My Epic Journey

I am thankful for:

Today—With Anna’s Mom passing away this year, I have been reminded to be thankful for every day God gives me on this earth.  Though I am excited to one day meet my Savior face to face, I know that why I am here I have a mission and purpose to fill.

Home—We recently closed on our new house.  A house is simply a shelter but but it is called a home when there is a loving family inside.  I am so thankful for not only a new “shelter” but also a loving family that makes that shelter a home.

Anna—I don’t have a enough amazing things to say about my wife, best friend, and my forever partner in this life.  She is more than I ever dreamed and continues to be the most amazing part of my life outside of Jesus Christ.  I am thankful for the 13 years of marriage and can’t wait to spend the next 13 years with her.

Nothing—No, I am not saying I am not thankful for anything.  What I am thankful for are the times in my life when God gives me moments I have nothing on my plate I feels as if I can be me.  During these times I just read, draw, listen to quietness, or sing.  I am so thankful for these moments.

Kids—God has granted Anna and I three amazing children, Isaac (10), Noah (8), and Emma (5).  I am thankful that they are all healthy loving kids.  I am also thankful that they make us laugh every day.

Students—God put a passion in my heart 16 years ago to serve teens and their families.  I am thankful I still have the passion and the opportunity to serve God in this way.  The students at Grace Point/EPIC continue to amaze me and I am thankful I get to share this part of their journey with them.

God—I know it may sound cliché but I am most thankful for my relationship with God.  Through 34 years of my life He has been a constant provider, lover, and judge.  I am thankful for His grace and mercy and for His patience in my life.

Investors (in students’ lives)—I wouldn’t enjoy serving at Grace Point if I didn’t have a team of amazing leaders who are passionate investing in the lives of students.  Our EPIC leaders are not only my helpers in ministry but my closest of friends.

Victories—Though the life of following Christ can be rewarding, it can also be very difficult.  I am thankful that though there have been bumps and bruises, God has granted many victories.  I am thankful He has not given up on me.

In-Laws—I know it sounds weird but I am thankful for my in-laws.  After losing my mother-in-law this year it makes me realize the importance of my wife’s family.  I am thankful for their continual love for me and my family.  I am thankful that I can call them my own family!

Neighbors—I am thankful for neighbors that I can show the love of Christ to.  I am making it a point to wake up every morning and pray for those in my neighborhood.

Grace Point Community Church—Since we don’t have family that lives close, our church family quickly becomes our family.  I am so thankful for a loving, generous, and patient family called Grace Point Community Church.  We are not perfect but we have a love for one another that bonds us together in this journey of life.

Came across this in a post I was reading and thought it worthy to pass along.

7 Non-Negotiables for Effective Spiritual Leaders

Perry Noble

As I have been thinking through my personal leadership journey lately and trying to figure out who God has called me to be and what He’s called me to do…I have narrowed my focus down to seven areas that I believe are essential for effective leadership in the church.

#1 – Passion

I’m not talking about false excitement over an event that you would not attend if you were not on the payroll at the church!

But rather raw, unfiltered, emotional and unapologetic passion…a white hot fire inside that consumes, controls and configures us into who Jesus has called us to be and what He’s called us to do!

Be warned-passionate people make for easy targets because no one has to guess what they stand for! However, passion, if handled correctly, can be one of the best friends a leader can have.

#2 – A Desire to Please God

One of the first verses I ever memorized was Galatians 1:10. I remember reading it and feeling like it literally jumped off the page…and something inside of me kept screaming, "You are going to need this verse for yourself if you are going to be truly successful in ministry."

A true leader in church would understand that God is our Leader…and in a passionate pursuit to please Him you and I will often disappoint people.

We can’t please committee’s and Christ-a choice must be made.

#3 – Wisdom

James 1:5 has been a verse that I have also had to cling to as a leader! What a promise!

God has called us to wisdom…so…as leaders I feel that we need to be doing as much as possible to learn…that means going to conferences, reading books…and not being afraid to meet with and learn from people who "aren’t like us!"

What are you personally doing right now to grow and develop yourself as a leader? To add to your wisdom?

I am in the process of connecting with other church leaders…in the past several weeks I’ve been involved in numerous learning environments with people who know SO MUCH MORE than me…and God has used each experience to shape me in an awesome way.

