Leadership Summit Schedule of Speakers!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2009 9:00AM-5:00PM CST SESSION 1: 9:00-10:15 A.M. Leading In a New Reality Bill Hybels * * * Break * * * SESSION 2: 11:00-12:30 P.M. Hiring, Firing, and Board Meltdowns(videocast) Bill Hybels, Patrick Lencioni, Henry Cloud, David Ireland, Carly Fiorina Manage Differently NOW  Gary Hamel * * * Lunch * * * SESSION 3: 2:00-3:00 P.M. Leading People to the Prodigal God Tim Keller * * * Break * * * SESSION 4: 3:30- 5:00 P.M. A Leadership Case Study: Jessica Jackley and the KIVA Story Jessica Jackley (Interview with Jim Mellado) Against All Odds Harvey Carey   FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2009 9:00AM-5:15PM CST   SESSION 5: 9:00- 10:45 A.M. Thinking Forward Third Culture Leadership Dave Gibbons Aid vs. Trade Andrew Rugasira Leveraging Your Past Wess Stafford * * * Break * * * SESSION 6: 11:30- 12:30 P.M. Eyewitness to Power David Gergen (Interview with Bill Hybels) * * * Lunch * * * SESSION 7: 2:00-2:50 P.M. Switch Chip Heath and Dan Heath (Interview with Craig Groeschel) * * * Break * * * SESSION 8: 3:00-3:45 P.M. Bono, the Church… Three Years Later (videocast) Bono * * * Break * * * SESSION 9: 4:15- 5:15 P.M. An Interview with Tony Blair (videocast) Tony Blair (Interview with Jim Mellado)   The times listed on the Summit schedule are in Central Time (CT), the local zone for Willow Creek Community Church

Leadership Summit is next week!

Pastor Troy is hosting the Leadership Summit next week as we hear from global leaders like Tony Blair, David Gergen (CNN Analyst), & Bono (U2 & Activist). 

Flamingo gets a special rate of just $75. That's a fraction of the registration! I believe so much in each of you as leaders & in the Leadership Summit that I am willing to put $10 of my own dollars towards your registration.

Seats still available. You can register on www.flamingoroadchurch.com, and enter our Flamingo Promo Code of TLS2009.

Don't miss an opportunity to tap into your leadership potential. Attend part or all of the conference. The investment you will make in yourself is priceless!

Tidal Wave coming to Connections

Save the date! Our next CANT MISS "Connections Meeting" for ALL Leaders is MOVED TO SUNDAY, August 23rd, from 3-5pm!!!

LOCATION? Yet to be revealed!! Somewhere in the BEACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Getting Things Done! Chapter 7 & 8

The Blogger's Bookstudy continues! and just this past weekend, Pastor Matt broke down Chapter 6 for us "Getting IN to Empty"  https://mattmiller24.blogspot.com.  We are going to break down the next 2 Chapters!

 Organizing: Setting Up the Right Buckets. I will never forget a consultant on Oprah that once said, "you will never be disorganized or have a mess, if you have a place for everything!?"

That statement changed the way I tailored my house, my closets, & my calendar. Its all about buckets or "bins" to place things in. The RIGHT buckets!Having a total & seamless organized system in place give you POWER because it allows your mind to let go of lower-level thinking & fly at intuitive FOCUS.

I personally start off every Sunday evening with an Action Item List of the week. This Chapter helped me evaluate "the stuff" in the basket.

There are 7 primary types of things that you'll want to keep track of & manage from an organizational perspective:

• A "Projects" list
• Project support material
• Calendared actions & information
• "Next Actions" lists
• A "Waiting For" list
• Reference material
• A "someday/maybe" list

You have to keep these categories distinct from one another as they each represent a discrete type of "agreement" we make with ourselves, & if they "lose" their edge & begin to blend, the value of organizing is gone! Be true to your categories, your "buckets". For instance, if you have a project that you're not going to be doing anything about for some time....it must go onto your "Someday/Maybe" list so you can truly relate to the "Projects" list with action-generating FOCUS :)

In Chapter 8, Reviewing: Keeping your system functional - the purpose of this whole method of workflow management is not to let your brain become lax but rather enable it to move toward more productive activity. Reviewing your "system" on a regular basis & keeping it current & functional are pre-requisites for that kind of control.  Instill the power of a weekly review. The weekly review is whatever you need to do to get your head "empty agan". Its going through the five (5) phases of workflow management - collecting, processing, organizing, and reviewing all your outstanding involvements. 

