And I Am Going Home Why?

Ok friends and family, it hit the 70 degree mark a few times this week ... and will be in the 60's next. Right now you have a negative 18 windchill factor. Why are you not coming here? My loyalty will last at least another year, but after that there's no guarantee I'll be back home in Indiana ... at least not in December. Good grief ... I'm getting goose bumps just thinking about the ride home tomorroow.

Marketing Exponentially

What happens when you and 268 of your closest friend across the nation have buy-in and promote a conference all at the same time? ... registrations start rising at an exponential rate. I told our board the world has yet to see what kind of affect something like the Cadre has on a conference. We're beginning to see some of it. I still hold to my prediction that NYLC09 will sell out by our second cut-off date on February 20. Jeanne thinks I'm delirious, but you just wait...

Baby Mayo

What fun. Elijah Mayo was born today. Jeanne's first grandkid. He's a cutie. Congrats Josh and Monica!

Random Highs and Lows

Interesting Day ... Random Highs and Lows

1. Saw this video on DC's blog yestday and I'm hooked. I must have watched it a half a dozen times today. If you watch it, make sure you watch the WHOLE thing.

2. Took Brittany out to dinner before Oxygen for her birthday. Good times. I love mentoring moments and coversations with MC students.

3. Jim is back in the hospital after another serious episode. While in the hospital, the nursing staff allowed his blood pressure to rise well above 200 and then he proceeded to have another major seisure. Between Jim and them yanking my dad off all meds and sending him home, I'm losing confidence in our medical professionals ... but what choice do you have?

4. I'm creating the 09 budget for the church and with a two minute calculation think I just saved the church $10,000. Most of my salary comes from Youth Leader's Coach, but a little of it comes from the Tabernacle. I texted Jeanne that the Tab got a good deal when she hired me for YLC. She texted back that it was the "understatment of the universe!!!!" An exaggeration on her part for sure, but felt good nonetheless.

5. I'm a simple learner. Today I was reminded how we have a tendency to circumvent protocol without much consideration for those affected. Then, when you become responsible for those people and areas affected, you get a little more touchy. I was more than a little frustrated today.

6. Today we had our 02 small group night with our students and I had to do #4 on my previous post afterwards ... correct and redirect. We did not come with our "A" game ... or our "B" game for that matter. We "coasted" into Christmas Break tonight after a great weekend ... not good! But, I love, love, love my team so we sat down and had a little pow wow afterwards. I tried to put it in the most positive encouraging way possible, but the room was still verrrrry quiet. I could have waited until after break, but didn't think that would be effective. One of my team members commented privately afterwards that she was grateful. Regardless, it was a tough call. Ugh!

7. The fire alarms just went off ... smoke detected on the first floor. No smoke, so we reset the alarm and called the alarm company. They indicated the fire department had not been dispatched. As I hung up with them, Robert called and said the fire department was at the front door. Go figure.

That's my cue to go home!

Everyone needs...

As I learn to help give oversight to nine people in six different departments/areas, along with a bunch of MC Cadre and Middle School leads, I'm reminded of some things "everyone needs." A few I had already learned, a few are new and few were realized out of my own longings through the years. Here you go...

1. Everyone needs to know they are cherished/valued by you and those around you
2. Everyone needs a champion … someone who will defend them
3. Everyone needs a cheerleader … someone who will shout their praises to others
4. Everyone needs corrected and redirected on occasion, none of us are perfect
5. Everyone needs to know that when they are corrected and redirected, your love for them hasn’t changed
6. Everyone needs to be communicated/met with, even if only a few minutes a week by phone
7. Everyone needs to know they are heard … even if you don’t agree, let them speak
8. Everyone needs you to know what it’s like to live in their shoes … try doing their job, even for a day. I guarantee you will be surprised at what you learn and often times your compassion level will go way up.
9. Everyone needs a random act of kindness
10. Everyone needs to know what they do and who they are matters ... you know it, you see it, you proclaim it.

For the Cause, for the King, for the Kingdom ... I will get these ten down better with each passing day.

70 Degrees

The good news is that it's supposed to hover around 70 degrees all week, the bad news is that I'm sick as a dog (however sick a dog is). I have the MC Cough and we are dropping like flies around here. If I would stop trying to cough up my lung, I think things might get better. In the meantime I'm OD'ing on Mucinex Maximum Strength and Aleve Cold & Sinus. Mucinex has the most discusting tag line, but it got me to buy it ... Mucinex In. Mucus Out. Just thought I'd share that with you and the fact that between the two drugs, I dropped $35. I was telling Nathan how horrible I felt and he said "horrible enough to go to the doctor?" My answer, surprise ... surprise, "no way, not yet."

I never get tired of youth ministry

On Saturday, we did an event blitz. We went and bought Alee, the six year we adopted for Christmas, a skateboard and some other fun presents and took it down to the Atlanta Dream Center. Then my small group of girls, all 17 of them, piled in cars to go to my apartment where I made dinner for them, we watched I'll Be Home For Christmas and Elf, played spoons and made Christmas cookies. Well, we kind of made Christmas cookies, they looked more like cookie blobs. I remember how it used to drive me nuts the way they never used to look like Christmas cookies, but I've chilled out a lot since then :-) We had fun making every funky color of frosting imaginable. It was a cheap night and fun was had by all. I don't think I'll ever get tired of hanging out with kids. I think sometimes we make events too complicated when in reality they are longing for simple traditions.

Crashing Like A Freight Train

I taught at Oxygen last week and was high (spiritually) as a kite afterwards for a couple of hours and then it happened ... 1/2 way between Atlanta and Nashville on my drive back to Indiana ... the adrenaline, or whatever it is, dropped so fast it made my eyes lids feel like they had weights in them. When I began to slap myself to stay awake, after singing at the top of my lungs, after drumming on the steering wheel, I knew it was time to pull into the rest stop to take a snooze.

Tonight, after creating the NYLC 09 Exhibitor packet (among other stuff) for three really, really, really long days and getting 280 ready for mailing, I was higher than a kite. My team celebrated by going to dinner and then, not five minutes after we got back, it happened ... the adrenaline, or whatever it is, dropped so fast I had to lay down. This time I couldn't sleep, but just laid there with the lights out for a 1/2 hour. Then, I celebrated by eating 1/2 a pint of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. I'm better now and ready for round two ... Cadre Catch Up! However, that whole adrenaline drop is a trip.

Plates Spinning

Between the economic crunch, being at a smaller church (around 800-1,000), need, skill and whatnot, I wear a lot of hats (like nine of them). With many of them, I simply serve as a direct report and have fantastic people to do the detailed work required in the various departments.

Most would say I'm stupid for even trying to juggle all the balls in the air, but (for now) I find it interesting and challenging (and sometimes tiring). It is definitely stretching my ability to both lead and manage. As I processed with Mike on the way home from Indiana and alone with just myself late this evening, here are nine questions I think I am going ot ask myself at the beginning of each day ... and then again at the end of each day in terms of evaluating how I did.

THE BIG NINE
1. What meetings need to take place (and how long do they really need to be)?
2. Who can be entrusted with a hand off (empowered/delegated to/etc.)?
3. What do I need to do so those around me can do what they need to do?
4. What needs inspected/reviewed/reminded about?
5. What deadlines are fast approaching (that are likely to bite me)?
6. Who can I encourage and/or coach a little today?
7. Are there any systems that can be established to make this whole thing run smoother?
8. What must I do that no one else can?
9. Have I ripped off Jesus today?

Honestly, I think nine are too many ... but I will try them out and see what works.

You know ... they're just Northern

I had so much fun just hanging out with James and Brittany tonight. All the students had the day off, but James and Brit came into work since we're heading into a six day MC weekend and, frankly, there's things that just need to get done. I'm proud of them and their work ethic.

Anyway, we took some time to chill over dinner and I got the biggest laugh of my day when Brittany said, "you know, they're just northern." What was so funny was that no explanation was needed. Having lived in the south for 17 months now, I can honestly say they are just NATURALLY more friendly and loving. No disrespect to the Northern'ers meant, especially since I am one of them. But, if there was one thing I wasn't used to when I got here, it's the Southern hospitality ... I get it and, hopefully, one day got it.

Am I Doing Ok?

I had a friend step into my office today and ask that question, "Am I doing ok?" An unintentional comment was said by a staff member that stung. Understandably, it lead to the question, "Am I doing ok?" My resonding answer was "By all means, yes!" ... then I added the "but..."

He's in a very unique line of work that people don't necessarily understand all the hours it takes to perform his job, nor do they understand all the "side jobs" he gets asked to do "real quick that will only take a second." Nothing only takes a second, nor a minute.

So, my advice to him was to journal/log what he does each day ... not second by second, but the chunks that take awhile. I warned him though that most people give up on the process rather quickly because it's incredibly revealing...

1. They realize they really are wasting a lot of time
2. They realize there is a lot of stuff they should be delegating and empowering others to do.
3. They can only account for about 6 of the 8 hours.

All of that is hard to swallow. I challenged him to fight though it. We'll see what happens.

