Forced Gratitude: Research Shows, even Insincere Gratitude can Help

No matter how good our lives are going, there’s always something in our lives to whine about. People with no family whine about it. People WITH family whine about it. And all this goes to show, we all need the discipline of thanksgiving this time of year.

So, if you’re feeling anxious today… I have a fascinating little trick for you that can change everything.

As a kid, I used to think that thanksgiving was a silly holiday… a day requiring insincere gratitude and traumatic family meals.

For starters, does anyone in the world actually like cranberry sauce or mincemeat pie? Of course not…or we’d be eating it all year long…(and some weirdo is thinking, “that sounds amazing.”

Don’t get me wrong: if the pilgrims could taste green bean casserole, they would say to themselves, “it’s all been worth it.” But why not Turkey Fajita’s or something?

As for family, thankfully, I happen to have level-headed relatives… But I know many people who dread seeing family this time of year. So, to help you out, I want to share a fascinating piece of advice that just might change the way you see your relatives, even thanksgiving.

A while back, I found a fascinating study on human emotions. In the October 2011 issue of the Journal of Experimental Psychology, a study revealed that if a person “gave thanks” or said positive things out loud about a person or situation, it tended to subtly alter their emotions towards it. To be statistically precise, test subjects were 17% more likely to declare a person as likeable if, on an earlier occasion, they were forced to make the declaration over a specific person.*

They had test subjects look at pictures of random people. They were told to declare positive or negative things about specific individuals. And later on in the study, they were asked to rate their feelings towards the people in the pictures (the same ones they were shown on an earlier occasion). On average, the individuals experience a 17% boost in positive feelings towards the people they were forced to declare positive things over, suggesting that both positive self-talk and forced gratitude still has a profound affect on us.

In some ways, this shouldn’t surprise us. After all, the Bible’s said all along: “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Prov. 18:21). Thus, the Apostle Paul told us, “Be filled with the Spirit…giving thanks always for all things to God.” (Eph. 5:18,20)

But what’s interesting to me about the study I just mentioned is that, it proves our emotions tend to follow our declarations – even when they start out as obligatory or insincere. As you’d imagine, this could be the very thing that transforms your troubled relationships.

So this thanksgiving, take a little time out to journal about all the things going good in your life. In the end, blessings have to be savored in order to truly be enjoyed. But ALSO try giving thanks for some of the people who irritate you. Take a few minutes to write or talk about their redemptive qualities. By the end, you’ll noticed a change in your heart. Even more, you’ll start to see some of those frustrating people the way God see them. I’ve had some of my greatest spiritual insights after doing little “thanksgiving meditations” like this. So try downloading the following worksheet: Thanksgiving-Meditation-Sheet

And by the way, I will be expanding on this blog this Sunday! So, don’t miss church. (Besides, we’re doing our Heart for the House Offering to fast forward our two new campuses! So, it will feel extra rewarding 😉

In the end, gratitude is a preserving agent in our jobs, marriages, and families. I’m not saying that you’ll suddenly love butternut squash. And your uncle Mike’s political opinions might still repulse you. But, you just might sit back on Thanksgiving night with a smile on your face and say: “God, thank you for all of this.”

* This study came from the October 2011 issue of the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes

November 28, 2019 /

Volunteer Cliffs – 5 Reasons Why Volunteers Quit and How to Prevent This!

Volunteer Cliffs:

5 Reasons Why Volunteers Quit our Ministries and How to Diagnose & Remove these Obstacles!

Have you ever wondered: “How do I get more people involved in my ministry? Or, why do certain ministries always seem to attract volunteers while others struggle?” Weak leaders always think: “I need more money or good staff members.” But, let’s be honest, most of us aren’t rolling in money. And if we want to be good stewards of God’s resources, we should never use money as a substitute for vision and volunteerism. Besides, no amount of money or staff will ever compensate for organizational practices that repel or disempower volunteers.

Over the years, I’ve helped thousands of pastors diagnose their growth lids. Indeed, most of these problems are due to one of five roadblocks that I like to call “volunteer cliffs” – 5 problems that cause volunteer turnover.

As a kid, I had the unfortunate experience of falling down a small cliff in western Ontario. After splitting my leg wide open, it naturally made me hesitant to go rock climbing again. But, the reason I’m sharing that story is because, leading a ministry is a lot like persuading people to climb a cliff. A few might follow you; but, most people are going to be like: “Yeah… no thanks!” And so, you resort to casting vision: “The view from up here is amazing!” And still, people will be like; “yeah, that view is not worth dying for!”

So, how do you help people scale a cliff (aka., join your ministry)? Well, to keep using the cliff metaphor, you’d start by tying a climbing rope around a tree. Eventually, you’ll build a ladder, a staircase and maybe even an escalator. And the same is true for all ministries and discipleship goals.

How do we get people to scale the cliff of sexual purity? How do we get people to scale the cliff of Bible reading? Tithing? Fasting? How do I build ladders… then, stairs… then escalators? How can we make this as easy as possible?

In the same way, every ministry in our church is afflicted by “cliffs” – obstacles that intimidate volunteers from taking a step into leadership. And over time, I noticed 5 broad categories. And as you read them, which of the following does your ministry struggle with most? Allow me to describe each with a single sentence. And then, below these descriptions, I will unpack each of them in detail with a few solutions.

Skill Cliffs: “It’s too technical, high-pressure, or complex for me to feel comfortable serving.”

Pastoral Cliffs: “I don’t feel known, valued, or spiritually stimulated. I.e., It’s not relationally fun.”

Communication Cliffs: “I don’t really know what’s expected of me in terms of scheduling, time, talent, or character. I don’t know how to give feedback when things aren’t working.

Synchronization Cliffs: “I feel tension between this ministry and other parts of the church.”

Convenience Cliffs: “It’s too inconvenient for me or my family to serve in this ministry;”

If you’re interested in watching the Video Teaching on this, click here:

For a simplified pdf handout of these five cliffs, click Volunteer_Cliffs_Handout

Otherwise, below are more detailed explanations of each with a few solutions as well.

SKILL Cliffs:

“It’s too technical, high-pressure, or complex for me to feel comfortable serving.”

Many ministries require training on certain software programs, instruments, or administrative systems. Sometimes these tools are overly cumbersome or difficult for volunteers to learn, creating a “skill cliff” – a skill set that very few volunteers can acquire. Yet, instead of simplifying the system or creating a better training program, many leaders simply beg for more money or “paid staff” – which never solves the real leadership problem.

In Small Groups, volunteers tend to struggle with facilitation skills more than technical skills. (For Eg). New leaders struggle with: How to facilitate fun discussions with open ended questions; What to do with an overly extroverted / introverted / awkward person; How to phone call an absentee group member without coming off oppressive, guilt-tripping or creepy; How to lead a worship song without song-lyrics; etc.

