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Last night as I returned home from Atlanta, I turned on the Olympics to some disheartening news; both US track 4×100 relay teams dropped the baton during their qualifying races. If I remember correctly isn’t the purpose of the race to get the baton around the track as fast as possible? What amazes me about this is that with all the new technology in track and field today such as ultra light track spikes, stronger lighter javelins, and faster surfaces to run on, one of the best countries in track doesn’t make it to the finals because of a fundamental error. I remember as a kid, when I ran track, the first thing they taught our relay team was how to pass the baton.    As I thought more about this last night I was reminded, as a minister and leader, that I do this a lot when it comes to ministry. I can easily start focusing on the new cool and creative things to do (which those things are great) but I am always reminded of Saint Paul when he writes in 1 Corinthians 15:2-4 that he writes these things as “first importance”. Many time as leaders when can get our eyes of what is of first importance in our ministries and organizations. Today for Ol Skool Friday I want to remind all the leaders out their to learn from the defeat of our track team.  Keep it “Ol Skool” in your leadership. Do the same things that brought you success in the past. Like a good friend of mine Steve Murrell says “same old boring strokes”. Keep it Old Skool!

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Yesterday I was in Atlanta having some 925 meetings and I had the privilege to spend a few moments with John Hull, the President of Equip Leadership. I have always been a big fan of John Maxwell and all the great leadership work they do. A few thoughts from my time with John:
• It is important as a leader to narrow and know your vision inside out.
•Add value to people. If you add value to people, they will add value to your organization.
• Be authentic. People want authenticity in the leaders they follow. Talking with John you can tell right up front that he is an authentic leader.
• Do everything in your orginization with excellence. Just walking around the Equip office you see they take this value serious.
More tomorrow with Old Skool Friday

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Mark Batterson a friend of mine today released his book “Wild Goose Chase” below is a summary of the book, plus a link too the website.

Most of us have no idea where we’re going most of the time. Perfect.

“Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit–An Geadh-Glas, or ‘the Wild Goose.’ The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what it’s like to follow the Spirit through life. I think the Celtic Christians were on to something….

Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: Adventure.” –from the introduction.

Author Bio:

Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of Washington, DC’s National Community Church, widely recognized as one of America’s most innovative churches. NCC meets in movie theaters at metro stops throughout the city, as well as in a church-owned coffee house near Union Station. More than seventy percent of NCC’ers are single twentysomethings who live or work on Capitol Hill. Mark is the author of the best-selling In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day and a widely read blogger (www.markbatterson.com). He lives on Capitol Hill with his wife, Lora, and their three children.

chasethegoose.com

Amazon.com

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With it being Olympic week I thought it would be cool to have a former Olympic medalist give us a post on her Olympic experience and thoughts on this Olympics. I have the privilege of having Marianne Kriel work on our staff of 925, not to many people can say that they have an Olympian working in the office right next to them.  Below is her post:

PS: I will announce next week the winner of last weeks Old Skool Friday contest. You can still submit your request until next Thursday.

I have enjoyed every minute of watching the Games this past week, and it has conjured up amazing memories of my own experiences. I competed for South Africa in Barcelona 1992 in the first Olympic Games in 36 years after we were banned due to apartheid. It was a very proud moment as we walked into the stadium as a unified country, excited about the future. We were completely out of our depth, and even though I broke all the African records in my events, the best I accomplished was a 10th place. For the next 4 years I trained harder than I ever had: 6 -7 hours a day of swimming, weights, running, aerobics and technical work. We were doing about 7,5 miles in the pool all days except Sundays. In Atlanta 1996, after 4 years of grueling training, I improved 1 second, and that second changed my life forever. I won the bronze medal (one of a handful of medals in history) for South Africa. God truly gave me strength towards the end of the race, and I KNOW I would not have won a medal without Him.

Seeing what Phelps has achieved in the pool already, and realizing exactly what it takes for him to do it, has totally amazed me. His focus, willingness to go beyond the pain, exceptional technique, and the fact that he shares every moment with his Mom and sisters - makes him the star that he is today. Not only is he racing 17 times in 6 days, but he swims every one of the most difficult races, and does it in a world record time every time. I salute him and every Olympian who gave their all to make their countries proud…..as I gladly watch it all, stress-free, from my comfy couch!

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Today is my 30th birthday! I am officially in the Old Head Club. As the rapper Jay-Z said “Thirty is the new twenty”. I’ve had no expectation for my 30th birthday, but over the last couple of weeks I started thinking about what I have learned after being on the planet for 30 years:

• That before I was ever born, God knew me. That consistently floors me when I think that God created me for a purpose (Jeremiah 1:5). I am excited to be apart of His great plan.
• That you will be blessed if you are willing to always honor those who are older. Even if you don’t totally agree, we should treat older men and women with respect that they are due.
• That I take my self way to seriously. I am going to try and not do that over the next 30yrs.
• That I have the greatest wife on the planet! No really…I do.
• That I have the cutest kids ever.
• That death is real, we will all face it, and that two places exist after we die.
• That living life daily with your closest friends is the way to go.
• That the “Great Commission” is every Christians responsibility.
• That if you think of others needs, then your needs will be taken care of (Matthew 6:33)
• THAT JESUS IS THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD!.

