Vicky's July book review

I'm really liking this book so far. It's always inspiring to read about having better character since it is so important as a christian and as a leader.

I thought it was really powerful when he said we create character everytime we make choices. I believe that is very true whether we make good choices or bad. Bad choices cause us to be weaker the next time we face conflict and good choices cause us to be stronger.

Anyways, I think this is a great book and I'm really glad we're reading it.

Vicky's goal

This is my first time blogging so hopefully I'm doing this right....

My goal -

To think and speak positively about others around me/think the best of people and not point out the flaws that I think I see in them

Plan of action:

1) Find scriptures that talk about how we should think and talk, etc
2) After making a list confess those about myself at least 5 times a week

Theresa's July Maxwell Post

I have never heard of John Maxwell before, but I am very impressed by his writing. There were so many great things he was saying that I found myself going back and reading what I had just read so I could really digest what he was saying. 21 qualities seems to be an amazing amount of qualities to me so I'm looking forward to what they all are.

There were so many statements he made, but 3 of them really stood out to me. First off he says to search for the cracks. Really taking a look inward and admitting where we have flaws, ouch I think this is going to hurt a little. Second statement, "real character is being bigger on the inside". Which is the area of our life that no one else can see except for God and what He thinks of us should matter way more than what other's think. Third statement "You can never separate a leader's character from their actions". Wow, actions really do speak louder than words and it all comes back and truly reveals our character. Like I said before "ouch" this is going to hurt a little by making us really take a good look at ourselves. I guess it's going to a bit like "Spring cleaning" for the soul, probably much needed too.

Theresa's Final Already Gone Review

I'll admit I had a very difficult time reading the rest of the "Already Gone" book. I just got caught up in the focus he was making about Genesis that I didn't want to keep reading. But the book really was good and it opened my eyes that we need to be active in our faith. He states in the end to defend the Word and live the Word, pretty straight to the point. If we really pursue to defend and live the Word what great relevance and authority will come through our lives. I know for myself I need to be better prepared so I am going to order one of the books on apologetics he suggested in his book.

Theresa's 2nd Quarter Goal

My goal is make things more accessible for Hospitality so people aren't wondering where things are at, especially when we have bigger events.

• Organize a Hospitality kit, that has water bottles filled, clipboards with forms, and a "how to" list.
• Have a meeting with Hospitality students to show the kit and have everyone be familiar with steps on welcoming a new student.

Kristie's July Post - Maxwell

I had always thought that people were born leaders and others just didn't have the ability. But about a month ago I read somewhere that people were trained to lead. So it is kind of interesting to me that we are now reading this book.

I have always considered myself to be one of those that was not born with leadership skills (at least not many). I like the quote from John Maxwell: "Leadership truly develops from the inside out. If you can become the leader you ought to be on the inside, you will be able to become the leader you want to be on the outside." So I am ready to be trained and develop into the leader that God sees in me.

A couple other quotes that I really liked:

"Crisis doesn't necessarily make character, but it certainly does reveal it."

One of my personal character tests is how I respond when someone will pull out in front of me and not quite drive the speed limit. Yes, I have found myself repenting many times.

And lastly

"We choose our character. In fact, we create it everytime we make choices..."

As I mentioned last night I think this book could be one of those love/hate books. I love what it teaches but I may at times hate what is revealed to me about me.

Annette's July Maxwell Post

From Introduction, "I've written this book to help you recognize, develop, and refine the personal characteristics needed to be a truly effective leader, the kind people want to follow."  That's why we're reading this book.  The process of becoming that kind of leader definitely takes time, but it also takes INTENTION!  It doesn't happen by accident. There is SO much just in this first chapter.  I am really excited about this book.  But it's going to be brutal at the same time...  :o)

"How a leader deals with the circumstances of life tells you many things about his character."  This is a frighteningly true statement.  Haha.  Because we're able to observe this in each other!  It made me wonder what people see when I'm going through crisis.  Crisis reveals character and makes us choose one of two paths: character or compromise.  THAT IS SO GOOD!!  What kind of choices am I making when I come to that crossroads?  Every crisis offers an opportunity to grow - but do we always take it?

I so appreciate that he gives ways to improve your character! So many books just show you how much you lack without practical answers.  Thank you Mr. Maxwell.  Through this process, I realized that I have been lazy in respecting my husband.  He's been going through some tough times (peace within himself), and I haven't been very compassionate.  I've been "tolerant" of it, but because I can't logically understand what he's feeling, I have a hard time being empathetic.  Tolerance is not enough in a marriage.  Now I'm really searching my heart for how I can be compassionate when he needs that. 

21 Indispensable Qualities READING SCHEDULE

The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader
John C. Maxwell

By July 31st - Chapter 1
By August 31st - Chapters 2-5
By September 30th - Chapters 6-10
By October 31st - Chapters 11-15
By November 30th - Chapters 16-19
By December 12th - Chapters 20-21

Kristie's Third Quarter Goal.

