OMG, Is He Really Wearing a Twikini?!?

So do you got Twitter and want a better way to use it on your phone but your not one of the little rich kids that owns an iPhone (fine I admit it, I am jealous)? Are you like me and you have to settle for a lame Windows Mobile phone (the worst OS for phones, it's almost as effective as smoke signals, except you can't take pictures with smoke signals). There is a great solution to bring the power of Twitter to your WinMo OS phone. So I was told about about this snazzy little app called Twikini by my buddy @natefellman, the name is the funniest part, so is how they got it (video below). Here are some of the features that I loved!

• It is FAST!
  

• Simple, uncluttered, and customizable user interface.

• Post tweets using a full screen editor. Optionally, set your location (either manually, using GPS coordinates, or geocoding) along with your status updates. (Screenshot)

• Send and receive Direct Messages.

• Twitpic integration to post photos with your status updates. Select existing photos or click new ones from your device's camera. When reading tweets, view Twitpics inline (without having to open a separate browser). (Screenshot)

• Read status updates just like browsing a web page. Quickly reply, retweet, favorite, or email other people's tweets. (Screenshot 1, Screenshot 2)

• Windows Media Player integration. Automatically tweet the song and artist you're listening to. See a realtime feed of other people using it on Twitter.

• URL shortening services including Bit.ly, TinyURL and Digg.

...read more on "OMG, Is He Really Wearing a Twikini?!?"!

Spiritual ADHD Part 4

Part 4 of a 4 part series called Spiritual ADHD. It is comparing the struggles and experiences of a person who has ADHD with what those struggles may be like for Christians if they happened to have Spiritual ADHD.

The four struggles of a person that we will focus on these few weeks are:

• Spiritually Drifting Off
  
• Spiritually Tuned Out
  
• Spiritually Impulsivity
  
• Spiritual Hyperactivity

[Hyperactivity]

Hyperactivity is defined as being abnormally or extremely active. Think about it when it comes to our praxology of worship, the way we 'practice/live out what we believe'. We do so much doing when it comes to our personal lives that we fail to be about our relationship with God. We attend service, sing worship, participate in Fine Arts, be in the worship bands, work in audio/video, lift our hands in worship, pray in front of others, and that’s just church ‘stuff’, then there is playing sports, going to school, movies, shopping, etc.

The area of discussion is addressing the idea that many of us ‘know’ so much about God and Christianity but many fail to ‘do’!

James 1:22-25 - 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

Here are a couple thoughts to consider:

There is a positive hyperactivity. Vs. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. “But be doers” means to “show yourselves to be.” This phrase is in the “present middle imperative,” ‘present tense’, which means it is a kind of action. James says we are to keep doing what it says. We can read a lot of different books, but they do not demand anything of us. Reading a cookbook does not demand you bake a cake or a three course meal. But to the Christian that reads the bible with a teachable, trainable heart, there is a calling by the Holy Spirit of God to respond to His truth.

There is also a negative hyperactivity. Vs 23-24 - 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. The illustration James gives us is a casual, haphazard approach to looking at something, just a glance. This person looks at something but does not observe cannot recall what they have seen. This is a careless ‘busy/hyperactivity’ person. A careless person makes mistakes. If a bomb technician working on the wiring to disable a bomb were hyperactive and not focused he could make his whole day go bad. It is also true for us to be careless and casual with God’s Word. That casualness is similar to hyperactivity. We read but don't follow through, we ‘know’ but fail to ‘do’.

Lastly, there is a perfect hyperactivity. James 1:25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. The word “looks” in verse 23 speaks of casualness (κατανοέω [katanoeo /kat·an·o·eh·o/] translates as “to perceive, remark, observe, understand.”), but in verse 25 speaks of a discipline to commitment (παρακύπτω [parakupto /par·ak·oop·to/] translates as “to look carefully into, inspect curiously// of one who would become acquainted with something.”). Our purpose in the Christian life should be to be conformed to the example and image of Christ. When we come to the Word of God it should be something we are diligent in, pursuing the truth, and ultimately desiring to discipline our lives by. We must study it carefully and let it be applied in our lives to not miss any details. James calls God’s Word “the perfect law of liberty.” So what James is speaking of is God’s Word or law is perfect, complete and it brings liberty, through the death of Christ we have freedom!