If all we tell our people is what we know…and we lead out of our limited knowledge, never seeking wisdom from others or God-then we will raise up some very shallow people.

#4 – Courage

I don’t think the tag "leader" should be put on anyone who hasn’t had to make tough decisions on a consistent basis.

I once heard Andy Stanley say that a leader isn’t necessarily the first person to see an opportunity, but rather the first person to act on what they see.

So true! There are lots and lots of people who see what is wrong with the world, church, etc…however, very few are actually willing to do anything about it.

Leaders step up and make the hard calls…even when it’s unpopular.

On a side note-courage is NOT the absence of fear! There have been so many situations in my leadership journey here at NewSpring that have just about caused me to pee my pants!

However, courage is KNOWING what God has called you to…and then DOING it…not knowing the outcome…but KNOWING who is in control of the outcome!

#5 – Humility

This is a tough one because…well…one cannot actually brag that they are humble!

Too many times in the past I know that this was a quality that was NOT in me! I wanted the credit for all of "my ideas!" If something went right and I was involved-I wanted people to know about it. If an element of service programming went well and it was my idea…I took the credit.

And then one day I had a conversation with John Maxwell that ROCKED MY WORLD…he said to me,

"Perry, you are where you are for two reasons. The first is the favor of God. The second is the giftedness of God. And Perry, please understand that God didn’t owe you either of these. You are where you are because of Him!"

DANG! When it comes right down to it…I don’t have good ideas-God gives them to me. I don’t have the ability to think or act…OR LEAD…unless HE leads me!

John 15:5 is SO true…and I have no right to boast in anything that I feel like I accomplish!

If a leader doesn’t care who gets the credit…but is obsessed with God getting the glory-awesome things can happen!

#6 – Honesty

One of the things the corporate world has seen lately is a lack of integrity…and the lie that "this is my life and how I live it doesn’t really impact anyone else" has been exposed over and over and over again!

As leaders-we’ve got to be honest with…

* OURSELVES – how are you doing? Really? Can you keep up the pace you have right now? What changes need to be made?

* OTHERS – is everyone around you doing a good job? Is there a tough conversation that needs to be had-but you won’t because you are afraid of the outcome?

* GOD – Is life and ministry REALLY "all about Him?"

#7 – Simplicity

I once heard Ed Young say, "If you want to impress me as a leader-don’t tell me what you’re doing, tell me what you’re NOT doing!"

DANG!

I think a leader who is worth his (or her) salt will admit that they are not good at everything…and as a result they will stop trying to be.

Reality is that everyone of us only do a few things well…and our leadership will be maximized when we focus on what God has gifted us and called us to be rather than what everyone else in the church expects us to be!

I can’t do everything…but I can do something…and the something that I can do…I will do!!!

What is on your plate that you KNOW you aren’t good at? You hate it? Go ahead and admit it because everyone around you already knows it and are probably praying that you will stop it anyway!

Perry Noble is the Senior Pastor of NewSpring Community Church with over 4000 in attendance each week. New Spring is one of the 100 Fastest Growing Churches in the U.S

Due to the recent earthquake in Haiti, we changed some things up in EPIC.  Here is our outline for the night (thanks to Brian over at Rethinking Youth Ministy for the idea and structure):

1. Students divided up into groups with a leader(s) over each group.

2. I will facilitate the overall meeting but would like you, the leader, to facilitate the

discussion time.

3. Discussion time—Anna Jamieson helped me put a video together about the tragedy along with Pat Roberston’s remarks:

• Where do you think God is in this disaster?
• How would you respond to televangelist Pat Robertson’s comments that the earthquake happened because the Haitian people are cursed for making a pact with the Devil? Is this disaster the result of sin or the shifting of a fault line?
• Read Psalm 60, a psalm of lament. What do you make of this passage? Does it truly reflect God’s character or does it reflect the feelings of the psalmist? Or both?
• Read Psalm 143, a cry for help. When we ask God for help, how do you think the prayer is answered? In what ways do you think prayers for help are being answered in Haiti right now?

4. I would then like for each group to spend some time praying for Haiti, its people, and the rescue/relief workers.

5. I would like to then pull everyone together to come up with a plan as to how we, EPIC, can help the Haitian people.

Two things:

1. We are going to partner with Lifeline to get supplies over to the Haitian people.
2. Keep praying for the people of Haiti and the relief workers who are there assisting.