#5 - Understand That I Have A Life

We have a different philosophy here at NewSpring Church when it comes to staff and work hours.

For years we would do the work ALL DAY on Sunday thing, followed by a busy Monday through Friday…then we would take Saturday off and walk around like zombies (calling that a family day)…then we were back to Sunday!

Soon afterward we did the deal where we would give someone a day off during the week; however, with the way our church operates being staff led there always seemed to be some sort of emergency where staff members had to be called in on their day off.

SO…we decided to completely shut down the offices of NewSpring Church on Friday. We all work Sunday through Thursday and then on Friday…everyone is off!!!

IT’S AWESOME! Our staff has a weekend and walk into Sunday rested and ready to go!

I know, I know, “But what if there is an emergency on Friday and someone needs to get in touch with someone?”

Great question…our care area has a system in place should that ever happen. However, my question is, “What if there is an emergency at 3 am on Monday? Are people going to be able to expect to call the office then and find a staff member as well.”

One of the biggest problems in churches today is the fact that many staff members are COMPLETELY FRIED because of a schedule that is demanding and demoralizing.

As a pastor–one of the things I MUST champion is the protection of the people that I serve with. I MUST understand that they need time to relax. I MUST understand that they need time with their families. I MUST understand that the more rested and refreshed they are the better they will do their jobs!

Now there are times when a certain department or team will have to come in on Friday to get some things done…but that is the exception, NOT the rule.

Pastors, what are you doing to make sure the staff you serve with are not FRIED? YOU MUST take the lead on this one!

This is really funny. It was sent to me today and I had to share it with you. It was sent by a non-sissy friend!

None of that Sissy Crap

Are you tired of those sissy ‘friendship’ poems that always sound good, but never actually come close to reality?
Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship.
You will see no cutesy little smiley faces on this card-
Just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.

1. When you are sad –I will jump on the person who made you sad like a spider monkey jacked up on Mountain Dew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. When you are blue — I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

3. When you smile — I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in.

4. When you’re scared — we will high tail it out of here.

5. When you are worried — I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining, ya big baby!!!!

6. When you are confused — I will use little words.

7. When you are sick –Stay away from me until you are well again. I don’t want whatever you have.

8. When you fall — I’ll pick you up and dust you off.

9. This is my oath…I pledge it to the end. ‘Why?’ you may ask — because you are my FRIEND!

Friendship is like peeing your pants,
everyone can see it,
but only you can feel the true warmth.

Here goes some more! Enjoy! I thought I would put some of our staff on here because I know they are amening this stuff!

#3 - “Thank You” Goes A Long Way

Pastor, when was the last time you said “thanks” to a staff member?

This is an area where I am continually seeking improvement. There are times when I get so wrapped up in the work that I forget to tell others how much I appreciate them and the job they are doing.

One day I was about to leave the office and a staff member walked by me…the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and told me to tell him “thanks” for all that he did.

So…I called him over to my car and told him how much I appreciated him and the work that he was doing in our church.

The next day he sent me an email telling me that he had worked in the business world for years…and no one had ever said “thanks” for anything…and that my encouragement meant a ton to him.

Pastors, we need to be in the business of saying “thanks!” Trust me…it goes a long way for someone on staff to feel affirmed and appreciated.
#4 - Give Me Permission To Fail

One of the biggest fears that any human being has is failure…so, rather than taking a risk they simply choose to play it safe and not make any bold moves for the cause of Christ.

Here’s the deal…staff members WANT to take leaps of faith. They want to honor God. They want to try new things. BUT…most of them don’t want to do it at the risk of losing their jobs.

So…give them permission to fail. As long as they mess something up in an all out effort…and as long as no one gets hurt…no problem, right?

NOW…when a staff member continually makes the same mistake over and over…it’s not an issue of passion but rather an issue of competence.

BUT…if we as pastors are going to lead churches that are taking HUGE steps…then we MUST understand that WE are NOT the only ones who are going to have BIG IDEAS! If we limit our church to our ideas and innovation–they’re screwed!

BUT…if we release our staff and give them permission to go all out and give it their best effort…and even if they fail…we still win because it will mean we are one step closer to something successful!

We have a lot of pastors and staff people who read our blogs so I decided I would continue on the staff/pastor relationship but from the other perspective now: What our staff wished we knew as pastors! Thanks Perry Noble for doing this series for me to steal! I also thought I would use this opportunity to put just some of our staffers faces on my blog. We have 20 so I cannot put them all!

