Love Life, Embrace Risks, and Live for Eternity

For several years now, I have worked under a phenomenal leader that I look up to as a mentor when it comes to personal development. This individual has poured so much into me developing my strengths and working on my weaknesses.  He has challenged me to overcome my fears of the unknown and to take risks. Most of all, he has expressed confidence in me especially during the times when I didn't have any. This leader believes in me. He cares about me! 

As of this past Wednesday, this phenomenal leader has transitioned out of my workplace to raise money for our capital campaign to build our new building. A new leader has been put in place.  I must admit that I have had several different emotions during this leadership transition. I have been sad, depressed, anxious, excited, nervous, and scared to death.

You see, I personally do not see one as a leader just because of the title they have. I have sat under different types of leaders in the workplace and in the volunteer realm. Some were great while others were given their position just because of who they knew. Titles do not mean squat to me. Leadership comes with influence. The title of a leader must be earned. John Maxwell once said, "If you don't have influence, you will never be able to lead others."

How true is that!

So, I am now looking forward to sitting under this new leader ready to learn and ready to be stretched in different ways. I am ready to follow him. I am ready to be invested in. I am ready to give this new leader a chance to take our lead team to a higher level to impact lives in our city.

"One measure of leadership is the caliber of people who choose to follow you."  Dennis A Peer

No words can express how hard I have been hit this week. In the midst of all the chaos this is what I need to do:

"Take your everyday, ordinary life-your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life-and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.

Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." Romans 12:1-2

My sister-in-law and brother gave me the incredible opportunity of watching my two year old neice and five year old nephew for forty-eight hours straight while they went away for a few days. How nice of them, eh? It was exhausting but it was one big party.

Here are the highlights:

Overall, I enjoyed spending time with the sweet innocent ones. They are too adorable!

Months ago, I was threatened that if I was ever to call the Monday night coffee shop group "church" then some action will need to be taken. I was completely shocked that one said that to me. It just shows me how the enemy is at work.

There is no need for me to turn this group into a church, non-profit organization, or even a business.  I will not file for a 501(C)3 with the Monday night group seeing that I do not take up tithes. Actually, I refuse to take in tithes. We have no incoming revenue however there are expenses. Money is invested in people by purchasing Bibles, coffees, deserts, and even dinners.

Over the past year, I have learned that "church" is not a building. It is the body of Christ. On Mondays nights, a few of us reckless followers of Christ have decided to take a risk by investing in those that do not believe and/or who are unchurched. We have chosen to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ outside of the typical Sunday morning thing and outside of the four walls of a church.

Running church outside of church has been a trip. Taking the Gospel to the coffee shop has been interesting but God has surely been at work. We have seen decisions made for Christ. We have had those that are spiritually confused have their questions answered. We have seen people crack open the Bible for their first time. We have helped some talk with God for their very first time. And lately, more and more are starting to purchase their own Bibles. I love it! There is nothing better than seeing those that rarely cracked open the Bible take it upon themselves to purchase one. I crack up when I see them get so excited when they bring their brand new Bible to the group.

I love it. But please know that I am not anti church inside of church. There are times when we are called to have church outside of church to reach different people groups.  You should try it sometime!

Everyone vacations differently. Some vacation with a minute by minute schedule while others just go with the flow. Seeing that my life is constantly busy, I am one that likes to vacation without a minute by minute schedule. I have quickly realized that I cannot vacation with those who want to constantly be on the go.  We just clash!

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to vacation with three others at a cabin up north in Lewiston. Now, I must say that we all surely knew how to vacation. No schedules. No alarm clocks. Nothing. Instead we went with the flow. We watched movies. We sat back and  enjoyed the beauty of the trees changing colors. We had a competitive fish off with much trash talking and thankfully my team won. We sat at the lake around a bon fire under the stars. We went to bed real late and slept in. Yes, I practiced the art of sleeping in.

Now, that is my kind of vacation!  

"A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in." Unknown

Vacations are the best! I just spent the past five days out in Atlanta, Georgia visiting Maggie, my favorite Romo (Romanian). You can read more about her here, here, and  here.  

The trip consisted of bonding with her two month old son Gabriel who is absolutely adorable. Hanging out with the fellow Romos down there. Watching lots of movies. Making daily trips to the ice cream shop. And experiencing the life of a drag racer. Her husband and brother-in-law are highly involved in that dangerous sport. They even threw me in the car with the motor on. It was extremely loud and my eyes were tearing up big time because of the fumes. And yes, I did freak out while they all laughed at me! 

Sick of dinner and the movies for a date? Try one of these brillant ideas that I came up with.

Any other great suggestions?

Hanging out in Downtown Royal Oak is what I have done for many years. I have fallen in love with that city and I have also developed a deep concern for that city.

Til this very day, I gather with individuals that are irreligious, unchurched, and spiritually confused. I have taken risks and developed friendships with many hoping that God has a purpose behind it. While engaging in conversations I constantly ask, "God, what are you up to with this particular person?"

The painting posted here is a piece of work from a man that I have known for awhile now. He decided to paint a picture of me last Wednesday evening while I was meeting with a woman. He attends the Monday night coffee shop group every now and then. When he attends, he doesn't crack open a Bible. He just listens. Little by little this man shares his life story that has much heartache and some hard lessons. And little by little we challenge him spiritually when appropriate praying that he will one day respond to what God has to offer him. Everyone in downtown knows this individual. I can just sit back and imagine the eternal impact he will have on people when he experiences the Living Water. 

It is all about loving, sowing, and reaping! If that is the only reason why I am still living then so be it!

"Smart players are clear on what lasts and what doesn't. It is wise to store up treasure in what's eternal: God and people."  John Ortbert

On Sunday, over one hundred men and about four women who are all athletic coaches or directors gathered in Birmingham for seven hours to listen to a former professional football player for 13 years speak. Joe Ehrman played for the Colts and was named as 100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America. Joe is a man that is on a mission to impact lives while coaching. He is a man that is mentoring coaches to not just coach a sport but to instill character values inside the lives of young men and women. You can read about what he is all about here.

All of us that gathered at Seaholm High School were challenged and yet encouraged to take our power, position, and platform to speak into young people's lives. We were inspired to truly love our participants, to rewire their mindsets, and to boost their self image and self esteem.

This former NFL player redefined what sports is all about. Now, we are ready to nurture wounds and teach valuable life lessons. To talk openly about racism, poverty, violence, and sexism with our kids while out on the ball fields or basketball courts.

I am looking forward to implementing everything that I learned into my sports programs in order to develop young leaders. After today, I have realized that there is much power in a whistle!

"You have one of the most responsible positions in society."  Joe Ehrman

It has been a week since I have moved to the city that I love. I am living directly above this sweet friend of mine . Yes, it could be a bit dangerous and no it was not planned for me to live right above her. Crazy, isn't it?  

I am still unpacking, organizing, and trying to figure out what should go where. Utter chaos but I am loving it!