TomPlanck.com

I just read these words on a blog that I follow.  I had to post them here because they stirred my soul.

“I say to you, this morning, that if you have never found something so dear and precious to you that you will die for it, then you aren’t fit to live.  You may be 38 years old, as I happen to be, and one day, some great opportunity stands before you and calls upon you to stand for some great principle, some great issue, some great cause. And you refuse to do it because you are afraid.

You refuse to do it because you want to live longer. You’re afraid that you will lose your job, or you are afraid that you will be criticized or that you will lose your popularity, or you’re afraid that somebody will stab or shoot or bomb your house. So you refuse to take a stand.

Well, you may go on and live until you are ninety, but you are just as dead at 38 as you would be at ninety.  And the cessation of breathing in your life is but the belated announcement of an earlier death of the spirit.

You died when you refused to stand up for right.
You died when you refused to stand up for truth.
You died when you refused to stand up for justice.”

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
From the sermon “But, If Not” delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church on November 5, 1967

I’m let with a few questions.  What will or am I standing for?  How about you?  What will or are you standing up for?

“It may have started out as a small outpatient facility, but now, a century later, the Mayo Clinic is one of the top-ranked hospitals in the nation, with annual revenues of nearly $7 billion. How does the hospital balance a 100-year history with cutting-edge research and innovation? In this interview, Leonard L. Berry, a marketing professor at Texas A&M, and Kent D. Seltman, the marketing chair at Mayo Clinic — coauthors of Management Lessons from Mayo Clinic discuss the secrets behind the Mayo Clinic brand.”

Read more: How to Build a Lasting Brand

(Via Clippings)

I did something this summer I haven’t done in several years.  I took a significant weekend preaching break.  I didn’t preach any Sunday in August.  As much as I love to preach, the break was much needed.  It is healthy for both Journey Church and me.

As I race into the weekend, I am pumped about preaching on Sunday!  I absolutely cannot wait to get back in the saddle and start our new September teaching series.  I think every preacher has a sweet spot–a few topics that they love to drill down into.  This series is certainly in that category.

Sunday we will begin a series called “Becoming.”  From the beginning of time, God has been chasing humanity.  Not to capture them and hold them captive, but rather to set them free!  Free to become what He originally created them to be.  I am completely jazzed about unpacking what it means to be and become more like God–individually and corporately.

Here are the dates and topics we’ll be unpacking:

• 9/7 Givers of Grace
• 9/14 Extenders of Invitations
• 9/21 Gathers of People
• 9/28 Takers of Risks

Follow the podcast here.

Sway

“I just wrapped up the book Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior by Ori and Rom Brafman. There were some intriguing thoughts in the book that have the potential to challenge the way we think. Here are some of the lines that grabbed my attention.

• ‘The moment we label a person or a situation, we put on blinders to all evidence that contradicts our diagnosis.’
• ‘The more meaningful a potential loss is, the more loss averse we become. In other words, the more there is on the line, the easier it is to get swept into an irrational decision.’
• ‘When we encounter a new object, person, or situation, the value we assign to it shapes our further perception of it.’
• ‘The price we pay for a ticket affects our enjoyment of the performance.’
• ‘A single word has the power to alter our whole perception of another person-and possibly sour the relationship before it even begins.’
• ‘When we’re in the position to make a diagnosis, we all become overly confident in our predictive abilities and overly optimistic about the future… We often ignore all evidence that contradicts what we want to believe.’
• ‘If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to work for a boss who values and believes in you, you’ll know that you tend to rise to meet the high expectations set for you. On the other hand, there’s nothing that will make you feel more incompetent and demoralized than a supervisor who is convinced you don’t have what it takes.’
• ‘Rather than assuming the final product speaks for itself, it’s good to remember to regularly engage and update members of our team during the process.’
• ‘Neuropsychologists have shown that activities associated with addictive substances and those associated with monetary rewards are both processed by the pleasure center. Because monetary incentives present such a strong allure to us, they distort our thinking.’
• ‘The presence of a dissenter-any dissenter, no matter how incompetent-still made it possible for a large segment of participants to deviate from the majority and give the right answer.’
• ‘When we adopt the long view, on the other hand, immediate potential losses don’t seem as menacing.’
• ‘If we got kicked out and the board brought in a new CEO, what do you think he would do?… Why shouldn’t you and I walk out the door, come back, and do it ourselves?’
• ‘We make diagnostic errors when we narrow down our field of possibilities and zero in on a single interpretation of a situation or person.’”

