Here are notes that I’m taking during our Monday Morning Staff Meeting. Just thought I’d let you in on what happens during staff…

• We’re talking about leadership principles and what we can do to be better individual leaders.
• Being a high level leader is not something that happens naturally. I have need to implement practical steps to improve as a leader.
• In our jobs we’re measured by our finished product but the lines are blurred with the job of leadership. I have to rethink the criteria I’m applying to evaluate my job as a leader.

Isn’t it crazy how some people you “click with” as soon as you meet them and some it takes a while for the relationship to grow?  There are four stages to a relationship, even though sometimes they happen fast…

Stage 1 -First Day Of School (you meet the first time)

You remember the first day of school?  No one knows anybody (or very few people) and it is very awkward…Most of the conversations start with, “Hi. My name is (fill in the blank).  You don’t know the person at all, you are just getting to meet them.  Guys that start the conversation with a girl and say, “Am I dead, Angel? Cause this must be heaven!” is much better off just introducing themselves.  

The best way to start a relationship is to start with a,”Hi, my name is…”  

 Stage 2 -The Deskmate (start a conversation)

Then you get a desk at school.  You might meet someone that is your desk mate.  You have introduced yourself and small talk happens.  ”Do you like the teacher?”  ”What is your favorite sport?” “This desk is old.”  ”Who are you eating with at lunch?”  These questions can be translated to “Do you like your job?” or “Where do you work?”  Sometimes the introduction comes with small talk and sometimes it doesn’t.  

The small talk is how to start the conversation.

 Stage 3 -The Cafeteria (you go somewhere and hang out)

From the desk mate to the cafeteria buddy.  The small talk that happened at the desk translates to lunch at the cafeteria.  This is usually an event that you go to, whether it be lunch, or a mixer, or hanging out with your dogs, or dinner.  You leave your normal circumstances to go do something together.  In class you have to sit together, but at lunch you don’t.  The cafeteria is where groups form and relationships build even more. 

The conversation leads to a “hang out” event.

 Stage 4 -Recess (you interact all the time)

Once you hang out at lunch you are probably headed to recess.  This is where you play, talk, and hang out.  Your relationship is now in a stage where the awkward pause is gone and your influence in that persons life is extremely high.  You can call that person anytime, have last minute trips to the movies, and share about what is really going on in each others lives.  

The “hang out” event leads to influence and authenticity. 

These stages may happen quickly, but almost everyone goes thru them….More on this tomorrow

Bil Cornelius

Seth Godin

Sales by 5

Herbert Cooper

Gary Lamb

Steven Furtick

John Atkinson

Craig Groeschel

Buddy Cremeans

When you wake up, like most people, you probably look at the clock and think, “Yes! Twenty more minutes to sleep!” or you think “Oh no! Only 20 more minutes to sleep!” It’s interesting that some see the time and are happy that they have more time to sleep, while some see that they only have 20 more minutes. The question brings us back to, “is the glass half full or half empty?”

People can see the same exact thing and take away a totally different view.

Take notice when you see the clock tomorrow morning and take that thought captive. You may see similarities in your thoughts. You may see the glass empty or full in everything.

If you see it full, awesome! If you see it empty, well, the first step is to recognize that you see it empty.

2 corinthians 10_5 …I keep every thought under control in order to make it obey Christ.

Today was one of those amazing days where you see all your work really pay off. What I noticed most of all was that Imagine has an amazing team in place that is growing all the time. It seems like every week we are adding really important pieces in key areas. Let’s talk about today…

