Please read my blogpost on "why I love the Church you hate!" It's my heart in prose. It's personal and passionate, and I hope it captures your heart as well:
http://www.patrickgrach.com/2014/04/why-i-love-church-you-hate.html
Showing posts with label marriage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label marriage. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 01, 2014
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Most Important Leadership Lesson
Pareto Principle (know as the 80-20 rule) states that we get 80% of results from 20% and vice-versa (more about that tomorrow). I'll write a few posts on this principle.
For leaders, this means that 20% of what we spend time doing produces 80% of our results/ effectiveness. I've learned this the hard way, but have also learned a key lesson: focus on making the 20% that's most effective the focus of 80% of my energy and effort. Personally, that means giving away 1/2 my job description every 6-9 months. It requires discipline and focus. I must be intentional.
Here's a repost of a blog I write on 2/20/2008. This was a key leadership growth moment for me, and as is common, God used Laura to help me learn it. Enjoy! (It's also interesting to look back and see how far we've come).
Yesterday, I cracked open [a book] that's been waiting to be read, The Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley. Laura was out with some ladies and the girls were in bed, so, with some alone time, I sat down to read. Right off the bat- wow! [What I didn't include in this post: before Laura left the house, she said, "Patrick, you can't keep up this break-neck pace; it's going to kill you. You're doing too much, and you have to give some of it away."]
Now, for my confession. I love the quote and have made it a core value at Lifehouse Church: Pray like everything depends on God, work like everything depends on you (Martin Luther). My tendency is to pray, then work, and if that's not enough, I'll work harder and harder. So, I'll put in too many hours.
I know that I must train leaders, give away ministry responsibilities, and I'm doing that to the best of my ability. However, while reading the first chapter, Stanley challenges the reader to evaluate what 2 or 3 things you are good at and are passionate about doing and do that. Give everything else away to others! [The first line of the first chapter states, "YOU ARE DOING TOO MUCH!" Coincidence, I think not!]
I thought I'd already done this, but it's time to re-evaluate. My new mission is to evaluate better what I'm currently doing, narrow down my scope of ministry to only a few things, then develop other leaders to do what they love doing and trust them with ministry.
Here's my list of things I'm passionate about and will focus my energy on at Lifehouse:
Stanley states that if leaders will do what they're best at, we will be most effective and the whole church will grow and be significantly more impactful.
So, here's what we need:
For leaders, this means that 20% of what we spend time doing produces 80% of our results/ effectiveness. I've learned this the hard way, but have also learned a key lesson: focus on making the 20% that's most effective the focus of 80% of my energy and effort. Personally, that means giving away 1/2 my job description every 6-9 months. It requires discipline and focus. I must be intentional.
Here's a repost of a blog I write on 2/20/2008. This was a key leadership growth moment for me, and as is common, God used Laura to help me learn it. Enjoy! (It's also interesting to look back and see how far we've come).
Yesterday, I cracked open [a book] that's been waiting to be read, The Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley. Laura was out with some ladies and the girls were in bed, so, with some alone time, I sat down to read. Right off the bat- wow! [What I didn't include in this post: before Laura left the house, she said, "Patrick, you can't keep up this break-neck pace; it's going to kill you. You're doing too much, and you have to give some of it away."]
Now, for my confession. I love the quote and have made it a core value at Lifehouse Church: Pray like everything depends on God, work like everything depends on you (Martin Luther). My tendency is to pray, then work, and if that's not enough, I'll work harder and harder. So, I'll put in too many hours.
I know that I must train leaders, give away ministry responsibilities, and I'm doing that to the best of my ability. However, while reading the first chapter, Stanley challenges the reader to evaluate what 2 or 3 things you are good at and are passionate about doing and do that. Give everything else away to others! [The first line of the first chapter states, "YOU ARE DOING TOO MUCH!" Coincidence, I think not!]
I thought I'd already done this, but it's time to re-evaluate. My new mission is to evaluate better what I'm currently doing, narrow down my scope of ministry to only a few things, then develop other leaders to do what they love doing and trust them with ministry.
Here's my list of things I'm passionate about and will focus my energy on at Lifehouse:
- Preaching- to relevantly and creatively communicate the Truth of the Bible,
- Vision casting- to lead Lifehouse in toward our God-given Cause and to inspire as many people as possible to join us in fulfilling this cause,
- Leadership development- to raise up new leaders as pastors, ministry leaders, and influencers; also, to develop new church planter.
Stanley states that if leaders will do what they're best at, we will be most effective and the whole church will grow and be significantly more impactful.
So, here's what we need:
- pastor or leader of pastoral care- counseling, pre-marriage counseling, visitation, hospital visits, personal mentoring, etc. [Thanks Pastor Joe and Lois for still pastoring and staying the course with Lifehouse!! We love and appreciate you!]
- administrative assistant/ book-keeper. [now LHCE has several PT and FT admin. In fact, most of our paid staff serve primarily in administrative roles].
Monday, February 28, 2011
Re-discovering Masculinity in a Love-crazed Culture
Subscribe, download, or just stream weekly podcast sermons at Lifehouse Church East. Currently in a series called Love & Other 4 Letter Words, and examining what it means to love as Jesus-followers, and how that love impacts every part of our life.
Most recent message addressed the identity and role of men according to the Bible.
Yes, it's counter cultural. Yes, it'll offended some people. Yes, it will challenge you to live different than what you've been taught by our cultural teachers of TV, news, and movies.
BUT guys need a challenge and a fight worth fighting. In a generation plague with fatherless homes and male role models like Charlie Sheen, we could deeply use an infusion of counter- cultural teaching that goes counter- intuitive to our own desires and nature.
To a generation that has seen the role of men torn down to nothing more than negligent sperm-donors or helpless saps.
We need a strong teaching and model of what it means to be real MEN. HUSBANDS. FATHERS.
Listen to this teaching from Ephesians 5:25-33. and discover what it means to BE a MAN!
Most recent message addressed the identity and role of men according to the Bible.
Yes, it's counter cultural. Yes, it'll offended some people. Yes, it will challenge you to live different than what you've been taught by our cultural teachers of TV, news, and movies.
BUT guys need a challenge and a fight worth fighting. In a generation plague with fatherless homes and male role models like Charlie Sheen, we could deeply use an infusion of counter- cultural teaching that goes counter- intuitive to our own desires and nature.
To a generation that has seen the role of men torn down to nothing more than negligent sperm-donors or helpless saps.
We need a strong teaching and model of what it means to be real MEN. HUSBANDS. FATHERS.
Listen to this teaching from Ephesians 5:25-33. and discover what it means to BE a MAN!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Discover the Man's Role in Love - Tomorrow
Come out to Lifehouse Church East tomorrow at 9am or 10:30 and discover what the Bible says about the role of men in love, marriage, and community!
Prepare to be challenged as we continue our series "Love & Other 4 Letter Words".
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Growing Rich in Love
Today's challenge in our THRIVE devotional is to use our words to build people up rather than tear them down. So, let me take it one step further. When we are mean, unkind, or hit-below-the-belt, we withdraw from our relational bank account. Like this:
Well, I thought it was funny.
When we sow kindness, gentleness, and love into a relationship, it's like putting a deposit into the bank. We must make more deposits than withdrawals if our relationships are to be healthy and functional.
Are you adding to or detracting from the relational bank accounts of your friends and family?
Well, I thought it was funny.
When we sow kindness, gentleness, and love into a relationship, it's like putting a deposit into the bank. We must make more deposits than withdrawals if our relationships are to be healthy and functional.
Are you adding to or detracting from the relational bank accounts of your friends and family?
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Date Night
Laura and I enjoyed a date night.
Got a chance to go see Fireproof at the Cinemas. Our first movie out together in about 6 years. Was a little nervous about it being a chic-flick or something. But I thought it was great, both from a personal perspective and as a pastor.
I'd HIGHLY RECOMMEND to every couple to go see FIREPROOF. It will give you plenty to discuss in your marriage, great insight into your spouse, and I think it's the kind of movie we should be supporting at the cinemas.
Got a chance to go see Fireproof at the Cinemas. Our first movie out together in about 6 years. Was a little nervous about it being a chic-flick or something. But I thought it was great, both from a personal perspective and as a pastor.
I'd HIGHLY RECOMMEND to every couple to go see FIREPROOF. It will give you plenty to discuss in your marriage, great insight into your spouse, and I think it's the kind of movie we should be supporting at the cinemas.
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