.Real.Greg.Lee.

Saturday was incredible.  We had a 3 vehicle caravan full of Suncrest folks who are going to Liberia (Africa) next month.  I’m not going on the trip this year, but it was a riot just to hang out with them and feel the BUZZ.  It looks like there will 15 from Suncrest go along with 3 others from partner churches to make the trip this year. 

In Muncie, we got to interact with the incredible people from Harvest Christian Fellowship who made our initial trip possible last year.  We saw a video from our Liberian partners (The Buegar family pictured) and talked about the vision for serving this country.  In addition to sending this team, we (Suncrest) are figuring out how to be part of the long-term solutions for this small country.  And we believe that collaborating with other churches is key to that.  In fact…we’ll be working right alongside an initiative this Muncie church has begun called Hope 2 Liberia.  You should check out their website!

My highlights…

-The van ride there — the topic in my van was all about how to have challenging spiritual conversations with people don’t embrace or struggle with faith.  I was so impressed with the way each person cares deeply for someone far from God.

-Seeing Jenny prepare to go on this year’s trip.  I’ll go again sometime, but it’s definitely the best thing for HER to go back this year.

-The personal reconnect with the Muncie team.  We spent two weeks together traveling the world and now have friends that will last beyond this world.  Love those guys and gals! 

-A strategy session with David Vineyard on the way home about how to build and feed a leadership pipeline in Liberia.  We have a plan!

-Laughter.  Laughter.  More Laughter.

-Thinking about how Denise Tribble has been making this trip a reality for the last 11 months.  It’s impossible to describe the scope of this and she has been running point the whole way!

Posted in Suncrest

Our leaders have been praying and talking about our next steps with campus launches.  God has certainly used this multi-site strategy to accelerate the number of people connecting with Christ.  Suncrest has grown by more people since launching our “east” campus than any other time in our history.

In one of the glaring weaknesses of our strategy, we decided to make life miserable for anyone who is directionally challenged.  🙂  We named the new campus “east” and called the original one “west”.  It didn’t seem like it would be that hard…you had a 50/50 chance of getting it right by just guessing!  So in advance of future launches, it feels like this was the right time to shift our terminology – especially before we start one somewhere beyond Hobart and have to call it the “far east campus”.

So, from now on…We have the “Hobart Campus” and the “St. John Campus.”  It will take a while to transition the language everywhere, but if you hear one of our staff still use the “east” or “west” terminology, feel free to scold us!

Posted in Suncrest

I got a new Bible.  Hope it serves me as well as this one has for the last 13 years. 

I’ll always keep this one…Jenny gave it to me as a gift when I was ordained into ministry. (She also gave me my new one for Christmas.)

Lots of passages are scratched up with hand-written reflections or teaching notes.  The pages have been falling out for a long time and a few months ago I finally lost the first 7 chapters of Genesis!  I’ve used this Bible to teach in Liberia, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, Mexico, Canada.  It’s been my companion at dozens of funerals, 100+ weddings, 1000+ sermons, and plenty of conversations across the table from someone who literally needed a Word from God.

But I’m looking forward to the next one.  I wrote some notes in it during Beka’s teaching on Sunday and some more before I spoke to our whole staff this morning.  Off to a good start…

Posted in Suncrest

Welcome to the new design layout of “Unique Chairs”.  (If you are reading this by email or RSS, you’ll obviously have to click to the site (now with an easier to remember address: www.gregleeonline.com)

I had never changed the layout and thought it was about time.  I’ve added a few things with the new look like a place to click to get the RSS feed of my blog (see previous post), and a better format for my twitter feed.  I have lost the side links to my favorite blogs and am still working out the kinks on that one.

Since I’m a fan of blogs, I tend to think everyone should consider writing one (including you!)  There are a lot of reasons, but as I look back on 2009 I think my favorite part of this blog is that it will serve as a memory maker some day.  I can read back through the past few year’s posts and it reminds of things I did with the kids, high points for the church, and some things “that seemed important at the time.” 

Writing this blog has been (and probably will continue to be) a cyclical  experience for me.  I’ll just reflect on a few here.

For the first year…I posted rarely. 

For the next year…I decided to post 6 days a week. 

Now…I’ve settled into a rhythm of essentially posting when I want to.  It’s usually about 3 times/week, but some weeks it’s more and occasionally it’s ZERO.  (The best part is now it’s up to ME, not some arbitrary goal.)

For the first year…my goal was to write something powerful every time (might correlate with why I posted rarely!)

