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Sunday Night Thoughts...

- Talked on the Rich Young Ruler this morning. I really feel like God gave me something about this story.
- I feel like for the first time in 7 years, we're really getting it together. Our staff is totally unified and we're seeing what we need to do to get to the next level.
- I'm learning more right now than ever!
- My Small Group is going awesome! 20 college students. I'm the oldest guy by 8-14 years! I feel old every Tuesday night!
- Mia turned 8 months old today! I love being a dad!
- Mia has 2 teeth coming in. But she's still her fun, cute self!
- I decided to rip out the door in our bathroom and put in a pocket door. It's not done, but Carey sees the vision. It's going to be good!
- I got the most ridiculous email this week. I would have gotten mad if it didn't make me laugh so hard :)
- I have found a great vein of good books. I'm very excited about what I've been reading.
- Over 30 people signed up for our baptism! I can't wait!
- Over 200 people have prayed to receive Christ at CF this year! I'm amazed and humbled.
- Nothing gets me more excited than seeing people take next steps in their relationship with God!

We're gonna Party like it's 1995!

That's what I'm talking about! The last time we won the AL East Division title was 1995! It feels nice.

There's no stopping this team! We're facing the Angels in the ALDS (reminds me of 2004 - can you say "sweep"?). In the immortal words of Clubber Lang, "I pity the fool!"

Book Review: Death by Meeting

I didn't think that a 260 page book about why meetings are boring would be interesting, but I thought Death by Meeting by Patrick Lencioni was really good. I don't know about you, but my life is full of meetings, some of them productive, others not so much.

If you've never read a book by Patrick Lencioni, I highly recommend it. The fable he writes gives us a picture of the principles he is writing about. This book deals with the main problems in meetings and gives us 4 types of meetings that should be happening in an organization.

Very interesting stuff. It was a good read. As usually with Lencioni's books, they are fun stories that illustrate the point.

Bono on Worship

“All music is worship. It could be worship of self, of women, of God, but it’s all worship."

Book Review: The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership

It took me a little while to find the writer's rhythm, but once I found it I really enjoyed The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership by Steven Sample. As the title suggests, he gives several leadership insights that are quite contrarian to what is considered the prevailing wisdom of today.

Some of my favorites:

- You are what you read
- Thinking gray, rather than black and white
- A leader should never make a decision that one of his lieutenants could make
- It's healthy for a leader to be manipulated to some degree by his lieutenants
- Never make a decision that could be put off until tomorrow

There are many others, but these were thought provoking to say the least. I highly recommend the book to anyone who is leading an organization and wants to lead well.

Sunday Night Thoughts...

- Today was crazy at the theatre! The concession stand got torn out & they decided to retile the lobby...on Sunday morning! In the words of Animal House, "Thank you sir, may I have another?"
- I taught on marriage today. Got a lot of good feedback. Then again, no one ever walks up and says, 'Hey, I really hated everything you said!"
- Lots of first time guests today! It's exciting to talk to unchurched people who are interested in connecting with God.
- If you haven't seen what we've done to our children's classes, you have to check it out whether you have kids or not! I was blown away by what I saw. Cookie and her team are amazing!
- Over 85% of our church signed up for a Small Group (final numbers coming in this week) John knocked it out of the park this time!
- My friend Nelson hung out with us at church today. Whenever someone visits, I get self-conscious. But he gave me great feedback and a lot to think about!
- I feel like CF is starting to hit on all 8-cylinders. We know who we are and why we're here. We're not trying to mimic, model, or mirror anyone else. God has us given us a specific vision and we're carrying it out.
- The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership is a really good book. Review forthcoming...
- The only thing worse than Larry Johnson on my Fantasy team has been the Dolphins.
- I went through a dry spell with books recently, but I've got a pile on my shelf waiting to be read. It feels nice.
- Having a book that I really to read next pushes me to the read my current book faster.
- Today being the first day of Fall, Carey made an egg stand straight up! She's told me about this for years, but today I saw it with my own eyes. (Yes, I took a picture - I will post it) She said something about the rotation of the earth, but she lost me.
- The Patriots are 3-0. Video taping or not, no one can stop Tom Brady!
- The Red Sox clinched a Playoff spot. Will they win the division? I don't know what to think. I'm hoping...

Small Group Promo Video

Book Review: Made to Stick

Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath is one of the best books on communication that I've ever read. Not because they talked about delivery or style, but because they dealt with the one topic that every communicator thinks about: "Are people remembering what I said 3 days later?"

The average person forgets by Wednesday what was preached on Sunday (which doesn't make me happy). But they offer 6 ways that ideas stick and take root in our minds. The one idea from the book that has stuck with me is "The Curse of Knowledge". This is where we communicate based on the fact that we think everyone already knows more than they do.

It's why Pastors use words no one knows the meaning to or reference stories or events no one knows. I know some shy away from using Biblical/ Theological terms in their teaching. I think you can use those terms, you just have to define them. We can't assume that every person in the room is at the same level. Instead, we have to communicate with people at every level in mind.

Anyway, this was a great book and I highly recommend it!

Oh Boy?!

John rearranged some stuff in our storage closets at the theatre and he brought me 6 boxes worth of cassettes with every teaching I've given since the 1st Sunday of our church. Old school!

I feel bad for the people endured those messages. Some of that stuff was brutal!

Those tapes might accidentally end up in the bottom of a lake...

I can hear again!

I lost my ipod headphones when I was in Orlando a couple of weeks ago. I used Carey's a couple of times, but they kept falling out of my ears because they were too small for me. So I bought a pair at the Apple Store, which were too big for my ears (I know, this sounding like the story of the 3 bears).

So I returned them and picked up a pair of Nike headphones, which sound good and have these hooks that go behind your ears in case I start doing summersaults (which isn't going to happen - I'm still recovering from my wiffle ball game). But these fit just right.

The one problem with my new headphones? I looked at myself in the mirror and I looked like this guy: