More thoughts on personal productivity.  In this session, we explore an often overlooked commodity of productivity:  other people.  I get by with a little help from my friends.

  Here is what I do to enhance personal productivity.

• Be a user.  Yep, I’m a user.  A mooch.  But hey, I return the favor.  My friends are users as well.  If I’m looking for a review on a new piece of software or a new idea I will ask my friends.  I use their strength.  For example, my friend Shawn is a technical guru.  When I have a question in the tech world, he is my first contact.  It is incredible efficient.  Just last week I had an issue that would have taken me 2 hours to fix.  Shawn had it fixed in 3 minutes over the computer.  And, just so you know, I give Shawn time and attention in areas where I can.  It’s a great practice of community.  If you use, make sure it goes both ways.
• Recruit a research assistant.  I resisted this at the start.  I figured “How could other people like research when I hate it?”  Crazy man.  Some people love research.  I have a research assistant and she rocks.  Her name is Bethany.  No, you cannot have her email.  Just last week I emailed her with some research for an upcoming sermon.  The next day the inbox was filled with the research and a note from Bethany saying “let me know what else you need.”  Money.  
• Do key work in small community.  I have two friends that help me plan and execute the weekly exchange gathering, Shawn and Scott.  In this group, we trust, dream, and brainstorm.  Every Monday, we brutally evaluate the previous gathering.  This makes me much better and much more productive.  If I am heading in a less-effective direction, these guys are there to offer opinions.  This group is small by design.  A big group often bogs down productivity. 

Truth be told, I get by with a TON of help from my friends.

Next in this series, we will look at your single most important piece of personal productivity.

Hey everybody, Shawn here.

Got a call from Jody earlier today indicating that their Internet is flaky at best so we might not see any updates from them until Wednesday. They are blogging the entire time, however, and will simply mass post everything they’ve written so far when/if Internet is restored later this week. Here’s what Jody had to say:

“We’ll be getting a tour of the Ixil school today and then will be attending a banquet tonight to celebrate the delivery of the New Testament in the Ixil language. It’s great to see so many American churches present to celebrate this achievement. We’re currently staying in the mountains and the view is gorgeous.”

That’s it. Watch for more updates mid-week!

I was going through some old pictures and came upon this one.  Say what you want, but when Jack prays, things happen.  Notice the prism of tranquility which has descended upon his melon.  Prior to his meditation, we were in his office.  Moments later, Pastor Jack transported us to a killer restaurant on the Pacific Coast.

Dude, unless you are sure she will say “yes”, I would pop the question in private.

Man, that had to hurt.

  One of the blogs on my radar is From Where I Sit, by Michael Hyatt.  Michael, CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers, recently published a great post titled “Creating a Life Plan”.  It’s worth your time.  Check it out here.

Thanks Michael!!

Kyle (right) at Our Rising Sound recently asked me that question.  Kyle has asked the same question to several leaders, and will post their answers in coming weeks.  Check out my answer to the question here.

Thanks Kyle!!

Last night after exchange we loaded up the family truckster and made it to Cincy.  This year we are heading to the Pigeon Forge, TN area for our family vacation. 

More later.

My pal Shawn just got 2 compassion kids sponsored because he posted about them on his blog.  Nice work brotha!

What has your blog done lately?

To learn more about how to sponsor a child through Compassion International, click here.

Check out the Longyear’s Compassion daughter here.

Set list from Mike Jones, Creative Arts Director at The Orchard in Aurora, IL.

This last weekend (6.15), Mike used Craig Groeschel’s video, Make Us One.
Here’s Mike’s music set list from this last weekend:

Majestic - Lincoln Brewster
Kingdom Come - Hillsong United
You Are The One - Lincoln Brewster
One - U2 (prior to the video)
(followed the video with a creative piece to engage our church community with the Make Us One concept)
Make Us One - Jason Morant
Great weekend for us and good connection with the crowds.

As far as exchange, we used Wayne Cordeiro’s video, Make us Wise.  We also shot a video of me introducing Wayne (I’ll post that later).  I was just getting back from New Orleans, and Shawn was the worship leader for the gathering.

iPod pre-gathering
Countdown Video
Let God Arise
Welcome and Announcements - Jack
video introducing Pastor Wayne
Teaching - One Prayer 02 - Make us Wise - Cordeiro
Your Grace is Enough
Wonderful Maker
Came To My Rescue
Everlasting God
Awesome Is the Lord Most High
Baptisms??
All We Need
Your Grace is Enough
Dismissal - Shawn
Band instrumental
iPod post-gathering

Send me your One Prayer Worship set and I will post it here.

Hot today.  Half of my day was in an attic and the 2nd story of Wally’s house.  The other half was on his roof in 90 degree heat helping lay shingles.  Dang.  Roofing is hard.  You know it is hot when you can’t touch the shingles with your hands.  And don’t even think about sitting.  After 10 seconds your butt feels like you just sat in a campfire.

Above:  Mad roofing skills.  The competition sleeps.

Coming:  Video from the Upper 9th Ward