Filed under Craig Groeschel …

Dec 14 2011
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Bill Hybels, Book Review, Craig Groeschel, Great By Choice, Jim Collins, Mark Batterson, Power of a Whisper, SoulPrint, the Circle Maker, Weird

Favorite Books of 2011

I try to read a decent amount of books during a year and I wanted to post my 5 favorite reads of 2011.

1.  Great By Choice by Jim Collins and Morten Hansen – This is probably the best principled business book that I have read (not that I have read a ton of business books).  Collins and Hansen give not only excellent research in their findings, but integrate aligned stories that make the book feel less of a business book and more of a life application guide.  Great principles for businesses and individuals to grasp.

2.  Weird by Craig Groeschel – A very timely book about not getting sucked in to the normalcy of culture.  Just because it is normal for everyone doesn’t mean that it is a good thing.  Groeschel touches on finances, sex, time, relationships, and values.  A great read.

3.  Making Ideas Happen by Scott Belsky – Another business book that I think really has helped me engage the process of grasping ideas and making them tangible.  Belsky gives great insight to how to create action plans, and how to marry strengths from others to get ideas accomplished.

4.  The Power of a Whisper by Bill Hybels – I love Bill Hybels stuff.  Pick up any of his books and you will learn so much.  This one is no different.  We even did a Wednesday night study with this book and had great comments that came from it.  A great book on not only identifying God’s voice in our lives, but having the courage to act on those whispers.

5.  SoulPrint by Mark Batterson – This book is great for young people.  Batterson not only has a great writing style, but puts in great nuggets of insight in helping the reader identify God’s plan for their lives.  Following the Bible character, David, throughout the book, Batterson allows those who read it to have a hope and desire to get in the presence of God.

 

Books I am currently reading or will be reading:

1.  The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson

2.  Give Smart by Thomas Tierney and Joel Fleishman

3.  Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

4.  Onward by Howard Schultz

Nov 16 2011
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#Cat11, Change, Craig Groeschel, Preparation

Preparation

Kristina and I will be moving to a new apartment in the next few weeks (very excited by this).  This, however, takes a lot of time and preparation to be a smooth and successful move.  There are all sorts of things that must occur before we can really make the move.  If we don’t have our “stuff” in order then this move will change from excitement to a frustrating event.

I think this is where most of us fail in life.  Preparation is pivotal for change; more specifically successful change.  I am sure that most of us have said, written, or even proclaimed goals for change in our lives, and yet the change either comes so slowly we get frustrated or we never even get off the ground.  Preparation is the key.

Not long ago, I got the opportunity to hear Craig Groeschel speak at Catalyst Conference – Dallas on the subject of generations.  In his talk, Groeschel brought out the point that the younger generation has an entitlement problem.  They expect to get what they want because they want it.  I think this goes in to preparation in a big way.  Why?  Preparation takes time.  It takes energy…it simply takes work.

Most of us are familiar with the old saying, “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.”  Change occurs when we are prepared.  Many of us wonder sometimes why God has not blessed us in particular areas of our lives (finances, love, leadership, etc.) and the simple answer is that we have not prepared ourselves.

I am reminded of a story that my mom tells about what my dad said about getting his B.A. and M.A.  He said that getting your education might not be for everyone, but without my education the doors wouldn’t have been open for me to walk through.  This is preparation.

If you want to be used by God in a higher position of leadership, then prepare yourself for that position.  If you want God to bless you financially, then be wise with the way you spend/save your money.  If you want to find love, then prepare yourself by being a person of character and integrity.

Opportunities will come our way, the real question is will we be prepared for them when they come down our road?

May 14 2011
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#Cat11, Andy Stanley, Catalyst Dallas, Christine Caine, Courage, Craig Groeschel, Donald Miller, Gary Haugen, Leadership, Matt Chandler, Wisdom

Catalyst Dallas #Cat11

Catalyst Dallas was an amazing experience that I continue to wrap my head around.  There was great leadership insight as well as just great teaching.  Wanted to share quickly some of the following that I loved from the conference.  There is definitely more than this collective list, but wanted to share some of them with you.

