12.21.2008

Power-less

Today i began to hear that sound we all hate... "beep...beep....beep" my cell phone was dying. After a long day of twitters, text, and phone calls my phone was finished.


I was out shopping for Andrea's Christmas about 45 minutes away from home on the phone with a friend. As I was hearing the subtle tone in my ear telling me the battery power was waining, I kept hoping it would hold on for just a little longer... it didn't. I was in mid-sentence when "boop" it was dead. Suddenly, I found myself feeling something that I can't remember feeling in a really long time... being completely alone. I began to think... what if my car broke down? What if i need to ask Andrea a question?

I felt so disconnected. My powerless cell phone left me feeling powerless. To make matters worse as I was think all these things... I kept having this overwhelming compulsion to twitter (my new obsession) about how I was feeling. I went to grab my phone twice, but... it was dead. Which fueled my feelings even more (I'm convinced I'm crazy).

I was walking into Target, my last stop of the night, with my phone dead in the car. As I walked through the doors I asked myself , "why do I have such a strong connection to and need for my cell phone?" It's obvious why we love our phones...connection to anybody, anywhere, anytime. I sensed God asking me "why don't you feel that way about me?" I answer back "of course I feel that way about you, I need you God... right?? I take you everywhere with me." Then God said, "I'm with you, but do you rely on me?"

I began to think... I know God is with me all the time, but do I really let him lead me, speak to me, guide me, all of the time? I thought of 1 Thessalonians 5:17 that says, "Never stop praying." That to me means that we should live our lives in a constant conversation with God. It means leaving that channel of communication always open, always waiting and listening, always tuned in to the "still small voice".

On the days that I don't "connect" with God in a prayer time with just me and Him do I feel as "disconnected" as I do without my cell phone companion? for a few hours? ...no!
That means I'm living my life in a pattern un-reliant on Christ like I should. This has got to change! I should be desperate for His direction and lost without it. I've got to enter a place with God where he is in total control.

God, I promise and pledge to honor you by relying on you and not on myself. May I long to be continuously connected to you, as you long to connect with me. Lead me, guide me, speak to me... you've got my attention. Thank you for reminding me how powerless I am without you through my powerless cell phone.

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12.10.2008

The Starbucks Experience


I strongly believe that a great leader is a learning leader. When we stop learning we stop growing. So, never stop learning! I just cracked open, "The Starbucks Experience" by Joseph Michelli -5 Principles for Turning Ordinary into Extraordinary. First, let me say how amazing the cover is to this book. It looks and feels like a Starbucks drink (I love texture)! It's all about the 5 BASIC principles for turning ordinary into extraordinary and Starbucks seems to have the market cornered on customer service!


The five key leadership principles that transformed an ordinary idea into an extraordinary experience are:


Principle # 1 - Make It Your Own

Principle # 2 - Everything Matters

Principle # 3 - Surprise and Delight

Principle # 4 - Embrace Resistance

Principle # 5 - Leave Your Mark


One of my favorite sections in the book comes from a quote from Starbucks Chairman, Howard Schultz. He says, "We are not in the coffee business serving people, but in the people business serving coffee... we continually are reminded of the powerful need and desire for human contact and for community... the Starbucks environment has become as important as the coffee itself. "Wow - let's take that in the church environment. We have the MOST important message on the face of the planet, bar none! How can we learn to incorporate the thoughts and ideas from Starbucks to create a fantastic experience for our "customers"? After all - couldn't we say that we are not in the God business serving people, but in the people business serving God? I think we can learn a lot about serving God to people in and through our churches and from Starbucks.


At Starbucks they have what they all the "Green Apron Book". It consists of 5 basic principles that Starbucks managers have provided to their employees to infuse themselves into their work, so that they can inspire customers in legendary ways. They call these the "Five Ways of Being":


Be Welcoming

Be Genuine

Be Considerate

Be Knowledgeable

Be Involved


These same principles could apply to us as a church body. When serving our guests in church, who have come to hear, possibly for the very first time, the most relevant message on earth, we need to make sure that all of the above are taken into account to ensure a quality experience!


Okay - so you just need to go out an buy the book!

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Connection

this is the first post of many for the new epic kids leadership blog. I'm really excited about the idea of connecting with leaders in our local church, and in the body of Christ. I want us to to be able to share our thoughts, ideas, and information.

over the last few weeks God has really been speaking to me about "connections" with people. There are so many tools that are available to live life together as pastors, leaders, and volunteers. I want to start using these tools to help get connected with other pastors to share insight and also to gain it, and connect with our amazing leaders to share my heart and duplicate my self in them.

so, let's connect... be my friend on facebook, follow my twitter, drop me an email, or give me call. here's my info:

Cell:407.683.9849
email: vmartin@oaksfellowship.org
facebook: My Profile
twitter: http://twitter.com/vancemartin

looking forward to connecting with you...

Vance

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