One of our E4U classes I'm most excited about is our upcoming Financial Peace University class. FPU is about helping learn to manage their money wisely -- and to get out of debt. Created by Dave Ramsey (yes, that Dave Ramsey), FPU is a great tool for singles or couples who need to get a better handle on their finances. Mountainview will be offering FPU on Sunday evenings beginning September 12. You can register for Financial Peace University online.
Read More
Successful leaders, entrepreneurs, or even pastors, are odd mix of two things: hunger and humility. A leader who refuses to settle for the status quo because new ground remains to be gained is hungry. An entrepreneur who is willing to eat Ramen noodles and mac-n-cheese in order to put more money into his business is hungry (in more ways than one!). To be successful, a person must have a hunger for more ... for more growth, more expansion, more quality, more effectiveness, more simplicity. At the same time, they must have a deep humility that recognizes the limits of their own abilities. It takes humility to say, "I don't know" or "I'm sorry." A humble leader will be content to serve in the background while someone else is in the spotlight. Hunger and humility. Do you have what it takes to be successful?
Read More
I came across this blog post by Doug Riddle of the Center for Creative Leadership called "When Intention is Irrelevant." It speaks of the higher standard leaders will be held to. In particular, it reminded me of James's admonition to those who would aspire to be teachers: "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." (James 3:1) Here is the article. ***************** When Intention is Irrelevant I've been interviewing leaders and followers for years about the impact of leaders' behavior on their organizations and their people. I've come to a somewhat disturbing if obvious conclusion: a good deal of their impact is completely unintentional. We spend a lot of our energy thinking about what to say and what not to, how to introduce strategic change, and how to improve morale, for instance. Yet, there are…
Read More
One of the signs of maturity is the ability to accept responsibility for one's actions. A mature person is able to say, "I did that" while a person lacking maturity tries to shift the blame. We live in a culture that is glad to hand-off responsibility to someone else. Parents may be quick to blame what's on television for the attitude of their children. Does it contribute? Absolutely. Is television the only responsible party? Probably not. You also have the influence of peers. And the influence of parents, who -- contrary to opinion -- are still very influential in the lives of their children. In doing marriage counseling I often hear, "If only she would ..." Or, "It's because he always ..." Rarely do I hear someone say, "I'm the person responsible for the conflict we're having." Employees would be more effective if it weren't for their bosses. Bosses would…
Read More
We're about to start our second semester of E4U classes at Mountainview and I'm really excited about our fall lineup. Here is a brief overview: Encounter: Developing personal spiritual growth habits. Class: Growing Strong in God’s Family (Todd Nelson) This class will focus on how to grow deeper in your faith. It's an interactive way to explore what it means to be in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Todd Nelson serves as our creative arts director at Mountainview. Register Now. Engage: Using your unique SHAPE in ministry to God and others. Class: Urban Entry: A New Look at Missions (Brendan Yost) What does "missions" mean to you? We often think of overseas missions or missionaries who travel to distant places. This class will explore the theological foundation of urban missions, including our own efforts in Westwood/Square Mile. Brendan Yost serves as the missions and outreach pastor at Mountainview. Register Now. Equip: Understanding God…
Read More