.Real.Greg.Lee.

We were in our all staff meeting today and it hit me once again why I love this staff.  In a time some would say is ripe for discouragement (no Christmas bonuses, essentially no pay raises, more work, no immediate chance of hiring more staff), we have people still going the extra mile. 

We have more than one person who voluntarily took reduced salaries for 2010.  We have others doing jobs that would easily justify 2+ staff positions.  Then today I was reminded of this…

Laurie Olson (one of our office support staff) needs to have hip replacement surgery.  She’s been fighting through it for while and I just learned that instead of just going in to have the surgery ASAP, she is trying to schedule it at a time it will least affect our rhythms.  Looks like she will get us through January and then have the surgery soon enough that she’ll be back for Easter season.  I love her spirit.

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I just linked up with a few friends today who are doing our own personal version of “The Biggest Loser”.  I’m almost giddy about it because:

1.  I weigh more today than I have at any other time in my life – 206 pounds.

2.  The dynamics of such a process are absolutely fascinating to me…the competition, the discipline, the motivation, the willingness to reveal something personal (and possibly humiliating).

Looks like competition ends on April 1.

My mom asked me this morning how much I thought I should lose.  How about getting back to my college basketball playing weight of about 185.  I’d be pleased with that…whether I win the competition or not.

I’m not in charge of the competition, so I don’t think I can invite blog readers to join.  But…if you want to track with me, just post your name, current weight, and weight goal for April 1 below in the comments.  I’m sure I’ll post on the progress form time to time so you can update yours then also!

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I think the best part of my job is that I get to see lives changed.   If there is anything better, it is seeing people responding to teaching or leadership in such a way where God is using them to change lives.

After I taught on finding financial margin today (and sharing an example about our upcoming trip to Africa) talked to three people back to back to back right after the 3rd service. 

First was a guy in the audience who happens to know the missionaries we are visiting in Africa and he was so pumped that we someone was going to visit and encourage them.  He made a very, very generous financial pledge to make our trip possible.

Second, I spoke with a lady.  I don’t know her personally, but I see her quite often and know she is faithfult o our church.  I had just encouraged people who were struggling financially to connect with the program we offer called Financial Peace University. It costs $100 to go through.  She asked if she could write a check for $100 to pay for someone who absolutely could not afford to go through it, and she talked about how she had once been in a similarly tough spot and wanted people to find the same freedom she had through God’s principles about money.

Third, I stopped and prayed with a couple who are both out of work and looking for employment.  The said they really also knew they needed to do Financial Peace University, but had absolutely zero money for it.  (Coincidence?  I think not.)  The previous lady had written out a check on the spot and I could guarantee this couple a spot at FPU.

I always smile when I see God work so obviously.

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Jenny and I have been without our kids since we came back to town form Christmas on Tuesday.  They stayed at Grandma and Grandpa’s house.

They come back this afternoon.  I know they had a great time with grandparents and we got a good amount done, but I’m dying for them to be back today.  Finishing sermon now, so I don’t have to miss a minute with them later.

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One of the most postive surprises people have at Suncrest is how open we are to people’s feedback.  We are ALWAYS evaluating and trying to make things better and I know for me as a leader and for us as a staff and elders, we need to have an ear to the ground and an open mind.  We solicit a lot of it and are also shaped by unsolicited feedback.

I know if anyone makes a comment (positive or negative) about something to do with our worship, Bobby Jackson personally contacts each one to let them know we are listening.  He probably has the most challenging position of all on this since there are so many personal preferences about music.  It’s been known to happen that all in the SAME week, we’ll get ALL of these comments:

-the music was too loud/we needed more volume from the music.

-the lead vocalist needed to stand out more so I can follow/I could only hear the lead vocalist and not a nice blend of the singers.

-the instruments overpowered the vocalists/Need to hear more of the band.

I’m glad for the feedback even when some of it (especially music!) comes from personal preferences.

There is one exception to this:  we don’t listen to anyone’s anonymous feedback.  It hits me right now I guess because one slipped through to me the other day.  Our system actually calls for them to be thrown away immediately by the support staff and never passed on to leadership…whether it is a note sent in or a comment on our connection cards. 

Willing to put you name on it? We listen.  Hide behind anonymity?  We don’t.  In fact, when the one slipped through yesterday, I actually felt something in me feeling animosity toward the feedback.  I hate that feeling, but it was real.  Even if there was something worthwhile in it, it never made it to my head or my heart.

