My car is great at telling me when I have systems that need to be checked or updated. My computer also alerts me, as does my iPhone apps. SO, what would it take for you to have these systems check yourself?
Systems are great things to have in place. But if you have systems that are not working, it may be time to restructure your systems. Systems are beneficial in business, home, and life settings. Recently our staff went through a check of our systems. It is great to pause at least 2x a year and review the systems you have in place, look for the ones that may need to be established, and then get them all in motion. So you may ask, what are systems that you should think about or have in place for you personally? Here are a few thoughts, in no order whatsoever: family, spiritual, health, responsibilities, personal, work, & friends. In each of these areas you have a ways to grow and set systems to make better use of your time management, follow though, and life development. In this process of reviewing systems, I found some that were dead-ends, rock solid, seasonal, need some work, and then a few that need to be established.
So, take a few hours-window to walk through your systems you have or have not. This is developing you as a person. If you need someone to review them, ask someone connected to the area you are working on: family, work, social, etc...
We can all grow from establishing systems. So, take the time and review them soon, before the lights go off and the systems crash. It's easier to address them before they are in a failure process.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
PUSH!
I have a rule I established with my son: If someone pushes you, feel free to push back. (unless it is your sisters-then I'll take care of it) I know this may not be the rules you grew up with or rules you even establish in your household. But I want my kid to know he has permission to push people if needed. Being pushed by another kid, is permission from me to push back.
As a leader of a small group, it is very easy to not push or even push back. As a group grows closer together, a leader often draws back from anything that would bring challenge, confrontation, or even disagreement.
I think as leaders of groups we have to be able to challenge our groups in growth. If we don't, then we are just offering a party with friends. In discussion and facilitating questions, the leader must be able to press people farther in their faith. That may look different for certain people, but the need to push-has to be there. A group often forms to agree with whatever is being said, and very seldom is their a "devils' advocate" in the room. Recently, I went to a small group and there was a challenge to the discussion. There was this tension, and it wasn't a negative tension at all. It was a tension that was great for the group to wrestle with. The leader responded in a fantastic way, and other group members gave some of their thoughts. I remember walking away from that group visit, feeling that this was super great. The facilitator displayed: poise, leadership, an answer backed up by scripture, and was friendly in the response. The tension didn't linger longer than it needed too. As a matter of fact, we all ate later together, agreeing to disagree on certain things.
The point is this. As leaders, we need to step in and push those in our groups as they walk along in faith. I know that leadership is tough. Leading small groups is tough for some. I do know this though: as leaders we will face challenges and push back; we must offer it as well. Let people wrestle with the text, the questions, and push people to extend their Christian faith. We need strong believers who know why they believe what they believe. One way to do this is to give them an opportunity to push their faith, with great friends who love them.
Pushing fellow small groupers will continue to transform them individually, and as a group. So, about this and next time do a little pushing with those in your group. Pushing can be a great stretching environment, and we all know stretching is great for us all.
As a leader of a small group, it is very easy to not push or even push back. As a group grows closer together, a leader often draws back from anything that would bring challenge, confrontation, or even disagreement.
I think as leaders of groups we have to be able to challenge our groups in growth. If we don't, then we are just offering a party with friends. In discussion and facilitating questions, the leader must be able to press people farther in their faith. That may look different for certain people, but the need to push-has to be there. A group often forms to agree with whatever is being said, and very seldom is their a "devils' advocate" in the room. Recently, I went to a small group and there was a challenge to the discussion. There was this tension, and it wasn't a negative tension at all. It was a tension that was great for the group to wrestle with. The leader responded in a fantastic way, and other group members gave some of their thoughts. I remember walking away from that group visit, feeling that this was super great. The facilitator displayed: poise, leadership, an answer backed up by scripture, and was friendly in the response. The tension didn't linger longer than it needed too. As a matter of fact, we all ate later together, agreeing to disagree on certain things.
