140 Characters or less

A picture is worth a 1000 words but I don’t find myself moved by pictures nearly as much as I am by words.

Words carry so much meaning and words have the potential to motivate and inspire or to deflate and destroy lives.

Words can say how we feel, describe something we want and words have the ability to ironically paint pictures.

Everyday I am constantly challenged by 140 characters.

Today I wanted to share some of those 140 characters that have shaped me, challenged me, intimidated me, made me cry, made me angry, made me laugh and inspired me to be better.

 

• “The common problem facing employees at all levels is not their own motivation. It’s work environments that demotivate.” @tonymorganlive
• “We need less religious professionals & more people who will put themselves in a position to do whatever God is asking.” @perrynoble
• “We will either be defined by the voice of the critic or the voice of Jesus…who we listen to the most will determine our direction!” @perrynoble
• “The level of influence increases the level of criticism.” @theswizzle
• “Leaders are not concerned about who is catching them but who is watching them.” @brandonaldson
• “God can’t give you the blessings He has for you until you first put down the other things you are clutching in your hands.” @jennicatron
• “God is much more worried about who we’re becoming rather than where we’re going.” @jennicatron
• “Instead of focusing on building your platform, build your character.” @flowerdust
• “A great leader doesn’t care about being the leader, but instead cares about the mission, the vision & the people they lead.” @jeremyerndt
• “If the size of your vision isn’t intimidating to you, there’s a good chance it’s insulting to God.” @stevenfurtick
• “In this season of your life, what is the main role, the primary job God has given you to advance His kingdom?” @wilmington
• “If we’re not secure in our own skin, we’ll spend our whole lives either: 1. copying everyone else; 2. condemning everyone else.” @shawnlovejoy
• “Either the size of your vision will determine the size of your budget or the size of your budget will determine the size of your vision.” @markbatterson
• “The signs of outstanding leadership appear primarily among the followers.” @johncmaxwell
• “The end of an era does not mean the COMPLETION of your destiny. When something comes to an end, commit to the future.” @brianchouston
• “There is more to Christian growth than knowing what the Bible says; nobody is every nourished by memorizing menus.” @scottiesellers
• “Leadership goal: Surrounded by leaders who are WISE enough to say NO, but COURAGEOUS enough when they need to say YES.” @brianchouston
• “People who purposely choose an unfrosted pop tart when frosted is available should not be trusted with big decisions.” @jonacuff
• “You’ve lost focus of your purpose when you are more focused on what your against instead of what you are for.” @garylamb
• “Loyalty is a two way street…the leader who always demands it but never offers it doesn’t understand it!” @perrynoble
• “Presumption, assumption and miss-communication KILL organizational unity” @pastorjgerdes
• “How do you know your church has become a social club? You don’t associate with people who need Jesus but talk about how much you love them.” @jeffwhickman
• “The higher up in an organization you go the harder it is to get honest feedback” @pwilson
• “More people will visit your church website than will visit your church building.” @edstetzer
• “Geniuses aim at targets that others can’t see and hit them.” @mark_sanborn
• “A fundamental of leadership is to develop & attract people who will flourish in your unique culture.” @maclake
• “The 3 “C’s” of team-building have been Character, Competency, and Chemistry… it’s time to add a new “C”: Culture.” @taddgrandstaff
• “There are times you sit back and watch certain things change and it confirms why you were called to do something months earlier.” @garylamb
• “Your wisdom, not your age, is what matters in leadership. Age only matters if you’re cheese.” @johncremeans
• “Never follow a leader who cares more about WHAT you do than WHO you are!” @perrynoble
• “Most great people attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.” @czaucha
• “Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things.” @jarrettstevens
• “I believe that no matter what you are going through if you are willing to place yourself in God’s hands he will carry you to the other side.” @scottchapmanorg
• “It’s always harder than it looks. Never desire to succeed like others until you know what they gave up to get there.” @rickwarren
• “I find it interesting that not all leaders actually lead. Some just seem to want a title!” @joelabell
• “No one likes religious people except other religious people.” @trippcrosby
• “Before the success of your goals can be realized, the success of the people you lead must be prioritized.” @stevenfurtick
• “Ever noticed that hospitals don’t do much marketing. If your church welcomes the sick and broken u wont have 2 either.” @cmsucks
• “Don’t be so quick to judge people or write them off. People who are willing to learn can always change.” @stovallweems
• “When people tell u it can’t be done u just found out who’s not willing to do it with u.” @timjchambers
• “Often times a single act of courage, is the tipping point for something extraordinary.” @andystanley
• “Never be ashamed of your scars-they are proof that healing has taken place!” @buddycremeans
• “The only way to make it look easy when everybody’s watching, is to bust your butt when nobody’s watching” @matt_ortiz
• “A CHURCH is only a church if it’s about REACHING the UNCHURCHED!!!” @edyoung
• “So thankful for those people that you just know are put into your life for a reason.. If for no other reason, just to be there.” @jonathonpearson
• “To have authority one day you have to learn to work under authority today.” @shaneduffy
• “When senior leadership hold themselves to different standards than those they oversee there are no real standards.” @rickowerton
• “How you treat those who can do nothing for you is a true judge of your character.” @thelock
• “Conflict leads 2 making up. Making up leads to making out. Making out is good, therefore conflict is good!” @jeffkapusta
• “success is connecting with people in your communities who have pain and staying with them” @bradlomenick
• “People often associate their value with their place on an org chart. Your best value is doing what you’re wired to do.” @anthonycoppedge
• “A two-year-old is kind of like having a blender, but you don’t have a top for it.” @pastormark
• “God loves the version of me now, not the version 10 years from now.” @mattchandler74
• “Continuously improve your processes. Always ask “why,” but more importantly ask “why not?” @disneyinstitute
• “RELATIONSHIPS: Some need to be initiated, Some need to be developed, Some need to be restored & Some need to be severed.” @scottwilliams

 

Urban Promise

There is a guy at Urban Promise who’s name is James. James is from England and James was created to work with the street leaders from Urban Promise. I was blown away by his ability to connect and earn their respect. He does an incredible job in leading them as they lead others.

I met James last September because of a connection that Mary Davis had and instantly we there was a chemistry when it came to teenagers. He is basically a youth pastor to inner city youth and he does a phenomenal job. Every street leader had great things to say about him. He mentioned to me in September about speaking for their street leader retreat and since I like to talk I was really excited about it. On Saturday I had the privilege of speaking twice and seeing 11 students cross over from death to life. To be honest they are so gracious in that very few people from the African American culture go to serve them, typically it is white churches going and they are always so respectful and attentive even though I am sure that they don’t relate to a lot of what we are talking about.

As I would talk about divorce to our teens these street leaders don’t relate because they have never met their parents. If I talk to our teens about a friend committing suicide the street leaders don’t relate because they have to be aware of being killed. Even though we are so different in so many ways we are still in love with the same Jesus who transforms and changes lives. It was such an honor to speak to these street leaders who this summer will pour into and shape the next generation of kids in Wilmington.