The First In Flight!!

Last week while on our family vacation we took a trip to the Wright Brother's Memorial in Kitty Hawk, NC. Just in case you don't know, the Wright Brothers are the first two human beings to ever fly make and fly in an airplane. So, as we visited the birthplace of mechanical human aviation I could not help but think of the endless leadership lessons from the lives of these two heroes. Here are just a few...

1. Innovation and leadership requires great persistence...
Did you know that the Wright Brothers would travel from Cleveland, Ohio. (a.k.a. as "The armpit of America") to Kitty Hawk North Carolina for several weeks-months each year to work on perfecting their airplane with the goal of being the first in flight. And, it took them not one, two or three but four years of persistence to get that airplane off the ground and that's after years of dreaming and envisioning.

2. Leadership and Innovation requires a clear vision and goal...
Make no mistake the Wright Brother's wanted to be the first in flight. At the time of their first flight they were racing the clock against another man (whom I do not know his name) who was also trying to be the first in flight. They stayed in Kitty Hawk an extra several months the year of their first flight so they could be the first. Nobody remembers #2! This all flowed from a clarity of what they wanted to accomplish. From a clear vision they developed a strategy and plan, and made values based decisions!

3. Leadership and Innovation requires a willingness to be persecuted...
Could you imagine how insane these men must have seemed to the people of their day. Now we jump on an airplane to head from San Francisco to Tokyo and don't think twice. In their day their was no Southwest if you wanted to "get away." Imagine leaving your family for two-to three months at a time to work on what may have seemed like a kite with a motor. Did you know that before the Wright Brothers made the first airplane it was scientifically proven that man would not be able to fly? Now we can put a man on the moon. Aren't you glad they didn't believe that lie! I am always amazed at the response I get when I tell people we are starting a church in the SF Bay Area. Everyone wants to tell me about a gay friend they have, as if everyone in San Francisco is gay. (that's besides the point) Actually it's 13% and that's the actual city! But also, I hear story after story of unsuccessful church starts in the area, and people give me the look, "and why do you think you will be different?" or "how do you expect to start a church that reaches thousands and most can even reach 50?" Over the promise of God and my dead body this church is going to reach thousands of people who are far from God!

4. Leaders and Innovators requires a willingness to stand on others shoulders...
As I walked the memorial I thought to myself, I wonder how many people came along after the Wright Brothers came along and thought they were better because they created a superior aircraft. Have you ever realized how much one innovation inspires the next innovation. If one leader steps out and makes it happen, walls are busted down, people get inspired and the impossible now becomes possible. In the midst of all this we must not forget that we stand taller because we stand on the shoulders of others who have gone before us! Don't ever forget that! We can get trace a man on the moon back to a couple of crazy heroes back in 1903, who were willing to risk it all for the impossible on a couple of sand dunes of Kitty Hawk North Carolina!

PS, I am the dork who bought the 200 page book from the gift shop, titled "Wind and Sand" (the tour guide said this is the best) and I will read it, and I will come up with 6 more leadership lessons from their lives so I can have 10, and maybe I will share it soon. Post if you have thoughts from these principles!

Today I Experienced Elevation Church!

When I say experienced, I mean I experienced it. My wife Stacie and I spent the whole drive back from Charlotte to Columbia remembering it like a good movie. The South Bay staff (a.k.a. “the Dream Team”) and I arrived at Elevation this morning at 5:00am to be a part of “Backstage Elevation.” We got to experience a team of crazy committed volunteers who arrive at dark thirty with an optimistic attitude anticipating what God is going to do that day! Around 5:30 we were greeted by Larry Brey (Assimilation Pastor) who shared the Elevation story, vision, gave us an incredible tour of the whole experience and set up process, and graciously answered our questions. About 7:30am we skipped away for a quick bite to eat and yes a Starbucks! We rushed back to meet our wives at 8:30am as the Worship Experience started. My wife had already checked our 21 month old son Caedmon into child care with no mishaps (a rarity in new churches)! As we rolled into the parking lot we were directed with dozens of sharp signs, and a smiling crew in the parking lot who smoothly lighted the way to the nearest parking spot. As we walked back up to the building for the second time today we were greeted by layers of smiling folks telling us it was going to be a great worship experience and assuring us how glad they were we decided to come to Elevation. As we were ushered into auditorium I could feel a loud roar of worship that enveloped me as I got closer to the stage. I had already experienced Elevation by the time I got to my seat. The music was second to none, the transitions were seamless (pastors notice these things), and the message was clear. Pastor Steven Furtick preached a tough message on the “Altar of Repentance” from the story of Achan in the book of Joshua. He knocked it out of the park! I was amazed with the clarity at which he addressed issues of sin in our lives, yet at the same time gave such hope and inspiration towards living up. The teaching was biblically solid and very helpful for people at all points in the journey. I am encouraged by what God is doing through Elevation and have a lot of respect for their team and their pastor. As we move forward with starting a church in the San Francisco Bay Area it was great for our staff team to experience Elevation and be inspired by the possibilities of what God can do in such a short period of time!! Thanks Elevation, praise God! (ps, I just read on Pastor Steven’s blog 127 people decided to follow Christ for the very first time today, glad I got to be a part of it!) Praying for you guys, keep up the good work!