The point is this. As leaders, we need to step in and push those in our groups as they walk along in faith. I know that leadership is tough. Leading small groups is tough for some. I do know this though: as leaders we will face challenges and push back; we must offer it as well. Let people wrestle with the text, the questions, and push people to extend their Christian faith. We need strong believers who know why they believe what they believe. One way to do this is to give them an opportunity to push their faith, with great friends who love them.
Pushing fellow small groupers will continue to transform them individually, and as a group. So, about this and next time do a little pushing with those in your group. Pushing can be a great stretching environment, and we all know stretching is great for us all.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
TAILGATER coming Sunday, June 29
The ECC TAILGATER
Sponsored by Small Group Life
SUNDAY, June 26, 2011
*4pm
*Note new start time this year.
Purpose of Event:
This is an ECC Connection Event sponsored by Small Group Life. Our desire is to have as many people from ECC swing through our Tailgater, as either a Tailgate location or a participant, for good food and great friends. We will invite those not connected to walk through all the tailgates and see what amazing cooks and hosts we have at ECC. Some will be familiar faces and others may not be. Either way, we are just excited to give people the opportunity to connect with each other in a non threatening way.
Entrance: We will have a place for those to check in to get nametags and get a feel for the lay of the field.
Nametags: We’ll have nametags handed to group leaders for group leaders to distribute, and those looking for groups we will have ones at the main entrance.
Food: Each Small Group will provide enough food for themselves and others.
As a reminder, do not forget your paper products/utensils as needed.
Games: We are encouraging groups to bring games to play as a group. Bocce Ball, Frisbee, Croquet, we will have the middle of the field open to roam and play.
Weather Backup Plan: If the weather doesn’t cooperate we will notify you days in advance with what our game plan will be. In the NW we just never know, we don’t need the sun, we just need no rain.
Check in time: 3:30pm. Field cars will enter through gate on East side of field; all participants will enter through the walk way leading from the ECC parking lot.
Chairs: Bring your own and a few extras. Lawn chairs, beanbags, sofas, beach chairs, if you can sit on it, we’ll call it a chair.
Garbage: We’ll have receptacles and extras, but we encourage groups to pack it in and pack it out.
Schedule: 3:30pm-2 cars/group arrive
4pm-fun times had by all
6:30pm- close and clean up
Signage: Each group will have a sign with their name on it. This will signify the name of the group that people are walking by. We’ll make sure you have your sign upon arrival.
Childcare: None
Entry Point: Field-cars will enter through gate on East side of field; all participants will enter through the walk way leading from the ECC parking lot.
*CARS MAY ENTER THE FIELD AT 3:30pm to set up their spots. Each group is responsible to have their area set up.
Parking Team: ECC will have a team on hand to help direct traffic out on the field. .
Small Group Leader Communication
We are encouraging all groups to participate in this event as it is one of the more fun events we do all year in small groups and as a church. If you, the leader, are scheduled to be out of town, we would still encourage your group to meet without you.
Sponsored by Small Group Life
SUNDAY, June 26, 2011
*4pm
*Note new start time this year.
Purpose of Event:
This is an ECC Connection Event sponsored by Small Group Life. Our desire is to have as many people from ECC swing through our Tailgater, as either a Tailgate location or a participant, for good food and great friends. We will invite those not connected to walk through all the tailgates and see what amazing cooks and hosts we have at ECC. Some will be familiar faces and others may not be. Either way, we are just excited to give people the opportunity to connect with each other in a non threatening way.
Entrance: We will have a place for those to check in to get nametags and get a feel for the lay of the field.
Nametags: We’ll have nametags handed to group leaders for group leaders to distribute, and those looking for groups we will have ones at the main entrance.
Food: Each Small Group will provide enough food for themselves and others.
As a reminder, do not forget your paper products/utensils as needed.
Games: We are encouraging groups to bring games to play as a group. Bocce Ball, Frisbee, Croquet, we will have the middle of the field open to roam and play.