That's Our Girl

Next week marks the one year death of her great grandpa (my dad). This little girl (my great niece) will never know the hope that she brought our family in the middle of the darkness. For two years running, she'll rank #1 for what I'm most thankful for this holiday season.

She softens hearts with her giggles.
She reminds us of her daddy (my nephew) with her slow growing baby hair.
She brings out the tenderness in her grandpa (my brother).
She reminds us that God is still on the throne.

Happy Birthday Sis

Actually your birthday ended seven minutes ago, but I thought about you a lot today. Hope you enjoyed the call from Jeanne this morning. Only for you! I love you.

Bubba Smith

Bubba Smith was one of the AMAZING 39 youth pastors at the Cadre this week. He is way cool. I loved what he wrote about the Cadre. You can read it here.

Levels of Grace

The conversations around here have centered around GRACE these last few days. I had an apartment blow it on cleaning before moving out for the Cadre (a couple apartments move out and spend the night with other students so youth pastors can move in). Their RA, who is an AMAZING young man, did a great job of trying to cover for them by cleaning the apartment himself, but not good enough.

There is a consequence that everyone was told up front would be the case if their apartments didn't measure up. Not a tough one, but slightly irritating nonetheless. I told them if they didn't do a decent job "they must just want the opportunity to do it again when Cadre comes back in town, so I'll give it to them (ie I will give them a do-over)." Now don't get me wrong, they love, love, love serving the Cadre and give up their apartments willingly. But like everything, moderation on that one is the key. Moving out every 3rd or 4th Cadre is great, every Cadre or two Cadres in a row would be tough.

In regard to covering for his guys, the RA's response was "Judy, I just love my guys." My response was, "I love your guys too, that's why I'm going to hold them accountable. James and Kayla having to clean your apartment is not cool. Me having to still clean more after James and Kayla leave is really not cool." Covering is cool when someone is slammed with work, but when it's the result of laziness ... no way.

In all honestly, I think I would have let them off the hook had the RA's guys genuinely apologized to James and Kayla, but they didn't. I'm a big advocate of a heartfelt apology. It really will cover a multitude of sins in my book. Without it, a do-over is in order. Not sure I'm right on it and in all actuality could poke some holes in it, but that's were I'm landing.

You have to inspect what you expect. And, when your inspection doesn't meet your expectation ... tough decision lie ahead.

Cadre Phoenix

Cadre Phoenix arrived on the scene in full force. What an incredible group of people! While it was a great bunch of days, it felt like I blinked my eyes once and they had arrived and departed. I had a good handful of AMAZING conversations that I won't soon forget. My prayer is that they were marked for all eternity. It was a packed house with 39 of the 40 showing up. To spoil them well, it continues to take about 2 MC/Staff to 1 Cadre ratio. The teams are off the hook. Everything went so smooth, right down to the Thanksgiving Feast.

The only negative part was getting a cold. My eyes are watering as I type and my voice sounds like an adolescent Micky Mouse. All is good though. After my 4:30 a.m. Cadre aiport run (I don't have students do anything before 5 a.m.), covering the financials for the board meeting and 02 small group night at Oxygen, I'm going to to home and go to bed. Life gets easier now for a few weeks. I'm ready for it for sure.

Bite Size

Cadre Phoenix is coming to town this weekend ... 40 strong. I met with the entire Master's Commission (MC) Atlanta team yesterday and just the 20 MC students on the Executive Team today. In the meetings beforehand, I always try to give them a leadership nugget to, hopefully, stick like glue in their heads and hearts. They are bite sized pieces of wisdom, not super profound but if they really get it ... it could change the trajectory of their life.

Yesterday, it was "vision leaks". I talked about how we often have to be reminded of why we do what we do. I had Nick share his letter to Jeanne from his first Cadre experience a year ago. There is nothing like a great story of life change to be reminded of why you do what you do.

Today with the Executive Team, it was "where goes the leader, so goes the people." I told them where they chose to go is where the rest of the team will follow. If they are energetic and have great attitudes (which they do well), so will the first years that follow behind them.

We started out today's meeting with things that have gone well at the Cadres. Fortunately there were many opportunities to reiterate the one phrase, "where goes the leader, so goes the people." Then, we shared a couple of areas we can make it even better. There is none finer than our MC crew. They really are the dream team.

Some Days

There are days it feels like I get absolutely nothing done...now I know why. Yesterday was one of those days. Then I realized I sent 67 individual emails, received 65, had 28 missed calls on my phone (8 of them were from looking for my phone that went AWOL for 24 hours) and a dozen missed text (which would be really low for the day, but most of the MC kids knew I was phoneless). I guess stuff gets done through email, calls and text, but it just doesn't feel like any "big chunks" are knocked out. I love communciation, but as Charlie Brown would say..."Good Grief."

Notes from Ten Thousand Horses by John Stahl-Wert / Ken Jennings

TEN THOUSAND HORSES by John Stahl-Wert / Ken Jennings
How Leaders Harness Raw Potential For Extraordinary Results

Preface
No issue recurs with greater pain and frequency than that of worker underperformance. Every leader knows that a full engaged employee can made an extraordinary impact on the success of the enterprise. Engaged workers show up with a commitment attitude; they bring their whole selves—all their experience, talent, imagination, brains and heart—with them to work.

The pain lies in the fact that engaged employees are the exception. The majority of workers in every business are disengaged or worse.

If you lead or manage people, you suffer from this pain. A few of your followers give it their all. Most of your workers, by contrast, are disengaged. They do the necessary minimum. They show up on time, do just what is expected, and leave on time. Far from bring their whole selves to work, they bring what they must, and no more.

Research by the Gallup Organization, for example, shows that only 29 percent of workers are engaged at work (that is, they display passion for and feel connected to your company and share their ideas with you for moving the company forward). By contrast, 71 percent of workers are disengaged (they essentially sleepwalk through the day, meeting only your baseline expectations, or in the worst cases they’re actively working to undermine your company’s performance). Do the math: 29 percent are engaged, but you pay them all!

On the other hand, the research shows that work groups that display high levels of employee engagement produce a …
44 percent higher-than-average employee retention rate
56 percent higher-than-average level of customer loyalty
50 percent higher-than-average safety record
50 percent higher-than-average productivity
33 percent higher-than-average profitability


The Climb of Trust
When we believe that we’re the savior of the day, that’s when we’re the most lost of all.
Don’t believe your press.

You assume that staff who don’t perform the way you expect know what you expect, or how to do what you expect. Do they? There needs to be a great deal of information exchange. Lots of communication. It helps to know whether they’re learning what you’re trying to teach them.

Tyler to John on why he had the courage to step off the side of a rock during a rock climb, “You were with me…You were off the edge of the cliff already, a couple of feet down, waiting for me.”

There’s a switch inside every person. The “off” position is “I’ll maybe do what I’m told while you’re watching me. But when you’re not watching me, I’ll do less than I’m told and maybe worse.” The “on” position is “I’ll do everything I possibly can to make a positive contribution. I’ll do it whether you’re watching or not.”

There are actions you must take—daily disciplined, consistent actions—if you want your team to really lock into what you’re wanting and where you’re going.

Personal character comes before professional capability. Always!
The problem with teaching about character, you see, is that you have to have it first.

Engagement Equation: E=T (close “say-do gap”) x 3C (close “paycheck-purpose gap”)

The T (Trust) is the character piece. It’s a multiplier, not an additive. Trust is what the leader gains by being trustworthy, by matching actions to words. We talk about “the say-do gap,” and it’s the leader’s job to close it.

And so we start with trust. Do what you promise. Be what you ask others to be.


Mounting the Challenge
We stress the importance of purpose-aligned goals, purpose-aligned plans and purpose-aligned decisions.

Vision statements are famous for living in drawers.

Our great purpose lives in daily discipline.

I could start the story by telling you what’s wrong with the kids we serve … but when it comes to addressing what’s wrong, you need a very different starting point. It’s not the right place to start. It never is. Around here we start with what’s right.

The first “C” in the Engagement Equation is “Challenge” (preparation stage)

The trust of an unbroken horse is hard to earn.

It’s still about your messages and how they need to match your intended actions. Make your gestures and your actions match in horse terms, and you’ll gain the horse’s trust.

If you can’t understand them or appreciate what it might be like to be them, these horses will never let you in.

A leader must have a (1) clear (2) vision. Why are we doing this? In other words, what’s the great purpose behind this effort?

There’s something about those horses (mustangs) that make ‘em want to run away. Mustangs need room. Mustangs need safety.

There are three parts to a clear “Challenge” (preparation stage) – plans, strengths, roles
Here’s the goal and plan.
These are the talents and strengths needed
Who’s going to do what, by when and so forth.

We spend most of our time on the strengths and roles part? What are you good at? Where will you do the most good?

When we work with the horses and the kids, we receive them as they are. We love them and we appreciate them. That’s our starting point.

When a leader prepares to get something done, he starts by asking people to contribute what strengths and assets they have to accomplish the plan. He fits the strengths together by assigning people to roles in which they can succeed.

