This post is mostly for my senior pastor buddies out there.

Guys, I'm in an Advanced Coaching Network with Nelson Searcy (Church Leader Insights). I can't even tell you how much I have learned after just two sessions. I'll tell you more about that in a later post but suffice it to say that if you're not in a CLI coaching network, you should be! Seriously!

Anyway, as a part of the network we are reading like crazy (not all readers are leaders but all leaders are readers). A few of the books we've read have really "messed" me up and I think you should read them too. Here goes...

"The E-Myth Manager" by Michael Gerber. This book will give pastors, especially in staff led churches, a whole new perspective on what it takes to manage others. Also, if you are a church planter, you MUST read this book. You need to hear that you are not a manager but a technician and need a team around you that includes a manager. Guys, read this book first!

"Maximize" by Nelson Searcy. Pastors, we've got to stop being wimps when it comes to money; handling it, preaching about it, and teaching our people how to steward it. This book will teach you how to develop extravagant givers in your church. BTW, next week all of our directional leaders at Rocky River Church will meet in my office to work through the Stewardship System (https://nelsonsearcy.infusionsoft.com/cart/store.jsp?view=4&i=p293&navic...).

"Fusion" by Nelson Searcy. Actually, you should read this book first. This book is about how to steward the people God is sending to your church. You will learn how to turn first time guests into fully committed members of your church. I would also recommend you getting a download of The Assimilation Intensive. It will CHANGE your church by next Sunday - seriously! Here's the link https://nelsonsearcy.infusionsoft.com/cart/store.jsp?view=4&i=p287&navic....

Let me offer one more thing. If you are not in a coaching network, then why not? The investment is SO worth it. I have been through several coaching networks with Nelson and I'm telling you that as he grows, I grow with him and so does Rocky River Church. And to those out there who are CLI coaching alumni, you have GOT to apply for the next Advanced Coaching Network. Here's the link to CLI coaching http://www.churchleaderinsights.com/index.php/coaching.

Remember, growing churches are led by growing leaders...period. If you are not learning you are not leading.

Jimmy

That's my new phrase here lately when something blows me away...Holy Smokes! Anyway, I just got word on an awesome new website that you have to check out - especially if you are a Worship Leader/Pastor, Lead Pastor, Church Planter, etc. Here it is...

http://www.worshipleaderinsights.com/

And... this guy (Jason Hatley) is off the hook! I learn from him and endorse him with everything inside of me! I don't know if that means much but for what it is worth. Go there now!

And...for the trivia minded person, does anyone know the name of the first ever Worship Pastor at Rocky River Community Church? Nope, not Chris Tomlin (thank God!). It was Jason Hatley!

I'm so excited today. Today is the first day of Willowcreek's Leadership Summit (http://www.willowcreek.com/events/leadership/). I've been going to the Summit for about eight years now and it is the highlight of my leadership year. I'm heading over with our R2C2 staff and just can't wait to learn and be inspired with those guys. And what's funny is that the Summit comes at just the right time for our church - again, God is doing some special things. BTW, we're going to the Summit at Meckelenburg Community Church.

I'm excited about the rest of this week too. The Summit lasts through Saturday morning. On Sunday I'm going to be at Elevation Church in Charlotte. Been wanting to do this for a while and finally get to this weekend. Jeremy Hyde, our former Pastor of Community at R2C2 is going to be teaching both services this week. I'm very excited about that...!

Anyway, it's going to be a great wrap up this week to one of the most God-inspiring weeks I can remember...EVER!

A couple of days ago I blogged a Bono video from YouTube. Some of that video is also on part 1 and part 2 of the Summit interview. But there shouldn't be too much crossover. Anyway, here's part 2.

This is part of an interview with Bono at last year's Leadership Summit (2006). Bill Hybels, one of my favorite pastors and leaders (Senior Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church) gives the interview. It is very powerful. Every Christian - not to mention pastors, pastor to students, administrators, church planters, worship pastors, etc. - should check this out. This is only part 1 of the invterview. I think the guy who put it out on YouTube has broken it down into 8 parts. I'll try to put them all up over the next few days. Again, this is powerful stuff!

Today is my day off (I'm supposed to take Fridays off every week - sometimes I do sometimes I don't). I’ve been preaching lately about the importance of rest and a day off so today I played golf with Brandon, Travis and Myrick (Myrick is a friend of Brandon’s). We played a pretty nice course in Huntersville called Birkdale Country Club. I didn’t play worth a hoot but it was a great day – HOT – but great. It was a very tough course with small greens. We played behind a group that included Chad Knaus (Jimmy Johnson’s crew chief).

On the first hole Travis smoked a drive right up the fairway. But on his second shot he hit a power line that was hanging over the fairway and the corner of the green. When I say “power line” I’m talking about the big, huge steel ones with about six big lines hanging on it. These things actually sneaked throughout the course. When you’re under them you can actually hear the voltage running through them. It was amazing to think of the power in them, and a little nerve-wracking at the same time.

Sounds like a headline doesn't it?! It should be the headline of my life. I'm going to talk about my sins (one sin in particular) on Sunday. I am a repeat violator of the 4th commandment (Exodus 20:8-11) - "Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy." This Sunday at Rocky River Community Church I am going to talk about what the Sabbath is, why God wants us to remember it, and how we are supposed to remember it. Specifically, I'm going to talk about the importance of taking a day off (1 in every 7) for rest. Ironically, I'm blogging this from my office - ON MY DAY OFF! :)

Anyway, I look forward to seeing you Sunday for this IMPORTANT LifeTalk. Be sure to bring your friends with you...!

One of the things I learned last week on my vacation is the importance of staying power. I learned this at Graceland - Elvis Presley's home. Elvis has been dead for 30 years this week. That is hard to believe. But at Graceland on Saturday afternoon there were literally thousands of people there to see his home, buy his CD's, shirts, pink Cadillac replicas, and other trinkets. He is as big today - and certainly brings in more money - than he did when he was alive. His "kingdom" is as strong as ever. That is amazing, Elvis fan or not.

I hate being away on Sundays. I really do. I just love teaching. I love the people. I just miss not being in church. BUT, I don't worry about it anymore. I used to like crazy. And I'll bet my team thinks I worry because I called all them several times this morning. But I really don't worry about what is going on and how things are handled when I'm away. AND THAT FEELS SO GOOD!