Andy Stanley

As most of you know, I love Andy Stanley.  I have read pretty much every one of his books and still listen to his podcasts on pretty much any subject.  He is wise, clear, and practical.  Andy talked about 3 faces of courage: 1.  The courage to stay, when it is easier to go, 2.  The courage to leave when you want to leave, 3. The courage to ask for help, when it would be easier to pretend that everything is OK.  Under the last face, Andy reminded us that “Secrets are dangerous and are usually fear related.”  Andy also reminded us that when it comes to fear, “We should only ever fear not knowing if we are in God’s will.”  How true is this?!

Gary Haugen

I love Gary Haugen.  He is the president and CEO of International Justice Mission.  There organization goes across the globe to help stop child sex trafficking.  I have heard him speak before, and he still has the fire, compassion and drive to save those that are enslaved.  Haugen asked this question: “As Christians, is it our goal to seek to be safer or become braver?”  Haugen also stated that, “If we expect to know exactly where we are going, the cost, and whether or not we will succeed, then we are not acting bravely, but are seeking to be safe.”  Courage takes stepping out into the unknown, and believing God will sustain.

Christine Caine

This is the second time I have had the opportunity to hear Christine Caine speak and she hasn’t disappointed.  A few words to describe her is passionate, encouraging, and action-oriented.  Her and her family stated the A21 Campaign which helps end sex trafficking around the world.  Caine asked us the question, “Is the blessed life, the safe life?  The purpose of life is not to end up in a coffin safely.”  Caine is so passionate, but moved to action.  Caine stated that, “Emotion is not compassion; compassion is action.”  Great stuff from Caine…If you ever get a chance to hear her, you must go!

Donald Miller

I absolutely love Donald Miller.  He was in the top 3 of all the speakers we heard.  Miller talked on the story of Joseph in a way that gave fresh perspective on God’s will and path in our lives.  I love this line that he gave us: “Never take control of your life, just take responsibility.”  God is in control, just be responsible wherever God puts you.  Awesome!

Craig Groeschel

Craig is a great communicator.  Love his books and talks every time I get a chance to be apart of them.  Craig gave a great message on how the church’s generations need to work together.  To the older generation, Craig stated that they must not judge, fear or put down the younger generation, but rather believe in them.  To the younger generation, Craig stated that they must show honor and respect to the older generation.  In humility they find responsibility and leadership.  This was a dynamic talk.  Extremely good all the way around.  Great for all generations to hear.

Matt Chandler 

Probably the best talk in my mind, and he didn’t even get to finish it all because of time.  I would have loved to have not taken a break and just kept learning.  Chandler talked on how we disciple people.  His answer: “Preach the gospel continually.”  I love this statement: “Grace driven effort is violent.”  Chandler talked on how we have lost the weight of sing.  There is so much that I could write on this talk…Simply powerful.

Andy Stanley – Last Session

Once again Andy hit a homerun to finish it up.  Some of the principles he spoke on:

  • The less you do, the more you accomplish
  • Do only what you can do
  • Some leaders buy into the myth of being “well-rounded”
  • Leaders forget to distinguish between their authority and their core competencies.  ”Leverage your authority as little as possible.  Make as few decisions as possible.”
  • Your weakness is somebody else’s opportunity.
  • Stress is often related to WHAT you are doing, not HOW MUCH you are doing.
  • Leadership is not primarily about getting things done “right”.  Leadership is about getting things done through other people.
This was a great conference.  So much more that I could write about, and I might later down the road.  I first have to see how to apply these principles to my life, leadership, and roles.
May 10 2011
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Craig Groeschel, Money, Weird, Wisdom

Weird Money

I am continuing in my reading of Craig Groeschel’s most recent book, Weird.  I just recently finished the section on “Money”.  There are so many great insights and teachings in this section that it would take a long time to expound and highlight them all.  However, in one part of this section Groeschel brings out a great point of why wealth doesn’t equal wisdom.  Groeschel states:

Proverbs 21:20 is a great verse to memorize: “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.”  The wise–not the rich–have more than enough in their house.  They have extra.  According to this verse, it’s a foolish person who lives paycheck to paycheck.  

