I’ll never forget my first day of Basic Training. I reported to 1/34 Infantry Battalion for nine weeks of formation. One of the tools that the Army uses to bring the unit together is to create a battalion slogan. Our slogan was, “Always forward.” Every time we saluted, came to attention, and stood as a unit, we would say that slogan. Every. Single. Time.
I am a self-confessed FOMO (fear of missing out). I like to keep my schedule extremely full. And, to top it all off, I have a little A.D.D. (self-diagnosed). When you put all that together it means that I am busy all the time. Don’t feel bad for me, I do it to myself – on purpose. I love being busy, moving a thousand miles a minute, I love being able to know what’s my next move.
This weekend in church I am going to be talking about one of the most personal topics in my life: anxiety. Anxiety is something (I’m learning) that impacts so many people throughout the world. The Anxiety Disorder Association of America estimates that over 40 million people suffer from an anxiety disorder, and who knows how many countless more suffer from occasional anxiety.
For ten days the United Methodist Church has been in (arguably) its biggest debate ever on human sexuality (you can catch up on all that happened here). General Conference is the event where the church gathers to set the vision and direction of the church for the next four years. There have been protests, there have been bold speeches, and there have been frustrations. Through it all I have watched: I have watched my friends in Portland fight for what they believe in and I’ve watched my colleagues at home anguish over the future of our denomination.
The DNA of a Thriving Leader: Three Observations from ReThink Leadership
As I wrote about in an earlier blog I recently attended the ReThink Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference continues to give me lots of things to think about, and at the same time has refilled my tank so that I can continue to pursue God’s calling in my life.
Five Apps That I Use Every Day to Be More Productive
This week I decided to throw in a bonus blog. This is something way off topic and unlike most of what I write about on a regular basis. This is all about technology and the way it can be used as a tool to impact the way I work.
ReThink Leadership and the Orange Conference: Ten Things I Learned.
The ReThink Leadership conference is a brand new event that is intended to focus on developing the senior leaders of the local church. It is a partner conference to the Orange Conference, and for three days I saw, I listened, and I learned.
Below are my top ten reflections, in no particular order:
What is Your legacy? What is Your passion?
I’ve never been a huge Prince fan. I don’t dislike him, but I’ve never really followed him closely. His untimely passing has left the entire world with a collective gasp, and I am blown away by the number of people who have been deeply impacted by the artistry of this man’s music.
This year for Christmas we decided we would give time. Not like a Rolex, or anything like that, but an intentional effort to spend time with my parents. So, we calendared two weeks of vacation, one with my mom and the other with my dad. Our schedules are hectic and the earlier we can get it on the calendar the better the chance it will actually happen.
Easter morning was an amazing day full of love, laughter, and the Holy Spirit. The church that I serve had undergone a major transformation, and to have so many new visitors be in the space, followed by a powerful time with God, was, well, a great morning. It was one of those experiences when I found myself looking around and saying, “Wow.” I felt as if the church and all that God was doing through our community was clearly on display. I was incredibly humbled by the response, the visitors, and the Spirit that was following through the church.