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We are wrapping up our Soul Cravings series this weekend at CCC and our topic is "Meaning." One place we landed was on this text from Ecclesiastes 12. Lots of depressing stuff in that book, but I found this particular verse to very inspiring . . . I hope you will as well.
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them." (Ecclesiastes 12:1)
I am really pumped to let you know that Perry Martin has joined the blogosphere. In addition to being a good friend, Perry is the Campus Pastor at CCC's newest location in beautiful Yorkville, Illinois. Perry began as a leadership resident with CCC over 2 years ago and is now leading the only campus in the universe that is meeting in a century-old courthouse. He also helps lead NewThing's Leadership Residency Program. Perry is a monster at relational leadership, a gifted communicator, and one of my favorite worship leaders. Oh yea, and he's definitely got the best hair you'll find on CCC's staff. Check out his blog now!
If you bleed Cubbie Blue like I do, then you'll love this blog. Check it out here.
Eric Bramlett our Creative Arts Director and I were talking about some leadership principles when we stumbled on a concept that I think makes a lot of sense. It occurred to me that as our responsibilities increase within an organization we have at least two leadership circles to keep in mind, especially when it comes to communication. One is our "Circle of Influence" and the other is our "Circle of Safety." Here are a few thoughts:
Circle of Influence - As your leadership capacity grows your Circle of Influence also grows. More and more people look to you for insight, direction, and accountability. It really is a wonderful thing. However, it also comes with tremendous responsibility. As that circle continues to expand you realize that people take very seriously how you react to situations, what you say in particular settings, or the course of action you choose when making a decision. Sometimes it takes you by surprise just how closely people are observing you. As a result, we are held to a higher level of accountability because our words and actions have increasingly more impact on more people.
Circle of Safety - As your leadership capacity grows your Circle of Safety gets smaller. Because you are being looked to for direction and guidance by so many people, there are proportionately fewer people with which you can safely say what's on your mind with less concern for how it will be interpreted. In the past you may react in a certain way, or say a certain thing with less concern for who hears or sees. However, as our leadership responsibilities and influence increase, the number of people with whom we can talk freely or flippantly decreases. This demands that leaders with growing influence develop an "inner circle" (Circle of Safety) of confidants with whom you can speak freely and openly.
Does all this mean we become more cautious? Not necessarily. More careful? Probably. Leading with greater influence simply requires greater discernment, realizing that what you say and what you do now has much more impact on many more people than it ever did before.
This Thursday and Friday Eric Metcalf - CCC's Small Group Champion and I will be at Willow Creek's Group Life Conference. The conference looks great! They have a tremendous group of leaders and speakers including: Bill Donahue, Scott McKnight, Alan Hirsch, Bobby Gruenewald, Neil Cole, and Henry Cloud. Eric and I will be leading a Point Leader Session both Thursday and Friday - "Reproducing Small Groups Using the Big Idea." If you're planning to be at the conference, let me know.
This afternoon Lisa and I took Graham and Chloe on our annual trek to beautiful Waterman, IL to pick raspberries and apples at Honey Hill Orchards. This is a great time of year to go. The best part of the trip is eating homemade apple donuts at the "Feeding Trough" aftter we finish the hard work of picking raspberrries and apples. I can't wait for some good homemade apple crisp!
You may have already read this on another blog, but I couldn't resist posting this pic of Tim Bakker - CCC's Naperville Campus Pastor after he sunk a putt to win $50,000 at the Institute for Community Golf Outing yesterday. Absolutely incredible -- Congratulations Tim! Couldn't happen to a better guy!
While all sorts of cool stuff was happening at our Naperville Campus - Grand Opening of our Yellow Box addition, Family Fun Fest, opening night for Epic's Our Town, every other Campus including Romeoville (where I taught this weekend) launched their Fall "Ignite" series - Soul Cravings. And while part of me would have loved to be in Naperville to enjoy the festivities, I was reminded how fortunate I am to be part of a church where God seems to show up at all of our campuses every weekend in amazing ways. All three celebration services at Romeoville were outstanding -- Tony German and Rachel Jackson did a great job of leading worship, three people were baptized during the 11:00 AM service, the hospitality teams showed up big to be sure newcomers felt more than welcome, and Jim Semradek was doing his usual outstanding job leading the team. It occurred to me that what I experienced at Romeoville this weekend - some people live a lifetime and never see. Thank you Romeoville team. And thak You, God.
I can't contain myself any longer. I've hardly posted anything about the Cubs division championship run. But here we are with just 13 games left before the post-season, and we sit at the top of the National League Central Division. The Cardinals are all but mathematically eliminated, but the Brewers are right on our tails. Could it be that this year really is "next year?" Go Cubs!
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