Question: Are you so hyperactive and busy for God that we forget to be about God?

...read more on "Spiritual ADHD Part 4"!

Spiritual ADHD Part 3

Part 3 of a 4 week series called Spiritual ADHD. It is comparing the struggles and experiences of a person who has ADHD with what those struggles may be like for Christians if they happened to have Spiritual ADHD.

The four struggles of a person that we will focus on these few weeks are:

• Spiritually Drifting Off
  
• Spiritually Tuned Out
  
• Spiritually Impulsivity
  
• Spiritual Hyperactivity

[Impulsivity]

I feel that out of this whole series this is 2nd most largest issue that most people struggle with, Hyperactivity is No. 1. What happens when we are so impulsive and forget to seek God in our daily decisions and seeking his will for our life? If we are impulsive we are headed for danger. We try and figure out our own will and decisions instead of letting God decide.

Joshua 1:7-9 – 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. NKJV

A few thoughts to consider:

"Be strong and courageous, that you may 'observe to do...'" what's this mean? Observation takes complete focus. Even in it's definition, observation is to observe something carefully in order to GAIN information. When we are strong we gain muscle, when we are courageous we gain powerful confidence.

Our impulsivity can cause us to make our own decisions! Impulsivity defines those with a lack of self control. To be impulsive means that you have little or no control to make a rational decisions based on your needs versus wants. When you display impulsive behaviors, it shows that you have a lack of patience and overall you are driven by what you want, not what you need.

Do we process our choices through prayer, meditation, spending time in the bible? Are we driven by what we want or by what God wants? It needs to always leave our mouth, we need to talk about it. How do we keep speaking about it? By meditating on it day and night, again that we may "observe to do" according to all that is in it. Luke 11:28 - But He said, "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" NKJV

Information without application equals knowledge without impact. – George Barna

Question: Are you so impulsive in your day to day decisions that you forget what God thinks?

...read more on "Spiritual ADHD Part 3"!

Spiritual ADHD Part 2

Part 2 of a 4 part series called Spiritual ADHD. It is comparing the struggles and experiences of a person who has ADHD with what those struggles may be like for Christians if they happened to have Spiritual ADHD.

The four struggles of a person that we will focus on these few weeks are:

• Spiritually Drifting Off
  
• Spiritually Tuned Out
  
• Spiritually Impulsive
  
• Spiritual Hyperactivity

[Tuned Out]

Those of us who struggle with ADHD find it normal that we will tune out people intentionally and even unintentionally. How might this affect us when we do it spiritually with God can affect the balance in our life. We must be tuned in, so this begs the natural question, are you tuned out?

Little Sammy, a young boy lying in the temple in 1 Samuel 3:1-11, was awakened 3 times by whom he thought was to be the priest Eli. Each time Eli would instruct him to go back to bed because he was dreaming. Eli realizes that it was God calling Sammy so he told him go back to bed and the next time you are called reply, "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening."

If we are not tuned into God's voice and there are distractions we may never hear God speaking to us or we need a reaction from God like he did to Paul when he knocked him on his butt blind for three days.

If your not tuned in you need to get tuned in. There are several easy/elementary ways that God speaks to us:

• Through, Ephesians 4:11-12, the 5-fold ministry of the church, apostles, prophets [not counting Joseph Smith or any of his cronies], evangelists, pastors and teachers.
• Through the bible: Psalm 119:105
• Through the Holy Spirit: Romans 8:16, Acts 10:19
  
• Through our conscience: Romans 9:1

The biggest issue is watching out for costly distractions. In the New Testament one of the Jesus types is him as a shepherd. In John 10:3-4, it talks about the shepherd opens the gate for the sheep and calls them out by name and the sheep know his voice. When distractions happen they can be costly, even deadly. If the sheep doesn't hear the shepherds voice he could be killed by wolves.