For the next year…my goal was to communicate ‘church stuff’ — help Suncrest stay informed about important events, our church plants, cool staff things, and more.  It was all the stuff we never have time to announce anywhere else…and I was careful about not putting too much personal/family stuff up

Now…my goal is to get back to the original idea of the blog — to write about how I see the world from my “unique chairs”.  Might be about family, might be a life lesson or a leadership lesson.  Might be something God is doing in my heart or teaching me. 

For the first year…I posted with no expectation of interaction in the comments.

For the next year…people started commenting (there are more comments than posts now), but I never really interacted with them.

Now…I’m excited about how the blog might be a two-way communication tool.  Still figuring all that out.

For the first year…it was about stats.  I wanted lots of readers (I didn’t care who they were or why they might read).

For the next year…it was about staying in touch with people regularly.  My simple mind figured since the church is big and I never get to talk to everyone, this would be a great way to help people know me and my thinking a bit more personally.

Now…I’ve decided that it is worth writing even if no one else reads it.  It’s simply a regular expression of what is important to me and give me a “diary” at the end of each year to see what God is doing in me and around me.  (And ironically, an approach that has generated a lot more readers!)

Posted in Suncrest

I’m a huge fan of blogs.  Those on the leading edge of media are already moving beyond them and I’m curious to see the next stream of communication, but I think as the leading edge moves to the next thing, most of the world is just now experiencing the benefits of “the blog-o-sphere”.

Here are my typical conversations about my blog and other blogs:

1.  How I read so many:  I subscribe to about 50 blogs.  Of course some have content daily or more often.  Some are much less frequent.  With so many blogs, I definitely want to do 2 things: 

• I want to skim for the best content.  I almost never read long blogs and usually decide in the first few sentences whether I want to read the rest of anything. 

• I want them to come to an organized place where I can read them in my downtime.  They may stack up for days at a time or I might have multiple times in a day where 5 minutes can let me scan a pile of them.  I tend to read them while I’m waiting things — the oil changed in my car, someone to show up for a lunch appointment, etc.  Of course having them on your laptop or your phone (or at least a laptop) is a huge plus for this.

2.  How I subscribe:  I subscribe to all by their RSS feed.  RSS is short or “really simple syndication” and different platforms use it to put all the blogs you read in one place.  Most blogs have place you can click to subscribe by RSS and even if they don’t your internet browser probably has a symbol (the image above) you can click on to subscribe to a page.  I have my RSS feeds drop in to my Outlook program, but there are a lot of options.  I used to subscribe by email to blogs, but RSS brings them within minutes of being posted rather than a once-a day update.  If you want to read more than a few blogs, you should TOTALLY use a Feed Reader instead of email subscription.

3.  The blogs I read:  These fit in categories for me. Here are the primary ones:

• Suncrest Blogs:  Whether it is our Prayer Blog or our Cultivate Blog or Student Life Ministry Blog or East Campus stuff from Doug or Andy Kaser’s Blog, it’s great to stay in the loop on stuff around here.

• Other Blogs by Church Leaders:  Some are friends so I love to hear their personal stuff.  Others are kind of “long distance mentors” because they use their blogs to share leading ideas/best practices/struggles/etc.  Very helpful!

• Suncrest People with Blogs:  I subscribe to any personal blog I know of that a suncrest person does.  It may sound bad, but it is a very efficient way of keeping up with people and I think it often gives me a window into how real life is treating people.  That’s a huge help as a teacher. (If you have one…send me yours!)

• Blogs with Exceptional Leadership Content:  I’m a leadership junkie and there are a few blogs I read where I’m am constantly blown away by the consistently rich content when it comes to capturing how leadership works and how the world works in response to good (or bad!) leadership.  The two best in my opinion are Seth Godin and Mac Lake.  Seth’s is consistently insightful and Mac’s is utterly practical.

4.  Why I read so many:  You can be a reader and not be a leader, but you can’t be a leader and not be a reader.  It’s one of only a few ways you will grow in the next year.  I still read books, but blog reading has replaced (and guided) a good chunk of that for me.  I’m reading to grow and connect now every day – rather than waiting for the elusive time I think I’ll find a block to sit down to read hundreds of pages.

That’s it for Reading Blogs.  Tomorrow I’ll talk about writing them (and unveil the new design for my blog I’ve been working on.)

Posted in Suncrest

Our Family had an incredible 4 full days of Christmas:

The 24th:  We go to church on the 23rd and then have our Christmas at home on the morning of the 24th.  We enjoy it until lunch when I head back to the church for 3 more services.  After that, we made the long drive to grandma’s house — got in a little before 2:00am this year.

The 25th:  The kids rolled us out of bed about 8:00am to start opening presents with Grandma/Grandpa Royalty, along with aunt Bethie and uncle Andy.  That lasts as long as it can before we hit the showers and get ready for the extended Royalty family coming at noon.  This year there was only about 28 of them — small compared to the normal 45 or so. 