4 Assumptions During the Busy Season

“We’ve just finished the summer of what Kurt (Saddleback’s Student Ministries Pastor) has called ‘tree lot’ season. The temporary but extremely busy season of ministry where you’ve got to get the trees out the door before Christmas arrives. And as that is coming to an end - we’re really gearing up for a Fall of the same: fast-paced, high-expectation ministry. In essence, we just got another shipment of trees to last us until Christmas and it is time to go at it again.

Here’s 4 assumptions I asked our teams to make during the next 4 months of ministry:

1) Assume the God is going to work during your work hours.
Too often we concentrate on the ‘work hours’ part of the busy season. We talk too much about staying late and the frustrations of bumping shoulders with the same people and their quirks. It is too easy to forget that God is going to use us. That each conversation, each time we connect with a volunteer, each line of the infinitely-long spreadsheet is part of us contributing to what God is doing. Yes, we have to work hard. Yes, maybe we should expect to work late. But God is up to something - His Spirit is at work in our work.

2) Assume that person needs help with their project.
This is the team-mindset that we all need to have when the pace increases. Just assume that someone needs help - that they could use an extra hand. Not that they aren’t capable but recognizing that work is a lot more fun in pairs than alone. Clear your plate and pitch in - they’ll do the same when you need it, too.

3) Assume the next person you see needs encouragement.
If I’m honest, I would say that our culture is thirsty for this.  I would say that our humor-heavy, dry sense of sarcasm is welcome and even a form of encouragement, but there’s nothing wrong with a ‘good job’ or lifting up someone’s arm after a long fight. Assume they haven’t been thanked or celebrated in a while.

4) Assume that you are the right person to do your job.
This is where you trust the leadership of the church and God’s Spirit at work. God has called you to work with high school and junior high school students. God didn’t mistakenly put you in the position you hold - He created it for you in this moment. In the busyness of the now-extended tree lot season, let’s not forget our shared passion for our students and this thing we call youth ministry.”

(Via MoreThanDodgeball.com)

Book Review: No B.S. Time Management

(Via bobfranquiz.com)

Leadership Books: September 2008: “Here’s a look of some of the best leadership books to be released in September.

 A Sense of Urgency by John P. Kotter

 The Encore Effect: How to Achieve Remarkable Performance in Anything You Do by Mark Sanborn

 The Spider’s Strategy: Creating Networks to Avert Crisis, Create Change, and Really Get Ahead by Amit S. Mukherjee

 On Leadership: Essential Principles for Success by Donald J. Palmisano

 The Truth About You: Your Secret to Success by Marcus Buckingham

(Via Leading Blog)

5 Leadership Lessons: The First Billion Is the Hardest

“Now at eighty, T. Boone Pickens looks back on his past, his comeback and future in The First Billion Is the Hardest. (I don’t know about you, but I’ve found that to be so true.) He also shares a few thoughts on leadership and management:

 Leadership is the quality that transforms good intentions into positive action. It turns a group of individuals into a cohesive unit. You don’t manage people, you manage things.

 Leading people is like raising money. It’s easier to get people to give money to your cause if you dig into your own pocket first. In the same way, people tend to follow your lead if you set a good example.

 Give as many employees a stake in the business as possible. Those who have a strong financial stake in a business tend to think and act like owners.

 Encourage constant, uninhibited, and open two-way communication. I want to know what my people are hearing, reading, and thinking. If they aren’t talking to me, I’ll ask them. And they know that I listen to them. Not every conversation leads to a decision.

 Lead but also listen. A real leader never leads by fear. I develop a rapport so no one is afraid to question my opinions or decisions. They do it openly but respectfully, and I welcome it. The best way to avoid confusion, misconceptions, and disasters is to have fearless, open discussion.”

(Via Leading Blog)

How Pixar Fosters Collective Creativity

(Via scotthodge.org)

Today was the first day of school in West Chester. We walked both Tytus and Hannah to the bus stop with our digital camera snapping photos as fast as we could.  The kids are growing up way too fast and we were trying to slow down time by taking as many pictures as possible.

For me, the first day of school is always a proud moment as a parent.  It is just another moment when I realize God has blessed us with two great kids who are fully prepared to engage in the education process.  They are both caring, bright, and fun.  In my book, they’re the best!

Hannah is jazzed about 3rd grade.  By now she knows the ropes and will be the classroom leader by lunch.  Tytus starts Jr. high today and he’ll be roaming the halls with confidence.  I have to admit that this transition makes me a little nervous.  I remember starting Jr. high like it was yesterday.  I even remember the list of things that made me nervous.  Tytus has embraced the it and I fully expect him to continue to excel as a student and as a leader.  I love my kids and I am big time proud of them!

I have to be honest when I also admit that I’ll miss them running in and out of the office today.  It brings a lump in my throat just thinking about it…