Weather Backup Plan: If the weather doesn’t cooperate we will notify you days in advance with what our game plan will be. In the NW we just never know, we don’t need the sun, we just need no rain.
Check in time: 3:30pm. Field cars will enter through gate on East side of field; all participants will enter through the walk way leading from the ECC parking lot.
Chairs: Bring your own and a few extras. Lawn chairs, beanbags, sofas, beach chairs, if you can sit on it, we’ll call it a chair.
Garbage: We’ll have receptacles and extras, but we encourage groups to pack it in and pack it out.
Schedule: 3:30pm-2 cars/group arrive
4pm-fun times had by all
6:30pm- close and clean up
Signage: Each group will have a sign with their name on it. This will signify the name of the group that people are walking by. We’ll make sure you have your sign upon arrival.
Childcare: None
Entry Point: Field-cars will enter through gate on East side of field; all participants will enter through the walk way leading from the ECC parking lot.
*CARS MAY ENTER THE FIELD AT 3:30pm to set up their spots. Each group is responsible to have their area set up.
Parking Team: ECC will have a team on hand to help direct traffic out on the field. .
Small Group Leader Communication
We are encouraging all groups to participate in this event as it is one of the more fun events we do all year in small groups and as a church. If you, the leader, are scheduled to be out of town, we would still encourage your group to meet without you.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Small Group Safety
I found these great principles for safe small groups in Discipleship Magazine. Mary Glenn was the author of this article and I thought is was worth passing on to small group leaders.
Is your small group a safe place?
Here are 9 ways we can create a safe place environment in small group life:
1. Provide a supportive nonjudgmental space. We must learn o provide a safe place for people to discuss real issues without fear of rejection.
2. Be genuine The ability to be real is so important. When we are attentive, respectful, and above all human, people feel comfortable to share real struggles.
3. Show empathy When we make a sincere effort to understand and identify with another’s pain, we can help in the healing process.
4. Err on the side of grace It doesn’t do any good to heap condemnation on someone who’s trying to work through their own issues.
5. Communicate acceptance and show love People need to be loved just because.
6. Be a friend Friends are a much needed resource.
7. Share from your life You may not be able to relate exactly, but you have experienced your own personal struggles. You can help put the struggles into perspective and give them hope.
8. Care enough to confront Love enough to give honest feedback, but speak the truth in love.
9. Instill hope and lead them to resources that will help It has been said you can live 40 days without food, 4 days, without water, 4 minutes without air, but you can’t live seconds without hope. Be an encourager.
ACTION: Figure out a time to review these with your group. How can your group implement these? Are there any that you could work on? Personally? As a group?
Is your small group a safe place?
Here are 9 ways we can create a safe place environment in small group life:
1. Provide a supportive nonjudgmental space. We must learn o provide a safe place for people to discuss real issues without fear of rejection.
2. Be genuine The ability to be real is so important. When we are attentive, respectful, and above all human, people feel comfortable to share real struggles.
3. Show empathy When we make a sincere effort to understand and identify with another’s pain, we can help in the healing process.
4. Err on the side of grace It doesn’t do any good to heap condemnation on someone who’s trying to work through their own issues.
5. Communicate acceptance and show love People need to be loved just because.
6. Be a friend Friends are a much needed resource.
7. Share from your life You may not be able to relate exactly, but you have experienced your own personal struggles. You can help put the struggles into perspective and give them hope.
8. Care enough to confront Love enough to give honest feedback, but speak the truth in love.
9. Instill hope and lead them to resources that will help It has been said you can live 40 days without food, 4 days, without water, 4 minutes without air, but you can’t live seconds without hope. Be an encourager.
ACTION: Figure out a time to review these with your group. How can your group implement these? Are there any that you could work on? Personally? As a group?