Thus, skill cliffs occur when…

The leader fails to identify or simplify over-complicated tasks. (For Eg). Getting rid of a customized sound system that requires 12 different pieces of equipment to be turned on.
The leader fails to clarify skill-sets that are necessary to the task and provide fun training and on-boarding classes. (For Eg). Providing a growth track to expose people to your ministries processes & procedures.
The leader delegates tasks in such a way that leaves volunteers overwhelmed rather than delightfully challenged (For Eg). Forcing a new volunteer to teach a Bible lesson to a room full of 5^th grade boys only moments after giving them a bullet pointed script.

The SOLUTION: Skill cliffs can usually be solved in one of two ways: (1). Simplify the system; or, (2). Add a fun and life-giving training system. However, let’s be honest: Like most church problems, there is usually a well-meaning leader who is politically handicapping that ministry. (Eg.), Sister so-&-so simply doesn’t want to make that change for one reason or another. Thus, every ministry is usually one tough conversation away from a breakthrough. Obviously, there are hundreds of life-giving ways to confront, challenge, and/or remove people. Always start by goal-setting, vision casting and positive incentives. And if we need to remove a leader (to eliminate a Skill Cliff) we always coach our leaders to be (1). Gentle; (2). Inspirational; (3). Firm; yet (4). Negotiable. Think win/win. Never confront alone. Never do it through letters, texts, or emails. Always attempt a face-to-face conversation and involve spouses if possible. And always have one or two follow-up conversations to avoid lingering offenses or misunderstandings. For additional ideas, see the “7 Job Descriptions” outlined below – which are leadership positions designed to target each cliff.

PASTORAL Cliffs:

“I don’t feel known, valued, or spiritually stimulated. I.e., It’s not relationally fun.”

Every volunteer has “Felt Needs” and “Real Needs.” Their felt need might be entertainment or looking for a date; but, their real need is: they don’t have 4-7 close Christian friends or a ministry…they don’t read their Bibles or attend church on a regular basis. I.e., a healthy and successful ministry always meets BOTH real and felt needs at the same time. Thus, Pastoral cliffs can still occur when…

The leader allows volunteers to do a task yet doesn’t guarantee they are having fun.
The leader allows people to show up to serve; but, doesn’t guarantee they are making new friends or having meaningful connections with team-mates.
The leader fails to “host” attendees and actively show both interest and value to each person.
The leader fails to fully know the spiritual needs of their volunteers: (For Eg). What are their dreams? What are their struggles? What are their current pressure points? How are their families? If they dropped off the team, would someone have a follow up appointment? Do they have 4-7 friends and a ministry? Have they gone through our growth track? How can we invite them to take a next step?
The leader fails to consider “span of care” ratios: (For E.g.), 1 Host Leader per 5 volunteers.

Nobody wants to be a warm-body filling a role. No healthy person wants to stay a spectator. People need a leader who knows them, misses them when they’re gone, celebrates them, and processes with them.

The SOLUTION: Every ministry team needs a “Party Thrower” – a people magnet; a pastor / small group leader or a host of sorts. In other words, if you volunteer in our kids ministry, we don’t want you feeling lonely in the two’s & three’s room. We want a party-thrower to be in every room. We want you to look forward to volunteering as you know there will be life-giving people making every task fun and relational. For additional ideas, see the “7 Job Descriptions”outlined below – which are leadership positions designed to target each cliff.

COMMUNICATION Cliffs:

“I don’t really know what’s expected of me in terms of schedule, time, talent, or character. I don’t know how to give feedback when expectations are off.

Every successful ministry or small group has a “secret sauce” – a recipe for success that may include food, setting, size, format, etc. Healthy ministries curate these recipes into standard operating procedures. And great leaders communicate these recipes well. Thus, when sensitive or controversial decisions are made without adequate communication (like asking a volunteer to step away from a task), team-mates tend to run away from leaders who under-communicate.

Thus, here are some common situations that cause Communication cliffs…

The leader tends to “shoot from the hip” (avoiding run-through meetings, practices &/or schedules); in turn, this causes stress for other leaders who need more prep time to feel comfortable. (For Eg). a leader fails to have the “meeting before the meeting” (in which you explain goals; wins; schedules; and unique expectations, etc.)
The leader makes job changes and/or schedule changes without adequate lead-time or explanation…often because they are disorganized or scared to have courageous conversations.
The leader has courageous conversations but does them poorly. (Eg), they confront a difficult volunteer yet never follow up with them. Or, they confront them publically when it should have been private.
The leader fails to explain the “secret recipe” to people with high-ownership. The leader marginalizes or ignores people who want to modify the recipe instead of explaining what the non-negotiable rules are for that ministry: , The ministry lacks clear I.P.O.D.S. “Imperatives; Preferences; Optionals, Don’ts”
The leader fails to explain what the “Win” is for each week. I.e., What’s the ultimate goal of this group? And did we accomplish that goal this week? Are people being invited into the “Why behind the What?” Do people understand the mission of the meeting? If not, they are less inclined to come back.

The SOLUTION: Every ministry team needs a communication person – a scheduling person. Or sometimes, the solution is a training moment – a run-through, a rally, where people are given clarity and resources that put their minds at ease. The main leader doesn’t have to facilitate all of this; but, someone needs to, or you will lose valuable volunteers. For additional ideas, see the “7 Job Descriptions” outlined below – which are leadership positions designed to target each cliff.

SYNCHRONIZATION Cliffs:

“I feel tension between this ministry and other parts of the church.”

Some small groups and ministry teams have a tendency to wander away from the greater vision, values, or priorities of the church. And this tension tends to subtly sabotage both morale and volunteerism. Here are some common examples of synchronization cliffs…

A leader recruits a volunteer to serve at the early service while their spouse serves at the late service – thus, this couple rarely attends church together. (I.e., Leaders fail to coordinate their schedules or agendas with other leaders).
The leader tends to whine or complain about other ministries or departments not “supporting them.” I.e., They openly compete or create tension with other ministries over facility spaces, announcements and/or equipment. (For Eg). “The media team won’t produce enough videos for us to promote our event!”
When ministries ask for “forgiveness rather than permission.” (For Eg). Your small group worship leader rewires the entire sound board in the kids classroom, thereby angering both the kids ministry and sound team that serves on Sunday – creating tension rather than workable solutions.
The leader has a conspicuous lack of affirmation, honor or communication with lead-pastors or ministry uplines. (For Eg). Your small group leader doesn’t fully seem to agree with the churches’ methods, statement of faith or has an unhealthy obsession with [fill-in-the-blank] doctrine that doesn’t seem to fit with the spirit or ethos of the church.
The leader poaches volunteers or siphon’s bandwidth from other departments of the church without processing first. (Eg., The youth ministry requests an inordinate amount of announcements, promotional brochures or videos instead of generating their own video and graphic budget.)
The leader never attracts and connects attendees to the greater vision of the church. (Eg). Your small group leader never invites people to commit to the greater mandates of the church (the new campus launch; or, the critical upcoming fundraiser).
The leader avoids negotiating with or serving other ministries in the church: A ministry wants child-care yet, resists the complexity of “church required background checks.” Or, they schedule meetings that openly compete with bigger church events (without discussing it with pastors). Or, it could be something as small as, your small group designs custom tee-shirts, but decides to reinvent the churches’ logo on the tee shirt without asking permission from the design dept.

