Visioneering

I just finished Andy Stanley's book Visioneering this weekend for my leadership class. As always Andy brings some great principles and insights to the table for how leaders can create clear mental pictures of what could be, fueled by the conviction that it should be.

Included below are the twenty essential building blocks for being a visionary leader.

Visioneering Building Blocks
1. A vision begins as a concern
2. A vision does not necessarily require immediate action.
3. Pray for opportunities and plan as if you expect God to answer your prayers.
4. God is using your circumstances to position and prepare you to accomplish his vision for your life.
5. What God originates, he orchestrates
6. Walk before you talk; investigate before you initiate.
7. Communicate your vision as a solution to a problem that must be addressed immediately.
8. Cast your vision to the appropriate people at the appropriate time.
9. Don’t expect others to take greater risks or make greater sacrifices than you have.
10. Don’t confuse your plans with God’s vision.
11. Visions are refined—they don’t change; plans are revised-they rarely stay the same.
12. Respond to criticism with prayer, remembrance, and if necessary, a revision of the plan.
13. Visions thrive in an environment of unity; they die in an environment of division.
14. Abandon the vision before you abandon your moral authority.
15. Don’t get distracted.
16. There is divine potential in all you envision to do.
17. The end of a God-ordained vision is God.
18. Maintaining a vision requires adherence to a set of core beliefs and behaviors.
19. Vision requires constant attention.
20. Maintaining a vision requires bold leadership.

There ain't no party like a Scranton party

What a great episode of The Office tonight. So thankful it's back! Here are my favorite quotes from the night:

Michael and Jan seem to be playing their own separate game, and it's called, "let's see how uncomfortable we can make our guests." And they're both winning. So I am going to make a run for it. - Jim

When I said that I wanted to have kids and you said that you wanted me to have a vasectomy, what did I do? And then, when you said that you might want to have kids and I wasn't so sure? Who had the vasectomy reversed? And then when you said you definitely didn't wanna have kids? Who had is reversed back! Snip snap snip snap snip snap! I did! You have no idea the physical toll that three vasectomies have on a person. - Michael

Purely carnal. That's all you need to know. -Dwight

My apartment is on fire...flooded. - Jim

See you next week.

Last Weekend

Erin and I were so glad to have her sister, Emily, in town last weekend to celebrate her birthday. Here are some of the highlights from going to Breck, to eating at Maggiano's Little Italy, and eating some fondue. We miss you Em!

Walking with Grief

Over the past year, my family has experienced the loss of two great men: my grandfather and cousin. I was reading from the Celtic Book of Daily Prayer this evening when I came across this poem called "Walking with Grief."

Do not hurry
as you walk with grief;
it does not help the journey.

Walk slowly,
pausing often:
do not hurry
as you walk with grief.

Be not disturbed
by memories that come unbidden.
Swiftly forgive;
and let Christ speak for you
unspoken words.
Unfinished conversation
will be resolved in Him.
Be not disturbed.

Be gentle with the one
who walks with grief.
If it is you, be gentle with yourself.
Swiftly forgive;
walk slowly,
pausing often.

Take time, be gentle
as you walk with grief.

Happy Birthday CG II

Happy 25th Clarence!

Before You Turn Off Church

If you get a chance, check out our new Pathways Wash Park website.


Way to go Susie for a great idea!

Breaking the Silence

It's been a month since my last blog, but I thank God for all that he's been doing in my marriage, classes, relationships and job. Here are a few updates:

•Pathways Church – Wash Park had its biggest attendance this Easter with over 625 adults and more than 100 students and kids in attendance. Praise God!

•This week Erin and I are on our Easter break. To celebrate, we went skiing in Winter Park Tuesday and swung by Red Rocks Amphitheater. Here are a couple of pics including a tremendous “action shot.”






•Today Erin’s sister came to celebrate her 16th birthday here in Colorado – so glad to have her here. Should be a fun weekend.

•Only 14 more days to the return of The Office!

More posts are coming soon. Stay tuned.

A New Day

"Receive, therefore, every day as a resurrection from death, as a new enjoyment of life; meet every rising sun with such sentiments of God's goodness as if you had seen it, and all things, new created upon your account: and under the sense of so great a blessing, let your joyful heart praise and magnify so good and glorious a Creator." -William Law

Vision

Here's an excellent thought from Florence Converse's book House of Prayer:

How can you hope to make the imperfect things perfect unless you keep before your eyes the vision of God, who is perfection?

This question is a wonderful reminder that we cannot bring about real change in this world filled with injustice, hate, sorrow, and pain without the greatest redeemer of all, Jesus.

Be though my vision, O Lord of my heart.

Manning to Tyree

Wow! Tonight's Super Bowl was definitely one of the greatest games that I have watched in a long time. The highlight for me was Eli Manning's incredible escape to complete a 32-yard pass to David Tyree - ridiculous. Check it out on the NFL.com link below.

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d8067d05e

You can't help but love an underdog story like this. Congratulations Giants.

P.S. Bradshaw, as a Pittsburgher, I love you, but quit doing interviews on the field. It's not your thing.