John 8:47 says, "He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to him."

Question: Are you so tuned out that you can't hear the voice of God?

...read more on "Spiritual ADHD Part 2"!

Spiritual ADHD Part 1

Just started a 4 week series called Spiritual ADHD. It is comparing the struggles and experiences of a person who has ADHD with what those struggles may be like for Christians if they happened to have Spiritual ADHD. Make sure to click on the link to read the rest of this post!

ADHD Mind from Shaun Mayfield on Vimeo.

Video Above: Experience the inside process of a mind on ADHD when a simple task like thinking of a persons name that you are related to... you know something really easy. Daily repetitious thoughts are tough enough but when we really got to think this is what happens in our minds.

The four struggles of a person that we will focus on the next few weeks are:

• Spiritually Drifting Off
  
• Spiritually Tuned Out
  
• Spiritually Impulsive
  
• Spiritual Hyperactivity

[Drifting Off]
What happens when we drift off spiritually and lose track of what we believe and drift out of our race that we are running? In Greek, the word for drift as it's found in Hebrews 2:1 talks about a leaking bucket, that we are slowly leaking out what God has put into us.

The next couple of verses talk about the reason we are not to drift is because of what we have 'heard', which is in Hebrews 1. It talks about who Christ is, that he is God in all His majesty, that he is heir to all things, maker of all things, express image of God, he upholds all things, he forgave us of all our sins by dying and after that was seated at the right hand of God. He is higher than all the angels.

Hebrews 2:3 talks about salvation being spoke by those who have believed. If you jump to Hebrews 11 it is the chapter of faith heroes who are those that have spoke in the past, then chapter 12 begins with saying that now all those who have spoken are no longer speaking but are now cheering us on so that we don't DRIFT. That is powerful, they no longer have a voice for speaking of faith but now they are screaming your name out, saying you can make it, keep fighting, keep running, keep up the endurance!

Don't be a drifter, do not leak. God has the task of filling us and we must be careful to allow Him to patch us up as we become leaky vessels. I am cheering you on, all those that have believed that are in heaven are cheering you on as a cloud of witnesses. Run, don't grow weary, don't tire out, don't drift into other lanes. Don't get disqualified.

...read more on "Spiritual ADHD Part 1"!

Do You Have Justified Grace?

When was the last time you received forgiveness from a person because of something you did that wasn't right? When was the last time you sought God for forgiveness for a mistake? When was the last time someone gave you grace for something that they could of been upset for?

Let me ask you, have you justified that grace? Read on to understand...

Ephesians 2:4-9 gives us a great glimpse into God and how he sees grace. Sometimes the favor of grace is unfair to some, it upsets settled humans notions about merit, about what is deserved. Think about the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. His brother was so upset because why would his brother misuse his inheritance. Then you have another parable in Matthew 20 of a man who hires three guys, one early in the morning, one in the mid-afternoon and one late in the day, an hour before the bell. He then pays them all the same wages and of course the guys who have been there all day complain. The man applied grace and the others were jealous.

So what does this have to do with a justified grace? I have a sister who has been troubled since she was 13 around the time when she first ran away. She had a tough life that she chose, doing and using drugs, writing fraudulent checks, stealing from family members including myself, irreplaceable items. At the age of 22 my mom bought her a brand new surround sound system for her room. Did she deserve it? NO. Grace was applied. This would have been justified grace had my sister, who did not deserve it, made my mom thankful for giving it to her. Did she? No, she pawned it off for money to use for who knows what.