All of these things signal a lack of unity which is a critical component for the blessing and anointing of God. They create pockets of tension and in-alignment… like a football player who refuses to block or run their specified route, it causes tension between “Team-Interest” and “Self-Interest.”

The SOLUTION: Report the tension to your upline. Ultimately, your upline needs to take control and clarify the chaos or else, two things will happen: (1). Volunteers will quit; or (2). Lower level leaders will simply improvise by coming up with their own imperfect solutions that are out of sync with the overall vision or values of the church (hence, the tension). Ultimately, leaders need to hear (a). What’s Working; (b). What’s not working; (c). What’s missing; & (4). What’s confusing. And then create alignment. Tension demands attention. For additional ideas, see the “7 Job Descriptions” outlined below – which are leadership positions designed to target each cliff.

CONVENIENCE Cliffs:

“It’s too inconvenient for me or my family to serve in this ministry;”

This cliff occurs when…

There aren’t enough people on the leadership team, creating burnout: The ministry team doesn’t have a designated “host/party thrower” (who intentionally makes everyone feel valued); they don’t have a hospitality team (who makes sure everyone has food / fun amenities); they don’t have an administrator (facilitating the schedule); they don’t have enough trainers (who help recruit and onboard new volunteers); I.e., It’s a lone-ranger leader who simply “does it all;” or, “demands it all” simply because they don’t understand how to recruit and delegate. (For eg, in a Small Group) The Leader is also the host home, who is also the hospitality (meals/desserts), who is also worrying about worship and child-care – which is too much.
The leader expects too high of a commitment: (For Eg., Some small groups require too much homework/reading; Or, some ministry teams allow their volunteers to miss church (For eg.), a kids volunteer serves both services, instead of “Attend one / Serve one” which causes them to become isolated, depleted and detached from the church. I.e., the expectation must be reasonable.
The leader doesn’t cast a motivationally sufficient vision for why the group exists. People are always asking, (either consciously or subconsciously) “What’s in it for me?” or “what’s the goal?” Thus, when leaders fail to adequately share the benefits of committing to group goals, (or explaining the “rewards, testimonies & WHYs” behind the group’s mission), people’s commitments tend to fade.
The leaders fail to deal with the “other cliffs.” Whenever a small group struggles with the other 4 cliffs, people tend to leave by saying: “it’s just not convenient for my season of life.” Thus, “Convenience” is often a catch-all diagnosis for the other four cliffs.

Again, If you’re interested in watching the Video Teaching on this, click here:

For a simplified pdf handout of these five cliffs, click Volunteer_Cliffs_Handout

So, how do we avoid these Volunteer Cliffs?

The 7 Job Descriptions

If you want to play pro-football, it takes 11 players on the field at any given moment. You can try to play with no blockers or only one wide receiver. And you might even get lucky & score a touch-down. But, over time if you want to win games, you need a full team. And in a similar way, ministries need to fill seven job-descriptions (or “functions”), many of which are uniquely focused on certain Volunteer cliffs.

Keep in mind, you could probably accomplish all 7 job descriptions with only four people. But, for a ministry to grow, you’ll inevitably need to empower more people.

So, below, we outlined the 7 job descriptions twice: One is particularly focused on “Small Group Ministry” and the other list is for “Ministry Teams” (like Ushers, Coffee ministry, Greeters, etc.) In both Small Groups (below) and Ministries teams (opposite page), the “leader & co-leader” focus on all the cliffs. The “hosting team” focuses on Pastoral Cliffs. The “hospitality team” on Convenience cliffs; and the “admin team” on Communication cliffs.

The 7 Job Descriptions on a Small Group Team:

THE LEADER – who’s prepped the game-plan, the schedule and overall vision of the night. They connect people to the vision and heart of their lead pastors. And they always make an “Ask” (ie., they invite people into deeper levels of spiritual commitment at each event).

THE CO-LEADER – who assists the leader; they help lead the “pre-meeting” run-through; they help facilitate the discussion; bring clarity to the chaos.

THE HOSTING TEAM – Usually 1 to 4 people (including the home-owner) who come early to set up the environment (the chairs, the signage, the cleaning). And when guests arrive, they make sure everyone is greeted and having fun. They guarantee that every attender is either making new friends or having meaningful connections with current friends. They are people magnets who show interest and value to everyone who shows up.

THE HOSPITALITY PERSON – who cooks, administrates food & beverages (or makes requests/assigns food responsibilities), and provides party favors & cleanup.

THE ADMIN ASSISTANT – who logs attendance; provides handouts; communicates schedule; facilitates email/texts/ event changes.

(Optional)

THE CHILD-CARE LEADER – who oversees baby-sitters, collects money to pay baby-sitters; overall safety of kids.

THE WORSHIP LEADER – who preps accessible songs and handouts with lyrics.

The Key Idea:

“Most teams fail to thrive because they’re attempting to operate with only a few of the 7 Jobs filled.”

The 7 Job Descriptions on a Ministry Team:

As mentioned before, each of these job-descriptions focus on a specific Volunteer cliff. Don’t get hung up on the terminology (Host, Hospitality) as every ministry can have its own lexicon (e.g, directors, captains, room leaders, etc.) Yet, it’s the universal concepts that matter.

THE LEADER – who’s prepped the 3 to 6 month goals (in sync with the vision of the Lead Pastor). They host leadership team meetings to give clarity to their lead team. And they connect leaders to the vision and heart of their lead pastors. They make it feel like the overall visionary leaders are present with the group. They make sure that organizational I.P.O.D.S are clear (Imperatives, Preferences, Optionals, and Don’ts) are well taught. The leaders concerns themselves with all of the cliffs.

THE CO-LEADERS – They are responsible to lead at specific campuses, church service times, zones or responsibilities. They help lead team-rallies (before each service) – sharing vision and motivation for the day’s tasks; They also debrief the team & help record and report “wins and losses”) – providing weekly feedback to the leader. I.e., They make sure that organizational I.P.O.D.S are executed. And give feedback when they need to be expanded and/or enforced. (Focus on All Cliffs)

THE HOSTING TEAM –These are people-magnets who make sure every volunteer is greeted and having fun. We don’t merely want people to feel like “warm bodies” who are accomplishing tasks. Rather, we want people to feel valued. And while they serve, everyone should be making new friends or having meaningful connections with current friends. Every ministry team, (from the kids ministry to the ushers) should have the appropriate number of hosts. Their ultimate goal is to take care of Pastoral cliffs – to look out for the spiritual highs and lows on their teams – to be spiritual leaders and mentors on mission.

THE HOSPITALITY TEAM – From throat-lozenges for worship-singers to hand-warmers for our parking team. Every ministry needs a hospitality team – a group devoted to adding comfort and removing distractions. For some teams, this will take the form of food; for other teams, cleaning and straightening. We’ve had a valet team (for our worship team members who don’t have time to move their cars). We’ve had an omelet making team (for our early morning load-in volunteers). And many of our ministry teams have had their own in-house child-care. But the point of this person is to help the players focus on the game…not their shoes, their gear, their leg-cramp, or their Gatorade (ie., work on Convenience Cliffs).