A Trip to the Zoo

Last night around 10:30 Stacie got up from bed with a soar throat and a slight fever. We had already planned to go to the Columbia Zoo this morning, so I kept the plan and allowed Stacie to get some rest while Caedmon, C.C. (Grandma Cloud) and I went to hang out with the animals.

It is fun to see how Caedmon is now beginning to interact with his surroundings. For example, while we were walking through the aquarium he kept showing CC and I his best imitation of a fish noise. While in the gorilla compound he pounded his chest and showed us his very best impersonation of the large primates!

So, here is what I can't help but notice as I am walking through the zoo... The majesty of God displayed in his creation. The beauties of the colors displayed on a toucan's beak, the myriad of tropical fish creating candy for the human eye, the strength of a crocodile's jaws, the elegance of the tiger, and much more. At the end of the day, as majestic as all of these animals I find none of them more captivating and beautiful than my 20 month old son. It is much like the description of God's hand in created in Genesis 1:26, "so God created man in his own image, male and female he created them."

I cannot help to see the hand of God as I look into the eyes of my child. To see his handy work and think that this child was knit together in his mother's womb. To know that this being has the capacity and connect with and intimately know God in ways that no other creature under creation can experience. Today I am amazed at the breadth of God's creation and am reminded that we are his prized "creation" with whom he desires a dynamic relationship. Something to ponder for the day!

Saying Goodbye

About 10 days ago Stacie, Caedmon and I said good bye to my favorite church in the world, Breakthrough Church. Over the last 4 years we have diligently given our lives to building a church that reached students who are far from God. As I reflect back on the transition out of Breakthrough Church I cannot have a deeper sense of gratitude for how God worked in the process of our "going" from Breakthrough... So here is what I am most thankful for!

1. Changed Lives... as I look back on our time in Texas I will always remember the countless number of students who lives were radically changed with the message of Christ. I think of students who were buddhists, athiests, and nominal Christians who caught a glimpse of God's love and responded by giving their lives to Him!!

2. The Support of Breakthrough... Stacie and I met with various students and leaders from our church to share the vision of how God is leading us to start a church in San Francisco, explaining that we would be transitioning out of Breakthrough and would need them to step up in the process. In the midst of their pain and sadnesss many of our key leaders rallied around us, prayed for us and even contributed significantly towards helping transition the church. We could not have gotten a better response from our Breakthrough Leadership team and staff. I am so proud of you guys! You stepped up!!

3. Christian and Sarah Williams... As of May 18 Christian assumed the position of Breakthrough's Lead Pastor. He and Sarah are a tremendous couple with a great heart for college students. They are going to do a fabulous job leading Breakthrough into the future.

4. Hope Church... Hope Church assumed oversight of Breakthrough so that it would be more viable from a leadership and finanical standpoint. Due to the fact that Breakthrough is a "student church" we knew it needed some outside leadership to move into the future. Harold Bullock and Hope stepped up and responded to God's prompting
to lead Breakthrough into phase II! I cannot say thank you enough to the staff and leaders at Hope for their willingness to step up to the challenge!

I have heard it said by many that you can discover alot more about a leader by the way he or she leaves than how he or she arrives. I believe God blessed our leaving tremendously. Stacie and I have said a number of times, "it went about as well as it could have gone." I am looking forward to not having to go through that again. Our vision is to go to the San Francisco Bay Area for the rest of our lives! It feels great to "go" with a clear conscience!