The 26th:  It seems like a tradition is starting with my family to get together on the 26th.  It’s a day we can all be together all day – and my mom loves that!  (So do we.)  My two brothers, their wives, and their 5 kids join the 4 of us at Grandma/Grandpa Lee’s house.  This year I got to go pick up my grandma from the nursing home and bring her over for the noon meal too.   The Texas Hold Em game was still going when I got knocked out about 1:00am and went to bed.

The 27th: With the weekend coming right after Christmas this year, there was room for one more full day…and we filled it.  Church got snowed out so we missed that, but all the March family (Jenny’s mom’s side) came for the day — another couple dozen people for a day of gifts, food, and games.  It was our 4th day of Christmas, but it was as good as the first. 

I tried to add it all up and I think we got to see some 60+ people from our families and none of it really had to be a rush.  If you know us, you know our family is a HUGE blessing in our lives and we cherish the time with all of them.

By the time you read this, we will be back home and preparing to have our community group over to ring in the new year.

Posted in Suncrest

Despite some rough weather, our Christmas Eve Services had almost 1400 people at them and I think our creative teams did the best job they ever have putting a service together.  Doug and Wes did a great gig with the kids and told the Christmas story at the same time.  We got to focus in on what it meant for Christ to Release his right to heaven and come to earth.  The Candlelight with “Silent Night” and ending with “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” left our focus in the perfect place.  On top of that, our Christmas offering to help people in need in our area topped $40,000 this year.

And that is all without mentioning a powerful rendition of “Little Drummer Boy” to start the service.  I just got my hands on the video so I’ve inserted it here so you can either re-live it or see what the buzz was about:

Posted in Suncrest

I have a great friend at the church who writes a weekly article for a local paper.  She sends me her article every week and I’m totally impressed with her as a writer.  Her story of faith is incredible.  Short version:  God used Suncrest to change her life and now He’s using her to change other lives.

So she took a bit of a risk with her article this week to tell the story of Christmas…and the paper apparently decided it was just too much.  I told her I would be THRILLED to print it…so here it is.  Enjoy!

A Christmas Message

By Amanda Huber

In attempting to write a Christmas message, I was filled with fear. Fear that my words would by too joyful for these economic times because God has truly and consistently blessed me and my family as well as fear of expressing the basis of my faith and how it would be received. One reason I am proud to write for the Pilcher family is because they have never censored my testimony of faith and I thought now, in these economic times, nothing would be more comforting than the following regardless (or rather because) of your background, current situation, and struggles. I pray that this message reaches you and that you in turn reach out to Him…

Fear has a way of tying knots in our stomachs, creating panic, as well as paralyzing our thinking. Fear can capture our hearts when we are in situations we feel are out of our control. During this Christmas, we are all in one way or another caught in the grip of an economic down-spiral. As we are all too aware of, houses are being foreclosed on, people are losing jobs, and families are going hungry. More and more of us have fear in our eyes. FDR reminded a nation that fear itself constitutes a large part of the problems we face. It was as true in 1933 as it was on the first Christmas.

For on that first Christmas, the world was in desperate times, too. A census was being conducted in order to raise already high taxes. A murderous and paranoid Herod the Great was king of the Jews and it was winter and cold on Bethlehem’s hillsides. Inside a stable sat a poverty-stricken carpenter and his young wife – far from home and cold. Mary was about to give birth to her son in a stable and I imagine she felt fear as well.

Outside of town, shepherds are trying to stay warm when all of a sudden, the sky lights up and an angel proclaims: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10, 11).

A Savior, by definition, comes to rescue people in danger, preserve those who are threatened by harm, and protect his people from the troubles that surround them. That’s what saviors do and that is what Jesus came to do for us.

Do not be afraid because God has sent a Savior to us – Jesus Christ the Lord. He will never leave us or forsake us, He will supply all our needs according to his riches in glory, as well as add to us all the things we need as we seek him and his Kingdom.

Our world thinks that Christmas is about gifts under a tree and a spirit of good cheer, with Christmas dinner and family around the table – which is all wonderful; however, it isn’t nearly as wonderful as the real Christmas. The real Christmas message is this: God has sent a Savior for you. He was sent to save you from your sins and to help you in this life – to lift your burden and ease your fears.

The world is gripped by fear. But fear’s hold has been broken in those of us who believe the angel’s words: “Fear not … for a Savior is born to you — Christ the Lord!”

Posted in Suncrest

We can’t send personal Christmas cards to everyone, but we wish we could.  Here is our Christmas letter from this year…the only part you are missing is Jack’s personal artwork at the top of the page and the kids personal signatures at the bottom!

