WCLS: Efrem Smith

Disparity exists based on race, class, and place.
Find dwelling places where the hurting people are.
The high pressure of what God wants to do is hitting the low pressure of what we'd rather do and creating racial and socio-economic storms.
There's no institution that can make the case "we only cater to people who are like each other" except the church. (And that's not okay!)
The church should lead in being socially innovative.

And a great quote: "I'm tired of grown men havin' Lil' in front of their name. Lil' Wayne. Lil' Weezy. You grown men!"

WCLS: John Burke

Making and maintaining good soil is essential if people are to grow.
1 Cor. 3:6-9 God causes the growth, we're responsible for the soil.
Are you willing to get your hands dirty by meeting people where they are?

Messy Leadership

1. Grace-giving Acceptance. If you find a Rembrandt covered in mud you wouldn't throw it away or even try to wipe it off. You'd take it to an expert who could clean it and make it good as new. We need to view people through God's eyes, not our own.
2. Authentic Confessing Community. Leaders have to lead in being authentic. We have to actually care about each other.
3. Stay Connected to Christ. "Apart from me you can do nothing." Stay connected, fruit happens.

WCLS: Gary Haugen

What is leadership that matters to God? It is leading in issues that matter to God. In other words, are Jesus and I interested in the same things?

2 Passions of God

1. The World (Jn. 3:16) How can hurting people believe God is good? The Church is the plan to make people believe that God is good.
2. Justice Biblical injustice is about the abuse of power to take from them the good things God has for them (i.e. life, liberty, dignity).

Leadership matters most when the cause seems hopeless, scary, and difficult.

Leadership when it seems hopeless.

• Refocus on where hope comes from.
• If God is passionate about getting it done than he is responsible for getting it done.

Leadership when it seems scary.

• Jesus did not come to make us safe, he came to make us brave.
• Too many of us are on the journey with Jesus but we're missing the adventure. We won't experience God there.

4 Leadership Choices

1. Choosing not to be safe.
2. Choosing deep spiritual health. (Not needed when it's safe and easy.)
3. Choose to pursue excellence.
4. Choose to seize the joy. (It should make us laugh that God uses people like us!)

WCLS (Willow Creek Leadership Summit): Bill Hybles

Much of the task of leadership is making decisions.
Part of what leaders must do is make tough decisions--it is not for the faint of heart.

4 Common decision making questions for Christian Leaders
1. Does the Bible speak to it?
2. What would smart advisors say?
3. What does PGE teach you? (Past Pain, Past Gains, Experiences)
4. Is the Holy Spirit prompting me?

Make trial decisions and see if they lead to peace or turmoil within.
If a decision turns out well, thank everyone who played a part in it. If it turns out poorly, blame only yourself.

Leadership Axioms: Short sayings that guide decision making and come from a synthesis of learning from the four questions above.

Some Leadership Axioms

• The best way to get rid of an enemy is to turn him into a friend. (Abraham Lincoln)
• Create movement for movement's sake.
• Promote a clash of ideas. (Colin Powell)
• Vision leaks. (Hybles)
• Get the right people around the table. (Hybles)
• Facts are your friends. (Hybles)
• When something feels funky, engage. (Hybles)

Willow Creek Leadership Summit

Thanks to a new friend, Jon Peacock (pastor of Axis, the 20-something ministry of Willow), I'm at the Willow Creek Leadership Summit the next two days. I'll be posting some notes throughout these two days, much like I did when I went to Exponential. I'd love to hear any thoughts you have!

Infuse In Focus

Beginning this Sunday at 5:00 we'll be doing an in-depth three-week look at Infuse. It will include some discussion about what the terms "organic" and "missional" mean in relation to church, a look at discipleship and what it really means to follow Jesus, and some specifics about the vision and life of Infuse. Our hope is that it will serve as a solid orientation for those who are joining with Infuse and a clear picture for those who are just interested in what we're doing. I'm excited about it because it has shown me clearly how far we've come in a year. Our focus and ability to explain what we're about are far greater now than they were then.

It's an open invitation, so if you or someone you know wants to come just email us and we'll get you directions.

Welcome Denver-ites!

This week Ty, Meagan, and Katrina arrived from Denver. And last night we had them with us on a Sunday night for the first time. (We also had Asa with us who's visiting from KY which was great!) It was an amazing feeling to have them sitting there as tangible evidence of so many prayers answered. We have been praying for them and their potential move for about 8 months now. In the process there have been obstacles, doubts, excitement, planning--but in the end God brought them here. It was an emotional moment realizing how amazing their move here really is.

As you think of it, pray for them this week. They need to find jobs and places to live. They have left family and friends, and over the next few weeks that will really hit them. Pray that God gives them continued peace about coming here and that they're able to settle in quickly. Praise God!