Seriously!

Where has time gone?! We have been having such an incredible time ... it feels like we just got back from New Orleans and still have summer left - each wonderful day has flown by, and we are praising God for all that we have and all that we are learning about Him. We know for sure that our precious little boy gets sweeter with each passing day and we are so thankful for the gift of him!

Here's where we have been, starting with our most recent activities ...

Halloween: Hayden was an "engine guy" because he "likes to fix cars" ...

We went to our church's AWANA Harvest Party this evening and had a blast! We decorated pumpkins, made silly-putty, went "fishing" for candy, and got loads of treats! Instead of the normal "Trick or Treat" during the candy collection, he insisted on telling people that "I'm an engine guy ... can I fix your car?"











Playing with Uncle Pete ...

These two have so much fun together! They even made up their own game of baseball with a stick and a soccer ball!

Pumpkins and Train Rides with Papa ...

We could not forget our yearly tradition ( 4 years strong) of going to Eastside Market to find the PERFECT pumpkins! Later that week Hayden and Daddy went back with Papa Kerby to ride a train while mommy and Grandma Kerby were shopping!

University of Kansas: Late Night in the PHOG
We made another yearly tradition happen ... our annual pilgrammage to Lawrence for LATE NIGHT IN THE PHOG! It makes for a great date night since we're both fans of KU and basketball, and it's always so much fun! We seem to manage to get some great pictures with players and coaches and meet a lot of great fellow fans!

Birthday #4: Trains, Race Cars, and DRUMS!

Hayden hit his fourth year on the ground running, and we had a blast! He seemed to enoy the thought of moving from 3 to 4, and loved having so many people there to celebrate him ... but the cake and presents seemed to be the ultimate confirmation that birthday's definitely ROCK!

Catalyst

Last week was a very refreshing week for me. I, along with 3 other buddies on our church staff, traveled to Atlanta for a leadership conference. Over 11,000 other people joined us for an incredible event. As an exercise for me, I reviewed the key pieces I brought home with me. Maybe they'll speak to your heart just as they did mine:


Andy Stanley:
Q - What do you do when it dawns on you that you're the leader?
A - Take the position of servant...just as Christ did (washing his disciples feet)

If we don't take the position of servant, we declare that we are greater than our Master because He chose to leverage His power.

Q - Who benefits from your leadership power?
Q - How can I leverage my power for the benefit of others?

Patrick Lencioni:
"People need to be reminded more than they need instructed"

Signs of Being in a Bad Job -
- Anonymity...Nobody acts like they care about you.
- Irrelevance...What you do has very little value or influence.
- Immeasurement...You have no idea where you stand or how well you're doing

"The impact you have on the people you manage is much greater than the impact you'll have on volunteers."

Panel Speaking About the Word's Perspective of Christians:
91% see Christians as "Anti-homesexual"
87% see Christians as "Judgemental"
78% see Christians as "Sheltered"

"We're not hated for righteousness; we're hated for self-righteousness."

"People must have a way to act on what they know."

Rick Warren:
Moses' staff represented his...
- Identity (Shepherd)
- Income (That of a shepherd)
- Influence (Moves sheep from A to B)

God asked Moses to lay down his staff and God did the impossible by changing it into a snake. Once Moses picked it back up, it changed back to a stick.

"What is in your hand?"
"What needs to be laid down?"

John Maxwell:
"Intentionally add value to the people around you."
"Don't worry about the reaping...just sow."

To add value to people, you must...
- Value people
- Make yourself more valuable
- Know and relate to what others value
- Do what God values (See and Touch as God would)

Craig Groeschel (MY FAVORITE):
Practical Atheist - "Someone who believes God exists but does ministry/life as if He does not exist."

"Our lips sometimes stay close to God, but our heart is elsewhere."

"The way you're doing the work of God can destroy the work of God in you."

Practical Atheism...
- We believe our effort is better than God's power.
- We believe our private life doesn't affect our ministry.
- We believe we must please people more than we please God.

Dave Ramsey:
How to create waves...
- Have a written financial plan.
- Get out of debt.
- Act your wage.
- Save and invest.
- Give (Invest in Heaven)

Erwin McManus:
Even when Adam had a perfect relationship with God and he lived in a perfect place, he still needed.
- God understood Adam's needs more than Adam understood them.
- God intends His creation to be creative.

Andy Stanley (2nd Message):
"There are organizational systems that are conducive to ministry and organizational systems that impede ministry."

"There are organizational systems that free leaders to lead and organizational systems that obstruct leaders."

"System = Your organization's approach to getting things done"

"Systems create behaviors."

Components of a system...
- Expectations/Rules
- Rewards (or lack of)
- Consequences (or lack of)
- Communication (content and style)
- Behavior (of those in charge)

"Systems have a greater impact on organizational culture than do mission statements."

System Imperatives...
- Your system should allow you (lead pastor) to involve and hire the BEST person for the job.
- Your system should provide you with the flexibility to get the right people to the table.
- Your system should allow you to make complex decisions within the context of a small group of empowered individuals
- Your system should ensure that only one person answers to "THEY".

"If you go into an exisiting system w/out knowing there is a system issue, you will spin your wheels."

"Talks don't create behaviors...systems do."

"The CONGREGATIONAL VIEW is not found in the Bible."

Steps to creating a system...
- Get a group of no more than 5-6 people.
- List 3 behaviors you wished characterized your church.
- List 1 thing that you're to encourage for each of the 3 behaviors you listed.
- List the things you're doing to encourage any wrong behaviors.

I highly recommend this conference. We also met with Kevin Myers who pastors the largest Wesleyan Church in the world. That meeting was probably the most valuable experience, but I don't have my notes with me. I'll share them later.