LEVERAGE THE LEG SEASON

Yesterday, I mentioned I would blog about the possible dangers of the leg season. I think Paul’s post put it best to Timothy, “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to ALL believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” In other words…leverage your leg season!

No one believed in the next generation more than Paul; however, he indirectly addressed their blind side. What’s their blind side? What are the dangers of the leg season? Consider the opposite of what Paul said, not being an example to ALL, in what you say and how you say it. My take on the next generation is they are doing an outstanding job in faith, integrity, and their future is bright. However, an area of opportunity is…to season their words in order to spread their influence to people in All seasons of life.

To run your race in the first stretch, you don’t have to estrange other runners. Words are powerful, but how you say those words is just as powerful. I love what someone said…if you’re right and you’re rude, you’re wrong. Are you arrogant in what you say and the tone you use? If so, you are limiting what God has for you. Let me encourage ALL of us, regardless of where we are in the race,…we run better together when we flavor our words.

What taste are you leaving by your words and tone?

Do people just in your generation respect you, or do people from ALL generations respect you? (1 Tim 4:12)

• The first quarter, 4 to 6 services, 2 to 3 locations, 6 to 8 services!Thank you God for the break!

• Typically our family travels and gets away…staying home this year.

• Debbie wants to work in the yard…mulch is fun! Not really.

• I think we are going to cook out tonight! I grill some mean burgers!

• Secret is to flip them once

• I dig Heinz 57 sauce…I also make a mean dip!

• Does anybody else watch Deadliest Catch?

• My yellow lab, Abby, loves our creek!

• Weather is gorgeous! Peace out!

LEVERAGE THE LEG SEASON

How are your legs? When Christ captured my heart to do this race…I thought God made a mistake on drafting me. I couldn’t believe it! No way…I get to run this race? So I took off and ran as fast as I could…Forest Gump style. Why? Out of fear…of all the runners that have trained in seminary…spotting me and disqualifying me. So I ran and I ran and I ran some more…trying to stay away from all those runners, hardcore. (a little Dr Seuss rhyme)

I think as leaders we make a mistake in the race by having invisible age limits. God’s track record shows…ALL thru Scripture He drafted young people we would never select. Josiah, David, Mary, Timothy…to name a few. My son is 15 and runs the race for Christ remarkably! The dude did my whole CC intro. Devin is just one of many; if you look around on a weekend at Northway Church…you would be amazed at the sea of students that are serving! My staff is mostly 20 somethings on purpose. Why? Because they can run like the wind! Their vigor, energy, and enthusiasm are contagious!

Man can they run!

Another benefit of runners in the first stretch is they stretch you in current culture. I would still be wearing pleated pants up to my chest and a rocking southern gospel comb over! Yikes! To be honest, I wouldn’t have this blog if it wasn’t for them. I listen and learn from them all the time. I don’t try to be them, but I leverage their legs. I’m so thankful to be running with the runners!

Tomorrow I will do a post about the dangers of the leg season. (Wasn’t planning this…)

How are you leveraging your leg season? What runners have you overlooked that God has put to run with you?

Just saw the craziest thing! Runners that run a race…that’s over 120 miles straight! That’s the equivalent of 5 marathons! Factor in its location…one of the most grueling places on the earth…DEATH VALLEY! I thought to myself…who are these crazy people? What’s wrong with them? What’s their problem? They’re not normal! Why would they want to do this?

I leaned in and listened intently as they interviewed each runner on how they finish this arduous race. The common denominator of their response was…the first 75 miles…it’s ALL LEGS. The rest of the race…it’s ALL MENTAL AND PASSION!

Unbelievable!

I immediately thought this extreme race sounds a lot like ministry! Who are these crazy people who want to get into ministry? What’s wrong with them that they want to make a difference? Let’s face it, anyone who wants to do this as a profession is simply not normal! I remember starting the race as Christ captured my heart for people He died for. Man, did I have legs! More on that tomorrow…

Wednesday, we will talk about the first 75 miles…leverage the leg season. Thursday, we will talk about the rest of the race. Friday, we will talk about not dying in Death Valley.

What part of the race do you think you’re in? The first 75, or the rest of the race?

Preachership or Leadership? Which floats your boat?