You must basically ask yourself "What do you need to do, and how often, to ensure that all of it works as a consistent system, FREEING you to THINK & MANAGE at a higher level? Your personal system needs to be established in such a way that you can SEE all the Action Options you need to see, when you need to see them.

Go over to Genie's blog tomorrow for the next chapter of Getting Things Done!  https://geniemo.blogspot.com!

Have a potential new small group leader in mind? Send them to SuperHero Small Group Leader Training coming to a campus near you.

Cooper City is hosting it Saturday at 6pm in Room 126 or Sunday at 11am.

Come FLY with us!! 

Dave Ramsey Small Groups LAUNCH!

We are excited to launch Dave Ramsey Small Groups this week! Make sure you got your Leaders Kits, lets partner with people!!! See or email Barby.Ward@flamingoroad.org, or call her at 954-434-1500.

Have I ever shared my Lifesong?

None But Jesus 
In the quiet, in the stillness 
I know that you are God
In the secret of your presence 
I know there I am restored
When you call I won't refuse
Each new day, again I'll choose

There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise

In the chaos, in confusion 
I know you're sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness 

You give me grace to do your will
When you call I won't delay
This my song through all my days

I am yours and you are mine...

All my delight is in you Lord
All of my hope
All of my strength
All my delight is in you Lord
Forevermore

Failure is not an option for Him

He (God) Himself has said..."I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down (or relax my hold on you!)"   Hebrews 13:5, AMP

In the book of Ezequial, we find the children of Israel, who were in despair because they had lost (or would soon lose) EVERYTHING...their freedom, their country, their Temple & many even their lives. In the midst of devastation, Ezequial offered hope, showing them that God was still at work.  Knowing that God promises not to fail me in any way, or leave me without support is all the peace I need.

The Leader's Pathway....

"Beyond the gift of Leadership, beyond the hard core skills, talents & experiences, is there anything else needed to be an effective Leader? Well, is there?

Or as Hybel asks "how important is the supernatural component of leadership, the "God" part?  Is it really that important for leaders to be, dream, exist, do life in a vital walk with God?   Duh?!? (can I use that word in a Blogger's Bookstudy?) 

Is is it vital to walk with God as you lead? Yes!!  Can you imagine doing what we do without the Holy Spirit guiding us?  Its with Him, and we constantly mess up, or fall short, there is no doubt a leader's greatest gift is a fully yielded heart. In John 15:5 when He refers to Himself as being the vine, we the branches & we being able to produce more fruit when we remain in Him.  He is basically stating that if we stay in close connection (love that word) with Him, He will in turn INFUSE our leadership with power, creativity, courage!

Now, the key as Leaders is to find the pathway that will help you feel closest to God. Because He has wired each of us differently, what speaks to you, wont necessarily speak to me. Have fun identifying which one of these best describes your "path":

THE RELATIONAL PATHWAY

For these type of people, solitude feels like solitary confinement. Reading the Bible alone, in isolation feel like empty homework assignments. These type of peeps cant grow or serve alone. They need, thrive spiritually, feel closest to God when they study the word, pray, or serve in a group (sounds like small group peeps). Their primary pathway to God is relational. When leaders with the relational pathway acknowledge it & learn INTO it, they begin to flourish spiritually in ways they never could have if they'd attempted to go it alone. I have 4 words for you..."don't do life alone" :)

THE INTELLECTUAL PATHWAY

These guys tend to grow spiritually or feel closest to God by attending classes, seminars, webinars (podcasts) that will challenge their thinking. Their hearts will never fully engage until their minds are filled with truth, facts, knowledge. This was Paul's pathway possible since for him the transformation of the world depended on the "renewing of our minds" (Romans 12:2)

THE SERVING PATHWAY

These are the "Martha's" that yes, take time to pray, attend worship, but if you ask them when they feel closest to God or when they feel "most alive" as I describe myself when I walk into the hallways of Flamingo, its not while studying theology, its when I'm serving, being an instrument, helping to accomplish something for God!!  (can you tell I can totally relate with this pathway :) If you're someone who feels closest to God when you are serving, then lean into this pathway. Your awareness of God's presence will increase big time!