• Today was Pastor Kevin’s first Sunday off in 11 months. Good for him.
• I was a little nervous about set up because Kevin is usually the first one there on Sundays. We usually start unloading the trailer at 6:45AM. I wasn’t sure who would show.
• I wanted to leave from my apartment earlier than I did. I wanted to be at the Palladium earlier than normal just in case there wasn’t help.
• Got to the Palladium at 6:45 on the dot and it was just me. Good thing that didn’t last long.
• Wade, Ted & Jon Castro should up just in time to get the job done much quicker.
• By 7:45 we had 12 people there who were all pulling in the same direction and the team work really paid off!
• Sound was completely ready to go before 9:00.
• I was out of the auditorium and running through my sermon at about 9:05 and I felt completely confident that everything would get done, and it did.
• Let me just take a sec and say that the guys who set up on Sunday were amazing. They got so much done so fast. Setting up everything that goes up on Sundays is a big job. Those guys rock and I think we’re ready for more trussing and more lights!!!! 
• Normally my job is to quarterback what goes on behind the scenes during service. I was preaching this time so I couldn’t do it and that was such a good thing. I think I found my replacement.
• Israel Ramos quarterbacked the whole thing and he did a really good job. I know he did a good job because everything happened when it was supposed to. That doesn’t even happen when I’m doing it!
• Austin rocked a guitar solo on one of the songs and that was cool. He’s only 14 but he can shred. Good job Austin.
• So I got to preach which is always fun. Spoke about letting go of your past and I think there was something really cool happening during our service. That’s totally God!
• Sermon point, song, sermon point, song, sermon point, song, music video, etc… Heck yeah!
• There were some people from another church checking us out this morning. They stayed for the whole service but didn’t stay to talk to me. Hmmmm… I wonder what they thought…
• Chris, who’s been attending for a couple of weeks now, was in a motorcycle accident and is in ICU. He’s stable but please keep him in prayer.
• Met a number of cool people who were at Imagine for the first time. They’re coming back!
• Someone who I do not remember ever meeting before asked me if I had found out whether I passed the bar or not. That was weird and cool.
• I never know what is happening in kids and that means they must be ok.
• Vid Luther who handles any and all things technical and takes care of twitter does an awesome job every week. Thanks Vid.
• Video, and lights were really good this week. They’re doing some different stuff and it looked cool. Good job Mike, Brent and Linda.
• Jonathan Saenz stepped up big on propresentor. I’m glad he’s on the team.
• Band sounded really good this weekend. Mike McCarthy rocks my face off.
• The trailer went into the storage room nice and easy on the first try. You know it had to be a good day.
• Texas Tech broke my heart yesterday. It’s our fault. There’s no way we should have lost that game.
• Cowboys got beat bad today by the Giants and the Spurs haven’t won a game. There is a disturbance in the force.
• I’m exhausted! My hat goes off to KJ. He works hard all week, preaches every Sunday and gets it done good. I’m glad he’s driving the bus.
• Night folks, I’m turing in early…

Many people have come up to me and said, “How do I do more for God?”  

Simple, just hit the basics:

1. Read the bible (If you have a hard time reading, get someone to hold you accountable)

2. Pray daily (thank Him, apologize if you need to, requests, and prayer for others)

3. Give (in a local church-tithe, keeps us from putting money first in our lives, and helps the church                 continue its mission of reaching people)

4. Help others around you (bring lunch to someone unexpectedly, mow your neighbors yard, write an                encouraging email, if you do these things you will see lives changed for Christ)

We always think it is the most complex things that move us forward.  Yet, it is the simplest things over time that hold huge rewards.

Most of us never stop to think about the basics.  We move so fast in life or we spend tons of time thinking about bothering problems we don’t take time to find people that encourage us.  So…who encourages you?

Is there someone in your life that builds you up, challenges you, and tells you that you are going to be ok?  If not, pray for someone like that in your life, and be that person to someone else.  We all need a cheering section, every one of us!

Eph 4:29 Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.

I know that a common phrase that I hear when someone makes a mistake is, “It’s not a big deal” or “It won’t hurt anyone.”  Lately, when I have been talking to people, this phrase of “taking it to 100 percent” comes out…I take whatever action someone says and I think of it in terms of “going all out” or “taking it forward to the extreme” and then I ask myself the question….does it bring positive or negative results?  Does it bring things that are good or bad?  Does it help the people around me or hurt those around me?  Do I hide the action or bring it out in the open at 100 percent?  

Most of the time the results are obvious.  It helps direct our actions for ourselves, others, and honors God!

Many of us forgive ourselves very quickly. We understand our faults–we know that we are human. 

Though, the real question is do we forgive others?

I have seen that some forgive easily the people that are closest to them. Their family, their friends, and their close co-workers, which is a great attribute.  But, when it comes to someone who cuts you off you may say, “You jerk!”  Those that are far away don’t get the same treatment. 

Yet, I have seen some that hold total grace and forgiveness for those that are far away. The person that accidentally bumps into you or the person that calls you and has the wrong number. But, they have zero tolerance for their spouse or those closest to them.

Do you tend to have more grace for those close to you or far from you?  It is crucial to know.

Where should our forgiveness be close or far?

The answer is both. We have to forgive and love others close to us and far from us…

Mark 12:31

If everything is important, nothing is important.

If everything is a priority, nothing is a priority.

If you try to reach everyone, you will reach no one.

What is the point?

There is only so much time, use it wisely!