I’m so addicted to my Blackberry.  I feel naked without it.  I left it at the church yesterday.

I could load up all 3 kids, drag them out to the church just to get my phone.

But when I think about it… why would I do that?

So I don’t miss a call?  Please.  I have a home phone.

But what if someone texts me?  Geez.  Who is more important on a rare day off with my kids?

I think it’s my kids.

They don’t need to call or text.

They’re right in front of me.

So if you’re trying to get hold of me and I’m not answering my cell…  I’m busy hanging out with my kids.  I’ll call you back later. 

My greatest struggle is my weight.

I go through seasons when I do okay. I choose healthy food. Smaller portions. Less chocolate.

Then I progress into a season when PB&J is the only option.

Not that I don’t buy healthy food. I fill my ‘crisper’ with veggies, fruits and salads. But when I open the refrigerator after a crazy day, a salad just doesn’t sound that good.

My struggle won’t ruin my career. It won’t bring shame to my family. It won’t be exposed on the news when I decide to run for president… of the Godiva Club.

What continues in my life is a socially acceptable struggle that makes for some funny jokes and great material used to beat myself up.

But my struggle reveals a tendency to depend on things other than my God. It reveals my pursuit of something I’ll never find in the PB&J.

God, please place this area of my life on the anvil and beat the crap out of all the reasons I choose PB&J over You.  Not for the purpose of posing in a size 4.  But purely for the purpose of glorifying You.  Amen

I discovered John Piper’s poetry a few years ago. The talent God pours out of this man is astounding.

If you’re looking for something to keep things in perspective listen to this. Many others can be found here.

I got to know my friend, Cindy Beall, when we were in LifeGroup together a few years ago.  Our boys are the same age and the friendship just fit like your favorite college sweatshirt.  Comfortable.

Cindy and her husband, Chris, have been through more than I’ve ever witnessed a marriage endure.  And on the other side, I am so blessed to get to see what God can do. 

Cindy is posting about her journey through one of the darkest times in her life.  You don’t want to miss this. 

It’s life-changing.

Dang, I’ve got some cool friends.

Whew! Did you ever think we’d make it?

My final post on the book “Inside the Magic Kingdom”. This lesson is the one I do the least, and the one that challenges me the most. So as I write, my mind whirs with the need to apply this, once again.

Lesson #6: Reward, Recognize, and Celebrate

How often do you hear about the things you do right?

Have you received recognition before your team?

Did anyone clap when you entered the office today?

Why?

Why is it that the average work environment is filled with either critical feedback or no feedback at all?

It’s interesting considering how much we desire to know that we are valuable.

But in order to have a team full of people that feel valued… those team members must value others more than themselves.

hmmm, didn’t Jesus say that?

We desire to be appreciated. We desire to feel valued.

Rewarding others’ achievements communicates appreciation. Recognizing others’ accomplishments expresses value.

Celebrating others for who they are goes a long way to fostering a healthy environment.

When something is healthy, it grows.

Is your environment healthy? If you’re busy trying to acquire recognition, you have none to offer others.

Recognize effort. Reward accomplishments. Celebrate moments.

You’ll be surprised by how it transforms your team.

One final post and we can put this stuff to work. I appreciate the feedback from the first 2 posts in this series. I hope this final question closes the gap and gives all of us a guideline to keep our ministries effective rather than just busy.

You can catch up on Question #1 & Question #2 here.

Question #3 – Is your next step appropriate?

Your event or resource may have a next step.

And it may be obvious.

But is it a step? Or a leap?

People need to know they are capable of accomplishing the task even if it stretches them. You don’t go from couch potato to marathon runner just like that. You do it one mile at a time. You start with a 5k, move to a 10k, half marathon and on up.

Our steps need to be achievable and impactful. As people experience impact, they are motivated to continue on. If they continue on, then we are effectively moving people from where they are to where they need to be.

Are you asking your people to step or leap?

My daughter gets frustrated when she can’t draw a perfect heart.

She scouls when I tell her she is beautiful.

She’s impossible to get out of bed.

She loves to tell others what to do and how to do it.

And she’s so much like me it’s scary.

I have no idea what to do with that.

…riding a bike, coasting through an intersection, trying to take a draw from the cigarette tucked between the fingers of his over sized gloves.

i wonder if this guy will earn one of these awards some day.

• I’ve strayed from a critical element in my ministry. Getting new butt’s in the seats. Got to stop assuming that kids will just show up. More on that later…
• I’m looking for innovative ways to train volunteers. Any thoughts?
• My friend Bob has a great opportunity for meaningful Christmas giving. Why not Give Different this year?
• I’m in the Amen corner on Scott’s post ‘Size Does Matter’.
• Is anyone kicking your butt right now? Why not? I’ve got a few people challenging my thinking. I hate it. But I need it.
• Keegan’s been sick this week. Upper respiratory infection. Please pray for him.
• I haven’t spent this much time in my pj’s since college. Kind of fun.
• Why does odor from a diaper pervade every inch of breathable space within a room?
• Celebrating Child Dedications this weekend. One of my favorite events in LifeKIDS. Why? Because it’s another opportunity to cast vision to a parent regarding the future of their family.
• I’m still trying to convince my 8-year old that he’s perfectly capable of changing a diaper. Still not working.

Have a great weekend!

…or fall in hate.

Get inspired or be depressed.

Ace a test or flunk a class.

Make babies or make art.

Speak the truth or lie and cheat.

Dance on tables or sit in the corner.

Life is divine chaos. Embrace it.

Forgive yourself. Breathe.

And enjoy the ride…

Solbeam

I thought that was good.

Though I disagree with the ‘Divine chaos’ reference, there is a valid point.

Get in the game. And have fun doing it.