These kids don’t gain a sense of worth by accomplishing goals. A sense of capability, yes, but not of worth. They gain a sense of their worth by serving on the teams of their classmates. When they realize that they’re important to someone else, when they serve someone else’s goals and dreams, that’s when the really good stuff happens. Matt asked himself, “How often did he invite any of his sales leaders to solve the leadership and performance problems he was suffering?” It had not occurred to him to do this. He was the leader after all. Wasn’t he the one who was supposed to give the answers? But David had just told him that the rally good things start to happen when leaders become RECEIVERS. Your team brings you value, and you must look for it and learn to appreciate what’s there, instead of focusing on what’s not there.


Directing the Charge
Around here, we call this the “stumble.” You and Alice stumbled, the price of your stumble is incalculable, and you haven’t’ been able to pay the bill. You’ll never be able to pay it, Matt. You need to know this. No heroics and no amount of effort can change this fact.

We receive new information about ourselves from others, and we also receive the strengths of others who want to help us achieve our goal.

Can you receive if you aren’t thankful? We get good stuff all the time, but if we have no appreciation inside of us, all the good stuff will just slip right through our fingers…

The second “C” in the Engagement Equation is Charge (implementation state)

In the implementation state we expect to make mistakes. It’s normal.

There are three parts to a clear “Charge” (implementation stage) – innovate, scan, adjust

Our focus is not having to be right … our focus is on constant learning.

We don’t engage kids through theory. We engage them in real life, real work, real projects

Watching Sara, Matt saw something in himself he never saw before. He had isolated himself. He hadn’t learned to receive—to let other help him. And, he hadn’t learned to RELEASE, to admit in an open way that things weren’t working. “Play it close to the vest” had seemed like strength.

Course corrections are normal. You have to let go of what’s not working … your mistakes too. Move on.

Big dreams inspire people. I motive people – I move people – by telling them a story that makes them want to do something. People love a good story, one with heart, heartbreak and hope.


Leading the Cheer
A goal achievement team could just as well be a married couple as a corporate division.

Am I loveable? People who really understand the grief felt by adopted kids sometimes call this the “primal wound.” You get one of two kinds of behavior. One, the child does things you don’t approve of to test if you’ll reject him. Two, you have to be perfect ‘cause you know that one screw-up and you’re gone!

Aiming in the right direction is one thing. Staying on course and remaining motivated to give your very best effort over time is another thing.

The third “C” in the Engagement Equation is Cheer (evaluation stage)

There are three parts to “Cheer” (evaluation stage) – measure, reward, (re)prepare

Learn to REJOICE

The evaluation stage, when carefully designed to reinforce your purpose and your plans, produces kids who finally start to act like owners rather than unwilling laborers. The celebration (cheer) locks the entire process in place.

Every positive step gets celebrated, every adjustment gets celebrated, and every abandonment of effort that isn’t working gets celebrated. We throw “That Didn’t Work!” parties right alongside “We Did It!” parties. If it helps us make progress, we cheer it.

I can’t explain it, but your credibility as a leader hasn’t been fully established until there’s a party. When you stick to your word all the way through to the party, your followers finally know that you really said what you said, meant what you meant, and want what you want.

Hope springs up from belonging and belonging is experienced in a circle of people who trust and rely upon each other. Each one has something to give. Each one is able to receive.

Home is what we call that place of belonging. When we search for our home, it is belonging we are searching for.

Create a culture of trustworthiness and welcome where it is safe to bring their whole selves to the adventure.

Leaders don’t actually ever engage people. People engage themselves. They do their part if we do ours. Leaders make the difference first—we set the stage

Ten Thousand Horses

I seldom read an entire book in a day. I wish I was one of those that did so frequently, but reading has always done one thing ... made me very sleepy. It almost feels like some kind of disorder that there might be a cure for. Today was different.

I love to learn, so I force myself to read, even though I feel I'm slow at it due to the daydreaming, sleeping and perfectionistic tendences to read ever word that results. So, I picked up Ten Thousand Horses (How Leaders Harness Raw Potential For Extraordinary Results) in the airport on my way home from helping a friend move to Lancing, MI this weekend.

Bottomline, it's great leadership prinicples wrapped up in a story of a leader who visits a ranch devoted to loving and working with kids in the foster care system. None of the leadership principles feel overly profound, but at the same time they are so often violated. It's an easy, easy 120 page read for adults and teens alike. I will post my cliff notes later this week.

Typical Youth Ministry Choices

On Friday, I took my asssitant, James, out to PF Changs with a couple of other MC students that have been blasting it out of the park. After stopping by the apartments, I get a call from one of them telling me there has been a four car pile up and three of them are MC students. Long story short, a lady slammed on her breaks ... MC student 1 hit MC student 2, which resulted in MC student 2 hitting MC student 3, which resulted in MC student 3 hitting the lady who slammed on her breaks. It was all bumper damage (with MC student 1 pretty much losing his). I was about 5 minutes behind them, so I pulled up to check when I found out one of the students driving had an issue with his license that they were in midst of clearing up. They were as nervous as a cat before a shower. What do you do? I've got four MC students by the road (one had another student with them) and I'm supposed to be at the church to help run Cadre orientation within 30 minutes. Everyone else was slammed with Retreat orientation. I call Jeanne and tell her, "I can get to the church or stay with them until the cops show up and see what they are going to do with MC student 2 and their driver's licenses issue, I prefer the later." She says stay. Long story short, they take MC student 2 to the country jail to run some routine checks. I make the hand-off to a support staff who had finished up with retreat orientation and I'm off to pick up the late arrivals for Cadre and the retreat center. I'm still not sure if I did the "right" thing by staying because Cadre orientation just went semi-smooth and not like clockwork. However, if I had to do it over again, I'm not sure I would do anything differently.

Vote

I voted today ... did you? I hope so. In other countries people lay down their lives in order to do so. It's that important!

A great, great weekend

Our retreat was this weekend, it was off the chain. Usually we have a full length drama, but this time around we brought in a speaker. His name was Robert Madu and he was AMAZING! We had the second year Cadre in town to observe the retreat and gather together on Monday for their normal VIP treatment and to download about the retreat. Robert decided to hang out with us for the day as well. He quickly became one of the family and is so hooked on it, that he is going to be a permanent part of Cadre Invictus. Good stuff.

Everyone left it all on the field. After long days and nights of retreat prep, the retreat itself and then serving all day on Monday ... all MC eyes, including my own, were droopy. We ended at 3:30 a.m. this morning and I, in all my brilliance, decided to do the first airport run. Normally, I leave it up to the MC gang, but with the long hours they put in I didn't want anyone to have to get up to do the 4 a.m. run. So after a 15 minute nap, I was in my car heading toward the hotel. I got her to the airport with no problem, but had to have the window down and the music blasting to get home ok. I pulled into my parking space, put the car in park, shut it off ... and before I could open the door, I feel asleep. I don't think it was for long, but got a good laugh out of it.

nylc09.com

It's official! NYLC09 Registration is Cruising! We were out of the gate a little slow, but we're crankin' now! My personal favorite presenters Jeanne Mayo, Ed Young, Judah Smith, Greg Stier and Chris Hill. I'm sure the others will be off the hook, but I haven't had the opportunity to hear them as of yet.

We're enlisting the Cadre to help promote it. My prediction is that we will be sold out by the second cut off date of February 20. Jeanne laughed when I told her and promised a little PF Chang action if it did indeed happen. The world has yet to see what will happen when 8 Cadres (268 youth pastors) get behind her on this. If I was a gambler, I'd lay money on it!

I still need to do some proof reading on the site, but you can check it out at nylc09.com! Don't delay, registration has begun!

Who Are You Intentionally Coaching?

Monday and Tuesday we hosted in Atlanta 36 youth pastors from all over from the north, south, east and west (20 different states). I love that the Cadre dot the nation and, with the addition of two Canadians, hopefully eventually the globe. Cadre 220 was incredible, fun, funny and just plain awesome.


The world keeps getting smaller and smaller. Today, one of the guys, Pete, emailed me and said "Hey Judy, I forgot to tell you...since it's a small world, I know someone who knows you. You helped get him connected back with God. He's a youth pastor in my area. Do you know Ben Stuckey? He said you were the best..."


I love that he is in the trenches in the same area as Ben. Plus, it's great to know you are making a difference.


I love the fact that I get to coach such an incredible team of Master's Commission Cadre leads, they made me smile with their text over the last three days...


James wrote, "I love you Judy! Thanks for caring enough to coach me!!! I will have my phone on loud. lol"


Kayla wrote, "Thanks judes. I love you so much really and I can't wait to learn all that I will from you this year."


Jay wrote, "Judy you are an amazing woman of God and thanks for being a mentor in my life. Love you :)"


Robby wrote, "Hey, thanks for the coaching. It really means a lot that you're willing to do that."

Those were text from about 4 of 15 of the MC students that I am personally and intentionally investing in this year. Between the Cadre, the MC gang and Oxygen, I honestly think I have the greatest job in the world. Things that make it so...