When “61% of working Americans live paycheck to paycheck”, we need to wonder how much wisdom is around us!  Money can cause us to do some pretty dumb things can’t it?  When we have some, we want to use it.  With well over half of working people in the United States living this way, it would seem like a “normal” problem.  But just because a problem is “normal” doesn’t negate that fact that it is still a problem.

It’s not an income problem.  It’s a lifestyle problem…it’s a spiritual problem.

It’s a choice.  How will you decide to live?  Your answer will affect your life, your families life, and potentially generations to come.  Choose to be wise and a little weird.

Apr 29 2011
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Craig Groeschel, Direction, Family, Growth, Heart, Weird

What Matters Most?

I have been continuing in Craig Groeschel’s new book, Weird.  Most recently I was reading the section on money, and particularly debt.  Groeschel makes the easy case for staying out of debt and making the choice to get on the right path.  Towards the end of the chapter 4 I love what Groeschel says about getting out of debt, because it can also be applied to so many other different avenues of our lives;

(Y)ou have to make a choice about what matters most and then act on your heart’s desire.

Making the choice of what matters the most must be our hearts desire.  Each time we choose a direction, we drive an extra stake in the ground of our hearts to that particular direction; it is our hearts desire.  What matters most to you?  Your spouse and children or your golf game?  Your friends or your spouse?  Your things or freedom?  Your way or God’s way?

What matters to you the most comes out of the desire of your heart.  Your choices will either confirm your hearts desire or shift it down another path.  Every decision matters because it does affect the desires of your heart.  And our hearts take the lead in directing us throughout life.

Apr 08 2011
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Craig Groeschel, Direction, Hearing from God, Weird

Substitue Syndrome

As I posted earlier this week, I have been reading (and thoroughly enjoying) the book Weird by Craig Groeschel.  I was so challenged today by Groeschel’s statements on substituting something for God.  Substituting “stuff” for God is so easy isn’t it?  Whether it is producing, achieving, or driving for success (all which can be good things), if not fully devoted to God becomes essentially about us and not God.

Just like the Israelite making a golden calf while Moses was on the mountain; the idea of worship and security that the Israelites were longing for was not a bad thing.  However, when they acted on their own terms to manufacture those feelings of worship and security, it became about them and not about Jehovah God.  You and I do the same things sometimes don’t we?  We manufacture and produce in the name of God and yet forget the aspect that we need wait and follow God’s directions.  When we substitute, we lose out on experiencing God.  I love how Groeschel states it in the book:

You’re trying to substitute something for God, when he’s the only one who can fulfill you.  This empty pursuit was exactly what I’d been doing for the majority of my life.  I was wondering where my time was going instead of wondering where I was going in pursuit of God.

The real question we must come to grips with is, “Why try to substitue, when we can experience the real thing?”

Apr 06 2011
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Book Review, Craig Groeschel, Weird

Losing Your Marbles

Wanted to write a quick post today that has come out of my reading of the book, Weird by Craig Groeschel.  In his book Groeschel gives a great idea for parent of teenagers.  This idea involves losing your marbles!

Start by counting down how many Saturdays you have left with your daughter(s) or son(s) until they graduate high school.  Add one marble in a bowl for each Saturday you have left.  Then every Saturday morning take one marble out, and think about how you are going to spend your day.

I think this small, visual reminder could help you decide to say no to some good things, and say yes to some great things with your children.  As Groeschel puts it, “Despite our best efforts, we’re all losing our marbles.  It’s just a matter of how we’ll enjoy each one.”

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