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Blogging regularly was one of my resolutions for 2008.  It might be the only one I kept, but I’m really glad I did.  Below I’m going to link some of the blog posts of others that I’ve thought were great recently, but I just want to encourage anyone reading this to dive a little deeper into the blog world — as a writer and as a reader.  Here’s my quick thoughts:

As a reader…the one requirement to being a good blog reader is to be an effective SKIMMER.  There is too much out there to process everything, but if you skim efficiently, you’ll get shaped in powerful ways.  I read about 10 blogs regulary…it takes no more than 10 minutes/day and at least once a week there is something that is incredibly beneficial.

As a writer…think about the number of touches you might have through blogging.  I try to post about a variety of things…ways God is working in Suncrest, personal stuff about my family and life, travels or unique opportunities God is given me, what I’m learning about God and ministry and life.  I think a little variety is key to effective blogging. Between subscribers and traffic, I’ll have well over 50,000 hits or touches with people next year.  Pretty incredible way to get connected/stay connected.

Any way, click on these great links from other blogs I read (first two are related to New Year’s):

Dave Ferguson on Six Questions for Your New Future

Mark Batterson on New Year’s Resolutions

Seth Godin on “The High Cost of Now”– Seth’s blog is my new favorite  Always thought-provoking content!

Tony Morgan on 10 Reasons You will likely Fail

Craig Groeschel on Healthy Dynamics of a Team (Staff, elders, business team, etc) – Craig always has great, concise content

NewThing Network on What every Follower wants in a  Leader – this written by Brian Zehr.

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Had a great night at our house with some friends from our community group and then great friends Gordon and Cindy Barker.  What better way to ring in the new year than with a dozen or so people laughing together all night? 

I’m thankful that each of them have come into my life…and that they let me win in Scattegories.

Happy 2009!

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…But I’ve taken some steps to seriously explore running in the Chicago Marathon this year. 

My Philosophy…Think Big.  Start Small. 

The regimen I’d need to embrace starts with 3 mile runs in February which means I need to do a little work before that!  Had some conversations today about importance of good running shoes, a couple spring races (5K in April, half-marathon in May), etc.

One of three things would stand in my way:

-Bum knee…been having trouble with one since summer softball

-Lack of discipline.  Jenny told me today she felt like it is hard to be disciplined in multiple areas at once and I think she is right.  I’ve become very disciplined with work and family stuff…not sure if I’ll sustain a 3rd major area

-Seeing no benefit.  I’m not one to do things I hate repreatedly, but people keep telling me this running is actually a good experience.  If it clears my mind, gives me time to think, helps me feel healthier/more energetic, I’m in.  If it’s just a painful experience, I’m out.

That positive experience might be the chance to do this with friends…a few of us from our community group are looking at doing this together!  Jeff Sanford even threw down a little challenge about this commenting on my last blog post about “Shocking the System”.

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One of the things I counsel people about when it comes to trying to bring about change in anything (business, relationships, personal habits) is that you have the best chance of succeeding if you can SHOCK the system.  Essentially, the theory is that small incremental changes don’t produce enough “payback” to keep you motivated. 

What we need is a first large/drastic step to capture enough attention/stir the pot/produce a significantly different feeling so as to move forward with change. (Concept not original with me, but has it’s roots in the best article on change I have ever read (Click here for “Change or Die” from Fast Company Magazine).

As I’m reflecting on the last month and looking ahead to the new year, this is what is front and center for me.  I rolled into my in-laws house right at 2:00am Christmas morning.  I had just completed one of the most intense 30 day runs I have ever had in terms of the amount of things that had to get done, the make/break nature of some of those things, the excellence level and leadership that was demanded, etc.  It was largely work-related, but not exclusively.

There is a lot to reflect on about that in and of itself, but here is what hits me here on the night of the 29th.  I’ve thought about ministry stuff precious-little over the last 4 days.  Except for a health emergency hitting a staff member’s family and staying in touch by text message, I’ve spent most every waking moment intentionally NOT doing anything I did for that previous 30 days.  Not sure I can say it felt “great”; (that seems to insinuate the ministry run didn’t feel great, which it definitely did at times).  But it did feel markedly different.  And that is what I needed.

I’m feeling the tug back now.  Just went through all my email and will drive back to Indiana by the time most of you read this.

If you are considering change this year…can I encourage you to start with something that is drastically different from what you are doing now?  Such drastic chance may not be sustainable, but it does have the power to RESET something in you to build from.

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The game is about to start, so this is short.  I was off today and actually will be in front of the TV at noon (2 minutes) to watch the game.

The Bears got lucky last week.  This week, the improving Texans won’t let it slip away like the pathetic packers did.

Texans 31  Bears 20

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