THE CONTEMPLATIVE PATHWAY

These peeps are easily drained by relationships, activities & full calendars!? But they can spend almost unlimited time in solitude.   Give them the Bible, a good book & a journal & they will disappear for days as for these guys, simply being alone with God is enough. They are deep thinkers & love quiet reflection.

THE ACTIVIST PATHWAY

I'd like to think I have a little of this one too & you will probably see bits & pieces of you in maybe 2 of these paths, but these guys are closest to God when running 300 mph! Or as Hybel puts it, happiest when white-knuckled & gasping for breath & will only thrive in high challenging environments that pushes them to the absolute edge of POTENTIAL. Its when they are right at that edge, that they feel closest to God.

THE CREATION PATHWAY

Here again, as someone who loves sitting outside by the lake, breathing in ocean air & contemplating the moon like tonight...those things make me feel closer to God, for these people, being in a natural environment dramatically increases their awareness of God. These guys enjoy their devotions close to nature as it speaks volumes to them. They find spiritual comfort & refreshment in the outdoors, or in the mountains because they are close to God's creation.

THE WORSHIP PATHWAY

This was no doubt David who felt fully alive when worshipping. This person feels closest to God when allowed to be free in the spirit of worship. They thrive & feel like they are before the throne by simply worshipping God in song with all that they are!

Now what? #1 - Identify your pathway so that you wire your spiritual formation for success. #2  - Lean into your pathway, experiment!  #3 - Appreciate & attempt to practice ALL the pathways. All offer opportunity for growth!

Finally, as Leaders, we can play a vital role in helping the people we lead in identifying their pathways. When those you lead begin to understand that there is at least one pathway that will enable them to relate to their Father more closely...they will thank you for a lifetime!  Can you imagine how much more vital we could be as Leaders & world changers if we were regularly accessing the presence & power of God through the pathway designed for us? Watch out world!!!!  50, 100, 150

I'm Yours...

"I'm not my own...I've been carried by YOU all my life.

When my life is like a storm, rising waters, & all I want is the shore, 

you say I will be ok, & make it through the rain, 

you are my shelter from the storm.

Everything rides on Hope now...

everything rides on Faith somehow. 

When the world has broken me down, your love sets me free"

These are lyrics to a song that continually speak to my heart...when I begin to think that He has been there every step of my journey...even before my eyes opened to all the wonders & pain & discoveries I would see, His eyes were on me! He makes all things new. Its mind blowing to know & comforting to know He knows my name...I'm not my own, but His, to love, protect, guide. Daughter of the most High King. I'm at a season in my life where I am totally riding on Hope & Faith. Ever been there....its where you get to know HIM best. 

New Financial Series & SG study coming up!

Leaders, we are so excited to launch a 2-weekend Financial Series July 11th, featuring Dave Ramsey. We look forward to partnering with folks in this arena. A couple of ways you can get involved are:

• Weekend Teaching - invite, invite, invite! The series entitles Life.Money.Hope. will give folks a refreshed new perspective.
• We are pointing folks to the Connections Corner after every service for questions. Email Barby.ward@flamingoroad.org, if you have expertise in the financial arena & could be an instrument in equipping folks with resources.
• Finally, we want to point folks to a 3 week Small Group Study around the series. We are preparing the 3 week DVD materials & group discussion questions for each of you to facilitate. You can obtain these materials from the Connections Corner over the weekend, by going on our NING community, or by seeing Barby Ward.
• We are schedule to launch the Small Group 3 week Study week of July 19th. You can choose to condense the subject matter to 2 sessions (or 2 weeks instead of 3) we just ask that you inform us of your intent.

Thanks for choosing to lead, partner & connect all these lives God has entrusted us. Honored to do Ministry with each of you!

Bloggers Book Study!

We are kicking-off something new in the Flamingo Road blogsphere today, a Bloggers Bookstudy. Some of the bloggers on staff at Flamingo will be going on a summer journey together.

Hope you'll follow along and join the conversation.

Thought of the day...

"There are two kinds of pain in life. One is the pain of discipline and the other is the pain of regret. Choose discipline. "