#1 - Tell Me What You Expect Of Me

One of the things that a senior pastor must understand is that MOST staff members actually want to do an awesome job.

However, most of their frustration comes as a result of the pastor having unspoken expectations (or unrealistic ones.)

One of the best things a pastor can do is actually define success for the staff he serves with. Pastors, we’ve got to understand that our staff does not think like us, nor do they process information like we do…and if we want them to thrive (which will allow our church to thrive) then we’ve got to speak straight with them.

I cannot hold a staff member accountable for things he did or did not do that I provided no clear instruction for. And if we are not clear in our instruction…the best they can do is guess…which is incredibly frustrating for them.

#2 - Give Me Time

One of the biggest mistakes I’ve made as a pastor is getting fired up about something, getting key staff members together & sharing the vision with them…developing a strategy, assigning tasks and thinking big.

Some of you are wondering what the problem is with that. Well, nothing…here’s where the problem begins…

The staff leave the room pretty fired up and begin to work on their aspects of making the vison become a reality. Meanwhile…I get another idea…and I am FIRED UP about it. So, a few days later I call another meeting where I share the vision, develop a strategy and assign some tasks…

BUT…this time I notice there isn’t as much excitement in the room. In fact, there is sort of a sense of dread…and I get angry because ‘these people” aren’t fired up like I am…

I did this several times as a leader and then I finally understood…I’ve GOT to give the staff time to actually do the work. I can’t just get them in a room, snap my fingers and then BAM…it happens. If we want to do ministry with excellence…then it takes time.

This is one of the reasons I work so far ahead in message preparation. I want the video department, graphics area and our team of musical artists to have TIME to pray and prepare in regards to what is coming next. The more time I give them…the better they do…the more excited they become…and the whole team wins.

Pastors…the more we can prepare in advance the more we set our teams up for success…and the more the whole church will benefit from it as well.

YES, it does take a lot of work…but it’s worth it if the staff can continue to perform with excellence and stay fired up!

Well, here you go. You are looking at Victory All Star 1st place Champions! They won first place in their competition in Greenville! Way to go! It was so much fun watching my girls compete. They loved winning 1st place and getting cool medals. Here are some pics, enjoy!!! The motion ones did not come out so great but you can get the point!

Oh and leave your shout outs for the girls, they would love to read your comments!!!

I am just so excited! I just bought gas for $1.69 per gallon. I traveled to Greenville, S.C. this weekend because my girls have a cheerleading competition. It is really cool to watch them flipping, tossing, and twisting all around like they do! And did I mention flying in the air?! So much fun! Anyhow, on my way I had to stop and get gas. It was so cheap! I mean I think the last time I saw it this darn cheap was in the 80’s. I honestly don’t remember it being this cheap except for then.

Have you guys seen it that cheap? What are you paying per gallon for your gas? I will post cheerleading pics soon! Keep watching!

Preparing and serving a centerpiece turkey can create anxiety for even the most seasoned cook. Each year, turkey hotlines receive thousands of calls from desperate cooks looking for answers on everything from cooking to carving. Whole Foods put together the following cooking tips and recipes to help guide your once-a-year turkey preparations and ensure success.

Choosing the Turkey

We believe that fresh, natural turkeys provide the best flavor for your holiday meal. Working with the highest quality ingredients makes it easier for any cook to produce a great meal. When ordering your whole turkey, allow at least 1 pound per person, plus 1/2 pound per person for leftovers. (Remember to take into account the size of your fridge and oven!) For turkey breast, plan on 3/4 pound per person. If it is a boneless breast, allow 1/2 pound per person.

Turkey Tool Kit

Depending on your method of preparation, here are a few things you may want to have on hand:

• Heavy duty roasting pan with rack to keep turkey from resting on bottom of pan.
• Trussing string for tying together the turkey legs for a nicer presentation.
• Foil for covering turkey while it cooks to keep it moist and tender.
• Basting brush to baste turkey with melted butter.
• Bulb baster for basting with pan juices.
• Fat separator for a leaner gravy.
• Fine sieve for straining the pan juices.
• Wire whisk for making lump-free gravy.
• Good quality carving set.
• Meat thermometer, preferably instant read variety.
• Apron to keep your holiday clothes fresh.

Safe Turkey Handling

While prepping turkey, wash your hands, knives, cutting board, and counter thoroughly and often with hot water and soap. Take care that raw turkey or its juices do not come into contact with other foods. Make sure you use your meat thermometer to check for the proper internal temperature. This is the only way to ensure the bird is cooked adequately and safely.