THE ADMIN TEAM – who logs metrics; communicates schedule; facilitates email/texts/ special service requests; Every ministry has weekly admin tasks: (folding programs, printing schedules, posting media, recording data). Many of these tasks can happen throughout the week. And there are a lot of people who may not even “like” kids ministry YET, would love to serve on a kids admin team (Convenience / Communication Cliffs).

THE SUBSTITUTE TEAM – Every ministry has “no-shows” or last minute breakdowns that cause stress.

Thus, every ministry needs a list of “on-call” people who have the ability to alleviate this stress.

Every team has a predictable “attrition rate;” thus, the sub-team prevents a cancellation from becoming a crisis. (to the leader, to the experience and to the unscheduled substitute who comes in at the last minute)

THE RECRUITMENT / ONBOARDING TEAM: Ministries are always getting more complex. They start out like a small medical tent and turn into full blown hospitals. And thus, the playbook and onboarding procedures will always get more complex. That’s why, there needs to be a consistent leadership pipeline – a group who recruits, trains, and systematizes the onboarding process. I.e., Every ministry needs its own Growth Track. In essence, this team focuses on Skill cliffs & Communication Cliffs.

For Further Group Discussions:

Whenever our leadership teams evaluate their ministries for Volunteer Cliffs, they often brainstorm in 3 Phases. Here are some questions to go over in each meeting phase with your leadership teams.

Phase 1: Information Gathering Brainstorm:

– Designate a note taker in each group; Read through the handout on the Cliffs and 7 Jobs.

– In light of the 5 Volunteer Cliffs (and the dozens of tasks each represents) Ask the 4 Helpful Questions: What’s working? What’s not working? What’s Missing? Or What’s Confusing? i.e., Brainstorm, Debate, and Categorize the behaviors of the five cliffs into these 4 categories (the 4 Helpful questions) These are designed to give your team insight on the strengths/weaknesses of your ministry. Start with “What’s working” to keep morale high : ) And remember: Not all ideas are accurate. So, towards the end, ask: What are the over-arching themes? I.e., What’s the number one aspect of each category?

Phase 2:

In light of Phase One, what 2-3 changes, if you made them today, would make the most positive difference? To accomplish this, perhaps brainstorm a list of 5-7 ideas and then narrow them down to the top 2 or 3.

Phase 3: The Homework / Take-aways:

What are some practical things that each team mate can take away from the table? Assign tasks to each person at the table that will help move your ministry towards its goals.

October 23, 2019 / 1

How to be a Better Parent – OR – a Better Son or Daughter!

Recently, I preached on parenting – some of the top regrets I hear, & how we can avoid them! We assume that, because we’re socially intelligent, our kids will necessarily catch it. But, it takes a lot more intentionality than most Christians think. To put it simply: life has a way of crowding out many of the best parenting moments. So how do we seize these moments? (Both as parents and as sons & daughters?)

Well, first things first: if you missed the sermon Perspective – Part 5, you can check it out here.
And, the handout I mention in the sermon can be found here.

However, if you keep reading, I pasted both of these handouts below! So, as you continue reading, ask yourself: Which of the tips helps you (or disturbs you) the most and why? Allow God to mess with you!

How to Be a Better Parent:

Habits that increase the transmission of wisdom

Imagine that parenting and discipleship came down to 2000 “conversations and demonstrations.” How will you log the majority of these before your kids leave the house? The top regret of parents is, “I underestimated how fast they would grow up; I underestimated how small the window of mentoring was; I underestimated how much proximity and leverage I had to mentor when they were young; And, now I have to play catch up.”

Here are 3 Simple Habits which have a huge statistical impact on value-transmission and child outcomes:

(1). Be in church EVERY SINGLE WEEK – Research shows, ppl who attend EVERY week have: higher grades, higher graduation rates; higher academic achievements; better time management; better sex lives; better marriages; better life-expectancy; lower depression rates; lower mental illness.

& these outcomes PLUMMET for Christians who even miss even one or two weeks a month! (see citations in book Broken Escalators, Peter Haas; Chapter 3, pg. 56) Or see THIS BLOG – The Jaw Dropping Benefits of Church Attendance:

(2). Have dinner together EVERY NIGHT: Kids who regularly eat dinner with their families are 3x less likely to smoke pot; (cuts the risk of substance abuse in half). It lowers stress levels; significantly lowers risk of suicide. With nightly dinners, kids are more likely to confide in their parents, more likely to feel emotionally content, more likely to be selective about finding positive friends, more likely to get good grades; and, they’re more likely to say their parents are proud of them.” (cited from: The National Center on Addiction & Substance Abuse at Columbia University).

(3). Always Parent towards “Less is More” – Less Sports; Less Piano Lessons; Less Social Events (to free them up). And YOU must model the same behavior: Less Debt; Smaller mortgage; Slower career goals; Basically… Less of ANYTHING that causes you to log fewer hours with God & each other! How?

Turn your 5 year career goals into 10 year goals; Teach your kids: “If that extracurricular is truly so important, you’ll find a way to do it in your 20’s!”

Don’t be like the “Seed among Thorns” (in the Parable of the Seed & the Sower). “[They] hear the word, but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things come in and choke the word making it unfruitful.” Mk 4:18. If the devil can’t get you bad he’ll get you busy!

And if you’re looking for more Parenting Tips, click: “How to Help Your kids Fall in Love with the Church”

Or “How to Survive Young Kids – A Marriage Tip”

How to be a Better Son or Daughter

Habits that increase the transmission of wisdom

What to Look for in a Spiritual Mom or Dad:

Full of God’s Word and the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Psm 1:3; Gal.5:22)
Be sure they attend & serve weekly in a healthy local church:

“Planted in the house of the Lord they will flourish” Psm.92:13

The top 2 predictors of spiritual health & growth: “4-7 friends at a local church + a weekly ministry that charges them up.”

Avoid people who always make you feel comfortable. (If comfort is what you’re looking for, get a massage therapist.)
Avoid mentors who are easily available: Most of the mentors worth having are too busy to mentor you. Expect the relationship to require some form of inconvenient intentionality.

What is Your Job as a Good Son or Daughter?

(1). You must take initiative: You seek them out; Don’t expect them to seek you out. You communicate your needs; Don’t expect them to read your mind or affirm you in intuitive ways. Make it easy for your spiritual parents.

(2). You go to them with the attitude of Serving & Re-Learning:

Teach ability is not the ability to learn. Rather it’s the ability to relearn that which you already know. Don’t seek confirmation as much as impartation. Go with the expectation of receiving homework; Don’t give them homework.

(3). Don’t expect them to fulfill ALL of your mentoring needs: A healthy person has an entire team of advisors… financial, marital, etc. Healthy people need: “Role Models” (books/podcasts); Mentors; Peers (who will hold you accountable); and people you’re mentoring. (because we reap what we sow). No single person should play all of these.

