Operation: Flag Drop
How To Prank Your Children’s Director
Posted by Jason Curlee on July 6, 2009
Posted in 5 Points | 1 Comment »
The Next Level Part 7
Posted by Jason Curlee on July 3, 2009
People only change when they are no longer content with their current situation. As we wrap up our series of posts called The Next Level, lets jump right in with thought #6
CREATE POSITIVE DISCONTENT
It is healthy and normal to want more out of your life–if you didn’t want more, something would be wrong. If you are currently at a place with your health or relationships or other areas and want to bring positive change, then you must create enough discontent to move in the direction needed.
Frustration comes when we want more than we are “willing” or “able” to change to get.
Most people live in a dream world because they are not willing to change. People that truly want change do it.
Someone that truly begins to dislike their present state enough to pursue their potential creates the positive discontent that is a catalyst through their chaos.
Reality Check…YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES IN LIFE:
- Change to reach the next level
- Keep the old order and be frustrated.
That is why to reach the next level you must foster discontent with your current reality.
You have got to:
- Realize your new reality is real
- Realize your new reality is achievable
- Realize you are discontent with your old reality.
Posted in Leadership | Tagged: change, positive discontent | 1 Comment »
Have vs Get
Posted by Jason Curlee on July 2, 2009
What you do matters.
We don’t have to….
We get to….
God has given us the opportunity…
The Have To’s:
- It’s Not - I can’t go do that this Thursday because I “have” to go to rehearsal.
- It’s Not - I can’t do that Sunday Night cause I “have” to be at student ministry to help set up.
- It’s Not - I can’t dress up a little on Sunday cause I “have” to wear that same t-shirt to work in the Children’s area.
The Get’s To:
- It’s - I can’t do that Sunday Night cause I “get” to be part of an awesome team that is seeing the lives of students all over the 5 Points area be changed.
- It’s -I can’t go do that this Thursday because I “get” to be part of an awesome worship team that is plowing the hearts of people on Sunday, getting them prepared for God’s Word and their lives are being changed.
- It’s - I “get” to get up on Sunday and put on the uniform for a team that is preparing the next generation…ensuring that they hear the Word of God as they are young…changing their lives and giving them an opportunity to do something great for God.
It’s about the why…it’s an attitude of what Christ has done in us and does through us.
When you begin to realize that what you “get” to do connects people to the life current of Jesus Christ…it will begin to transform your “have”
You are connectors….
You “GET” the opportunity to see lives changed…to connect people to Christ.
You “GET” to because of what Christ did in you!!!
Posted in Bible Thoughts | Tagged: connecting, Jesus Christ | 2 Comments »
Caption This
Posted by Jason Curlee on July 1, 2009
Son, you will grow up one day to be like your Uncle Luigi.
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It’s Not Normal
Posted by Jason Curlee on July 1, 2009
God didn’t call us to be abnormal in a normal world…He called us to be normal in an abnormal world.
We need to redefine what is normal…
God didn’t call you to fit in….He called you to stand out…that’s normal.
- It’s normal for a teenager to save themselves sexually until marriage.
- It’s normal that if a teen has lost their virginity to determine they are going to have a second virginity born out of the purity of Christ.
- It’s normal to not smoke weed or do drugs…that’s what’s cool.
- It’s normal for a teen (or adult I might add) not to go out and drink to altar their personality at a party to “fit in”.
- All the normal kids don’t have to get drunk to numb the pain of a meaningless life cause they have something to live for…
- All the normal men stay faithful to their wives…
- When you’re at work the normal man is not standing around flirting with his female co-workers.
- It’s also normal for a woman not to do that as well.
- The normal man doesn’t push the limits of flirtation until the he gets burned and then ruins his family…NO…
- What is normal is a man that stays faithful to his one wife…men…let me tell you…that’s sexy to a woman.
- And if you have blown it and you are on your second…or even third time around…it’s normal not to continue those patterns that got you in that place the first time around.
Matthew 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
What are some other things you would say should be redefined as the norm?
Posted in Bible Thoughts | Tagged: normal | 5 Comments »
Next Level Quotes
Posted by Jason Curlee on June 30, 2009
All I want to do is change the world. – W. Clement Stone #quote- It’s not what happens to you that determines how far you will go in life; it is how you handle what happens to you. – Zig Ziglar #quote
- The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of your state of mind. – Dr. Wayne W. Dyer #quote
- Belief is the ignition switch that gets you off the launching pad. – Denis Waitley #Quote
- The optimist sees opportunity in every danger; the pessimist sees danger in every opportunity. – Winston Churchill #quote
- Positive thinking won’t let you do anything but it will let you do everything better than negative thinking will. – Zig Ziglar #quote
- Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved. – William Jennings Bryan
- I never expect to lose. Even when I’m the underdog, I still prepare a victory speech. – H. Jackson Browne #quote
- Everyone who got where he is has had to begin where he was. – Robert Louis Stevenson #quote
- The only way around is through. – Robert Frost #quote
- I am always doing things I can’t do, that’s how I get to do them. – Pablo Picasso #quote
- Unless a man undertakes more than he possibly can do, he will never do all that he can.” – Henry Drummond #quote
- Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly. – Robert Francis Kennedy #quote
- Success is a journey, not a destination. – Ben Sweetland #quote
- If you care at all, you’ll get some results. If you care enough, you’ll get incredible results. – Jim Rohn #quote
- Motivation is the fuel, necessary to keep the human engine running.” – Zig Ziglar #quote
- Your future is awaiting the burial of your past. ~Pat Mesiti #quote
Posted in Leadership | Tagged: quote, quotes | Leave a Comment »
The Next Level Part 6
Posted by Jason Curlee on June 29, 2009
Another step to Going to the Next Level is to:
BECOME OTHER-PEOPLE FOCUSED
We already live in a self-centered world…focusing on others is not the norm and it takes something out of us that is not really built in.
