This Sunday night our church launches Cross Street Live. I am not an emphatic person most of the time, but I honestly believe this could be one of the finest moments in the life of Grace Community Church. Cross Street Live is an opportunity for kids to bring their parents to learn and worship! It is fun, high energy and especially designed for elementary age kids and their parents. Our team has invested countless hours into planning this night, which we hope to repeat throughout the year in 2009. As with anything we do at Grace, this is a community event. You don’t have to attend Grace on Sunday morning to enjoy Cross Street Live.

Spread the word to your friends today.

What: Cross Street Live

Where: Rossview High School Auditorium

When: Sunday night, December 7, 5:30

For more information send an email to office@gcomchurch.com.

Cheryl and I have a standing disagreement in a matter of opinion. When I say, “I’m ready to go” that means I’m ready to walk out the door, get in the car and pull out of the driveway.  When Cheryl says, “I’m ready to go” it means I have five things to do and then we can walk out the door, get in the car and pull out of the driveway.

Now please keep in mind that I’m a simple man.  What I mean is I’m not that bright sometimes.  So on occasion I have confronted the fact that our versions of “I’m ready to go” do not exactly match.  She told me, upon entering the overly “ready” vehicle and hearing my complaints (after I honked the horn a few times…j/k…I ain’t that dumb) that she had some things she “had to do” before she could leave.  It turns out, upon further examination that the matter of opinion difference that we really have is in those things that she says she “needs” to do prior to leaving. 

Things such as:

Her “need”: Take the dog out.

My take: She seems to go inside anyway; whether we take her out or not. 

Her “need”: Put a load of clothes in the washer and/or dryer.

My take: I went to college. If it didn’t stink (too much) we wore it. We can go back to that system if we need to. 

Her “need”: Pick up boy’s clothes from the floor.

My take: They know where they put them. They can either find them later or use their money to buy more. 

Her “need”: Put dishes in the dishwasher.

My take: Seriously, doesn’t a former, used up tooth fairy come do this if we don’t? 

Her need: Go to the bathroom one more time.

My take: Ok, I’m sorry for all those times I wouldn’t stop when the boys were little but I’m older now too. I will stop if you ask. Chances are I have to go also.

Perhaps you have your own examples.  Feel free to share yours here. 

There are many leaders I admire who have influenced my own leadership.  I admire the teachings on leadership by guys like John Maxwell and Andy Stanley.  There are leaders from my personal life such as a former pastor and another local leader who have influenced me as I have watched their leadership.   I also love a great coach, often choosing the teams I support by the coach that leads them. Athletics today is full of coaches I admire. 

The principles, however, that I admire most are found in the leadership style of Jesus.  A few of His leadership principles that inspire me are:

1.      Jesus was willing to invest in people others would have dismissed.  Consider the disciples. They were not the “religious” elite, yet Jesus used them to start His church.

2.      Jesus released responsibility and ownership in a ministry.  Consider how Jesus sent out the disciples on their own and consistently reminded them that He wouldn’t always be with them.

3.      Jesus practiced servant leadership better than anyone.  The King of kings was willing to wash the feet of His followers.

4.      Jesus was focused on the vision.  Regardless of the persecutions or distractions, Jesus kept on the mission God had called Him to complete. 

5.      Jesus handled distractions with grace.  When the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years touched His garment, Jesus stopped to heal her, even though headed to a definite purpose. 

6.      Jesus was into self-development.  He said He only did what His Father told Him and He constantly slipped away to spend time with God. 

7.      Jesus was into leadership development and replacement.  He very purposefully prepared His disciples to take over the ministry.  I also like the He pushed people beyond what they felt they were capable of doing.

8.      He challenged those who followed Him and held them to high expectations; telling the disciples they must be willing to lose everything to follow Him.

9.      Jesus cared more about people than about rules and regulations.  He was willing to jeopardize Himself personally by breaking the “rules” to help someone in need.

10.  Jesus rewarded people generously who were faithful to Him and His cause.