(4). Don’t oppress them with YOUR definition of Fatherhood or Motherhood. Your job is to learn their definition. And in honoring them, you will reap what you sow. God will always provide additional mentors & opportunities to us when we sow honor to them and mentoring to others.

For More Mentoring Tips, see the blog linked HERE:

October 17, 2019 /

Evangelism – The Easy Way

Recently, in our teaching series, Disciplined Part 5, we talked about the discipline of “Sharing our Faith.” The Apostle Paul taught Philemon, “I pray that you would be active in sharing your faith, so thatyou will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ” Philemon 1:6 I.e., we share our faith so that it helps us understand our faith. It’s one of the great paradoxes of discipleship! If we want to become mature it can only happen when we share our faith. But how?

To make this simple, here is a simple “Prayer Target Card” you can use:

12 Targets of God’s Blessing – English

And it’s super easy: Write out a list of 12 people that you can target in prayer. Before we talk to people about God, we must talk to God about people. So, pick 12 people who you regularly interact with. From your workplace to your relatives. Think about the 50 or so unchurched people you regularly interact with. Then, think about “divine chemistry.” Which of these fifty feel distinctly open? Or, who are 12 people you feel burdened to pray for?

After you list them, begin praying for these five things:

Pray that the father would draw them:

Jesus said: “No one can come unto me unless the Father who sent me draws them (Jn. 6:44).So pray that the Father heart of God would be revealed.

Pray that their “Spiritual Blinders” would be removed.

2 Cor. 4:4 “The god of this age [the devil] has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ…” I.e., We don’t pray that they’d make the decision we simply pray they’d have the clearness of sight to make the decision!

Loose the spirit of adoption: (Sonship)…

Romans 8:15 teaches that, God didn’t adopt us into a religion. He adopted us into a family! He doesn’t want us to merely become “Christians.” He wants us to become Children of God! I.e., God’s not calling us to a system of Do’s & Don’ts but rather, a relationship that causes us to say: “Daddy! I’m home!” Make sense Everybody?

Pray for Christians to cross their paths & enter into positive relationships with them.

“Ask the lord of the harvest to send out workers into the harvest field.” Luke 10:2

Pray to “loose the spirit of wisdom and revelation that they may know God”

Check this Out. Paul writes in Eph 1:17 “I keep asking that…God…may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” I.e., If we want to know God, then ask God for his Spirit of wisdom & revelation.

So, let’s be faithful to target people with the blessings of God. And over time, let’s watch and be amazed over all that God will do.

August 2, 2019 /

How Vacations can Save Your Marriage (& your kids)!

Marriage don’t fall apart over-night. The initial cracks that eventually crumble a marriage often start long before. And it’s easy for these cracks to start when the kids are young. Here’s why:

When you’re dating, the relationship is all about getting to know each other. The relationship is all about dreaming together and treating each other like kings and queens. By engagement, you slowly become highjacked by being co-managers of a conference (called a wedding). And by young kids, the majority of your conversations can easily become dominated by basic logistics: “Did you take the kids to the dentist? Did you pick up the milk? How did Zach manage to drive his bike into our neighbors BMW?”

In other words, the relationship turns from Co-adventurerors, to C0-managers, to Co-existers. So, to avoid this role definition rut, you need to intentionally avoid this ditch. And I want to teach you how to do this using date nights and vacations.

Now, being a parent with young kids can be one of the most chaotic seasons of life. And if that’s you right now, don’t give up! It only gets better (IF you don’t kill them or force them into orangized crime).

My wife & I complicated our lives by planting Substance Church while having 3 kids under the age of 5 – which felt a lot like spraining your ankle…& then deciding to run a marathon to inspire people…

Needless to say, we lived at poverty level for the first 5 years of the church. But, throughout this time, we learned a little wisdom about how to keep our marriage strong with young kids! So, if you feel overwhelmed, read on!

The day is coming when your kid won’t need diapers. Even better, the day is coming when they’ll be able to buckle themselves into their own car seats and they’ll go to school ALL DAY LONG! And someday, they’ll even do the dishes with a good attitude (Well, let’s not get carried away here); but, my point is this: If you can survive the temporary chaos of young kids, you’re going to have a lot of fun ahead of you!

Unfortunately, a lot of marriages won’t survive to experience these types of joys. So, how can a couple reinvigorate their marriage amidst this chaos? Well, here’s one simple suggestion:

Vacation Apart from your Kids! The moment I suggest this to some couples, they erupt with excuses: “But you don’t understand my kids!” Or, “I can’t find babysitters.” Or, “you don’t understand our finances.” And unfortunately, I’ve watched the same excuses fracture marriages over and over and over again.

Yes, there is a time to travel WITH your kids. When they become teenagers, you’ll want to log as many hours with your teens as possible. (In fact, when they become teens, you’ll want to plan special vacations with EACH of your kids just to create great moments and have great convos). But, until they’re teens, here are a few things to avoid:

(1). Get Rid of this “Stay-cation” Silliness:

99% of the people who do “stay-cations” have lame-cations. Rather than exploring the world and dreaming with their spouses (which is what you did when you dated), many couples settle into “home improvement ruts.” Are they working on their marriages? Of course not, because they’re stuck in what I call, “The Co-Management Rut.” Many couples stop relating to each other as lovers and co-adventurers. Instead, they become “Co-managers of the household.” And the majority of their communication becomes hijacked by this singular role. Not surprisingly, the adultery rates for folks in this rut is quite high. So, allow me to explain why vacations can change your marriage.

Every time my wife and I place ourselves in a new location, it causes us to have conversations we normally wouldn’t have. A new context often gives birth to new dreams – or at the very least, it gives many of your old dreams the chance to reawaken. Almost every vacation we take together, it forces us to reevaluate our priorities, to realign our dreams, and enter back into our lives with newfound vision. Couples who lack this tend to feel like, instead of “living their lives,” their lives are “living them.”
Unfortunately, many people resolve their pent up middle-aged stress or grieving processes through rash decisions – having affairs, quitting dream-jobs, and making pre-mature moves. So, a good vacation isn’t merely self-indulgent; it’s a chance to reinvigorate your marriage and fill your soul with God’s greater vision for your life.

(2). Drive a Cruddy Car & Trust God for Cheap Vacations:

My wife and I drove junker cars until we were 30… And then we started upgrading to “used.” (Heck, last month, at 43 years old, we just got rid of our rusty old minivan with missing hubcaps – and we bought our first “brand new sofa”). And why did we wait so long to have these experiences? Is it because we have no concept of nice things? No! It’s because we’ve always prioritized date nights and vacations apart from our kids. We made the decision to collect “experiences more than possessions”… Don’t get me wrong: It’s ok to drive nice cars. But my point is this: spend FAR more time “dreaming together than acquiring together.”

Even more, we constantly pray for free vacation opportunities, and God always seems to show up. (We literally have a never-ending list of miracles related to this!!) Even more, there are a lot of young families in our church who would happily take your kids for a few days (especially if they knew you would return the favor).