1. As you can see, we say, "I love you" a lot and really mean it. It took me awhile to get used to it, but now would not want to live without it!
2. MC Atlanta's tag line is, "It's a family thing." If you hang out here more than five seconds, you quickly realize that is an undeniable fact.
3. We live and breathe authentic affirmation.
4. We coach hard. Students and youth pastors know the only reason we do is out of the enormous amount of love we have for them. We will do everything within our power to not only prevent them from trainwrecking their lives and ministries, but to set them up for short-term and long-term success.
5. We work circles around the rest of the world. Lazy youth pastors who use the word "balance" to justify their laziness drive us insane. I remember Mark saying, "I don't want to be balanced, just healthy." It marked me.
6. We fight against "favoritism". We honor and coach the individual regardless of what they bring to the table and can "do" for us.
7. We disarm our insecurities by talking about them.
8. The staff is "for" each other.
9. We are genuinely just plain friendly.
10. We have the most amazing friend, mentor and coach at the helm leading by example in every area.

Who Are You Intentionally Caoching? Know they are hungry for it!

Who Are You Cheering For?

We're in the midst of some busy days. I love it most of the time. It was great to pause for the weekend, I didn't check voicemails or emails. It wasn't as relaxing as I'd like, it involved moving my mom and a 5:30 a.m. hospital run with her after her boyfriend of many years colapsed. I wasn't able to call and connect with some treasured friends; however, I did get some much needed sleep. Watching the EMT's worked on Jim while he was unconscious had all sorts of spiritual analogies for me. I will share later. In the meantime, everyone is buzzing around here preparing for the first Cadre that comes in tomorrow and the Retreat and second year Cadre next week. I love this place. The MC gang is off the hook, nailing it in every area. It is a site to behold. I love the opportunity to speak into the lives of the next generation of leaders. You would be proud of the group. I know I am. They make me smile when they cheer for me every time I get the opportunity to speak into their lives, even on the little stuff. Who are you cheering for? It makes a difference, it makes life fun, it keeps them in the race running hard.

Breathe Judy, Breathe

Last night around 8 p.m., I paused to breathe deep. It's been a crazy busy stretch for the last 40 days and it's time to breathe deep this weekend. We've brought in the new Master's students, ramped up the 115 Cadre, brought in our board for our two day annual gathering (which included creating a 170 page notebook, figuring out a field trip and tokens), sent out nearly 300 promo boxes for NYLC to the current and previous Cadre, placed our new MC students in 02 groups after a few meetings, got the NYLC website up and sent out a 70,000 piece mailer, sat through a 3 year audit of our financials for a new mortgage, got the children's ministry into a flow after we transitioned to a new director, pumped out two NYLC promo videos.... I'm going to breathe deep at home in Indiana after I got a cheap ($159) round trip ticket to Indy. The computer is staying back in Atlanta. I'd shut off my phone if I could. It's time to hit the pause button, the first Cadre Advance is a week and half.

In the midst of it all, we went through the Atlanta gas crisis and my shoulder going frozen. The good news is that we now have gasoline and after nearly four days of my shoulder being pinned unvoluntarily to my side (seriously, not sure you could have gotten a thin book between my side and my arm), my shoulder de-thawed. What a wicked adventure.

Those Words Weren't What I Wanted To Hear

I injured my shoulder on Sunday night (I'd tell you the story, but it's pathetic) and all throughout Monday and Tuesday I was in pain and kept losing more and more mobility. I currently can raise my upper arm all of about 2 inches. It felt like someone was continuously beating my funny bone (it wasn't my elbow though, but my shoulder ... and it sure the heck wasn't funny). After 12 Advil and 1 Vicoden yesterday, I went to a doctor today (which if you know how much I hate doctors, is a big deal) who said he couldn't help me, but recommended an orthopedic doctor. Some of his words were "your shoulder is frozen," "it looks like you might of torn your rotator cuff," "it definitely looks out of whack," "corizone shots," and "physical therapy." Ugh! Not what I need right now. I've been living in sweat pants and track jackets the last three days. I never knew how hard it was to get dressed with a shoulder out. So, I declare this "Be Grateful For Your Shoulders Week." Sis, I now know a little bit of what you went through. At the height of the pain, which always seems to be at night, I so wanted my mom. Sad considering I'm 44, but just being truthful. Today, life is better, the pain is manageable, I just can't move the thing. The only exception was when one of the middle school guy gave me this ginormous hug and put his full weight on my two shoulders ... can you say, ouch!

Best Times "In Route"

Some of us have been carpooling lately because of the gas shortage. However, every once in awhile it leaves you stranded. Jeanne had to meet up with her hubby and had no way to get there because she had rode in with Bethany. I volunteered to drive her. Since we both run at about Mach 2, sometimes our greatest times are "in route." Which is kind of funny given that Rey had said that a few weeks ago in middle school ministry ... that his best times and talks were picking up and dropping off kids. Not many people talk about "in route" ministry, probably because it doesn't sound very glamorous and there are no lights, bells and whistles involved. But often times, it is the very place where life change occurs.

Today we were talking about a recent message we had both heard and I got bold enough to say "I don't have buy in with all of that." Then we had a great discussion regarding it. I love having a boss safe enough to share heart, feelings and thoughts with. 98% of the time we totally agree and are so like-minded it's often scary, then there is that 2% where we are at totally different ends of the spectrum. The fact that we can respectfully share, often passionately, our different views and not feel threatened in any way is cool. It definitley makes the journey fun for sure.

Master's, the Cadre and NYLC 09 are in full swing now. Time is so scarce, but I love it. In all of my life, I've never met anyone like Jeanne when it comes to multiplication. She has raised up more leaders and placed them in full-time ministry (equally in the business world as well) ... and through mentoring, coaching and by sometimes just being a "mom" helped keep them there. They truly dot the globe.

Blizzard in the Atlanta

Ok, we aren't having a blizzard in Atlanta, but we might as well have with the gas crisis. Pray for our churches today. The gas crisis is REAL, hopefully it will be resolved sometime this week. If I had to guess, about 90% of the gas stations are out of gas. The ones that do have it, cars are 30-40 deep waiting in line for it.

Churches will take a hit today. Spiritually they can't afford it, that's a given and goes without saying, but financially as well. Anything considered discretionary driving is being drastically reduced. People will not come to church today, so they have gas to drive to work tomorrow. Many churches in the inner city are struggling to make budget as it is, that's after they've already trimmed it down to the essentials, the gas crisis will not help in that effort.

So, pray for ATL churches today and wherever else the gas crisis might be felt.

Gasoline in the ATL

Ok, this whole gas thing is starting to get weird. The two stations, both by the interstate, that have consistently had gas ... the QT by my house and the QT by the church ... were like ghost towns today ... No Gas!

Cadre 2008-2009

We had the first year calls last week and the second year call is today. Just the way the first year was interacting, I can already tell it's going to be a blast. This year's cadre are from 30 states and Canada. Since we busted into Canada, can we say we're international now? (j/k)

Texas
12
Florida
9
Georgia
9
Michigan
9
Oklahoma
9
Pennsylvania
9
Alabama
6
California
5
Arkansas
4
Colorado
4
Indiana
4
Wisconsin
4
Nebraska
3
Canada
2
Kansas
2
North Carolina
2
Ohio
2
South Carolina
2
Tennessee
2
West Virginia
2
Wyoming
2
Arizona
1
Illinois
1
Louisiana
1
Massachusetts
1
Maryland
1
Missouri
1
Montana
1
New Jersey
1
New York
1
Washington
1
Total
113

Knowing their story makes all the difference in the world

We've got a family of five kids in our youth ministry and they are pretty much stair steps ... four of them in middle school. I love them dearly, but they are a little on the wild, unfocused side which can be irritating on ocassion ... that is until I learned their story this week. I'm reminded, once again, how knowing someone's story makes all the difference in the world.

The mom was/is a drug addict. When the twins were born, the doctors said don't bond with them, they aren't going to live ... and if they do, they will probably be blind, bedridden, etc. Although the mom was a drug addict, she called in a woman she knew to pray for them ... and pray she did. The kids turned out fine, once again maybe a little wild and unfocued at times, but fine nonetheless. In the end, all the kids were adopted by the women who prayed for them. I can't even imagine what the oldest was exposed to. I do know they are walking miracles even to have survived. While I will still correct and redirect, I have a feeling both my patience and hugs will be on the rise.

While I get the wonderful opportunity to put my hands to a number of thing, I think my first love will always be middle school ministry. I casted vision for the middle school side of Oxygen to the new MC students today. I couldn't help but realize the passion for the ministry that comes so natural for me.

If you were wondering about gas in the ATL

If you were wondering whether the gas shortage from Ike was real in Atlanta, it so is! 6 of 8 gas stations I passed today were without gas. The other two looked liked a war zone with lines into the street. I think I will fill up about 3 a.m. We use special gas here in the ATL to reduce pollution. Fortunately, the governor just lifted the requirement in order to alleviate the run on gas.

