We did our first water give-away this past Saturday. We had over 25 volunteers volunteer their day to give free water to people. We gave away over 65 cases of bottled of water, that's over 1500 bottles of water. We were at four different locations. It was a great day just showing some love to our community...
This is what blew my mind. It amazed me how many people did not want the water, even after we clarified the fact that it was free. I wonder what it is that our world has done to us, that we don't believe something could actually be FREE. It's like, we know there has to be a catch, someone wants to talk to us about something, they want us to buy a timeshare, there is no way someone wants to give me a FREE bottle of water. It was amazing how people would not receive a free gift because they thought they would be inconvenienced in some way.
I wonder if that's why some people will not receive the free gift of salvation because they don't want their life to be inconvenienced. When in reality, the WATER really is just free, and there is no inconvenience at all.
What has our world done to us, that we won't even take a FREE bottle of water...
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Amazing How You Change Your Mind
I remember saying when the iPad first came out. "That is so silly, who would actually need one of those, you might as well buy a Laptop..."
Well, it's amazing how you will change your mind. I must say I am guilty of changing my mind. I have purchased an iPad2, and I am loving it.
It's amazing how you have to eat your words sometimes...
Technology grows on ya...
Well, it's amazing how you will change your mind. I must say I am guilty of changing my mind. I have purchased an iPad2, and I am loving it.
It's amazing how you have to eat your words sometimes...
Technology grows on ya...
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Dream Team Meeting: Courageous Leadership
Last night we had a great Dream Team meeting and I thought I would share the Leadership Challenge on the blog, so here it is...
Leadership Challenge: Courageous Leadership
Courageous leaders are those who would rather challenge what needs to change and pay the price than remain silent and slowly die inside.
5 Expressions of Courage That Often Elude Young Leaders:
01> The courage to challenge the status quo.
> Simply recognizing the need for change doesn’t define leadership. Leaders are the ones who have the courage to act on what they see.
> A leader says publicly what everyone else is whispering privately. It is not his or her insight that sets the leader apart form the crowd. It is their courage to act on what they see.
> Beyond the need to spotlight what needs to be changed, leaders must take people to places they have never been before.
02> The courage to embrace your fears.
> Leaders are not always the first to see opportunities, they are simply the first to seize opportunities.
> Unbridled fear results in missed opportunities.
> Courage is not an absence of fear. Courage assumes fear. Leaders who refuse to move until their fear is gone will never move. What could be and should be will not be, at least not under their watch.
> Failure is a part of success. Veteran leaders view failure as simply a
necessary chapter in their stories.
> Leaders know that the best way to ensure success is to take chances. While the average man or woman fears stepping out into a new opportunity, the leader fears missing out on a new opportunity.
> You can’t lead without taking risks, you won’t take risks without courage.
03> The courage to prioritize.
> The ability to identify and focus on the things that matter most to God and sometimes say no to the things that matter to us is a hallmark of Great
Leadership.
> Don’t allow the many good opportunities to divert your attention from the one opportunity that has the most potential.
> Choose your opportunities carefully, many opportunities are worth missing. Plan your life around things that have eternal significance.
04> The courage to face current reality.
> When someone refuses to face reality, we call it denial.
> The tendency is to put a positive spin on everything and ignore evidence to the contrary.
> Leaders who are worth following are willing to face current reality, no matter how discouraging or embarrassing it might be.
> We must live by the 7 Commandments of Current Reality:
1.) Thou shalt not pretend.
2.) Thou shalt not turn a blind eye.
3.) Thou shalt not exaggerate.
4.) Thou shalt not shoot the bearer of bad news.
5.) Thou shalt not hide behind the numbers.
6.) Thou shalt not ignore constructive criticism.
7.) Thou shalt not isolate thyself.
05> The courage to Dream.
> Every great accomplishment begins as a dream.
“All things were created twice. There’s a mental or first creation and a physical or second creation to all things.” - Stephen Covey
> Dreaming requires courage, for on the heels of every dream is the demon of doubt.
“Dream no small dream for they stir not the hearts of men.” - Unknown
> Dream BIG - Dream OFTEN
APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1.) Am I willing to challenge the status quo? and How?
2.) Do I have the courage to embrace my fears? Which ones do I need to embrace currently?
3.) Am I willing to say not to some things that I want to say yes to so that I can say yes to the things that god wants em to say yes to?
4.) Do I have the courage to face and embrace current reality? What is it?
5.) Am I willing to allow my mind to wander outside the boundaries of what is and begin to create a mental picture of what could be... TO DREAM?
TAKING NEW GROUND AT OASIS:
Breaking through the next barrier of Growth will require a strong focus on Teams & Community.
It’s Like Sports...
0-100 = TRACK: Centered around the talent of one person...
- Responsibility rest on one key person...
100-500 = BASKETBALL: Centered around Team & Community
- Responsibility is spread around...
500+ = FOOTBALL: It’s very specialized...
- Each person is placed where they are gifted and they rarely see each other, The QB’s don’t practice with DB’s. They aren’t even in the same meetings.
If Oasis is going to take new ground there has to be a strong focus on TEAMS & COMMUNITY.
What’s That Going To Take?
01> Spiritual vitality begins with authenticity.
> The genuinely spiritual leader leaves others encouraged, refreshed and hopeful. Their authenticity allows them to bless others, which reflects the heart of God to those under their leadership.
02> Community-Building rests on the foundation of authenticity.
