Suddenly Gaga Ball Gave A New Perspective

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Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, 
But happy is he who keeps the law. Proverbs 29:18

Gaga ball is a fast paced and simple to understand sport played in an octagonal pit. With a few simple instructions both kids and adults can enjoy a variation of dodgeball that everyone will enjoy. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to play a few games of Gaga ball. The pit filled with kids and the energy level went through the roof as the ball was put in play. Each game ended in applause and the kids had a great time. Then I noticed something that gave me a new perspective on Proverbs 29:18. I watched the game dissolve into complete chaos as the adults went inside. The rules didn’t change, the same kids were in the same pit, but without leadership the kids began to argue about every play and when kids refused to leave the pit the game imploded. After watching this for a moment, I simply walked back towards the pit and suddenly the game continued as before.

Where in your life do you find chaos? Could a few words from a trusted leader get you on the right path? Take a step today in the right direction and find a mentor!

21 Powerful Leadership Quotes From The Orange Conference

 

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One of the best things you can do for your leaders, is to expose them to your decision making process. @fbealer

There are families who will never step foot into your church until you step into their world. @ReggieJoiner

You have no idea of the ripple effect through the generations!

At the end of your life regret will sting more than failure. @pwilson

Jesus, it’s okay if kids forget my name, as long as they remember Yours.

Following Jesus makes your life better and makes you better at life. @AndyStanley

When we get spiritually tired, we will stop doing what is right and start doing what is easy. @perrynoble

You were created on purpose, for a purpose. @AndyStanley

When you grow up believing there is a purpose in life you make better decisions. @AndyStanley

Empathy: the ability to press pause on your own thoughts and feelings long enough to explore someone else’s thoughts and feelings.

You don’t disciple students from a stage, you disciple them up close. @DougFields

Is someone at the leadership table to champion every age group? @fbealer

Remember courage and fear are both contagious. @pwilson

On Sunday, grace is expected. On Monday, grace is a surprise. @JonAcuff

The church provides the strongest argument for the dignity of individuals and for human rights. @AndyStanley

Whose Monday are you showing up for? Get messy. Empathize. @reggiejoiner

You are teaching a generation that everything belongs to God and we simply get to be managers. @AndyStanley

What if we changed our emphasis from Eternal Life when you die to Kingdom Life while you’re alive? @DougFields

We need to get teenagers to be ministers – a minister sees a need and meets it with love. @DougFields

How you’re loved will always impact how you live. How you live will never change how you’re loved. @KPowellFYI

Sunday mindset: all about pleasing people who show up. Monday mindset: all about reaching the people who don’t show up. @reggiejoiner

 

Watch “The Orange Conference 2016” on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/164770594

I hope to see you there next year!
Corey

The Person You Needed When You Were Younger

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Think back to when you were a kid. You were always reaching for the next goal and never looked back. With mixed emotions, you anticipated kindergarten, you couldn’t wait until Christmas, and your next birthday was always just around the corner.

When you started riding a tricycle, you anticipated the day you could move to a big boy bike. And then when you got the hang of things, you couldn’t wait for those training wheels to come off.

Kids move through different stages, handling different issues, and always wanting to be a little more grown up. Children don’t want to be treated like a child. And certainly the same is true for preteens.

When I was a preteen, I remember sitting in those little chairs, hearing the same Bible stories that I had heard before. A gap had formed. While I was struggling with some tough sins, I was sitting in a room hearing about Adam and Eve sinning and had no idea how it applied to my own life.

I already knew that sin was disobeying God. I already knew that Adam and Eve were the first sinners. And in fact, thinking about their story and them being naked was going to cause me to sin. I didn’t need to be taught the facts again with puppets and felt boards like I was a child.

What I needed was someone to be my friend and walk me through my personal disobedience. What I needed was to be treated as a preteen.

Read More and be Challenged by clicking: http://fourfivesix.org/the-person-you-needed-when-you-were-younger/

3 Leadership Principles From My Mom To You

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When you think back on your youth, can you remember all of those little phrases that your mom said time and time again? “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all.” “If all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you?” “Wear clean underwear in case you get in an accident.” The words that my mom said to me have shaped the man that I have become and the words that you say to your child have the power to direct their future. Here are three leadership principles that my mom taught me and a few scripture passages that you can begin sharing with your children.

“Let your yes mean yes no means no.”

If my mom asked me to mow the lawn and I either skirted around the topic or gave an excuse she would always remind me of what Jesus said during His famous sermon. In Matthew 5:37 Jesus said, “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.” I do not need to make a promise or give excuses, I simply need to give an honest answer and follow through.

“Only stupid people get bored.” 

On rainy or long summer days when I began pestering my mom for something to do she would say, “Only stupid people get bored.” I knew this meant to stop being lazy and inactive and to go be productive. The Proverbs are full of warnings against sluggards and lazy people (20:4, 19:15, 21:25, 26:15, 13:4, 24:30-31,12:24) but the verse that really rang true for me has been Hebrews 6:12, “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” My mom always challenged me to be a productive problem solver and these words push me to this day.

“A job worth doing is worth doing right.” 

Maybe my mom was quoting Hunter S. Thompson or maybe he was quoting her but the words, “Anything worth doing, is worth doing right” have taught me to pursue excellence in my work. If I was washing dishes, cleaning the litter box, or preparing a speech, these were the words my mom used to encourage me. It’s no wonder one of my favorite bible verses has always been Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

The words we choose have the power to shape eternity. Proverbs 18:21 puts it this way, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Think back to your last few conversations with those who matter to you most and ask yourself if you were speaking life or death. Are there phrases that you use with your kids that will challenge them to grow? Are you speaking scripture into their lives? What phrases do you suggest parents use when training up their kids in the way they should go? Share in the comments!

Organize Your Work – Weekly Report

5620_1__43629.1312921995.600.600Over a year ago I purchased an Evaluation Toolbox that taught me the importance of creating a weekly plan for my ministry. I loved this idea and so I invested some time in making a weekly report for myself. Over the past year I have been filling this form out and occasionally creating a new draft. Each week I create a key strategy and then break that into steps. I find ways to continue my education and leadership. I plan out who I need to have conversations with, send encouragement to, or who I need to invest in. I make a running list of projects and move them up as they become more important, have an ongoing prayer list, and also a place to evaluate how things are going. This has given me more focus in my ministry then any other tool, workshop, or lecture and I encourage you to take my report and like I did, make it your own. Start today to become more intentional and stop allowing days to slip by without purpose.

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CM Weekly Staff Report PDF