I had the opportunity this week to ride up to B & H Publishers to meet with them about the marketing of my new book Breaking the Discipleship Code and about a couple of future books. It was an encouraging experience. My hat's off to Robin, Tom, Lisa, Debra, and David for making my time there so worthwhile.
One of the highlights of my trip was traveling with Casey Graham. Casey is one of the best young leaders I know and he is one of our pastors at MLC and serves as our Chief Financial Officer. Casey is great with discipline when it comes to things like finances, exercise, diet, time, etc. You get the picture.
As we traveled every time we had to make a decision about what we were going to eat he would remind me that it was "one decision at a time". I can still hear that nagging voice as I step up to McDonald's with every intent of ordering a Mac Rib Value Meal complete with super sizing it, one decision at a time. I changed my order. "Could you change that please to a grill chicken club? Please substitute the fries for a side salad. No, just give me water." You get the point! ONE DECISION AT A TIME.
I love it...that is the idea of one decision at a time. I can do this and so can you. I love it because I am beginning a new journey toward a more discipline life. After a bout in the hospital I'm working toward a healthier lifestyle. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed. My goals seem so far out there. On certain day and certain times I feel weak. At time when I get ready to order I want to say, "Give me one of everything". At other times I want to blow off the exercise thing. But I can do this...ONE DECISION AT A TIME!
The good new is so can you. Life is a collection of decisions we make one at a time. Today I am what I am because of those millions and millions of decision I've made one at a time.
When it comes to church planting one of the Best Practices that Shawn and I talk about all the time is Nurture Vitality. As we have talked with and related to successful leaders and church planters all over North America we have discovered over and over again that are serious about their vitality. Sure there exceptions. Sure you can cheat for a while. The reality is you, like me will end up in the hospital if you don't take care of yourself.
As church planters we are consumed with our mission. It is a worthy cause. A friend once told me, "Dave this thing is going to consume you." I thought he had lost his mind. He was right.
nurturing vitality means paying attention to your spiritual, physical, emotional, relational, and financial health. It means making one decision at a time. It means saying no to the good stuff in order to say yes to the best stuff.
Make plans now to join us for our February 18th - 19th ChurchPlanters.com Evolve Conference. All of our main sessions will focus on the leader and the leader's vitality. As the church planter goes so does the church plant. Sign up today at www.churchplanters.com
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