To Stuff or Not To Stuff?

Stuffing is a matter of preference. We recommend cooking the stuffing and turkey separately. If you do stuff, we advise baking the stuffing and turkey separately and then placing cooked stuffing in the turkey cavity during the final 30 minutes of roasting time. Here are some additional stuffing tips:

• Estimate about one cup of stuffing per pound of turkey.
• Stuffing your bird increases the cooking time, add about 5 to 7 minutes per pound.
• If you stuff your turkey, make sure you check the temperature of the stuffing and not just the bird before serving. The stuffing must register at least 160°F before it is safe to eat.
• Never stuff the bird ahead of time. Stuff it just before putting in the oven.
• If brining your turkey, we do not recommend stuffing it since the stuffing will absorb too much salt.
• If not stuffing, you can place some fresh herbs along with roughly chopped celery, onion and carrots in the cavity for added flavor.

All About Brining

Brining your turkey helps produce a moist, flavorful bird with minimal effort. The brine works to infuse the meat with flavor, and helps the bird retain moisture. Brining is simply submerging the turkey in a large pan filled with a salt-water solution for several hours, in the refrigerator. You can brine for four hours or overnight. Brining only works well for small and medium birds. The really large 20+ pound birds are too heavy to make this practical. The basic brine ratio: 1 gallon water to 1 cup table salt.

Remove the neck and giblets from the cavity. Soak the turkey in the above solution, mixing as much as you need to fully submerge it. Place the container in the refrigerator for approximately 4 hours. If you prefer to brine overnight, reduce the salt to 1/2 cup salt per gallon of water. If using Kosher salt, you will need to double the quantity used since it is less dense than table salt. Brining may produce saltier pan gravy than you prefer, so when making gravy from brined drippings, be sure to use low-sodium broth.

General Turkey Cooking Tips

• Always remove the giblets before seasoning and roasting your turkey.
• Our fresh, natural birds have not been frozen, but you may find them coated with a thin layer of ice. This is to ensure the freshest, best-tasting bird. The ice glaze keeps the turkey colder without affecting taste and texture.
• Refrigerate a fresh turkey immediately. Frozen turkeys should be defrosted in the refrigerator for two days prior to cooking (larger turkeys may require more time). Do not thaw at room temperature.
• Remove a turkey from the refrigerator about one hour before placing it in the oven.
• Brush the bird generously with melted butter before roasting to assist in browning and adding flavor.
• Baste only at the beginning of the roasting process. Basting later may make the skin soft instead of crispy.
• Cook your turkey on a rack with white wine or chicken broth in the bottom of the pan.
• Roast the bird with the breast side down for the first hour.
• Use a meat thermometer for best results. When done, all parts of the turkey should be 165°F.
• Save the drippings for gravy!
• Allow bird to rest (covered) after cooking for about 30 minutes. This redistributes the juices and makes for smooth carving.

Turkey Roasting Chart

All turkey roasting charts are basic approximations. Actual cooking time varies depending on a number of factors, including oven accuracy, temperature of the bird when it is placed in the oven, whether or not your bird is stuffed, oven temperature, the height and thickness of the roasting pan, and how frequently you open the oven door.

Also, since our natural birds are fresh, lean and contain no additives, your turkey may cook faster than a conventional turkey. Begin to check for doneness approximately 30 minutes before the end of suggested cooking time. Use a meat thermometer — there really is no substitute for determining when your turkey is done. If you are cooking a stuffed turkey, add an additional 5-7 minutes per pound.

Check the temperature of the stuffing as well as the turkey to determine when it is fully cooked — 160°F for the stuffing. When done, all parts of the turkey should register 165°F.

This blog I saw was written by someone named Anna Meadows. I liked it. Hope you do too. It is very true!!!

Insecurity sucks. Plain and simple. It really sucks when it comes to insecurity in leadership. It is nearly impossible to be a successful leader if you’re insecure.

Here are a couple reasons why:

• People don’t feel comfortable following an insecure leader.
• Insecure leaders take everything personally.
• Insecure leaders won’t take risks.
• Insecure leaders spend too much time worrying what people think.So what’s the answer? There are two, actually:
• Remember what God’s Word says about you. If insecurity is the bondage that holds you back, God’s words are the truths that will set you free. Believe them!
• People don’t think about you, the way you think they think about you. (read that again, slowly) It’s true, because they are too worried about what YOU think of THEM!

Insecurity sucks. So, quit!

What insecurities are holding you back right now?

How have you seen insecurity sabotage you or someone else’s leadership?