722 and Traffic Jams

Went to the last 722 tonight and Jarrett Stevens did an outstanding job of leading, inspiring and encouraging them in change. The title of the message was Next Is Now! Given that he's probably been asked "What's Next?" a gazillion times, it was the perfect title. He challenged us to go out and be the church ... in the city, on the basketball court, etc. I had heard the saying a million times, you might be the only Jesus some will ever see. I like it, but like Jarrett's wording better tonight ... you might be the only "church" some will ever see. We're in ramp up season and things are extremely busy. It felt good to hit the pause button tonight. It's only Tuesday night and I'm ready for my Saturday off.

A funny sidenote. There was a serious traffic jam when I went home this morning. Here's some thoughts:

You know you are in a bad traffic jam when...
1. It takes 2 hours and 5 minutes to make your normal 15 minute drive.
2. You have time to clean out your overstuffed glove compartment.
3. Even the alternative route was wretched.
4. When the people on the radio say that the police said the accident should be cleared in .... another 3 hours, which was already 3 hours after it had happened.
5. You feel like you need to pray and ask Jesus into your heart again when it's all said and done. If it is possible to lose your salvation, I think I did it three times in those two hours.

We got back from Monday's Opening Chapel at 2 a.m. this morning ... guess what awaited us? A2 a.m. traffic jam ... they stopped traffic on 285 for an hour to hang an exit sign ... ugh!

This Week In Atlanta

I can honestly say I've never been so tired in all of my life as I was at the end of this week. Over the last seven days...

1. Finished up the end of the MC Second Year Retreat.
2. Finished gathering the paperwork to refinance the church. The fact that I did that just makes me giggle and tired. Then, met the finance guys processing it for us.
3. Met with the Cadre and NYLC teams corporately and individually ... that there was a lot of meetings and vision casting. I got tired of hearing myself talk. However, I am so stoked about this year's leads.
4. Helped to transition our super size small middle school group (there were just shy of 50 this week) into two. We let the kids know Wednesday night. It went really well.
5. Made sure the I's were dotted and T's crossed on the 100+ Cadre peeps this year. Got 75 all on the same page for their first conference call on Thursday. They are sooooo fun. It didn't feel like a launch at all. I've never heard two groups more excited about the journey before them. I was already energized, they just fueled it.
6. Ramped up my new assistant. I've been without one for three weeks and it's been killing me.
7. Answered an enormous amount of emails.
8 Got the tokens and MC video ready for Athens.
9. Met with the Children's Ministry Team to brainstorm this week and weeks ahead. Problem solved my analysis of the kids in the room last week ... the fact that 42% of them were junior highers in a ministry designed to only go through 5th grade. We have a problem Houston.
10.Cleaned my disaster of an office and car that directly reflected the 12 different focus' I had over the last three weeks. They were bad, really bad ... but now they're good, really good. Binders organize and save my life. It's funny how cleaning your office helps to put things in perspective and clear your mind.
11. Gently rebuked two of my leads ... one for missing deadlines and the other for lack of follow through. They took it like champs. I soooo love these guys, I want to do my part to make them better not only in the moment, but for a lifetime. I felt my fatigue though when I talked with them. In the moment, I wanted to bite their heads off and had to do a little self-talk to make sure I didn't wound them but inspired them to do better at setting realistic deadlines and doing whatever is necessary to meet them, along with having Integrity Finishes.
12. Was here for MC Orientation 2008-2009 with new students and their parents this morning. It is going to be one amazing year!

After orientation was over, I went home and took a six hour nap. I'm up now ... ready to go again.

Flush the Toilets

A bunch of us were back and Jeanne's house earlier this week for our annual YLC/Cadre/NYLC breakfast. About 20 of us ate breakfast in the living room while Jeanne casted vision for those who have YLC/Cadre/NYLC in their portfolios. About a dozen of them report directly to me, along with six staff members for the Tab and YLC. I'm challenged more and more each day on how to manage the YLC/Cadre/NYLC/Accounting/Media/Junior High/Children's Ministry/Master's Commission worlds. Some day I will probably have to "narrow the focus" but for now I juggle. The funny part is that I can honestly say that I love them all, pretty equally I might add.

After Jeanne spoke, she went to Alisha, Bethany and I to wrap it up. She wanted heart and one thing they could do that would make our lives easier over the next nine months. This is pretty much what I said to them.

"A couple of weeks ago someone wanted me to ask Jeanne a question becasue "I had her ear," meaning she listened to me. I didn't know whether I should be offended by the comment or grateful. I went with grateful. I started "earning Jeanne's ear" about 12 years ago when I started "Flushing Toilets" after our youth ministry on Wednesday nights in the "non-glamorous moments." It is there, vacumming floors, flushing and plunging toliets, emptying trash cans and picking up Skittles into the late night hour to make it look like "we were never there" that I heard Jesus loudest. But there was no accolades in those moments, honestly for the most part no one really noticed ... just me and Jesus. That, however, is where I "paid my own price" (Jeanne had referenced it early).

I think that is where the "Burden of the Lord" really started being developed. I want you to have that for the Cadre, but it didn't just happen and it wasn't just with people. I honestly think it starts by picking up trash when nobody else does, wipping down sinks that you didn't get wet, etc.

My heart for this year is that this not be Jeanne's gig, or Jeanne and Judy's gig, but "our" gig. At the retreat this weekend, after everyone went to bed there was this circle of dirt that everyone trampled in before they ended the night playing a round of Signs. I could have left it for Jordan, Nick, Ann or Jenna to clean up ... afterall the retreat was an MC gig ... not a YLC gig. But it's not, it's "our" gig so I quietly put the chairs away and once again began to sweep.

NYLC is our gig too. As with the Cadre, once again Jeanne and I couldn't and, more importantly, wouldn't want to do it without you. The heart that lies within you is what will set our conference apart from every other...that, along with the price. I am so grateful I work for someone that will give away everything including the kitchen sink. She wants to put everything on the bottom shelf so everyone can reach it. We don't just want youth pastors, we want teams ... so we put the price on the bottom shelf. So, those who are on the calling teams, you will have the toughest job ... it will be fun for all of 20 minutes, but know who and what you're representing.

So, as far as how you can help me this year, remember to 'Flush the Toilets" literally and figuratively in everything you put your hand and heart to.

Xcel 2008-2009 - Middle School 02 Group

Last year we went from 8 to 42 in Xcel, so we'll do our first 02 Small Group split next month. Breaking up really is hard to do, but in this case had to be done. We just left Jeanne's house after an amazing time of planning and prep for the launch/separation. Jeanne also did an incredible teaching on having the "Burden of the Lord" for your kids. She talked with me about it a couple of months ago on a car ride to Athens. It impacted me as much today as it did back then. I truly think the "burden" trumps charisma, leadership genes, lights, dazzle and great events (obviously within reason, burden alone will not help if you're a idiot when it comes to leadership).

It's going to be a great year with our middle school students, home team leaders and MC students. I can hardly wait for the new MC students to roll in next Saturday.

Second Year Master's Commission Atlanta Retreat

We left Thursday morning for MC ATL Second Year Retreat. We rolled into South Carolina about 2 1/2 hours later and are at a camp that is, no joke, very similar to the "rustic" Camp Adventure ... except the spiders are HUGE here. I think I'd take the deer flies of CA over the spiders of SC. There are 40 of us sitting in a square, much like we did at Camp Adventure, listening to Jeanne cast vision for the 2008-2009 year. She's a brilliant communicator, brilliant leader and, most importantly, brilliant when it comes to walk with Jesus! In oh so many ways, she is the real deal. I feel so honored to be able to sit at this table.

Last year I sat in the same square, with different second years, not knowing a single one. This year, I know them all. I get goose bumps thinking of who they were just one year ago and who they are now. In just over a week, these students will help lead and disciple 50 first year students. They have been put in their AC families and are excited beyond belief.

Earlier this evening we had our Creed Service outside where we were given the opportunity to pray for them individually by the moonlight and tiki torches. As I stood out and looked over them, there was both a sense of awe and fear that overwhelmed me. Awe when reflecting how far they've come and fear in regard to the opportunity before me and the rest of the team to speak life into them and lead them over the next nine months. The quote, "where goes the leaders, so go the people" came to mind. My next thought was, "what kind of residue will be left on them after having me around them over the next nine months?" Which of my good qualities and which of my negative ones will they pick up.

Earlier today Jeanne says, "Judy, they absolutely love you, why don't you take some time and speak into them at the beginning of the next session?" Hmmm, what do I say? The only things I could think of were from some of recent late night discussions with Jay. Jay is my Tristan of years ago. He is the guy that hangs out at the office until late in the evening just to chat. The only difference was that Tristan was a drummer and Jay is a sound guru. Here were the "Judy's thought shared with Jay" in recent days.

1. Team Unity. Over the summer the staff spent a week together and the outcome is that we are unified. In most teams, differences divide, but in ours they unite. We will celebrate each other. There is little chance you will negatively infiltrate this leadership team. I challenged them to do the same with their own team of second years. I went on to talk about what makes the Cadres so special. In all reality, both Jeanne and I realize, there would be no Cadre without the MC gang. They are what makes them special. Each time they bring their "A" game and there is this undeniable sense of unity. And that's what we need in MC ATL. MC Atlanta will "be the place to be" if they make it that way. More so than the staff, they will be the ones to create the tenor.