Senior Pastor, so goes your weekend, so goes your church! As the Senior Pastor, you are the primary vision teacher for your church. As you know, it requires a GINORMOUS amount of time and energy to be prepared for what God has called us to do. Frankly, it can be ALL consuming…and without your visionary teaching at the helm, make no mistake about it, your ship will sink!

But what about the weekdays? What about your staff? What about your crew? If we’re not careful, we can end up spending ALL our time alone in our cabins preparing for the message…and our crew can begin drift. What about the major daily decisions that need to be navigated that will affect your course? What about the development of your team? If any of these questions are ignored…your ship will eventually capsize.

In part 2 of CC with Craig Groeschel…Craig, will give his experience on what your church needs more of…preachership or leadership.

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What has been your experience on which ship your church needs more of?

How do you divide your time between the 2?

If you could ask Craig about his experience, what would you ask?

To Encourage, To Honor, To Laugh and…

Pretty much everyone in the church world has been impacted or heard of Craig Groeschel, Ed Young and some of the others on the Cremeans Couch. However, another goal of mine for CC is to introduce you to people you have not heard of. I believe some of the greatest stories of what God is doing today are untold.

I think it would have been cool…to interview those obscure names in the Bible like Enoch, Jabez, or Benaiah…my bad, my friend Mark Batterson already did that guy. Or to hear from an obvious proximity that offered an untold perspective. Guys like Joseph, Jesus’ step dad, would have been cool. I would love to know how you parent somebody like Jesus. Or I would love to lob some questions out to Barnabas like, how did you become so generous? What made you believe in Paul?

Why CC? To encourage, to honor, to laugh and ….

To mine the gold…of untold stories in the church world.

CC is feature every Monday on my blog…check in tomorrow for part 2 of my guest, Craig Groeschel.

Just a hunch…but I think they just might have cheese steaks in heaven. At least I feel like God rained down manna from heaven for me with Liberty Bell Cheese steaks.

I love entrepreneurs…Nate and Vaughn, Philly alumni, owners and cooks have leveraged it all on a dream of bringing Philly’s finest taste to Saratoga Springs. They may not be the Phillies, but as an official expert on this sandwich…these 2 guys have hit it out of the park!

Their official Grand Opening is tomorrow. I’ve already been there 3x since Tuesday. I highly recommend whiz. Time to jump on my bike and work it off! Tell Nate and Vaughn I sent you. I’m trying to get a life time supply of manna.

If you know me at all…you know I am hard core Philly! I grew up there eating the greatest food on the planet…Philly Cheese steaks! Please know that if you have ever had a cheese steak from anywhere other than Philly, it’s a fraud, a fake, a phony…and completely disrespectful to the real deal! It’s like comparing dog food with filet mignon.

Now I love everything about living in upstate New York, and it’s my heart’s desire to live here my whole life…leveraging it for God in the Northeast. However, I do have several issues. One, we need some professional sporting teams. Two, we have got to have some legit food.

Well, God’s favor answered one of my deepest prayers. Professional team? No. However, Saratoga Springs is now home to a legitimate Philly cheese steak place! I REPEAT. The Capital Region has an authentic Philly cheese steak place! Thank You, God! Check them out! Tell Nate and Vaughn I sent you! Liberty Bell Cheese Steaks.

Why Cremeans Couch? Leaders Laugh!

Many times I take myself way too seriously. Face it, no matter where you lead, leadership is stressful business. When you think about what God has entrusted us with…it can be overwhelming! I believe a health gauge for leaders is their laugh-o-meter. I just made that word up, and I like it!

I believe Jesus Christ had the greatest sense of humor, the greatest smile, and the greatest laugh! I believe Jesus enjoyed life more than anyone who ever lived! I think he cracked up frequently at his friends…and even at himself. No one ever had more pressure than Jesus, and He had to know as the Creator of laughter that it releases stress. He also knew that in any great team there has to be laughter…a chemistry thing, a joy thing!

Why CC? Barbara Walters likes to make her guests cry. My goal with CC is to make my guests laugh…and you as well…at least bring a smile to your face. There is a segment at the end of every series of interviews called Rapid Fire. You will see another side of my guest…and hopefully they will loosen up…or I will kick them off the couch!

Leaders, how is your laugh-o-meter?

This was last weekend’s intro…enjoy! I’m having too much fun with this series!

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