Best kept secret on the internet....

I'm always looking for something cool and free on the Internet. Several months ago a friend turned me on to Pandora. If you're not familiar with this free application, you've been missing out. It's a free music player where you build your own "radio stations". Just type in your favorite song or artist and Pandora will play songs of that same genre. One of may favorite features is the shuffle which is a random play through your selected stations.

Here are my current Pandora radio stations:
-O Holy Night (getting ready for Christmas)

-Brooks and Dunn (for when I'm in the mood for a little country)
-Dave Matthews Band
-Bee Gees (yes, I love 70's music)
-Heart (one of the greatest chick rock and roll bands of all time)
-Chris Tomlin
-Hezekiah Walker (makes me feel like I have rhythm)
-Poison (the ultimate 80's rock band)
-Hillsong United
-The Police
-Hall and Oates

Try it, you'll love it....happy listening!!!

Exceeding Expectations....

I don't care who you are, all of us have expectations. It doesn't matter if you go to the bank, the DMV or give blood at the Red Cross...you have an expectation for the experience you are about to encounter. If you're going to Outback and you order a steak, a nice juicy fillet, you expect a certain caliber of meat. You expect a certain standard of steak commensurate with previous experiences at other Outbacks and the dollar amount you're about to spend. When the steak is finally put in front of you and you take that first bite, all the anticipation and expectation come to the test. If the tantalizing taste experience exceeds your expectations you get that satisfied smile on your face and exclaim "WOW", what a great steak. That's your response because it exceeded your expectations. On the other hand when you take the first bite and it's underwhelming, you're left with a scowl on your face as your taste buds are crying with disappointment and you exclaim "Crap, that's not what I expected."

Everyone walking into church on Sunday morning have expectations. Rightly or wrongly, pure or perverted....they all have expectations. The amazing opportunity that is in front of us is to create WOW moments and exceed people's expectations. When you understand what God has put in front of you, you begin to strategically allocate resources and plan to create a WOW experience.

With the people walking through your doors, have you stopped long enough to try to figure out what they are thinking, are you listening to what they are saying and are you trying to gain an understanding of how they are feeling? When you do those things, you are trying to enter into their world to gain an understanding of their expectations. God has put you in the place of being His hands and feet to a lost and hurting world....do all that you can so they walk away saying WOW because they have experienced the love of Christ through you!!!

Where's your focus....

It seems like there's a new church starting just about every weekend in Charlotte and when you combine that with the existing ones we have well over 1,000 in the area. Whether you're a new church or an existing one, there's a tension that most carry...the weight of "how we will get people to come." The underlying emotion is, how will we get people to know we're here and show up on Sunday morning. At Elevation we've been able to remove a great deal of the tension through having the right focus. Pastor Steven has always had the ability to see things off in the distance. It allowed him to prepare us for things that would happen in the future, so when they happened we felt like we were prepared.

One of those things we were prepared for was dealing with this concept of "how will we get them come." He started with the foundational believe that God gave His promise when He called us to start Elevation. We believed that it was God's vision to reach the city of Charlotte through this church and we can rest in that promise. I think every church starts from that perspective....God's called us.

Here's where Pastor Steven took it one step further, he taught us to let God be God and we'll focus on our part of the promise. In Matthew 16:18 God says"upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it." And in John 12:32 "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." God said that "I will build my church and draw all men onto myself. Pastor Steven reminded us that God's job is to bring the people, our job is create an experience they would come back for.

Because of the tension churches carry to try to get people to show up on Sunday they invest significant time and money to try to get them there. One problem though, often they've invested too much on the front end that the back end is ineffective. Because they are working so hard to try to convince people to show up on Sunday that when they finally do the worship experience is mediocre and walk away unaffected.

There's freedom when you realize what's your responsibility and God's promise. Focus most of your energy on "why would they come back" and let God be God. As people come and connect with Christ in your worship experience they will go home and invite their friends and family. Let the lives that God has transformed through your ministry invite others to experience your church.

When you keep the focus on "why would they come back" you're focusing your resources on the right thing....the people that God will bring to you!!! Stand in that promise and let God build his church!!!

Leveraging your Vision.....