2. Authority and Gratitude. If they learn these two things, they will 99% ahead of their peers. 1 Samuel 16:21 says, "And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; adn he became his armorbearer." Armorbearers lift up. What would that look like if we did that for the staff?

3. Health. 3/4 the staff, including yours truly, is exercising and watching their weight. Health to the body is good and there are all sorts of Bowflex and Jenny Craig commercials that tell us so. But no one talks about the health to the soul that comes with integrity and character. Which, in turn, affects our physical health. If you choose to walk with integrity and character, you can alleviate so much of the worry, fear and stress that plagues so many people today.

4. Your walk with Jesus. The staff at MC Atlanta will watch out for them and, in many ways, protect them by carving out an hour of their day to spend in the sanctuary. But, it's up to them whether they are fully present while there. We'll try, but no one will watch out for you like you. I quoted the verse in John where it says in Him was the life and that life was the light of men. In Him is LIFE and that life is the LIGHT of man. Apart from Him there is no life and there is no light ... remember that!

Later on, we talked about leading people older than themselves (since some of the students coming in will actually be older than a few of them). Jeanne asked the staff to give advice. I referenced a Mayoism, "Don't let your charisma take you where your character can't keep you." I reversed it a little and said, "Your character will open doors that your charisma alone seldom will." The reality is that many of them are a little fearful, not because of their age, but because they don't have the charisma that some of the others have. I told them that if their character is in check, they need not worry, chances are it will earn them the right to be heard. I went on to say that I know of many employers who have hired a person based on their charisma and then regretted it. I know of no one that's hired on character and ever regretted it.

Random Days

Did you ever have one of those Ramdom Days. I don't think today could have been more scattered. Here's just a few of the things I did today (sis, this post is for you since you are my biggest blog fan and like to hear what's going on in my life)...

Proofed and recommend changes to an ad of ours that will appear in Group.

Worked on the Exhibitor Package for NYLC ‘09

Authorized the purchase of a projector and screen in the Kids Church Room.

Celebrated with our Children’s Director about curriculum we’ve selected that is AMAZING! Took a few minutes to be a coach.

Sat in on a mortgage refinancing meeting. Learned a lot, but now have a lot of work to do. Could save us thousands a month, so it will be worth it!

Talked with Jeanne about a monthly newsletter to launch in March. Selected a format that we both liked. I’m pretty stoked.

Saw that one of my favorite MC kids is back (ok, they are all my favorite). When I found out his mom was here, I decided to go downstairs just to tell her how AMAZING her son is.

Found out one of my junior high MC small group leaders needs to be moved to another group because they lost theirs, found out another one won’t be back in the game until December because of knee surgery. Ughhh! It’s all good … it’s all good.

Answered Cadre emails.

Worked on ramping up the next three Cadre groups totaling 100+ (including two from Canada). Going through the acceptance process, sending out the emails, answering the questions, processing the payments and getting everyone on the same page can make your head spin. Glad I had an administrative assistant all summer, so very sad she left … we laughed a lot together. Need the next one to get here asap.

Talked and dreamed with a friend on partnering on some pretty big stuff that I’m trying not to get too excited about, but it’s not working. In all honestly, it makes me want to do back flips. I believe the Cause, the King and the Kingdom will be advanced because of it.

Talked to a great friend about her new job. She’s helping girls get out of prostitution in downtown Phoenix. Did you know the average age for a girl to get into prostitution in AMERICA is 12? That’s nuts. God has taken everything she’s gone through, learned and loves and put her in a unique job opportunity few people are qualified for, much less want. I am so proud of her!

Talked with my sis about her new job. She loves it but feels like her head is about to explode. Told her it took me a year to get comfortable and not feel like I’m behind the eight ball in my new job. I told her it wouldn’t be any fun if we could master our job in a month.

Talked with Chris about Source and YLC edits. Can you say, I am sooooooooooo glad she’s on our team. Thank you Jesus! Pure gold.

Called a couple of youth pastors back.

Remembered where my sleeping bag is … good thing, Second Year MC Retreat this weekend … oh yeah!

Walked 3 miles.

Let Me Not Grow Deaf

We get thanks you's from Cadre members often ... I pray my ears never become deaf to their gratitude, not because of ego but because I always want to remember that what we do is important. We're fortunate we get to hear the "thank you's," most in the trenches of youth ministry don't. One of the guys wrote today...

I want to thank you so much for all that you have poured into my life and my student ministry this year. The cadre came at a perfect time in my life and gave me the extra passion and fuel that I needed to push forward strong on this incredible journey called Youth ministry ... What you are doing , no one else is doing. Please don’t ever stop.

That's my prayer for youth worker's across the nation tonight, "please don't ever stop ... it's important!"

We're a little behind the eight ball on promo, but the website and promotional pieces should be done this week. I'm sooo very excited about NYLC '09 Epicenter! It's March 30-April 1 in Dallas ... turn around twice and it will be here.

The NYLC ’09 Line-Up...

Jeanne Mayo – YLC and YP of Oxygen (my boss, friend and hero)
Ed Young – Senior Pastor of Fellowship Church
Greg Stier – Dare2Share
Judah Smith – Generation Church/YP of City Church (AMAZING!)
Craig Gross – XXXchurch.com
Chris Hill – Speaker and Author
Mark DeVries – Youth Ministry Architects and Family Based YM
Reggie Dabbs – Speaker / School Assemblies
Joel Stockstill – YP of Bethany World Prayer Center
Richard Crisco – Senior Pastor of Rochester AG (Top 5 Influencers in my YM world)
Dan Hunter – Seven Ministries / YP at The Oaks Fellowship
Jay Mooney – National Youth Director
Monty Hipp – C4 Group
Josh McDowell – Speaker and Author
Pat Shatzline – Mercy Seat Ministries

I love the diversity, at NYLC 09 we have…
2 senior pastors
4 youth pastors
1 who rips it up evangelistically
1 who knocks it out of the park when it comes to school assemblies
1 who specializes in family ministry
1 who is not afraid to talk out loud about what no one likes to talk about...pornography
1 who oversees the entire youth ministry of a denomination
1 guy who has been around forever and stood the test of time
…gifted leaders, speakers, authors,

Without even realizing it, we’ve got different…
Ages covered
Denominations covered
Ethnicities covered
Giftings covered

Some of these people are as different as night is to day. I love it! ALL OF THEM ARE AMAZING, but the thing I personally love most is that we have four youth pastors and two senior pastors speaking … people in the trenches everyday trying to figure out how to grow people (and themselves) spiritually in their walk with Jesus.

If all that weren't enough, we have about another 40 people doing breakout sessions including yours truly.

Post Marathon Brain Jello

Jeanne, my boss and friend, never wants anything for her birthday, except one thing ... help around the house right before the Cadre's start up. So, even though her birthday was in July, the gang went over there on Tuesday and we went on a 9 to 5 cleaning frenzy to try and clean up all the dust from the painters, tree limbs from storms that have rolled through this summer and whatnot. I was toast afterwards, so I went home and crashed around 8 and woke up bright-eyed around 2 a.m. I came into work at 2:30 a.m. and left the next morning at 2:30 a.m. ... it was a 24 hour marathon. Is it possible to stay focused that long? I think I gave it a pretty good shot. I got a ton accomplished; however, it's not without cost. Today my brain is jello. Maybe I'll try another Diet Dew for a kick start.

Scars Are Tattoos With Better Stories

I was having lunch with Corey and Debbie today and, as usual, it was awesome. Corey and I are about as different as two people can be, but through time, maturity and/or overcoming insecurities and head games, I think we've really come to appreciate our "differences." It's easy to appreciate similarities, but "appreciating differences" is a whole different ballgame. Hands down, without a doubt, Corey and Debbie make me better.

I heard myself saying at lunch, in reference to different but similar situations, I wonder if God sometimes allows things to cut so deep because He wants a scar to remain that we will remember forever, that in the end might actually catapult us into the future in a way we would have never imagined. I'm not saying that's His first choice for us to learn by, but too often some things fade away too easily because the personal affect on our little world is limited (like a nice Sunday morning message about feeding the hungry and clothing the naked that ends as you pass the Section 8 housing on your way home or drop clothes off at Goodwill).

I remember a shirt I bought after I nearly drowned white-water rafting that said, "Scars are tattoos with better stories." Isn't that that truth, we have some outside scars on our body that all we have to do is look at them "to remember." Could it be the same on the inside, all we have to do is think of them "to remember" ... to remember "to do" something every day of our lives or "never do" something again as long as we live. It's an interesting thought. It doesn't fit into a nice theological box or a pretty little package, so it kind of hurts your brain to think about all the ramifications if it is indeed so. Things are not always so clean cut are they?

mooreforthemoney.blogspot.com

I am all about student ministry ... ok, maybe not "all", maybe only 4/5ths. The other 1/5th of my job is to lend some of my knowledge of finances to the accounting department. Well, I passed the CPA exam 18 years ago around 1990, did auditing work from 1987 - 1997 ... and from then on it was nothing but student ministry. So, I've been out of the financial loop for over a decade. That's a really, really long time. Plus, auditing is a whole lot different than accounting.