When you begin to focus on others, you expand yourself, allowing yourself to go further than you’ve ever gone before. This is also another way you begin to close the back door.
In ministry I have known many people who, as they were challenged to step up into roles where they began to focus on others or lead in areas, it made them dig down more to prepare…to grow themselves.
The more people you add to the capacity of your heart, the more it stretches you.
Check out the full list of points with links in my post The Next Level Part 1
Posted in Church, Leadership, Ministry | 1 Comment »
Sunday 6-28-09 Through My Window
Posted by Jason Curlee on June 28, 2009
A look through the window of Bay Area 5 Points for 6-28-09:
- For the second week in a row I got to preach the message at our campus. I was pumped. It has been a long while since I have.
- I felt it was time that we talked about serving. Since last week was Father’s Day I had used it to sort of set up this week.
- Going into the 10 o’clock I thought no one was gonna be there. And then all of the sudden it was full. Overall we had a great attendance for the day. 44 more people than last week!!!!
- Fav Quote of My Message – Being a Christian is not a destination as if we have arrived – it is a lifestyle of following Christ.
- Other Fav Quote – Servant-hood is the pathway to following Christ.
- Got to tell the story of one of our members testifying at his Dad’s funeral this weekend. Great story…also I was so proud…he did an altar call at the viewing and about 15-20 people came up. I led them in a prayer to have a relationship with Christ.
- Today was what we called ConneXion Sunday…we do communion and baptisms. Today FOUR people were baptized…two teens and two adults…CRAZY…it was awesome.
- The theme of my message was SERVING and I poured it own as to that is what a Christ follower is all about. Not just in church but in life.
- We had 13 new people sign up to volunteer today. Instant influx of people serving at 5 Points.
- I felt in the groove on stage today…helps to do two in a row…often I feel I’ve gotten so rusty…there is a rhythm you get in when you speak. Back to back helps.
- FOUR people prayed to begin a relationship with Christ today…greatest feeling knowing God uses you as you speak…but at our campus it’s not about that…FOUR people did that because of the teams of volunteers who serve in a variety of ways.
- Talked about a “have to” vs a “get to” attitude when you serve to the current volunteers.
- Music was great today…we did Overtaken – Gateway Worship, The Kingdom of God – Paul Baloche, Lead Me To The Cross – Hillsong United, and All To You – Lincoln Brewster
- I had Juno, our student director lead communion and do baptisms. It was his first time doing both and he did a great job.
- One of our best days at 5 Points.
Posted in 5 Points, Sunday Thoughts | Tagged: 5 Points, BAF, Bay Area Fellowship | 2 Comments »
Leadership Manifesto
Posted by Jason Curlee on June 28, 2009
Thought these ten points from the Leadership Manifesto at “The Practice of Leadership” were some awesome ideas to pass on.
- Leaders shape the future. Leaders bring change and leaders challenge the status quo. If there is no need for change, there is no need for leadership.
- Leadership is a choice. Leadership does not just happen. Leadership is a choice we make to live our a vision and purpose daily.
- Leaders are made and not born. Leaders know who they are, understand their unique purpose, strengths and skills. They use who they are to bring their vision into the present.
- Leaders live their vision. They become the change that they want to see in the world. They set the example and show the way.
- Leaders incite conversation. Leadership is about making a difference and driving change which stimulates conversation and debate. The ideas that get talked about are the ones worth talking about.
- Leaders understand that character matters. Character establishes the foundation for trust. Without trust you cannot lead.
- Leaders invest in themselves. Leaders take care of their spiritual, emotional, mental and physical needs.
- Leaders are results focused. Leaders initiate and make things happen.
- Leaders inspire. Leaders cannot achieve their visions alone. They inspire others to come alongside and participate in the journey.
- Leaders leave a legacy. Success is what we do for ourselves whilst legacy is what we do for others. A leaders legacy is what they do for others and how they have invested in and developed others.
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The Next Level Part 5
Posted by Jason Curlee on June 26, 2009
Thought number FOUR. If you are going to the next level you need to…
CLOSE THE BACK DOOR ON YOUR OLD LEVEL
Do you want to really move to another level personally or organizationally? If so then you have got to slam the door shut on where you were.
To your mind…chaos is what is between your present and your potential.
Chaos is what you experience when your mind, which is accustomed to order, does everything it can to stay in its current reality.
That is why you must press through. Sometimes we have to burn our ships so to speak.
When Spanish Conquistador Hernando Cortez landed in Mexico, one of his first orders to his men was to burn the ships. Cortez was so committed to his mission he did not want to allow himself or his men the option of going back to Spain. By removing the option, Cortez and his men were forced to focus on how they could make the mission successful.
The only way to convince your mind the next level is where you need to be is to use order–the very thing your mind craves–as the reason why you should get to the next level.
So accept that you will deal with the moral walls and people’s opinions and ignore the resistance.
Break your minds ability to self-sabotage by closing the back door on the old and decide going back is not an option.
If you haven’t read all of these series of posts…see The Next Level Part 1 for a list of them all.
[photo via flickr.com]
Posted in Church, Leadership, Ministry | Tagged: next level | 1 Comment »