A key for any successful church or business is to clearly define "The Win"...it's the goal, the thing you're trying to achieve through all of the effort and labor. At Elevation, "The Win" is clear: "so that people far from God will be filled with life in Christ". The Win at Elevation is life transformation. That's why hundreds of volunteers each week labor to create an experience where the gospel is preached and lives are transformed. We constantly celebrate the win through numbers and stories. Each week we share a few new stories with the staff and volunteers of the church to constantly keep us focused on "The Win. Leveraging the vision means that you celebrate the victories with those who have labored and sacrificed to make them become a reality....the funny thing; the more victories they celebrate, the more labor they will put in and sacrificial they become to see more Wins. If you're looking to motivate your volunteers, let the hear, feel and connect with "The Win".

Here is a story of the vision of Elevation in action...this is "The Win".

Pastor,

I just wanted to let you know the difference you and this church are making in peoples lives. A couple of weeks ago I met my friend, Stacey for breakfast and we talked about many things but one of the things we talked about was Elevation. Stacey started talking about her sister and that she had pretty much given up on church and her life was spinning out of control. She said her sister felt like she was judged and that she didn’t belong when she did try to go to church. We talked about Elevation and what a life changing place this was for people just like her sister. Well, Stacey called me Saturday and said that her sister had tried to end her life on Thursday and was just released from the hospital. Stacey said that she knew that her sister needed to be at Elevation for the Sunday service and that she was trying to talk her sister into coming and then working out all of the details to get her here. Her sister did agree and she came Sunday.
Well, I don’t have to tell you how important the volunteer teams are here but I will brag on them. They could not tell how desperate this girl was by looking at her but they treated her like they treat every person coming to Elevation. They were EXCITED that she was there and kept telling her over and over “we’re glad you are here!”. They directed her to a really great parking place and made her feel welcome, not at all like she didn’t belong. During the service I could tell that she was moved and in the end she raised her hand and she gave her life to Christ. On Monday, Stacey came up to me and could not believe what happened and was thrilled and looked as if she were walking on air. What a great thing to see hurting people find peace through Jesus.
This is the story of just one person but I think this plays out over and over and over again at Elevation…

Leadership Lessons from a Wrestling Legend....

Several months ago Pastor Steven Furtick gave the staff an assignment of seeking out leaders in various lines of work to glean principles that could translate into our ministry. I set my sights on trying to get a phone conference with Iowa’s legendary wrestling coach, Dan Gable. During his 21 years at the helm as coach, the Hawkeyes won an astounding 15 national championships. As an amateur wrestler he compiled a jaw-dropping record of 182-1 through high school and college. There is no other athlete or coach that has done more for the sport of wrestling than Dan Gable.

After a few attempts I was able to reach him on the phone. During the 20 minute phone call, he spoke of leadership principles that would rival any CEO’s best thoughts. Not only was he commanding, but he was as genuine as anyone I’ve ever met. His confident humility was obvious. He knew his accomplishments, yet his talent was only exceeded by his honest humility. Not a self deprecating “I was just lucky I guess”, but “I knew I wanted to be the best and worked as hard as I could to make it happen”.

Over the course of the conversation I was able to download a long list of principles. The one that stands out the most was his response to the question “why did some wrestlers not make it?” He is one of the best evaluators of talent in the world, yet not all of the wrestlers he recruited were able to be successful in the college ranks. His response was profound. “Going to a higher level requires a greater level of commitment at the new level.” As he unpacked the statement, the power behind it became clear. The problem with moving to a new level is in the interpretation of level of commitment it takes to be successful at that new level.

Dan Gable’s interpretation was not just to be good, but to be the absolute best wrestler in the history of the sport. That translated in an insanely driven training regime, an intense focus centered on that goal and a structuring of his entire life around that idea of excellence. The difference for Dan Gable was that “being the best” wasn’t just a talking point, it was a lifestyle. Everything he did centered on being the best and if it did not add to the bottom line it was eliminated. The wrestlers at Iowa who did not make it were not committed to being the best at the collegiate level. What caused them to be successful in high school would not work in college. When faced with the reality of their unwillingness to strive for the new commitment level they fell by the wayside.

Apply that concept to the church for a second. At Iowa it was Dan Gable who set the bar for the commitment level. The best wrestlers that came out of Iowa rose above that level and exceeded the expectation. Who’s setting the bar for commitment in your organization? Is it a nebulous thing that individuals are left to determine on their own? An entity mired in mediocrity is probably diseased with commitment issues. Secondly, every new level of responsibility in the church has to have an increased level of commitment to be the best. Moving from a volunteer to a volunteer leader is a new level of commitment. Going from a volunteer leader to a staff member is another huge jump.