I needed a coach, so I called on a friend from GCC, Dave Moore. Dave is brilliant at finances (and an amazing water skier). Words cannot express how helpful ... and patient ... he always was when I'd be working the middle school budget at GCC. He coached me today on the balance sheet pieces I was struggling with. I texted Jeanne afterwards and said, "he helped us a lot ... a lot, a lot." I am grateful. Plus, it was fun laughing today over some of the stuff we used to have "discussions" about.

I was excited to hear that he is blogging about "church finances." You can go to his blog at mooreforthemoney.blogspot.com. He's also now linked on the side of my blog ... "Dave Moore".

Welcome to Youth Leader's Coach Chris Infalt

God truly kissed me today when I was able to hire Chris to help me on a mammoth job I am working on with Youth Leader's Coach. She will work part-time getting Source and Youth Leader's Coach digitialized. I then have a gazillion other projects lined up right behind it. Chris, as I sat here this afternoon training you, I kept thanking Jesus over and over again. I sooooo believe in you and what we get to do ... together ... for the Cause, the King and the Kingdom. Thanks for saying "yes." You will put feet to the dream and lives will be changed ... forever! I couldn't and wouldn't want to do it without you.

No that doesn't mean she will be moving to Atlanta. All the work can be done from her home in Indiana. The power of the Internet is making this world real small.

They will suck the life right out of you

There has to be some simple explanation, like when we eat Thanksgiving dinner why we want to take a nap (I forget what the name of the stuff is in the turkey that makes you want to do that, I just know it's there). For me, this same phenomenon occurs after all-day meetings. We had a NYLC meeting in the board room that went from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., pretty much non-stop. It was a GREAT meeting, but immediately made me feel like I needed a nap afterwards. So, I took one. Now, and only now, after a nap do I feel ready to dive in and get some real work done. All-day meetings, all-day conferences and turkey will suck the life right out of you ... but they are all good for you ... go figure.

ADHD

I loved, loved, loved watching Michael Phelps take the gold again last night. In part becasue he's an amazing athlete, but mostly because I can only imagine what it must have been like going through childhood labeled as an "ADHD kid." Having done youth ministry for 15 years, I've seen enough kids with ADHD go through their early years. Often times, they would drive my leaders nuts. Shoot, sometimes they would even drive me nuts. However, they always did and will hold a special place in my heart. Partly because the world seems to want to write them off. I suppose that's my heart for the underdog.

Over the last couple of week, I've helped in on Children's Church and have seen some of those ADHD kids bouncing off the walls (and when your services are 2 hours long, they bounce a lot). I was reminded of a kid years and years ago with Sheila in Kingdom Kids. I so wish I could remember his name. What I do remember is that half the time this kid's head would be where his tail end should be in the theatre seats. Then one day, Sheila had him sit next to my nephew and help him run sound (which at that time meant he pushed play at the appropriate times on the cassette player). After that, we never had one single problem with him ... ever. It got to the point where my nephew didn't even need to be there, the 3rd grade kid just ran it himself. I guess the lesson with Michael Phelps and this kid was just keep looking for the niche. It's there, you just have to discover it.

Act Your Way Into Feelings

My AA and I were tackling the good ol' question of "Do you feel your way into action?" or "Do you act your way into feelings?" While it would be great if there was clean cut answer, we landed on "it depends." However, we leaned more toward "You act your way into feelings."

She's been given the directive, by me, to ask every day, "Did you walk last night?" She is horrible at asking, unless I didn't walk then she miraculously ALWAYS remembers to ask. She says she is only horrible because when I do walk, I'm so quick to tell her I did that she doesn't have a chance to ask. She's probably right.

I decided to walk 1-3 miles every day a couple of weeks ago. I did great out of the gate but have found when I'm home in Indiana or have friends in town I get dereailed ... not their bad, but mine. Anyway, I've been back on track the last four nights. I'm proud to say I did 3.25, 3.1, 3.4 and 3.5 miles respectively ... some of it even jogging. Here is what I've quickly figured out. So far, even on day 4, I've never "felt" like getting on the treadmill ... not once, not even a little bit. But after I made the CHOICE to walk/jog, I can't top the feeling when it's all said and done and I'm dripping in sweat. You would think after the previous experiences, plus the last four nights of feeling great after the action, the feeling to get on the treadmill would come first. I don't know if it ever will, but boy was it a strong reminder of "CHOOSE (key word) to do what you know to do and the feelings will follow." Now, if only I could apply it to a few other areas of my life.

My final thought with this whole question is "If you act your way into feelings" then what does that mean in regard to the way we do church today...anything? Should we be doing more of some things and less of others? Secretly, I'm kind of getting tired of sitting in the pew/chair/seat (don't judge me, I know teaching is muy importante). I wonder if anyone else is?

NYLC: March 30 - April 1 Dallas, TX

Is it Disrespect or a Devine Appointment? It Depends

Tonight was awesome, I wish I could have been there for more of it. During worship, I had tell a couple of the middle school girls behind me to quiet down. I then spent the rest of worship time looking at a side screen, so that I could keep one eye on the words and the other one on them. Then, it happened. I turned my head for a second in the transition to Jeanne speaking and the girls were gone, like lightening. Somethings in youth ministry never change, do they? I checked all the bathrooms, upstairs, downstairs, the elevator ... eventually found them outside with one of the boys playing basketball ... go figure. However, it lead to an incredible conversation with one of the girls at the end of the night I would have missed had she not skipped out.

Then, Cherry and I took another student home. I was asking him how his first couple of days of high school had been going. He said his mom was thinking about putting him in private school because of the gangs and the Dekalb schools not being the best. I asked him if he thought that would be a good thing for him from his point of view. He said "for his education, yes ... for his friends, no." I asked him what he wanted to be when he got older. He said an architect. Cherry then ask if he ever sketched, he said "yes, but not on paper." I said, "On the computer?" He said, "no." Turns out he is a graffiti artist.

I think sometimes when kids goof around or fail to have a ride home, it's not so much their bad, but God's way of nudging us to listen a little closer and take a few precious minutes to speak into their lives things we wouldn't have thought to say if they hadn't messed up.

AWAKEN

Tonight was AWAKEN, a city wide gathering we put on at the Tab. It was amazing. The worship band knocked it out of the park ... they totally brought it. I was so proud of them.

Pic 1: Jay, our sound guy, behind the board. He is is quickly growing to be like a little brother. He marries Missy in May. I've never seen dating done so well. I'm proud of them.

Pic 2: A distant view of the band. We talked about racial unity tonight. Our band reprsents that well, it's evenly distributed between blacks, whites and Simoians. They care for each other well and look, love and live beyond skin tone.

Pic 3: Ashley, Mckenna and Cherry (my AA). These were 3 of my top 5 MC girls I connected with this year, probably because they all have a rebel streak that runs pretty deep. Chris would tell me it's the same one that resides in me ... maybe that's why we connect so well. Watch out world, as they continue to bring it under the leadership and lordship of Christ, there is no telling what they can accomplish for the Cause, the King and the Kingdom.

Pic 4: Neftaly Leonidas and Daniel Kimani - two of my favorite middle school students (ok, I say that about all of them) in Oxygen. Both are spiritually wise beyond their years, but then again one is a Leonidas and the other a Kimani ... nothing more needs to be said, no surprises there.

Pic 5: MC and Oxygen guys. The little one is Angel, who broke his wrist a month ago doing a flip at Oxygen. Tolu (aka Roy) and Hoi (right side, in front of and behind Angel) are the Simoani brothers in the band. Rey (middle back) is one of the most amazing small group leaders in the world. He knows how to take care of students. The guy on the left of Rey is James. If he grows up a bit, he will be a significant player in the church world today. I get the privilege of helping him grow up this year.

Facebook, Texts, Calls and Visits

Today I was reminded about the power of the touch, if even for a moment. It was my birthday and, while I'm not a big fan of calling attention to myself, if you're on Facebook it does it for you ... the ripple effect that transpires from it is incredible and contagious.

I've appreciated the gazillion Happy Birthday's I've received on Facebook. While some were expected, I've gotten some from others that's surprised me. I am so grateful. They meant A LOT ... A LOT, A LOT.

The texting has been awesome too. They started long before my head came off the pillow this morning.

The phone calls were extra special as well.

This morning I spent with my sister, niece and mom hanging out at Einstein's Bagels in Indy, then jumped a plane to Atlanta in time for Oxygen. I love my family!

I walked into my office and was greeted by wall-to-wall balloons, streamers and a Happy Birthday banner ... along with a ginormous basket of all the junk food I like and a boatload of Diet Mountain Dew to wash it down with .... I don't need any of the junk food, but yummmm. I will definitely be sharing. Between the junk food and Karen's chicken I had at the party on Monday, I will have to be doing a lot of walking in the coming days.

My 02 kids sang Happy Birthday twice ... first the old fashion way (which was way out of tune), then a new cool modern day version (where they had the harmony going).

