Big Is The New Small

Some Random Bullets for Your Halloween Enjoyment:

• We do the Halloween thing… the boys are excited to have their parties at school and trick or treat tonight.  The weather is going to be perfect today and it’s Fri. fun times!  Jayden is a Black Ninja Double Black Ninja   Wesley is a tackle football player… go figure!
• We have some big-time games this weekend for the boys and my Sooners play Nebraska.
• We are Kicking off a new series at church this weekend “Practical Atheist” it will be off the hook!
• If you are on twitter follow me here and be sure and subscribe to BigIsTheNewSmall here.
• The Oklahoma City Thunder had a horrible debut game!
• I’m not sure if you knew this but there is a really, really BIG election on Tues. (More about this on Mon.)
• There have been a lot of new Subscribers to BigIsTheNewSmall.com (Thanks for Reading!)
• I am off today… that’s a good thing!  My wife and I are going to pick out some new Versace glasses!
• We just hired a new Associate Youth Pastor at the n-dub and he’s a brotha’!
• Does God ever tell you to do something and your are not exactly sure what he’s telling you to do?  Hmmmm… I just thought I would ask!

Do you celebrate Halloween, why or why not, how do you celebrate Halloween?

Should Christians celebrate Halloween?

I was thinking about coming up with one of those creative, cool, leadership, challenging posts this morning; however I slept through my normal morning 3B-Time (Bible, Books & Blogs).  So what is a person to do, go ahead and push through, come up with something, post a YouTube video, post a blog someone else wrote, post a blog that says go check out so and so’s site, post some pictures… ehhhh not so much for me my friends.  That kind of thought process can lead to a people pleasing attitude and I am the furthest thing from a people pleaser; so my post today simply begins and ends with: “Not Today…” 

If you are having one of those days in whatever area of your life, feel free to simply say “Not Today…” and remember “Not Today… doesn’t mean Not Tomorrow…” 

“Not Today…”  Transcend The Isms’

My 9 year old son Wesley doesn’t like watching the local news; as he thinks it’s “nothing but negative and scary.”  The local news is supposed to be a snapshot of our local area, our surroundings, our world…  As I was watching the news, thinking, praying and listening;  I was reminded that my son has a point and it was motivation to post this ranting run-on sentence; I apologize in advance:

I am sick and tired of all of the negativity, as I was watching a totally false negative campaign ad against a personal friend of mine, who in my opinion happens to be one of Oklahoma’s top politicians, I just shook my head, then I listened to the story about the young girl who was kidnapped and found with help of the amber alert, then the story of the prison warden’s wife who ran off with an escaped inmate for more than 10 years, he said this she said that, voter fraud and then one of my twitter buddies said the deaths of Jennifer Hudson’s family being murdered is all over the news in Chicago, the people are buying up guns because the fear of their gun rights being negatively affected, people are hanging a look-a-like dummy of V.P. Candidate Sarah Palin suspended with a noose around her neck and calling it Halloween art, the bail-out, and this truck driver allegedly saw a little girl bound and gagged riding down the street, and these guys were caught planning the assassination of Presidential Candidate Barack Obama and a thief runs over a Lowe’s security guard, OU’s defense is not any good, the Governor allegedly gave over the limit in campaign contributions, he said this-she said that, this ignorant person dropped the “n-word” in addition to saying everyone should “own one” and to top it all off, Joe the Plumber aint even a freakin’ plumber… 

Are You Freakin’ Kidding Me…  Stop The Freakin’ Madness!  

I see why an innocent 9 year old or 40 year old for that matter can thin the news is “negative and scary.”  This Madness is not just happening because we are a week away from Nov. 4th although it ’s heightened.  {Ugh}

A small silver lining: The stock market is up nearly 900 pts., gas is as cheap as it has been in a long time ($1.95) and the Oklahoma City Thunder kick off their inaugural season tonight.

The Real Silver Lining: God is Good… All The Time!    Praying…

We have all heard the phrase “Practice makes perfect!” at least once in our lifetime; however I want to disagree with one of our favorite childhood sayings… I think practice makes you better but not perfect.  My son had an amazing teacher at a private grade school that he attended and in my opinion he took the ”Practice makes perfect” phrase to the next level… he said “Perfect practice makes perfect.”  Now this phrase is much more close to reality; however perfect practice may make you much better… but perfect, not so much!

Anytime I hear someone tell me that they are a perfectionist, I chuckle inside or sometimes I even laugh out loud.  The bottom line is that Perfectionist are no more then a bunch of wannabees… that’s right, they wanna be perfect, but the reality is they can’t, because they aren’t perfect.