(3). Teach your kids to become Independent:

There’s a lot of research showing that “over nurturing” or over-attached parents tend to produce unhealthy kids (for citations, see below). As one parenting researcher put it, “Kids need to learn how to ‘soothe themselves.’” Parents who don’t allow their kids to cry, or who are afraid to force their kids to go to “non-parental caretakers” tend to produce kids with lower self-regulation and negotiating skills. A large regression analysis study on parenting even put “child-independence” as one of the top 10 most significant statistical predictors of healthy kids. I.e., If you love your kids, you’ll force them to go through the trauma of “dropping them off.” To put it simply, child centered homes produce off centered marriages.

As a parent, it’s hard to endure the whining of your kids (& unfortunately, that doesn’t necessarily stop as they get older). I remember when I was a little kid, I would guilt the heck out of my parents when they’d drop me off at a day-care now and again. But, it’s safe to say: Your kids NEED you to leave them back with other caregivers now and again. And more than this, YOU need this too.

This same study ranked the “overall peacefulness of the parents” as well as the “strength of the marriage” as the second and third highest statistical predictors of child-outcomes – which shows, the greatest things that affect your kids are often “indirect things”… how well you manage yourself & your marriage. I.e., Personal health issues have a strange way of spilling over into your children. You’ve got to teach them that your marriage and relationship with God are first… even if that means enduring a few tantrums as you drop them off.

One thing is for sure: 25 years ago, when my wife and I first started dating, we had big dreams. And we were thrilled to conqueror those dreams together. When kids came along, we never allowed them to highjack our relationship or our dreams. Sure, it took a while for us to find cheap vacations (not to mention, babysitters who could handle our 3 feisty kids); but we didn’t stay stuck in excuses. And now, our kids are a complement to our marriage, not a compromise of our marriage. Indeed, one of the greatest joys of my life is watching my kids pursue these adventures with us.
Let it be the same for you!

For Further Discussion:
Ask Yourself: Are there any dynamic Christian families who are a season of life ahead of you? What kinds of vacations are they taking? What insights can you learn from them?
Vacationing is an art form… There are “Sabbath Vacations” (vacations where it’s all about rest); “Family Vacations” (vacations where it’s all about compromise in order to bond with family and have new parenting moments); and “Prayer Retreats” (vacations where you connect with God, journal, and receive God’s vision for your life). Tension occurs when we unrealistically attempt to merge all three into one. So, how have other families of similar size and ages dealt with these complex and often competing goals?

Citation: 1 “What Makes a Good Parent? – A scientific analysis ranks the 10 most effective child-rearing practices. Surprisingly, some don’t even involve the kids” Robert Epstein | Oct 28, 2010 http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-makes-a-good-parent/
More Science » November / December 2010

June 18, 2019 /

Don’t Die after the Resurrection – Easter Recovery Guide for Pastors

Have you ever had a “Holy Hangover?” “What is it?” you ask? Well, it’s a numb euphoria mixed with exhaustion and shepherding stress.

For years, as a senior pastor, I used to hate Easter. Part of it was because every year our church would experience record lows in attendance on Easter – partly because 70% of our church was under 34 years old. And because they weren’t the “matriarch or patriarch,” they’d all run off to Mom or Dad’s church… & post their family pics from the “church photo booth” down the street. So when all my friends were tweeting out their record numbers, we’d be scratching our heads in defeat.

But keep in mind… a lot of pastors post numbers that are totally inflated (and if you want a good cynical laugh, see footnote 1 below).1

Of course, our Easter numbers are completely different now. We now have become a “holiday destination church” over the years. And, yes, we’re NOW breaking records each year. However, (1). I don’t post them on social media; & (2). If I could be really vulnerable… these numbers don’t actually “fulfill me” anymore. And honestly, they’ve never actually fulfilled me.

For example, I remember about eight years ago, when we first broke 5000 at a holiday service. It was fun. But within a short time all I could think about was: How can we break that on a normal Sunday? Or, I remember when my first book Pharisectomy hit an Amazon best-seller list, you think I would’ve just stopped and celebrated for a good year. But, all I could think about is… how can I get the message out more?

“WHAT?!” You say. “How can those numbers not move you!?” YES, I love seeing lost people find Jesus; and YES, success always brings a brief boost to my mood. But despite these wins, guess what: “[my] soul finds rest in God alone” (Psm 62:1). And yours does too! God never intended our ministry accomplishments to fill us (which is why we’re always panting after the next level 🙂
Having preached over 19 Easter Sundays in two different senior pastorates, allow me to describe my typical week following Easter: Once the adrenaline wears off, there’s a tidal wave of questions that follow: “What do these numbers mean?” And some years you’ll ask: “Did our growth gimmick just temporarily suck a bunch of transfers out of ANOTHER church?” And other years you’ll ask: “Did the other churches’ gimmicks just temporarily suck a bunch of transfers out of OUR church?” (If you pastor long enough, it will go both ways 🙂

The NEXT question: Will any of these people even show up next week? The NEXT question: Are we even remotely prepared to handle any of these people? (Usually not 🙂 Then the NEXT question: When am I going to solve my leadership pipeline problems? The NEXT question: “God, why don’t I have better resources / staff / [fill-in-the-blank]!?” (And that last question is usually more of a whiney exclamation than a real question.)

So, dearest pastor / leader / random-weird-person who’s interested in pastoral mindsets… allow me to give you some advice:
(1). Shut up and Rest: Never analyze your church the week after Easter. If you continue to break the Sabbath commandment, you will soon break the other nine. Pastors that get addicted to holiday-highs usually get addicted to other silly things.
(2). Don’t Compare Your Numbers with other Churches: You’ll either over-inflate your successes or cheapen your victories – neither of which are good for you. Besides, we all tend to compare numbers without comparing back-stories. Substance’s greatest growth years often happened during the years when our holiday numbers were low. And our plateau years, ironically, often immediately followed our “record-setting” service years. So, really, if you’re trying to derive a lot of meaning from your Easter numbers, once again, refer to point #1. Shut up and Rest.
(3). Savor “the One” Story: Every Easter you’ll have that “one person” who turned their life around. It’s easy to forget: that person is someone’s sister / brother / mom or dad. As a pastor, I believe that gratitude is God’s favorite form of worship after Easter. So, ponder this: “Those who lead many to righteousness [will shine] like the stars forever” (Dan. 12:2).

And let’s pray this out together: “Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your great end-time harvest. Every weekend that we get to serve you is a treasure. And it’s amazing that you’d reward us for this! So as we rest, fill us with a renewed sense of hope and encouragement. We love you.” Amen?