So how does our grace become justified? When God forgives us we justify it by living from that point on as if the sin never happened in the past, just-if-I'd (justified) never sinned in the first place. Not being held down by regrets but living in the continual state of 'potential'. Unjustified grace is when we receive it and act like we never did. Romans 6:1-2 says, "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"

In life application... you talk behind someone's back and ask for forgiveness, then they forgive you, then you go on and talk behind their back again. Be a trophy of Grace, something God can be proud of, one to put in the display case. As Paul said, follow me as I follow Christ. He was the 'worst of sinners' but through his Justified Grace became a trophy of grace.

Do You Have Justified Grace?

...read more on "Do You Have Justified Grace?"!

Process [or] Product

It occurred to me as I was observing the monotonous project out back in our backyard at the joy over the process. We have been in our house almost 8 years and finally are doing our backyard landscaping. It is quite the project and I will put up pictures of 'before' and 'after' as soon as we finish. Our yard is about 5000 square feet and just under 3000 square feet of that is sod. This has been such a large project that I even took an entire week off vacation to work on it and at least 5 or so solid weekends and are finally just getting to the end results. I am anticipating the finished product very much which caused me to think about this idea:

What is better, the process or the finished product?

So many times in our life/ministry/business we are so caught up with the finished product and focus so closely only on the details to accomplish the finale that we over look the entire process. Take my backyard for instance, I have spent so much time with my wife and my daughter Amberlyn in this project. If I failed to see the process I would fail to recognize the moments of life. When finished, I will have the product, my beautiful backyard, for years to come, but I will only experience the process once. Because I have stepped back to recognize the process I think how boring will life be when the yard is done, I only get to sit in it and relax, no more hard working process (that was kinda a joke, I really can't wait to enjoy grass instead of a dustbowl)!

For many of you leaders/pastors, think about that student or person that you are working with that has life issues. Is not the process as beautiful as the finished person? Is not your life of dismay, the process of refining, as great as the finished product. I live with no regrets because my mistakes (the process) are what helps me become who God has called me to be (the product).

You know what experiencing the process allows? Breath, yes just a fresh breath of air. Simply you can breathe a sigh of relief that there doesn't have to be so much pressure only for the end. Sure there are time restraints and delivery dates and presentations but the process is beautiful. Enjoy the beauty!

Take a moment, breathe, experience the process, let the product build, but enjoy the moments at hand.

...read more on "Process [or] Product"!

Statistics of Banal Importance... Possibly.

Number of chemical elements in the universe: 104
In a glass of New Jersey tap water: 98

Average miles per gallon you can expect if a car maker's ad says "30 mpg, city": 23

Average life expectancy (in seconds) of an enemy soldier in a Chuck Norris film: 4

Percentage of the public that understand the new tax code: 11%
Percentage of accountants who understand it: 9%
Percentage of IRS employees who understand it: 6%


Number of Americans who believe any of these statistics are accurate: 2,478,644

As far as some actual significant numbers of importance check out this site, very worth your time. The great thing is they update LIVE!

...read more on "Statistics of Banal Importance... Possibly."!

Analize Vs. Criticize

I have a friend(s), and I am sure you do to... hopefully you are not that friend, who is very critical. This type of person looks at the negative in people and then feels the option to talk openly to me about all the flaws of that individual. When I meet with this person(s) I generally find myself looking for the opportunity to apply a different style approach to the perspective he is sharing. The great thing is this person(s) is open to listening, some person(s) aren't, don't be that friend that isn't open. The approach I apply is analyzing. So what is the difference? The difference is as big as it is small.


The largest concept that has taught me the most in life is learning to observe. It has become an art of mine. Here is a post from a while back of a conversation between me and a great friend of mine, RC.

RC: wow... dang dude... how'd you get so smart? like, I'm still shocked. for lack of a better term.
SM: lol, no idea
i dont see my self as smart as much as i would say i am an observer
learn to watch your world and learn from it
RC: ahhhh
SM: be experiential and allow everything to be a moment of Ahaa!
RC: I like that.