Here are a couple of definitions of “perfectionist” to ponder:

1. Perfectionist- a person who demands perfection of himself, herself, or others.
2. Perfectionist- a propensity for being displeased with anything that is not perfect.

By looking at these definitions, wannabe “Perfectionists” set themselves up to demand something that’s unrealistic for themselves or others and become displeased when that standard isn’t met.  As for myself, I am as competitive of a person as there is and let me tell you I: strive to be the best, always demand excellence, expect amazing results, expect greatness, demand growth, shoot for the stars, dream big, expect my team do be second-to-none and do the same…; however I don’t have a lot of room for wannabe “Perfectionist” because… they aren’t perfect.

I will close with a quote I read from a Korean student Puhruen Chung; who scored a perfect36 on his ACT, Puhruen said “One of the most important things you can do is review what you have learned and concentrate on what your teachers teach.”   This statement is true for us as leaders, parents, Christ followers…  we can we review what we learn, learn from our mistakes, strive to be the best, aspire for greatness, demad excellence… and we also need to concentrate on what our mentors, leaders and most importantly what Jesus teaches us.

Perfectionists Aren’t Perfect… Transcend The Isms’

• Are you a wannabe “Perfectionist” that needs to have a mental shift? 
• What are your thoughts on “Perfectionists” & Have you experienced this mindset to be problematic?

I recently had a conversation with a pastor friend of mine who happens to be a female.  She was sharing the various unique things that women have confided in her about; one that she shared made me have one of those hmmmm moments.  She stated that several women over the years and one recently have shared that They Think Their Pastor’s Sexy!  Not to be confused with the popular country music song “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy.”   Not only do they think their Pastor’s Sexy, but they struggle with their mind wandering as they are watching and listening to their pastor speak.

Pastor Craig Groeschel teaches the art of  “Bouncing Your Eyes” in other words don’t keep your eyes focused on someone for too long… keeping your eyes moving can keep you out of trouble.  This is something that is stereotypically geared towards guys… but what about the ladies?

After my conversation with my friend; I might make the assumption that there are women sitting in pews and seats of churches all around the country that may be struggling with the inability to “Bounce Their Eyes.”  As their eyes are having to fixated on their “Sexy Pastor,” who happens to be in front of them for lengthy periods of time each and every week.

The thoughts running through their head might be something like this: He’s Hot; I like that suit; Are those True Religion Jeans; He’s so Handsome, Nice Hair, He dresses so fly, I can tell he’s been working out, I wonder if… and then their mind wanders for a moment or two or three or four.  Unfortunately, this cycle can repeat itself on a weekly basis; but what is a lady to do so when She Thinks Her Pastor’s Sexy!

• Do you think this a common/legitimate problem or simply isolated cases?  Thoughts in general!
• Does this struggle for women contribute to the vulnerability and moral failures of pastors?
• Any suggestions for the ladies, Do the ladies just get a pass?

60 Second Marine Commercial that could change your perspective… Transcend The Isms’ 

Don’t Think, Don’t Blink, Don’t Quit… Go For It!  Enough said!

Is there something you need to go for?  Thoughts?

Twitter Users: Speaking of Quitting there is a new program that identifies those people who Unfollow your tweets.  Click here to find out who stopped following you.  I have received several notifications of Quitters and it showed my last tweet before they Quit. (Click Here)

This post is intended to recognize, highlight, update and add new folks to my peeps list… that’s right, I’m talking about some LinkLuv.  The below list is comprised of everyone in the blogshphere that I’m aware of that have linked to BigIsTheNewSmall.com; as well as a few peeps that I follow, whom have yet to show BigIsTheNewSmall some LinkLuv. 

If your blog is listed below please check to ensure that your link is still correct and if you have linked to BigIsTheNewSmall and are not listed, let me know so that I can show you some LinkLuv.  I know the list is long… go ahead and check, check, check, check it out:

5and2fish

A Priddy Blog

A Tentmaker’s Journey

Aaron Havens

Afro Spear

aliens among us

Alonso Montenegro

Andy Kirk

Andy Tilly

Anna Meadows

Anne Jackson

Antwon Davis

Becoming Bridge

Bill Glick

Billy Chia

Bishop T.D. Jakes

Blake Unfettered

Bo Bray

Boyd Bettis

BrentMusings

Brian Howe

Brittney Pirtle

Brook James

Chilly Chilton

Chris Rogers

Cindy Beall

Click World

Cool Dad

Crossroads Movement

Cyndi

D-Plum

Dusty Takle

Ed Young

Erica

Ethos

Floating Axhead

Herbert Cooper

Heredes.com

Holly Brown

I’m Thinking

Indescript

Jabber Frog

Jamey Johnson

Jason Mick

Jason Robison

Jason’s World

Jayma Winters

Jeff & Zach

Jenn Cady

Jeremy Walker

John Snyder

Just Finding My Way

Kara

Ketric

Kevin Bussey

Kevin Morey

KK James

Krystel

Kyndal Braly

LeadHership

Leopard at the Summit

Life & Times

Lindsey

Lindsey Elisabeth

little pastor

love is greater than

Loveley Pearls

Mandy

Matt Miller

Media Ministry Matters

Men On Purpose

Michael High

MomsASuperhero

Monday Morning Insight

MURPHY 24p

Musings of a Caffeine Addict

My Tobin

Natalie Witcher

Nate Loucks

Nick and Vanessa

Nick Jones

Nicole Knox

Pastor Jimmy

Pastor Lite

Pastor Potter

Patrick Scott

Patrick Sievert

Perry Noble

Pimp Your Work

Potential Blog

Prayingforpapers

Preacher Pen

Princess Jes

Proof of Purchase

ragamuffinsoul

ReadScott

Rejected Reality

Rich Butler

Rich Butler

Robin Meadows

Roll Mental Camera

Scott Rodgers

Seasons of Change

Seth Godin

ShawnsBlogspot

Shift

Spence Smith

Starke Family

Steven Furtick

Stuff White People Like

Sunny Thomas

Swerve

Tales of Transition

Taylor Hale

Terry Storch

The Byers’

The Greater Love

The Greenups

The Old Black Church

The Pew View

Think Virtue

ThinkingInProgress

Tim Stevens

Tony Morgan

Tony Steward

Troy Gramling

turned out

Unveilinghope

WhosReadsThisStuff

~Abi~

I don’t want to follow you; Quite frankly I know more than you do

I don’t want to follow you; I know you’re the boss, but I’m “the glue”

I don’t want to follow you; I know how to do this, Look at my resume; I made straight A’s in college, that’s right I’m full of all of this freakin’ knowledge

I don’t want to follow you; You should be following me; You know that I’m really smart and being the boss is just in my heart

I don’t want to follow you; My time is now, My time here

Thanks for letting me know that you didn’t want to follow me; Your actions spoke loudly ya’ see; I wanted you to be the first to know , You will no longer have to follow me; I just got promoted

You don’t have to follow me; You now get the opportunity to follow She; She’s your new boss

“Mr. Glue” you need to learn how to follow

A great leader has to be a capable follower… follow the leader!  Transcend The Isms’

If you have lived long enough or simply had the opportunity to attend more than one church in your lifetime… scratch that; if you have ever attended church period, then you understand that there is no such thing as “The Perfect Church.”  Go figure the church is made-up of Imperfect People… yada, yada, yada, disclaimer, disclaimer, disclaimer!

We are going to attempt to come up with “The Perfect Church” by you simply responding to the statements below and abiding by the following rules.  Here we go:

• Please share one thing that you really like or like most about your church.
• Please share one thing you dislike, would change or would like to see different about your church.

In the spirit of Love!

Last night was one of those nights that I could not sleep… go figure I’m either waking up really early, or staying up really late these days.  I knew that I needed to do some reading and I could not get these two words out of my head: “Leadership Intuition.”  My boss had just complimented me on having great “Leadership Intuition.”   I had this vague memory of “Leadership Intuition” being one of John Maxwell’s laws in his book “21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.”   So I decided to go in my office and grab this book off the shelf; in order to refresh my memory.  Here are some highlights and my thoughts:

• Leaders Are Readers of Their Situation-  Always have your finger on the pulse of your overall-situation.
• Leaders Are Readers of Trends-   Get away from the tree so you can see the forest in front of you and behind you.  You should be able to smell the necessary need for change; in the same manner a drug sniffing dog smells the drugs… he just knows it’s there.
• Leaders Are Readers of Their Resources-  How can I maximize production with the resources that I have?  Don’t ever forget that people and their respect for your leadership is your greatest asset.
• Leaders Are Readers of People-  You should be able to know your people; know their hopes, dreams, fears, potential, concerns… Here is a little bonus: genuinely care about your people!
• Leaders Are Readers of Themselves-   Know who you are, Know what’s in you, Know your abilities, Don’t be naive, Be aware, Be a student of yourself… Be a straight A student of yourself.  If you are flunking class “You 101″ you don’t deserve to be a teacher.

“Who you are dictates what you see!”  Transcend The Isms’

Have you worked for in the past, currently work for, or know a leader with good “Leadership Intuition?”

Is “Leadership Intuition” important?  Share your thoughts!