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
The CORE of Fellowship
In this crazy pace of life we live, every so often it is good to get to the core of true fellowship. For small groups, simple core principles of fellowship can be very simple and probably pretty refreshing. As I comb over Philippians 2:1-4, there are some key lines I am drawn too. These lines are core items to gauge for small group life. In this passage we find a word "fellowship" that describes the interaction of the church. The original GK word is KOINONIA. Look at the basics of small group life you find in this passage from the following lines:
- Have Kindness & Compassion for one another. (v.1)
- Be Humble. (v.3)
- Always consider others... (v.3)
- Look out for the interest of others. (v.4)
When you look at Small Groups these are the core principles we need to have. If you applied them to your group your group my look very different than it does today, or your group may be a model group with no change necessary.
In other words SMALL GROUP LIFE CORE PRINCIPLES are summed up in Fellowship this way:
- LOVE unconditionally.
- TRANSCENDENT CAUSES where we serve together for the mission of Christ.
- VALUES/PURPOSE to uphold each individuals purpose in life.
- RESPONSIBILITIES to help each other experience transformation.
In which area may your small group need to improve? Step out and do better at? In which area can you lead better at?
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Don't Be Stinky
I have a friend, who will remain nameless, that I grew up with that stunk all the time. He used deodorant, he brushed his teeth, he took showers; however, he did not take care of everything that could cause this stink problem. The reason he stunk all the time was due to his smelly shoes. He was an athlete, and his stinky shoes that he wore all the time brought us to the point where a group had to have an intervention. High school can be brutal, but imagine what he felt like when we said, "Dude, you stink, and you are causing us to stink because you are not using proper shoe hygiene. If you want to hang with us, fix the problem." The problem was he didn't even know he stunk, that was the sad part. Small group leaders can start to stink and not even know it. Here are some observations on how to avoid the STINK:
- Lead the dialogue, don't dominate with a monologue.
- Every so often it is good to get back to the basics. Rinse, wash, rinse, dry.
- Be the Leader, not an observer of the group.
- Change the schedule and routine of small group.
- Engage the small group in FRESH ways.
- Be Creative- art projects and songs help kids remember what they heard and learned about. The same is true for adults.
- If you need a break, there are others in your group who can lead a discussion for a night.
- DON'T WING IT. Know what the verses say, what the questions are, and be prepared.
- Lead the charge on setting understandings and ground rules for group success.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
In Common
It is sad, but is said that Americans are among the loneliest people in the world. Problem with Americans is they are over committed, too busy, live in these congested environments, and still find no time to build relationship. We live, work, walk by many people daily. However, most conversation is surface, if there is any verbal communication at all. Maybe a head nod, a wave, or a "Hey". Here is the kicker, it is a sad day we live in, when we can have all these people around us, yet we don't have meaningful relationships with most of them. Recently they found a man living alone deep in the jungle of South America. Think with me if you will about the life this man must lived. Conversations with nature, the forest, maybe God(or a spirit he might have talked too), birds of the air, animals....who knows. But all of us have the opportunity to have people speak into our life, or vice versa, yet we live like this man in concrete jungles, where we only talk to a computer screen, television, a pet, or ourselves. We are relational beings created by a God that digs community. We cannot and must not be isolated. Yes, we may all be wired differently with attitude, temperaments, language, likes and dislikes; however, we were not designed to be isolated.
I have certain friends that I bond with over various things. It could be in common faith, in common family, in common friends, in common sport fans, in common hobbies, in common likes and dislikes. That should be the case for us all. May it never be said, that I died a lonely life. I, Me You, We have people that we have things IN COMMON with. Find them, talk to them, serve them, love them, and share with them.
What you will find is there are people just like you, looking for people just like you to live life together!
I have certain friends that I bond with over various things. It could be in common faith, in common family, in common friends, in common sport fans, in common hobbies, in common likes and dislikes. That should be the case for us all. May it never be said, that I died a lonely life. I, Me You, We have people that we have things IN COMMON with. Find them, talk to them, serve them, love them, and share with them.
What you will find is there are people just like you, looking for people just like you to live life together!
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