Footnote 1: How pastor exaggerate their numbers: (Step One). Have all of your kids workers do a super hard-sell for salvation. Then count all of these “kid-decisions” into your total. Then you ALWAYS look like you had huge numbers. (Which, by the way, we never include kid-decisions… only adult decisions); (Step Two). To inflate your numbers, add all of your Good Friday Service attendance numbers to your Easter Sunday numbers (even though a huge number of these people are duplicates); (Step 3). When you add extra services for Easter, count all of your volunteers and repeat attendees in the total (i.e., you have a huge number of hardcore people who’ve attended two, sometimes 4 services). (Step 4). When you give your salvation call… have people simply raise their hands and count them. If you force people to fill out a card, or even more… do a text-number for salvation, it will decrease the number.

Now, obviously… I’m joking about the four steps above. We don’t do ANY of these things. And we certainly don’t publish our numbers online. YES, it’s O.K. to celebrate wins with your volunteers. But, I try to do that in ways that avoid social media.

April 22, 2019 / 1

How To Invite People to an Easter Service – Practical Advice

Easter is coming! And at Substance, we have been planning an amazing service for a long time. But why? We want you to invite your friends! Did you know that 82% of unchurched people stated they would go to church if they were invited by someone¹. Yet, less than 2% of Christians ever invite people. But Why?

Well, let’s be honest: Most churches are quite hostile to outsiders – or, at the very least, are so encumbered in intimidating traditions that, most Christians are smart to not invite their friends.

That’s why we’ve designed Substance in such a way where, “You will never understand WHY we do what we do unless you regularly invite your unchurched neighbor.” In fact, half of the reason why we record music videos and produce sitcoms, etc, is so that you can share it with your friends on social media. And they can say: “Wow… I never though church could be like that.”

But, if you’re still intimidated about inviting people this weekend, allow me to make it super simple:

(1). Think about all the people you interact with on a regular basis (friends, coworkers, extended family); and ask yourself: “Of all these people, who am I anointed to reach RIGHT NOW?” I.e., Chances are, there’s at least 1 or 2 who, you feel a divine chemistry with – someone you know would be open to the idea – or, at the very least, they’re open to spending time with you doing something fun.

(2). Simply share with them the invite graphic from our Substance Social media sites – (See: https://substancechurch.com/easter ) Or, just make it personal: “Hey, would you like to spend Easter with me? I’d love to hang with you. And I go to a super fun church. I figured we could go together and then hang out afterwards.” Again, 82% would probably say “Yes.” Or, send them a link to Substance I.O. or Substance Variant (on Youtube). https://youtu.be/6tXP849FpOo

Tell them: “These were filmed at my church.” And, at the very least, it will communicate: “We’re big enough where we won’t single you out or bore you to death.”

(3). If they’re receptive, make it easy for them: Pick them up and go together. Or, meet them in the foyer. Bring them a coffee. Brag up our kids ministry. Just be a good host.

(4). Last, but not least, Don’t feel the pressure to “influence them.” According to the Bible, it’s not your job to convict the world of their sin. It’s the Holy Spirit’s job (Jn. 16:8). And you can rest assured that our entire service is going to be designed to provoke thoughts and make it fun. All you need to do it enjoy it alongside your friend!

But here’s the truth: Every year, we hear amazing stories of transformation. Every year, people have radical God-encounters that cause our church members to think: “Wow. I never saw that person being SOOOO open to Christ.” Indeed, my own salvation probably felt the same. If someone would have looked at my outward appearance, they probably would’ve thought: There’s no way that person is open to God. Yet, I was crying out for more.

So, I’ll end with Paul: “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” – Philemon 1:6 (NIV)

And help us out: At our Northtown Campus, our service times are 8:30a – 10a – 11:30a – And if you can come early or late, it will help it be better for every one. Downtown times are 15 minutes later: 8:45a – 10:15a – 11:45a. Perhaps consider bringing them downtown and telling them the miracle story of how we got it : ) –> click here to remember! –> https://substancechurch.com/history (I share the cool picture of my daughters vision there!)

According to researcher Dr. Tom Rainer

April 17, 2019 /

Time Parasites – How To Free Up 30% of your Time

Young pastors are always asking me the question: “How do you find the time to do everything? You write sermons & blogs; video scripts & tweets; and then, somehow amidst all of this, you find the time to lead an organization?! How do you do it?”

Truth be told: there are many days when I feel like a total and complete failure! For years, I never wanted to teach on time management because, I felt like I was so terrible at it! But, as I look back, God has definitely expanded my capacity. And if you keep reading, I’m going to spill a few secrets by teaching you a little four-step exercise which could probably free up 30% of your busyness over the next 3 months! (I know, it sounds sensational. But it’s true.)

For example, we all know that we should be spending more time on strategic planning, recruiting, delegating, etc. In short, we should be working ON our ministries and organizations, not IN our ministries. But how do we shift? Through 4 simple steps.

But, one last thing: These tricks are specifically designed for those who lead in churches or nonprofits. But, even if you don’t lead in these environments, I still believe you’ll benefit from the concepts. And here they are:

(1). Write down your Day to Day / Week to week / Yearly job tasks/responsibilities? (Bullet point them).

i.e., don’t just focus on weekly responsibilities, but the things that transcend your department: (For Eg.,) Christmas services; fundraisers, or obligations that transcend your department. In light of the big picture, what are the tasks that simply make no sense for you to be doing? Make a “not to do list.” Chances are, there’s about 10% of your activities that simply should be eliminated in light of the others.

(2). Look down a List of Ministry Volunteers /Friends – & Delegate: Do you have anyone who’s capable of doing 80% of the quality that you could do? If so, begin writing their names after specific responsibilities. Chances are, there is another 10% of your activities that could be immediately delegated!

(3). Create an Invite/ Recruitment Plan: Every one of us has people sitting on the fringes of our lives who are totally inactive or unfulfilled when it comes to ministry ownership. Do you know of any volunteers who could be invited into higher levels of leadership and servanthood (Eg., under-utilized spouses, friends)? Most people will not step into higher levels of commitment and maturity unless they’re asked. Brainstorm a list of people who could use such an invitation. What are you going to do this month to personally invite them? Chances are, within 3 months, you could probably delegate another 10 to 20% of your activities.

(4). What is one thing, that if you did/stopped doing on a regular basis, would make the biggest difference on your ministry?This one singular question can change everything for you if you meditate on it on a regular basis. And in some ways, you could apply this question to anything: your marriage, your parenting, even your spiritual growth.

As one example: almost every ministry or department has what I like to call a “skill cliff” – it’s a certain set of skills that are required to maintain the quality and integrity of that department. Of course, the problem with skill cliffs are that they become bottlenecks for volunteers. Very few volunteers have the time or ability to acquire the skills necessary to serve at the next level. And those of us with those special talents often times work twice as often simply because, “no one else can do it!”

But, if you ever plan to Sabbath (or delegate, for that matter), you are going to need to learn how to build ladders (& eventually escalators) for these skill cliffs in your department (i.e., figure out how to train volunteers or simplify processes).

Generally speaking, we already know the answer to this (after all, we are in our position because we figured out how to scale that cliff!) So, this 4th question simply focuses our attention on the answer we already know. But what is that for you?