It's been a great day and a great way to start off 44 ... even if I don't feel any different than the day I turned 34.

Back Home in Indiana

I decided to make a spur of the moment trip back to Indiana for my friend's, Ruby, fundraising/vision casting event, along with several birthdays - Ashlyn's (my niece), Kira's and my own.

It was an amazing, whirlwind, couple of days. Ruby's event reminded me what an incredible woman of God she is. I am grateful to be able to call her friend.

Then yesterday some friends and I got together. It grew from a handful of previous Bible study friends to a bunch of pals. I absolutely loved it! Karen whipped up her famous Chicken Doris and good times were had by all.

The pic above was the calm before the storm. We spent the last hour together awaiting an intense storm that never really materialized, but it was fun watching the audio and light show God was putting on and listening to the Tornado warnings go off together.

Now I'm off to Indy with my mom and sister for my flight home and some more time with my niece. Lovin' every minute. Thanks for all who made the last few days AMAZING!

Atlanta's Best Kept Secret - Margaret Mitchell House

I have some of my most favorite people in town - Karen, Wendy and Hilary. We all just finished a scrumptious dinner of stuffed shells that Karen cooked me for my birthday dinner (a couple of days early). Hilary just cut my hair and is cycling her way through some of the MC gang now.

Yesterday, we were deciding what touristy thing we were going to do. I've been to the Coke Plant/Museum, the Aquarium and Stone Mountain a gazillion times, but was willing to take one for the team if they wanted to go there. Instead we hit the Margaret Mitchell House. For those who might be wondering who she was, she wrote Gone with the Wind. While an amazing book and movie, stuff she did behind the scenes were even more incredible. Here's some random cool facts:

1. After the book came out, her servant/friend came down sick. She thought she could cash in on some of her fame and get her treatment at Grady hospital. But because her friend/servant was black, they refused to treat her. So Margaret donated the necessary money to get an emergency clinic set up at the hospital to serve both the blacks and whites.
2. She also paid for 50 black young men to go through med school ... I think there are scholarships in her name yet today.
3. She helped raise 65 million for the Red Cross.
4. She never bought a house or nice new car with all her riches, but chose to live in apartments.
5. She did not enjoy being famous and was incredibly humble, but loved parties.
6. She wrote the book backwards (last chapter first).
7. The "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a da@#" was actually a line her first husband used on her when he left her ... except they added the "frankly."
8. As a young girl, her mom got her into the women's suffrage (right to vote) movement.
9. She tried to keep her book a secret. When a publisher first approached her on it, she denied she was writing one, but eventually gave him it.
10. A great quote, "In a moment of weakness, I wrote a book."

I think the Margaret Mitchell house is one of Atlanta's best kept secrets when it comes to tourist places to visit.

Disciplines

Disciplines ... I am so random that I hate 'em, but I need them ... so here is my commitment

Goal: 3 miles walking/jogging and 3 Bible chapters every day
Acceptable (ie I won't beat myself up if I do at least this): 1 mile walking and 1 chapter 5 out of 7 days.

I'm 3 out of 4 days hitting my goal and having a great time.

722

Went to 722 tonight and it was AMAZING. There were three surprises.

1. Phil Wickham showed up to lead worship. Mike introduced me to his music a couple of months ago and I've loved the guy ever since. Sitting fifth row center stage made it that much more sweeter. Charlie Hall is up next month. I love Atlanta.

2. For the service, Jarrett Stevens interviewed Margaret Feinberg. I'm ashamed to say I've never heard of her ... I know, I know ... where have I been? Looks like she was at Northland last week. She was off the hook. She's written The Organic God and Sacred Echo, among others. I think after I get done with Crazy Love and reread In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day, I'll pick one of them up. Next month Dan Kimball is up, author of "They like Jesus but Not the Church".

3. At the end, Jarrett announced that 722 was ending. The reasoning being that they didn't feel like 722 was uniquely providing something that no one else was providing. While they love the service, it felt like it it was just becoming another option. It sounded like September might be the last month, but I'm not sure about that. They are praying and seeking God for what's next.

Staff Retreat Continued

We're still on the MC/YLC/Oxygen staff retreat...

What I've loved most is the mentoring/coaching Jeanne has done throughout the last couple of days. Here are just a few of the great quotes I've heard.

• In the absence of a great dream, pettiness prevails
• When you are busy rowing the boat, you don’t have time to rock it.
• The heaviest burden to carry is none at all.
• The President of the United States has no more hours in his day than we do…same with Jesus.
• The more busy and demanding the season, the more important it is to have rituals. Without the rituals, negative emotional energy gets darker and deeper. Negative energy begets negative energy.
• I have learned on the journey of life that I am far better at times to be a little lonely rather than filling the lonely spaces with the wrong relationships.
• Getting the negative residue (I like that word) off of your life after you end wrong relationships can take awhile.
• Be careful of living your life at a frantic, hectic pace. Speedboats go fast but are shallow on the lake. The minute depth comes, speed goes down.
• Lives lived frantically are easily forgotten.

We have also read and discussed a couple chapters out of the book "The 4:8 Principle" by Tommy Newberry. While it doesn't seem super profound, the way it pegs human behavior and reminds you to do what you know to do is brilliant.

Mountain Top Experience

Pictures will follow, but right now I am sitting high up outside on the deck of what has to be a million dollar house/cabin overlooking the Smoky Mountains (I think that’s the mountain range). It is absolutely gorgeous. We are having what I call marathon sitting sessions planning Master Commission Atlanta’s 2008-2009 year. They are long, but every second is well worth it. So far, the ten MC and YLC staff have…

1. Reflected on what went right/well last year.
2. Talked about what we could improve upon.
3. Updated the handbook.
4. Talked about roles, responsibilities and expectations since we’ve had some staff changes.
5. Reviewed and discussed the budget.
6. Figured out all the “big rocks” when it comes to events and put them on the annual calendar.
7. Figured out 2nd and 3rd year portfolios (various assignments and roles).
8. Dreamed about and cast vision for the upcoming National Youth Leader’s Conference March 30 – April 1, 2009.
9. Put AC families together.
10. Figured out RA’s for the apartments.
11. Determined the weekly schedule and teaching blocks.
12. Ate four dinners that were to die for. Each team is trying to out do each other and those eating get to reap the rewards.

Last night Jordan lead devo’s and Nick worship. Both did an amazing job. Two of the questions Jordan asked were “How is love best shown to you (kind of like, what is your love language)?” and “What imprint or signature do you want to leave on the hearts of our students?” Words can’t express how “real” we got with each other.

I’m pretty excited about the upcoming year, there is a new level of unity in the team and a strong desire by all to be more than friends, but family.

I’m going to go hang out with Jesus, later my friends. I love you.

Francis Chan

Sweetness...just checked out Francis Chan's video blog and found out he has a new book out called Crazy Love. I sooo love Amazon's One Click.

Great Blog Posts

Being the Director of Operations for Youth Leader's Coach, Executive Director for Cadre, Director of Middle School, Financial Analyst for the Tab, the voice for the Technical Arts and having a few other random responsibilties that would make your head spin (at least it does mine), I like to randomly send the variety of staff I come alongside some of the great blog posts I come across. Normally, I try to give them one or two a month, but came across two amazing ones this week.

Here's the one from Ed Young (this was especially pertinent since we cut housekeeping 37 hours per week last week)

Here's the one from Tim Stevens (I've heard "it's not my fault" blame shifting all too often over the last few years. I hate in particular when I hear it come out of my own mouth.)

A Day With Students

This summer has afforded me a little more hang time with students since the "home team" has the ball and MC is on the bench so to speak (actually, just away doing ministry on their home fields across the nation).

Today I spent part of the afternoon with Nephtaly and Martha, incredible students going from 8th into 9th grade. On our way to lunch, Martha talked about how Andrew had taught that cliques hurt our 02 group awhile back. She shared how his teaching came to life when she was on a retreat last weekend with another church and spent the first part of it as an outsider looking in. It's cool to see a teaching take hold, isn't it?

After picking up Nephtaly, we did lunch at Panda Express and talked openly about anything and everything, including race (Nephtaly is Haitian, Martha Mexican and the very white Hungarian/German me), old youth pastors, the difficulties of going from the ghetto to very middle/upper class neighborhoods, etc. Nephtaly has some dreams for the youth ministry I hope to help unleash.

When I got back to the office, Eric and Chris came in and were hanging around in my office. While I know it can be time consuming, I love what it says when a student, especially two guys, feel comfortable enough to come plop down in your office to talk. While some would be irritiated by it, I am grateful. After sharing stories, Eric had a great idea for an event and got the ball rolling to get the info and take it to the team.

What I loved most today were the eyes to see that God gave me. I've been on the sidelines in youth ministry a little bit over the last year just trying to figure out what the heck I was doing in a new city and a new position. It's good to be back in the trenches. Listening to the students' dreams and strategizing a little on how to achieve even the little ones is refreshing. It's amazing what students can accomplish if someone will give them a little time and help them get their feet pointed in the right direction.