Big Is The New Small

This is one of those blog post titles that the search engines will really like.  Today we are kicking off our annual LifeChurch.tv all-staff event; we call it The October Event.  I know you are probably thinking, that’s quite a name for the most innovative church in America… well innovation comes in many variations and I like the name.  This event allows for every single staff member from every single campus, central office, network church and their spouses once a year to come together for a great time to be inspired, worship, have fun and fellowship.  During the course of the next three days we will be hearing from Bill Hybels, Steven Furtick and our Senior Pastor Craig Groeschel.

This morning we will kick off our Level 5 Leaders meeting which is comprised of the Directional Leadership Team, Central Team Leaders, Regional Campus Pastors and Campus Pastors along with their spouses.  The Level 5 Meeting is always a great time to hang, share and have some iron sharpen iron time with your peers.  The Level 5 Leaders meeting will last the majority of the day and we will reconvene this evening with the entire all-staff from all the campuses, central teams, network churches and their spouses for dinner.  We have a special treat for dinner this evening, as Bill Hybels will be tonight’s speaker. 

This event is a busy time, but a great time of learning, worshiping, dreaming and connecting.  We will hear from Steven Furtick tomorrow and Craig on Friday.  I will keep you posted as to the things God stirs up over these next few days.

Follow me on twitter, I will be frequently updating my thoughts, experiences and sharing quotes: www.twitter.com/scottwilliams

• Any questions, thoughts or comments? 
• How important is team development and connection within an organization?
• Share any beneficial staff connection times that you have experienced within an organization?

The often used phrase “you fill in the blank here…then God showed up!” is one of those phrases that in my opinion reduces God Almighty to a situational God.  Remember the “3GO’s of God”:

• God’s Omniscience- God knows everything
• God’s Omnipresence- God is everywhere
• God’s Omnipotence- God is almighty, all powerful and can do anything

…then God showed up!  Not so much, “…God was already there” we just chose to acknowledge Him.

BigIsTheNewSmall- Our God is so Big that our Small minds can’t always comprehend!

If I am being totally honest I don’t fear much.  Many times as leaders, students, spouses, Christians… we are subliminally or directly trained to be fearful.  If we are honest and say that we don’t fear much and believe that we can charge up any mountain and do anything we can be perceived as being arrogant or naive.

It’s almost as if we believe that we should fail big, have to go through these horrible seasons and if you have a fearless attitude/attitude that you are going to always be successful, the experts will say just wait… fear and failure are around the corner. 

I totally understand that if you are a risk taker… you might fail; there might be some things that make you uncomfortable… you don’t have to fear them and you might just be bold enough to take God at his word and people will call you cocky, arrogant and naive.  So What!

I might get anxious, be a bit nervous, be very discerning, take calculated risks and not yet learned to swim… however I Fear Nothing!

Call me what you want to, I don’t need your approval and I am going to take God at his word: 

• For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
• I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Thoughts? 

Forget receipts today!  Which payment type is your preferred method for your daily purchases?  Cash, Check, Credit Card, Debit Card or Other?  I’m not sure what Other would be; however I just thought it would be a good additional option!

Business or Location:

• Atlanta Braves (Turner Field):   Aramark Sports & Entertainment

The Receipt: Check #4084

• $5.25    Large Soda          
• $7.00    Georgia Dog    
• $6.75    Chili CHZ Fries
• $19.00  TOTAL

The Experience: 

• My wife and I split this meal of course.  The extra-long all beef Georgia Dog was messy and not very good; they need some of that good Oklahoma Beef… “It’s What’s for Dinner!” Obviously Professional Sports food is outrageously priced and our food was definitely not worth the $19.00. 

Special Notes:

• The Stadium was extremely nice relative to the fact that we have only attended two MLB stadiums, this Atlanta one and the San Francisco Giants when Bonds was chasing the record.  I had a guy named Dustin come up to me and introduce himself to me; he attends my campus (LifeChurch.tv’ers are everywhere), he is in Atlanta on Business.  Not only that, my old boss from about 8 years ago when I worked in corrections sat in front of us.  The Braves played horrible for 8 innings and tried to mount a come back in the ninth, but came up short 4-3.  BTW- I found out why the beer, peanuts, cotton candy…. guys are always yelling and hustling so hard; they get a .50-.75 cents commission off of each sale.

The Question:

• Do you generally sneak food/snacks into movie theaters or sports stadiums?
• Who is your favorite sports team: college, semi-pro or professional? 

Business or Location:

• On The Border:   Buckhead  www.ontheborder.com

The Receipt: Check #0099

• $5.39    Brownie Sundae          
• $9.79    Carne Asada Taco    
• $15.18  Subtotal
• $1.21    Sales Tax
• $5.00   Tip
• $21.39  TOTAL

 The Experience: 

• My wife and I split the Carne Asada Tacos and we substituted one of the Carne Asada tacos for a Buffalo Chicken Taco.  We also had some of the hotter salsa made up.  “Shawn” our server said “This is what the people in the kitchen make up and eat themselves.”  It was green and made w/ avocados (it was excellent).  We always try to split meals and sometimes even order off of the kids menu.  The server “Shawn” was excellent, he kept my water and chips full at all times and he had great interpersonal skills.  He even got some extra brownie points; keep reading in Special Notes.  We enjoyed eating on the patio and the overall experience and it was definitely worth the $21.39

Special Notes:

• As we were eating we overheard two ladies at the table behind us talking about the Bible and one lady was trying to convince the other lady how the book of Genisis couldn’t be true because of the dinosaurs, some Oprah stuff and yada, yada, yada.  Our Server “Shawn” engaged in the conversation and just flat broke them off with some teaching and preaching that you wouldn’t believe.  If you are ever in Atlanta or live in Atlanta; go to the Buckhead On The Border and ask for “Shawn.”  He told us that he attends World Changers Church with Pastor Creflo Dollar.

The Question:

• Do you generally split your meal when you go out to restaurants?
• Do you engage in uninvited conversations; with topics like the one “Shawn” engaged in? Thoughts?

There is something about spending your money and the experience/interactions that you have during each and every transaction.  Receipts are often indicators or reminders of those experiences; or at least they are a reminder of how much you are spending.  This week I will be posting some receipts; since I am in ATL w/out a fax and scanner I will just give you a virtual receipt.

Business or Location:

• Eminence Nails and Spa:   3495 Buckhead Loop N.E.  Suite 230; Atlanta, GA 30326; 404.846-1555 www.enailsspa.com

The Receipt: (Grand Opening Sale)

• $26.00 Spa Pedicure w/ French Manicure (Wife)
• $21.00 Spa Pedicure (Me)
• $47.00 Total

 The Experience: 

• My wife and I both got Spa Pedicures and massage chair massages.  The place was new, extremely nice and customer service was great.  We also got some kinda bamboo massages, with some pressure-point foot thing  (highly recommended).  We both enjoyed the overall experience and it was definitely worth the $47.00

Special Notes:

• Apparently some of the Atlanta Braves, Falcons and Hawks go to this place; and the lady who did my feet did Sean “P-Diddy” Combs not long ago.  My wife and I caught the train to attend Buckhead Church and walked across the street from the church to find this place.  We did get to hang with Mr. Ragamuffin Soul himself Carlos Whitaker; he gave us the tour of their “Big Time” Buckhead facility.   

The Question:

• Fellas do you get pedicures/manicures and ladies do you want your guys to get pedicures/manicures?  Comments, thoughts; go ahead, call me metrosexual!

God isn’t fair! Habakkuk