I would NEVER brag about being smart, however I would claim the skill of observing. You see, learning to observe is such a large part of my life that I put claim to the knowledge I have obtained as largely from the power of observation as much or more than study, reading and learning I have done over my lifetime. Now I would like to compare and contrast the difference between an analytical mindset and a critical mindset.

One comparison of the analytical vs. critical mindsets is - when we analyze we bring value to something, however a critical mindset tends to devalue and bring meaningless to something. See, when you are being critical of a person/system/program you begin to degrade it and reduce its value. One does this because their entire focus centers around the aspect of what doesn't work, what isn't great, etc... and almost always how they could do it better! So not only does this devalue someone/something it is also arrogant. This is not proper 'kaizen', a Japanese word for always understanding that you are doing the worst currently and there is a better way to do it for the sake of making small improvements to the whole for the better of all. Also 'hansei', which is a central idea in Japanese culture, meaning to acknowledge your own mistake and pledge improvement. Talk about the power of cultural language... to stop hansei means to stop learning altogether. This helps one to never become convinced of your own superiority so that you feel the openness to criticize others/systems/programs.

Analyzing is one of the main components of observation. Another comparison between the two is that observation creates self-worth in the one whom is observing because they are using the resources around them to view their world. They are not simply assuming nor asking someone else just to get a 'simple' answer, they are taking it upon themselves to observe what is the possible scenarios to analyze instead of assuming and criticizing. My dad use to always ask me if I assumed something wrong, "You know what happens when you assume?" I will not attempt to answer that question in the detail he would. However, I will say that flagrant assuming is asinine, but on the flip side there is power to assumption. In the world of observation I deduce the obvious to only a few relational options. How does the original attitude/act/scenario relate to the options? Then from there is where an act of common sense would be applied to our deduction, therefore not making a complete flagrant assumption, but instead a well-educated guess.

So how does this apply to how you observe a person/program/system? Maybe that boss isn't such an (insert explicative), maybe the program isn't the worst in the world, maybe the system isn't full of obvious flaws. Don't short-sight yourself for the sake of feeling mighty in criticism. You might want to read that previous line again. Criticism without corrective options is really inexcusable. So the boss/subordinate who has a bad attitude one day or never looks you in the eye, or whatever else "failure" he has in your eye, begin to see his/her strengths, focus on that. What would happen in your environment if you began to honor that person in their strength and then support them in their weakness. We tend to only see others weaknesses where we are strong. Take responsibility to the your own strength and be Aaron and Hur who held up Moses' arms as they were in battle. Just possibly you are gifted with strength exactly where your leaders is lacking in strength, just maybe that was not by accident, be responsible! Maybe he has unfair expectations, fine. Rise to those expectations and help him see the value in your reality instead of criticizing him and running your mouth to others to let them know how terrible of a leader he is. God knows he/she is in your life as your leader for a reason, what greater opportunity for you to learn and grow and develop your leadership skills. Don't ever take for granted the things that don't make sense, seem stupid or just meaningless!

Criticism without constructive corrective options is futile and unproductive!

...read more on "Analize Vs. Criticize"!

What's The Problem with Plan B?

When purchasing an item at a local store over the Christmas season a few months ago I was asked whether or not I wanted a gift receipt with my purchase. The thought struck me that if I included a gift receipt with my gift it would be like saying to the person- “I doubt you will really like this anyway, but here, take the credit and go get something you really want.” This is a type of 'plan B' approach to gift giving that also permeates the rest of our society as well.

Take for instance the instant replay - instead of instilling trust in the official on the football field, we’d better check the instant replay just in case.

Not that I think that things like gift receipts and instant replay are necessarily evil, but…
This 'plan B' mentality is also seen in areas of morality as well. “Sure we’d like our kids not to be having sex, but just in case, let’s make sure they’re prepared.” And marriages are doomed to failure before they even begin with plan B prenuptial. What if this doesn’t work out?

When I speak of a 'plan B' mentality, I am not really talking about wise planning - which is something we all ought to do. Rather, I am speaking of a mentality of settling for last resorts.