Who is the one sitting down and clearly communicating what it takes to be the best and the level of commitment required? It is a much different conversation than asking someone to help. It’s giving someone an opportunity to be a part of the most amazing thing on earth, the church. As commitment levels are clearly communicated, leaders will rise to the challenge. Look for the people who have an innate drive to be the best, to exceed, to excel. Those are the leaders that are waiting for an opportunity to flourish.

2nd Fastest Growing Church in America....

One of the verses we have prayed consistently since we began Elevation is Ephesians 3:20 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more that all we ask or imagine, according to the power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church..." We prayed that God would do such amazing things through Elevation that only He could take the credit, something so incredible there's no way it could have been done by human hands.

As we've prayed, time after time He's demonstrated His favor and Grace on this church. We've seen thousands of lives transformed right in front of us! We've witnessed marriages put back together and people radically changed by the power of the gospel. It's been an amazing 2 1/2 years of ministry.

Recently we were recognized as the second fastest growing church in America by outreach magazine. Click HERE to read the article. We stand in awe of the great God we serve and are overwhelmed with gratitude for what He has done.

Honor from a Father....

I’ve heard a lot of sermons on “The Prodigal Son”. The story of the young man who grew dis-satisfied with his situation so he asked for his father for his portion of the inheritance. It was only after he squandered everything when he realized how good he had it. Most of the sermons I’ve heard are from the vantage point of the son, but I want to look at “The Prodigal Father"….the guy who was waiting and watching for his son to return home.

In the story, the prodigal father was always on the look out for his son, knowing he would return one day. When he saw his son coming at a distance he ran out to meet him, not only did he welcome him with open arms he lavished gifts upon him. Whenever I see a person taking the long walk up our sidewalk on a Sunday morning I think of that story. I get an image of a prodigal returning home.

I’ve started to use this story to illustrate the concept of honor to our guest services teams. Every Sunday morning there are people who arrive late and have the long walk up our sidewalk to the school where we meet. Here’s where the honoring part comes in…it’s when the story moves you to action. When you realize that God has put you in a place to be His arms and feet, to give a hug to the prodigal, now you’re on to something. The heart of God is not just to welcome His prodigals home, His heart is to honor them…to go to extravagant means to demonstrate His love.

The person walking up the step may be far from God filled with guilt and shame over the circumstance of life. This may be the one time the entire year they give church a chance because they’ve worked up enough courage in the midst of despair to get in the car and drive across town. Now they’re walking up the sidewalk and you see them coming at a distance…what to you do? Do you wait for them get to the door and you barely notice them or give them a cursory “welcome”. Or are you so moved in your spirit that you realize that you’re God’s ambassador who has a divine appointment to welcome home the prodigal!!!

Honor starts in your heart…it’s the realization of who God is and what He has called you to do. It’s the extravagant means God wants exhaust to demonstrate His grace. It’s the place where you will connect that person to the very heart of God through how you approach them, through the words your use, through the way you look at their face, through the very words you use and how you use them…..Honor is remembering where you used to be and wanting desperately for God’s grace to shine on this person’s soul!!!

If you are in a role that comes in contact with anyone on a Sunday morning at your church…that’s pretty much anyone in the building, you need to understand that God has ordered your steps and given you a divine appointment to be “The Prodigal Father” as His sons and daughters return home….operate with the sense of calling and honor those He brings to us!!!

This is Funny...

This might be one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time. Make sure you watch the entire thing as the ending is priceless....

Potential Paradigm...

One the the consistent themes that has flowed from Pastor Steven's heart is "The Potential Paradigm". It's the space between our perception and God's reality. It's the difference between who we think we are and who He has called us to be.

As I was reading in Judges Chapter 6 something jumped off the page. It's the moment in time when God called Gideon. As I read the story through "The Potential" lens it was obvious there was a big difference between who God called Gideon to be and how he viewed himself. To Gideon he was "the least in in his family and his family the least in his tribe." He was saying, "I'm insignificant, there are a lot of others that are a whole lot smarter and more qualified than me." Gideon's self deprecating answer was in response to God's calling him while he was going about the normal routine of the day. God came to him and said "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." Gideon was involved in the monotony of life and God speaks through the mundane in a profound way.

