Ignite Leadership

2010 Direction: The DNA of a Leader

February 27, 2010 18:54

We're really excited about where we're going this year for Ignite. We've got some great sessions and breakouts planned this year. And we're confident that they'll challenge and stretch your heart and the way that you think as a leader. The DNA of a Leader: during our sessions we'll be exporing the key areas that make up a leader. The heart, head, hands, heel, and home of the leader. We believe these core areas will either spring board a leader to Kingdom impact or ground a leader and those...

Ignite Got Plastic Surgery

February 06, 2010 03:08

It’s that time of the year again when Ignite begins to send you emails concerning its yearly leadership gathering. We’re very excited this year because it’s going to be a weekend of “new”. Although we’ve loved who we’ve been in the past and what we’ve brought forth to conversation, we’ve felt it was time for an Ignite face lift and with any cosmetic surgery—a new look will come forth. Here is what’s new this year at Ignite: New Location: we’ll be hosting our gathering this year at the ...

White Man's Overbite

October 09, 2009 18:52

So I was on vacation driving on Highway 101 north of San Francisco when in front of me I saw a car with its left blinker blinking continuously. Now when wondering what demographic the driver of that car might be I have to admit my thoughts drifted to one adorable demographic—old. And as I drive by I realize that my horrible stereotyping has been proven once again. And I’m like, “come on bro…do your sector a favor and stand against the stereotypes of the blinking blinker, but no, you’ve gi...

Assaulting Christoplatonism

September 03, 2009 17:46

Generally speaking, Western Xians are Christoplatonists, meaning they tend toward dualism. They bifurcate life between things physical and spiritual...material and immaterial, and like Plato exalt the immaterial while demonizing the physical. Xians shouldn't be dualists. It's a non-biblical worldview that fragments life and denies Christ's Lordship over all creation. This dualism impacts so many areas, but one important area of Xian teaching it has wreaked havoc on is the doctrine of the bod...

Good Summer Reads...

August 14, 2009 19:09

One thing I love about the summer is that it seems to always bring to the surface a good book or two. I've been struck and moved this summer by a book that I would have never picked at a conference or at Border's. The name of the book is "Why Revival Tarries" by Leonard Ravenhill. It's an old school book with a relevant punch. It really challenged me in regards to my prayer life as a leader and as a teacher. What book has moved and challenged you this summer? I'm interested in knowing...

Band-Aids, Lids, or Rubber Bands

August 05, 2009 07:26

Regardless of the place of leadership that we find ourselves at—we have a myriad of opportunities to influence and shape those that we’re leading. But how are we influencing and shaping them? In my short 10 years of ministry and leadership I’ve observed and identified three possible objects that we can find ourselves becoming as leaders. I know some of you might wonder where the “tool” object is, but will keep it to three. BAND-AIDS: this place of leadership protects and covers those they...

Can You Pass The Margin?

July 08, 2009 17:30

Create space. Find margin. Manage discretionary time. Make room for life. All of these phrases and statements are stellar in theory and desirable, but they seem to be very allusive when it comes to the reality in our lives as leaders. The last few weeks I’ve had quite a few conversations about finding and keeping margin in the midst of tasks, responsibilities, expectations, and ministry pressure. We’ve talked about creating margin to make space for discipleship to occur. We’ve talked about...

Facebook or Sit On The Couch

February 20, 2009 21:54

What if we spend more time to know than to be known? This is something that I’ve wrestled with in my mind, but have had a hard time articulating. We have so many outlets in which others can hear our words, see our status updates, twitter with us, and feel and process thru our angst. From blogs to twitter to YouTube to facebook—there are many opportunities to be heard and known. But what can all this lead too? I think there is an allure to build our own kingdom, create our own groupies, and s...

Register for Ignite 2009

February 13, 2009 16:07

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Fanny Pack's and Sweater Vests

December 22, 2008 06:27

So I’m super stoked because I got to wear a new pair of shoes that I got for Christmas today. I know it’s not Christmas yet, but me and my wife exchange gifts early. They’re Steve Madden’s, which I highly endorse and wear. And I am a little bias, but they’re sweet, cool, and any other adjective you’d like to throw out there. But as I stare down at them I begin to wonder why do I really care about what kind of shoe’s I wear? I mean I do love shoes, but there has got to be a deeper reason...

The Evolution of Angst

December 10, 2008 20:11

As a young Christian leader I've felt that I've been around many of my beloved peers who have an unbelievable amount of angst towards the Church. I have to admit there are many reasons why one would find themselves a little frustrated about certain realities of the condition of the Church. But what has become increasingly worrisome for myself is that those who live with such angst usually resort to one of two options to resolve it: leave the church (the institution) or go plant a church. It'...

Eat & Drink--For Tomorrow We Die

November 14, 2008 17:56

It's been a too long since my last post. I have a good reason though. It's been 70 days since my son Carter was born and he's finally home with us. Thank you God and thank all of you who have lifted him up in your prayers. It's been a blur, but a good one. So I've been thinking... There is a statement that I’ve heard over a thousand times in which I fully agree with: “you have to learn how to lead and love of out of the overflow of your life”. And I feel with some exceptions that most ...

Justice For The Sake Of...In The Name Of...not sure.

August 28, 2008 22:23

Joseph Bottum has written a recent article in First Things (its a journal you can’t find at the Christian bookstore) about the death of protestant America, underscoring the overwhelming decline of the mainline church in the last 50 years. One thing he does is relate the mainline’s exchange of theological conviction for the sake of social/political action as a source for the decline. It is without debate that the mainline church’s welcome embrace of liberal theology contributed to its demise,...

The Grass Is Greener In Ethiopia

August 20, 2008 00:07

Just recently I read an article in Time magazine that was speaking about the current situation in Ethiopia. The article was talking about how green and lush the plants and vegetation are as you stroll into the country. And it would seem plausible because of all the money and aid that has been poured into Ethiopia. But there’s more than meets the eyes as one foreign worker said, “It’s very bizarre—it’s so green. But you have all these people dying from hunger.” A country that has been receivi...

The Pope or The Band of Brothers

July 29, 2008 05:26

I had the privilege of growing up with a very tight knit group of friends who were all followers of Christ and who strangely enough all went into full time ministry. A centerpiece of conversation would always be around the idea of all of us coming together and doing ministry together at the same place. It could have been a church plant, an existing church, or any other place that would allow us to work and serve side by side. This is a dream I know is shared by many other individuals who lon...

Check it Out

June 29, 2008 15:14

“Well intentioned Christians, armed with the latest insights in organizational theory, let their pragmatic and utilitarian hearts delude themselves into thinking they could organize, measure, and control the mystical working of the Holy Spirit in community in order to consistently reproduce disciples in other contexts.” “Then these people starting writing books and hosting seminars. And then church leaders like you and me bought into what they were saying because we didn’t recognize that the ...

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