Of course, it should go without saying: pray your guts out that God would help you “redeem your time.” And last but not least, if you have a boss or upline, make sure that you include them in on this process – lest your quest for efficiency gets interpreted as rebellion! : )

But, here’s the big picture: As I look back on my life, many of my successes came after I gave myself to these 4 steps. Why? Because I learned how to work ON my ministry, as opposed to getting stuck working IN my ministry. In fact, now, I process these questions almost every 6 months. As our responsibilities expand, we need to constantly reassess where we spend our time. And especially for those of us who are pastors: There are souls at stake!

So “Heavenly father, help us to live our lives in a way that makes sense in light of eternity. In Jesus name, amen.”

April 9, 2019 /

6 Golden Rules for Creating Your “Life Plan”

There is something almost magical about a written life plan. Years ago, at the beginning of each year, I would write down my “roles & goals.” Over time, I’ve started revising and expanding that plan every three months. In some ways, it’s a master plan for my year; but, it’s also a prayer journal. As I look back, it’s amazing to see how many goals I’ve achieved and habits I’ve acquired. In many ways, I’m a completely different person because of the discipline of Life Planning.

All throughout the Bible, God has given his people strategic plans. In Genesis 37, God gave Joseph detailed dreams to enable him to become the 2^nd most powerful man on earth. In Exodus 31, God gave Moses a detailed strategy on how to build the tabernacle, and even gave him insight on the exact leaders he should include to pull it off. And in Joshua 6 God gave Joshua a super clear battle strategy on how to approach Jericho. God wants to speak to us about His plans for us! He wants to give us HIS strategy. In fact, for many of us, the very reason we’re discouraged is because we keep approaching our problems in the same old way. And this is not at all what God has planned for us! Jesus himself said, “I came that you might have life to the fullest.” (John 10:10). And, in order to experience this, we’ve GOT to get in sync with God’s plan! But, there are so many of us who don’t know how to go about getting this plan.

So, here’s where we’re headed: I want to explain HOW to write a truly transformational life plan. Some of you are just one habit away from a huge breakthrough in realizing God’s plan for your life. In working through my own life plan hundreds of times over the years, I’ve refined the process down to 6 Golden Rules that will help you maximize the fruitfulness of your life plan.

Write down your goals, plans, and dreams.
- What are the significant roles God has you playing this year?
- What one thing could you do (or stop doing) that, if you did on a regular basis, would make a tremendous difference in your personal, professional, or spiritual life?
- If God was to suggest an adjustment in your life today, what do you think He would tell you?
- What are some goals for each specific role and/or issue?
- What could be the best imaginable outcome of you achieving these goals?
- What could potentially stand in the way of accomplishing each goal?
Submit your plan to the Lord through scriptures, mentoring, and prayer
- Would any of your plans contradict the teachings of scripture? What encouragements or cautions would your spiritual friends give you about your plans?
- Who are the godly people in your life who have successfully navigated some of the goals and/or problems you are facing? And what are you going to do to earn the right to be around them?
- After refining your goals through the previous two filters, what does your gut tell you?
Convert all your dreams into fun goals…then into small habits
Detail your plans TEN times more than you think necessary
Positive habits form because of frequency, not quality and quantity
- What are some tiny “2 minute” habits that would prove to you that you are becoming the person you hope to be?
- What will be your daily trigger for these habits?
Negative habits die because of dissection and displacement
- What is this bad habit (or sin) my answer to?
- What would God have me do instead to meet this need?
- Who or What are the conditions, environments, and triggers for this negative behavior?
- How can we control our conditions to avoid triggers or pre-decide an alternate response to overcome triggers?

Once you sit down and spend some time truly asking yourself these questions and using these 6 golden rules to write your life plan, you’ll begin to have new clarity and new faith. Our spoken prayers and written plans have power, and when our faith is activated, motivation and miracles follow! When we work on the mess, God works on the miracle. He’s ready to speak to you and ready to move in your life right now. Are you ready to take the next step and create a life plan that coincides with God’s amazing plans for you? Click here for a detailed worksheet that will help you get started!

To watch the sermons that correspond with writing your life plan, see parts 6, 7, and 8 of the teaching series “Changeable,” found here.

February 17, 2019 / 3

Several Reasons to Love the Deep Freeze! – Let’s Hate Summer Together

It gets STINKIN’ COLD in Minnesota… like, the windchill for the next day is, honest-to-God, -45-65F degrees below zero. And for the record, it often gets way warmer here than most people think during the summer… often as hot as Florida (and maybe some of you nerdy folks can explain why that is??)

But, I want to encourage you with several reasons to LOVE the DEEP FREEZE!

Did you know: Crime rates and murder rates tend to drop.¹ Snuggling is more common (just google “Polar Vortex Babies” and you’ll know what I mean). Shivering burns more calories. Cold weather also tends to increase productivity!². When we sit on our leather car seats, it doesn’t feel like hot lava is erupting onto our inner thighs. And hey,… no mosquitoes!

Even the Bible says to be grateful for the cold: “Sing to the Lord with grateful praise…He spreads snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes…Who can withstand his icy blast?” Psalm 147:7,16-17.

But if you’re struggling with the cold, here are a few ways to chill-out (pardon the expression):

(1). Unfollow all your friends who brag about their tropical weather: They are losers with sweaty underpants who live in higher crime areas and have less babies. It’s that simple.

(2). Embrace and perpetuate terrible clichés like: “Let’s get positive about the negative.” “There’s no bad weather, just bad clothing.” “Do I have a fever? Because you are giving me chills?” Or my personal favorite: “Can you hold my gloves for a second? I usually warm them by the fireplace, but you are way hotter.” (Note: My legal team advises you to not say this to your boss or co-workers).

(3). Compare yourself to the weather on Mars: It’s a high of -19F today… (which, I realize is oddly close to Minnesota); however, Mars is going to drop to -111F tonight! Idiot Martians. I can’t believe they live there.

(4). Grow a Thick Beard (& Yes, I’m talking to women too… it’s ok to admit you have random facial hairs).

(5). Embrace “Denture face” – In the North, we’ve all been there – you’re running into the grocery store and your teeth spontaneously freeze because you foolishly decided to smile at a cute baby… So, the remedy: Pull your lips tightly over your teeth like you just had them all removed. Yes, you look like an angry old grandpa; but, remember… you’re burning more calories. You’re less likely to get mugged. And when you get home, you can tell your loved one: “This sidewalk must be unsalted, because I just fell for you.” And Finally,

(6). Listen to Bob Marley on your way to church this Sunday. Trust me. If you do this, it will be the highlight of your week. YES… we DID have to cancel our church events on Tues & Wed (including our giant Volunteer Appreciation Party :(. But, by Super Bowl Sunday, I’ll be bringing the heat! And you will not want to miss it!

In downtown, remember, you can take the indoor skyway to within a few steps of church! (And yes, it will be warmer there compared to last Sunday as we prep for our new HVAC and future video wall there). And I’ll be in the pulpit with a super-fun message! Be sure to invite your frozen friends.

Love you all! Stay warm.

Ps,. I included a few of my favorite “I Hate Summer Memes” below…