This subject is faith, and people of faith are not governed by “what if?”. They live life with an intense determination to pursue the will of God, and they let the pieces fall where they may.

They hold on to the promise found in 1 Cor. 1:9
“God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus, is faithful.” They also know the truth of Phil 1:6 that He who began a good work in us will see it through.

When God called me into ministry I dove in head first - and my responsibility is to trust God to work out the details. If this whole ministry gig doesn’t work out I’ll probably be homeless, because I’ve got no plan B, no contingency plan - and I don’t want one.

There are two problems that come to mind about having a plan B approach to life.

The first problem with plan B is that it is selfish (“me-centered”)

When we live with a last resort mentality, We have failed to understand that it isn’t always about us - take the gift idea as an example.

The gift really doesn’t reveal as much about the receiver as it does about the giver. A gift doesn’t therefore indicate the worthiness of the receiver to deserve the gift, but of the benevolence of the giver (This is especially important as we consider the greatest gift ever given - the fact that God gave His only Son Jesus Christ to die in my place doesn’t speak of the fact that I deserved the gift, but it speaks of the fact that God is gracious and kind)

'Plan B' mentality is always self-serving.

But ultimately, the problem with plan B is that it is faithless

John Maxwell once wrote “Every vision dies when the cost gets too high.” He’s right! Just because you and I have good intentions to pursue plan A - that is, the thing we know God wants us to do - doesn’t mean we will. Remember the 10 spies in Numbers 13 and 14? They saw first hand what God had in store for them (they had the vision), but the cost was simply too high - so the vision died. I love Joshua and Caleb's reaction, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are able to overcome it."

The Bible is filled with examples of 'plan A' people - Daniel was one. When the law said he couldn’t worship as he was accustomed to doing, he said - “I’ve got my orders and I’m sticking to them.”

Essentially, God’s character is the basis for a plan 'A' mentality.
Remember 1 Cor. 1:9? He who called us is faithful.

God established a new covenant with us - not a new commitment with us, but a new covenant. You see, commitments shift in their intensity. Sometimes we can be more committed or less committed depending on circumstances. But covenants never flex - you are never less covenanted or more covenanted - you are either in covenant or you’re not!

As we seek to display the faithful character of God in our lives, we become people of resolve, of integrity, of loyalty. 'Plan A' type of people.

Where do you find yourself; a 'plan A' or 'plan B' type of person? If 'B', what are you going to do to try to change your mindset to be a 'plan A' person?

...read more on "What's The Problem with Plan B?"!

You've Been Invited to a Pillow Fight?!?

The other day the idea came to my mind... from that this video spawned!

How many of you have Facebook and you get all those crazy invites? I spend more time deleting and ignoring them than any thing else. The thought came to my mind what would it look like if I got a "Pillow Fight" invite on FB then actually showed up at someones house to beat them up with my pillow. A quick text message later to a couple friends and this video was the result. These are some great interns and students.

This video was used for a discussion called, "What If Jesus Had Facebook?"



Cast:

Jared, Ryan, Heath and Jake

...read more on "You've Been Invited to a Pillow Fight?!?"!

I'm Only Liking It As A Friend

Why am I just likin' it when I should be lovin' it?

Us as leaders/pastors/business leaders all have a common goal, selling. We sell our belief system a.k.a. God, our leadership skills, a particular product. On a recent visit to an unnamed fast food restaurant I had a negative experience. First let me start off by saying I have worked many years in retail sells and direct sells. I say that to say my expectations have come by that which I am willing to give.

McDonald's, how much to expect? Maybe too much. Never sauce, no customer service. What should I expect? And for them to right their mistake I get nothing extra in return to want to come back.