——————————————-

Dear Family and Friends,

I (Greg) took Jack out for dinner the other night and our conversation turned to how fortunate we are.  It became kind of a game to name everything we are blessed with, both tangible and intangible.  Jack finally just said (loud enough for everyone to hear), “God has given us a ton of stuff!” 

Yes…He has.  And it hit us that the only way to write this letter each year is with gratitude.  Like most families, we do have our struggles.  Still, we can genuinely say life is good because of the people and experiences we have encountered this year.  Here is what we are thanking God for at the end of 2009…

We are grateful for YOU.    We think of you like family.  Maybe you are better neighbors than we ever could ask for.  Maybe you are part of Suncrest – and we are growing together in ways unimagined.  Maybe you are old friends and we wish we saw you more (but have enjoyed reconnecting on facebook!).  Maybe you are family – which would make you the greatest blessing God has given us.

We are grateful for our KIDS.  Jack and Abby, who are now 6 and 3, keep us on our toes and provide a lot of laughter around the house.  Jackson loves going to kindergarten with his friends from the neighborhood, and hanging out with them after school (usually “crafting”).  He played soccer again – scoring 4 goals on the day Grandpa Larry offered him $5/goal! He’s been taking piano lessons, and will joyfully play you a song, whether you ask or not.  But Jack’s biggest accomplishment may have been raising over $700 for clean water in Africa by selling the seeds from the Giant pumpkins “he” grew at Grandpa Larry’s house.

Abby has a big personality when she’s at home, but still acts shy around people she doesn’t know very well. She really enjoyed going to Kindermusik in the spring, and has been doing “tricks” for us that she learned in her gymnastics class this fall. She still loves taking care of babies (real or not) and dressing up (usually like Cinderella).  Abby likes leading our prayer at mealtime, but at bedtime she wants to pray “to herself”. (We always wonder what she is saying.) 

We are grateful for OPPORTUNITIES.  Jenny and I went to visit Suncrest missionaries in Liberia, Africa and it affected us more than anything in 13 years of marriage and ministry.  It is impossible to describe the need, but we (personally and as a church) are committed to being part of the solution.  Jenny will return for a 2^nd trip in February with a 15-person team from Suncrest.  It will take a long time to make a lasting impact there, but these words of scripture have been a difference-maker for me since I read them, “and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday” (Isaiah 58:10).

Thank you for being part of our lives.   We know in this crazy world that true joy and peace can be elusive, so this scripture from Romans is our prayer for each of you, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.”

Merry Christmas!

Greg, Jenny, Jackson, & Abby

Posted in Suncrest

It’s probably one of the effects of this line of work.  We walk through some difficult places with people and I’m always trying to learn better how to REALLY help people through tough times I may not have walked through myself.

One of those tough times is losing loved ones close to you.  We’ve tried to drive at this in our teaching lately knowing that this season of year can be especially hard.  I’ve made a point to talk to — and listen to — some in our church who lost loved ones this past year.  For others, the loss is further in the past, but still close to the surface.

This week I’ve noticed I’ve been getting lots of expressions from these folks about their thankfulness for a church like suncrest.  You may not know it suncrest, but your simple interactions and help during these holidays means the world to them.  Here’s a sampling of what I’ve heard:

-I received this email from a dear lady who lost her husband…and some sense of her role in this world after caring for him so intensely:  ...I appreciate your asking me how I was feeling about the holidays.  As I told you this one is easier…What I didn’t tell you is how much volunteering at the church on Wednesday  and Friday mornings has helped me to adjust.    Just wanted you to know that my volunteering has helped me as much, if not more, than I’ve helped Suncrest.

-I received this email from a staff member yesterday:  I was speaking with (name withheld) this morning at church, and she tearfully expressed to me that she has tried several times to write down how thankful and appreciative she is of the Suncrest staff.  Since she has had trouble getting her heartfelt words to paper, she asked if I would be sure to let everyone know that, especially at this time, she feels very loved by us and does not know what she would do without all of our love and support.

-I sat down last week with a woman recently widowed.  Among other things, our Benevolence Fund was able to financially help their family at a time of need.  We wept together and prayed together.  It will be a challenging Christmas week for her family, but she is navigating it with faith, family, and a church family that she knows loves her.

In addition to “The Waiting Room” and some encouragement about how to look at our “yesterdays”, I thought this weekend’s messages about “loneliness” by Bobby (St. John Campus) and Doug (Hobart Campus)were right on.  Why not listen…or pass them on to someone who could use them?  Click here for a link to our messages online.

Posted in Suncrest