I am so thankful for reaching my 30th birthday and excited for the next 30.

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This week is Olympic Week!

I am so excited about watching the Olympics. Being a die hard sports fan it’s great to watch the world’s best come together and compete against one another.

Last night was one of the most memorable moments I believe in Olympic history. Watching the 4×100 relay team (Michael Phelps, Cullen Jones, Jason Lezak, and Garrett Webster-Gale) come from behind at the last minute to win the gold was so exciting!

Whenever I watch sporting events God seems to speak to me about many different things and last night was no exception. What I learned:

• The importance of fighting to the end no matter what the circumstances. It’s always easy to quit when circumstances get rough, but if we keep fighting it’s amazing what can happen ( Galatians 6:9).
• The power of team. Michael Phelps is a great individual swimmer, but last night his hope of achieving 8 gold medals was left in the hands of his teammate Jason Lezak. Jason swam his heart out the last 50 meters of the race to help his team win Gold and in turn helped Michael Phelps continue on his quest for Olympic history. It was a fresh reminder that we need others to help in our quest to be all that God has called us to be.

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Today on Old Skool Friday we are going to get a little deeper than our normal friday’s. Today’s question is this: if you could sit down and talk for thirty minutes with five past or present leaders who would it be? There is a twist, whoever comes up with the most intriguing list (voted on by me) will receive a special gift. Let’s make this the best “Old Skool Friday” post ever.

PS. I will also be linking you again today to Clayton Bell for the notes of the Willow Creek Summit.

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LEADING IN NEW CULTURAL REALITIES, PART 2

STROOONG end to the day. Good job, Efram.

• Efrem Smith is on stage. The white-wash is over!
• We need leaders who will live, love, serve and understand the multi-ethnic realities of our world and our churches
• He’s got a little MLK in his voice. Very impressive.
• HA!
  
• 1 in 100 children were born of mixed race 1970. Now it’s 1 in 19. 1 in 10 in places like NYC
• At some level, we all must step out and lead in a
  multi-ethnic situation. We don’t have to be experts, but be willing to
  step into a situation and be changed.
• OK!
  
• Drawing from 1 John 4. How do we engage for kingdom purposes?
• This session is very good, but does not led itself to prolific note taking.
  
• When God comes back, it’s justice. Until then, it’s just us!
• MMM HMMM!

Visit claytonbellonline for the rest of the notes from this session. See you tomorrow.

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Finding Your True North

• OK, let’s be honest. This is the first session after lunch, so the notes may not be at abundant or sharp as the first two sessions
• Bill wrote a book of the same title
• Are you using your leadership abilities to make the world a better place?
• We need to let our light shine before all men in all circumstances
• It’s a great sin to have a gift/talent and not maximize or use it for God
• 1 of 5 people trust business leaders
• 12% of people trust congressional leaders
• Mandela declared that he was there not to be a leader, but a servant
• We need a new generation of authentic leaders. We don’t need to be perfect, polished, and unapproachable. We need to be honest and real in our leadership.
• Drucker- “Leadership is responsibility.”
• 20th Century leader
  • Control, followers and leaders
• 21st Century leaders
  • More about empowering the people
  • We need to give the people an opportunity to lead
  • You learn by doing, not studying.

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JUST COURAGE: CHANGING THE DARKNESS

• He runs the International Justice Mission
  
• Hybels age is the running joke of the conference…
• “We want our leadership to matter, to make a difference.”
• What is the leadership that matters to God?
  • Leadership in endeavors that matter to God
  • So many of the things the Pharisees were involved in leading were of no interest to God
• Just because we are leading and people are following doesn’t mean that God is pleased with our leadership
• “Are Jesus and I interested in the same things? What is God truly passionate about?”- God’s passion for the world, and God’s passion for justice
• God’s passion for the world
  • Right there in John 3:16!
  • What is the hardest thing for people to believe about the Christians faith?- that God loves them, because they are in so much pain
  • What is God’s plan for making it believable that he is good?
  • The answer from the bible is that WE are his agent, we are his plan to display the power and love of God (as representatives of Jesus)
• God’s passion for justice
  
  • Some people are suffering because of the oppression of other people
  • These are the people who are victims of injustice
  • What does that mean? In our world, we are trained to view ourselves as victims all day, every day.
    • Is it the guy with 13 items in the express lane? No, that is NOT what the bible is talking about!
    • The bible talks about it as a particular sin, the abuse of power to take from them the good things that God intended for them- their live, their dignity, etc.
    • Ecc. 4:1- “Again I observed all the oppression that takes place in our world. I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. The oppressors have great power, and the victims are helpless.”

    For the rest of the notes go too claytonbellonline.com

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