I have come to realize that I struggle with communication; sharing my heart and true feelings. I absolutely hate conflict and I know that I will do or say 'nothing' in order to avoid conflict and 'keep peace'. I come from a family of "stuffers". We stuff it down deep inside to keep peace.

So my goal for this quarter is to read a book that will help to improve my relational skills. I have picked Pastor Annette's brain about what would be a good book and after doing a little research, I have decided to read the book: The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. Yes, this may be a book more directed towards love and married couples but learning how to improve relational skills in my marriage will also help me to better communicate and build better relationships with those around me and with our youth.

My steps in my goal:

• visit with Pastor Annette about choosing a book (done)
• reading the book
• do a 'book review' or blog about the book to show that I have read it and to share what I have learned

2nd Quarter Goal update

Here is the update of my 2nd Quarter Goals

My goal was to become a better small group leader for the 7-8th grade boys and had the following Action Steps: (under each Action Step is the update on the goal)

One thing that complicated this was the shift to the summer experiment and helping with another age group instead of the 7-8th grade boys.

1a. Pray weekly for the boys by name
-I definitely prayed for the boys almost every week but struggled with the names but it really helped when I got the list from Annette. I really helps to have specifics when praying. I know God knows what they need but it helps me to pray in specifics.

1b. Get a list of the boys names from Annette
-Done

2. Write down a couple comments about each boy to remember names/faces
-Partially completed

3. Write up a list of activities with Eric/Annette to do when the boys go AWAL in the minds.
-Didn't write down but Eric and I talked to have a # of backup plans. Here are a few: Paper-Rock-Scissors, fun/dumb facts (like stuff about farting and such-they love it), Having each boy answer a random question before moving to the next bible study question (when appropriate: usually did this after a few Q's or when we needed to bring them back in. We would ask things like "favorite movie, food, worst injury......" Other activities were frisbee golfing, tossing the frisbee the furthest, running/races, relay races, paper football.

4. Have a conversation with Eric about how we are doing with praying for the kids
-Eric and I did this for sure 2 of the 3 months. I really don't remember if it was all 3 months. I think we missed 1 month.

Josh's Final Book Review

We made it!

We made it through the whole book. I have to admit, there was some skimming involved in this book. I feel that the book has certainly brought up some interesting statistics, questions, and possible solutions. I remember at the beginning of the book people posting about being frustrated or offended by the questions he posed or statements he made. As I previously posted, I feel he was very deliberate. He wanted to push you hard enough to ask yourself the needed introspective questions. Would I have done this the way he did, no, but I'm sure we have differing personalities. It was effective enough to get done what he set out to do from the beginning. I feel he wanted us to take a very hard look at how we feel/view Youth Ministry and things related to it. I really try to objectively look at myself when posed with a question. I am more inclined to do this with at the scientific training I received in college. I feel that is truly a great benefit from college and schooling. I feel lots of people have not got this idea down solid, although they attest to SCIENCE being the answer. I, however, was exposed to tons of junk in college that was discussed at length in the book.

I had talked to most people who are posting their book reviews and it seemed that the overall consensus was the book was getting pretty repetitive. I think it was Annette who said something like "I was waiting for......". She was waiting for the author to give this final analysis or conclusion that never seemed to come. Either way, it was a good book in that we read lots of statistics and concepts that challenged us to re-think our views on a lot of things. I knew things were not so great in the United States but I didn't realize it was so bad in Europe. I really liked that he included lots of questionnaires and such. It was good to see the statistics and the more subjective questions with the statistics of how many people felt that way.

He talked a lot about appologetics, which is absolutely needed with this generation versus the last few generations. We definitely need to give an intelligent answer for the hope that is within us. I'm sure everyone will agree that knowledge itself is not enough, we must have knowledge and action. I believe it was socrates that believed with more knowledge we were more virtuous or more good but we know better as christians (with any amount of experience or honesty with ourselves). Just because we know what is right, that doesn't mean we will do it. Paul talked about his struggles with this concept. He knew what was right but he did what was wrong.

All in all, I believe the biggest thing I can take away from this book is the idea that change in okay in church. I knew this was the case but didn't realize how extensive my preferences were. Annette said we have talked about this during Worship practices. We talked about the changes with the summer experiment. I know the book talked about it not being sinful to not have sunday school. I was challenged and still am to be sure my choices in how I exercise my faith is based on exact biblical scripture or personal preference. I know it isn't wrong to follow preference but when that keeps you from spiritual growth of self and the body I believe it can be.

Annette's 3 Month Goal (July-Sept)

Goal:  BEGRUDGINGLY, I am going to attempt to complete the Ardent Youth Ministry manual.  I don't think I can finish it in 3 months, but I need to get the bulk of it together.

Action Steps:

1. Compile all the material that is currently "floating" around the church files.
2. Cut and paste the KEEP material into a new document.
3. Identify and write job descriptions for various youth ministry positions.
4. Do some online research to look at other A/G church youth ministry materials.
5. KEEP IT SIMPLE but be thorough at the same time.

Help me God!