead I go for it on Sunday. I made it fun again. I began to allow the Holy Spirit to move more (not weird just intimate). We then doubled in size in three months. I still desire to be the best and biggest, but I also understand that growing so fast makes us pretty unstable.

Thoughts on My Staff

• I finally empowered our staff.  My executive pastor handles everything for me.  I meet with the whole team on Tuesday, but he handles a lot of the stuff.
• The executive pastor runs the finances, the elder team, and the operations team (admin,)
• Only way to maintain health is hire an executive pastor
• Interesting thought:  The executive pastor leads our Tuesday Table (staff) – the standing rule is if I have something to say I will let him know – otherwise we eat, we read the Bible, we pray, we celebrate, and we learn.
• I don’t have an admin asst and I don’t take appts.  My executive pastor and I share an office (it’s part of our collaboration value – nobody has their own office but we have offices (living room style) that are open if you need to get alone.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking and preaching is an honor…a responsibility.  Everytime I stand before the church I understand this is a privalge.  It must be done with respect, fear and intergity. 

 

Here are 10 questions I often ask myself before I speak?

 

1. What is my burden? My one thing?
2. What do I want the people to do after the message?
3. Have I prayed about  this message?
4. Is the message Bible based? Is the Scripture burning in my heart?
5. Is  the message simple?  Can I say it more simple? What do I need to delete?
6. Have I thought about my audience?  What do I have for the person disconnected from God, in church for a long time, single, young adult, married, divorced, senior adult, teenager, etc.
7. Have I created a funny moment, academic moment, intimate moment and God moment?
8. Do I have good and up to date illustrations? Have I used pop culture wisely?
9. Am I relevant or just recent? 
10.  If this were my last message would  I feel good about it

What questions am I missing?