> Genuine community cannot thrive without authenticity, but dysfunctional community can. Non-community can. Programs can. Clubs & Cliques can. But communities of faith require covenant and accountability and a priority on relationships.
03> Team-Based leadership requires authenticity.
> Teams use trust as currency. When it is in short supply, the level of teamwork is poor. If trust abounds the team has large lines of credit between members.
04> Pre-Christians search for authenticity.
> Pre-Christians aren’t interested or impressed with the size of church buildings or membership rolls. They are not looking for religious activity. They are looking for spiritual authenticity.
05> The demand of Authenticity.
> Practicing authentic leadership will require 2 things from you...
a.) It will require a choice.
b.) It will require courage.
** On the off chance someone actually reads this I Want to make sure I give credit... Some of this talk came from an article written by Andy Stanley in one of the Catalyst Groupzines...
Thanks for reading...
Leadership Challenge: Courageous Leadership
Courageous leaders are those who would rather challenge what needs to change and pay the price than remain silent and slowly die inside.
5 Expressions of Courage That Often Elude Young Leaders:
01> The courage to challenge the status quo.
> Simply recognizing the need for change doesn’t define leadership. Leaders are the ones who have the courage to act on what they see.
> A leader says publicly what everyone else is whispering privately. It is not his or her insight that sets the leader apart form the crowd. It is their courage to act on what they see.
> Beyond the need to spotlight what needs to be changed, leaders must take people to places they have never been before.
02> The courage to embrace your fears.
> Leaders are not always the first to see opportunities, they are simply the first to seize opportunities.
> Unbridled fear results in missed opportunities.
> Courage is not an absence of fear. Courage assumes fear. Leaders who refuse to move until their fear is gone will never move. What could be and should be will not be, at least not under their watch.
> Failure is a part of success. Veteran leaders view failure as simply a
necessary chapter in their stories.
> Leaders know that the best way to ensure success is to take chances. While the average man or woman fears stepping out into a new opportunity, the leader fears missing out on a new opportunity.
> You can’t lead without taking risks, you won’t take risks without courage.
03> The courage to prioritize.
> The ability to identify and focus on the things that matter most to God and sometimes say no to the things that matter to us is a hallmark of Great
Leadership.
> Don’t allow the many good opportunities to divert your attention from the one opportunity that has the most potential.
> Choose your opportunities carefully, many opportunities are worth missing. Plan your life around things that have eternal significance.
04> The courage to face current reality.
> When someone refuses to face reality, we call it denial.
> The tendency is to put a positive spin on everything and ignore evidence to the contrary.
> Leaders who are worth following are willing to face current reality, no matter how discouraging or embarrassing it might be.
> We must live by the 7 Commandments of Current Reality:
1.) Thou shalt not pretend.
2.) Thou shalt not turn a blind eye.
3.) Thou shalt not exaggerate.
4.) Thou shalt not shoot the bearer of bad news.
5.) Thou shalt not hide behind the numbers.
6.) Thou shalt not ignore constructive criticism.
7.) Thou shalt not isolate thyself.
05> The courage to Dream.
> Every great accomplishment begins as a dream.
“All things were created twice. There’s a mental or first creation and a physical or second creation to all things.” - Stephen Covey
> Dreaming requires courage, for on the heels of every dream is the demon of doubt.
“Dream no small dream for they stir not the hearts of men.” - Unknown
> Dream BIG - Dream OFTEN
APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1.) Am I willing to challenge the status quo? and How?
2.) Do I have the courage to embrace my fears? Which ones do I need to embrace currently?
3.) Am I willing to say not to some things that I want to say yes to so that I can say yes to the things that god wants em to say yes to?
4.) Do I have the courage to face and embrace current reality? What is it?
5.) Am I willing to allow my mind to wander outside the boundaries of what is and begin to create a mental picture of what could be... TO DREAM?
TAKING NEW GROUND AT OASIS:
Breaking through the next barrier of Growth will require a strong focus on Teams & Community.
It’s Like Sports...
0-100 = TRACK: Centered around the talent of one person...
- Responsibility rest on one key person...
100-500 = BASKETBALL: Centered around Team & Community
- Responsibility is spread around...
500+ = FOOTBALL: It’s very specialized...
- Each person is placed where they are gifted and they rarely see each other, The QB’s don’t practice with DB’s. They aren’t even in the same meetings.
If Oasis is going to take new ground there has to be a strong focus on TEAMS & COMMUNITY.
What’s That Going To Take?
01> Spiritual vitality begins with authenticity.
> The genuinely spiritual leader leaves others encouraged, refreshed and hopeful. Their authenticity allows them to bless others, which reflects the heart of God to those under their leadership.
02> Community-Building rests on the foundation of authenticity.
> Genuine community cannot thrive without authenticity, but dysfunctional community can. Non-community can. Programs can. Clubs & Cliques can. But communities of faith require covenant and accountability and a priority on relationships.
03> Team-Based leadership requires authenticity.
> Teams use trust as currency. When it is in short supply, the level of teamwork is poor. If trust abounds the team has large lines of credit between members.
04> Pre-Christians search for authenticity.
> Pre-Christians aren’t interested or impressed with the size of church buildings or membership rolls. They are not looking for religious activity. They are looking for spiritual authenticity.
05> The demand of Authenticity.
> Practicing authentic leadership will require 2 things from you...
a.) It will require a choice.
b.) It will require courage.
** On the off chance someone actually reads this I Want to make sure I give credit... Some of this talk came from an article written by Andy Stanley in one of the Catalyst Groupzines...
Thanks for reading...
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