This is a perfect example from scripture of what Pastor Steven has been drilling into the staff. There are significant callings, destinies and potential waiting inside of people and God has called us to speak life into them. God know who Gideon was, a mighty warrior....but Gideon saw himself as the least of the least. Can you relate? Have you been feeling insignificant? Have you settled into living out the mundane? I'm here to tell you that there's greatness inside of you.....get about the business of God, you are a mighty warrior!!!!!!

If you're a volunteer at Elevation, get ready. Pastor Steven has been preparing us for the next thing......The calling out of the called.....The speaking of life into dormant gifts....The challenging of the self perception....The Potential Paradigm!!

This guy had a bad day.....

Prior to being a pastor I was an Athletic Trainer. The career deals with caring for and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. Most of the people in the procession have a sick fascination with watching video footage of injuries, not in a sadistic way...but in a way of trying to figure out what happened to better understand the structures that may be injured.

WARNING: If you have a queezy stomach, you probably do not want to watch....This athlete had a very bad day when his weightlifting attempt at the Olympic games didn't go as planned.

Asking the hard questions....

One of the my a favorite things to do is to coach/develop/teach people. It's something that I've always enjoyed and something that God's put in me. Over the past few months I've put together an Event Planning team. It's made up of high capacity people with significant potential. The purpose of pulling this team together is development. I truly believe that every person on this team has a significant destiny placed inside and my job is do pull every ounce of potential to the surface.

Currently we are going through a book called Integrity by Henry Cloud. It is an excellent book that is a must read for every leader. In the current section we are covering, "Establishing Trust", it puts forward the premise that "a leader gains trust through making himself vulnerable". It is an excellent concept illustrated through 4 characteristics that describe someone who is "vulnerable":

1) They possess strength

2) They possess "likeness" to the ones following them

3) They are warm

4) They are imperfect, and coping models, as opposed to perfect ones

Here's where the homework comes in. Each of the people in the group is assigned to interview two people that know them and well ask them for honest feedback on their vulnerability. Here's the kicker, most people will seek feedback from friends/family who will give nice positive feedback or at least sugarcoat the weaknesses. Because of this human tendency, they have to seek feedback from people who don't necessarily like them. They must elicit responses from people they have had conflicts with in the past, but know them well enough to give a thorough analysis.

At first, my group gave a collective "are you kidding me", but soon they began to realize I wasn't kidding. It is a scary exercise. To make yourself vulnerable is one thing, but to make yourself vulnerable to someone that may not be on your Christmas card list is a whole different world.

I'm excited about this exercise on multiple levels. It's a whole new level of vulnerability. The feedback shouldn't be sugarcoated and probably be 100% more helpful than the fluffy stuff we usually seek out. As you're reading this blog thinking, "wow I don't know if I could do that"....it probably means that you need to do it. The more you mature as a leader the more you need unfettered feedback for your continued development....at least begin to ask yourself, "who have you given permission to speak honestly into your life?"

What's in a "WOW"

Everyone has expectations, it's our nature. If you're going to the DMV you expect to wait in a long line. If you're headed to vote tomorrow you expect to be verbally assaulted by political pollsters giving one last push for you to vote for their candidate. With every experience you're about to encounter you try to formulate what you think it will look like, feel like, how you will be treated, etc... you use your past experiences to predict future encounters.

In the south everyone has had some form of contact with the church. There aren't too many people walking into Elevation on a Sunday morning that have never been in church. Whether they were good experiences or bad experiences people will use that previous knowledge to try to predict what their "church" experience at Elevation will look like.

Our job is to create a WOW experience. Let me give you an example...when you go to Outback Steakhouse and order a steak you have a certain expectation of what you'll get. If the steak is better than what you expected you say...WOW!! If the steak is below you're expectation you walk away unsatisfied. In that regard church is very similar, people are walking in with expectations and your job is to do your best to know what they are thinking, listen to what they are say and understand how they are feeling.

To create a WOW means that you plan and prepare for your guests before they ever arrive. It means that you actually study what their expectations are and create systems to deliver a WOW. Do you homework, train your volunteers and empower them to WOW your guests. You'll be amazed because your guests will come back because of the WOW factor that was experienced in their life......