Here's the full story, so I ordered my two McDoubles, Small Fry, and 4 Piece Nugget WITH Sweet 'N Sour sauce. I get home and realize that I do not have my sauce. In my frustration I also realize that this is the 3rd time from the same McDonald's that they have done this. I can remember the last time was the same guy. When we got their to order he stood there and looked at us and flat out ignored us, then after we made it very clear we were ready whether he was or not (didn't think he was too busy opening up a box of kids toys). By the time I got back to McDonald's my food was cold. The most the guy at the register could offer me was a couple packets of sauce. Not acceptable by me. I told him I needed new McNuggets since mine were now cold after the 15 minute trip home and back AND sauce. He then proceeded to ask his manager who told him to do it. He then gave me sauces... 5 to be exact for four nuggets, really? I could tell maybe a little sarcasm in that action. Needless to say I prolly won't go back there. The customer service, terrible.

Thoughts/Challenges: When you have a product to sell/service at your church/salvation/etc and a person is not satisfied what is your response? We must remember to always give 110%. Are we listening to people or only hearing part of what they are saying? In our world we need to show/preach/live out love and guarantee.

What would I do?

• Listen/Attention to Details - I would first have listened to the person to hear the small details. What exactly are they wanting. I would not make generalizations and assumptions. I take pleasure in that it is not my responsibility to assume what people want.
  
• Attitude - I would make eye contact. I would realize there is nothing else, short of an emergency, that would be more important than the customer at that moment. I would smile and be positive. I would be polite even if I had a bad day, it's not their fault how my day went.

What would I do if I made a mistake?

• Humility - I would take the higher road. Apologize and take ALL the blame, it is not any other person's fault. If it was another person's fault I would apologize anyways. Humility says, "It's always my fault."
  
• Costumer Satisfaction - I would do anything possible to make that person the happiest person in my mistake. In this simple little mistake I would have given a free drink, possibly upsized the fry or changed a 4 Piece to an 8 Piece and smiled letting them know. If possible I would have given them a coupon ensuring them a return visit.

So leaders/pastors/business leaders here is some thoughts to consider. My issue here is a generalization across the board. We simply do not listen all the time especially to the smaller details. Listen a little more. We also tend to have bad attitudes or maybe more simply complacency. Put a darn smile on and appreciate people and accept them and put aside your attitude for the moment. Walk in humility, own up to mistakes and don't make people feel bad for expecting to get what they want. Then simply satisfy peoples cravings. This doesn't mean bend over backward and let people walk over you but practice what you preach, under promise and over deliver!

Be intentional!

...read more on "I'm Only Liking It As A Friend"!

Shallow Waters Devotional 5

Shallow Waters Devotional from Shaun Mayfield on Vimeo.

Explore the bible as we look at Paul and his "thorn in the flesh". Could it be simpler than once presumed? Could it be pink eye as he references in Galatians, "See with what large letters I write." Maybe he was struggling with conjunctiva and couldn't see well, just a thought.

**So those of you who know, I actually had pinkeye a couple weeks ago but after this video was made audio would not upload due to technical difficulties, it is now working and my pink eye is gone!**

...read more on "Shallow Waters Devotional 5"!

They Have a Mac

This is a leadership lesson I put it together a couple years ago and used it in Peru when I spoke as the speaker for a Pastors Leadership conference to all the Youth Ministry leaders (don't worry I did not show the Mac commercial).

Don't worry about what someone else has, worry about what you got. Leadership is stewardship and you need to focus on that. If you are a leader then steward what you have.
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How to Stay Put for the Long Haul: Being happy fulfilled where God has planted you.

Ministry is not measured by your happiness, it is measured by looking back at your fulfillment. Every great leader has hit a moment where raising the white flag seems easier and better then staying. Almost every study on pastoral longevity has shown that ‘long-term’ pastorates are the most fulfilling and fruitful. There are great leadership qualities required for great leaders, such as vision (discovery and articulation), discipline, empowerment, and persistence. Of course true leadership senses two parallel dichotomies; vision, and the management (of that vision), again the discovery and articulation.

However it is not these attributes that keep you as a youth pastor/leader, full-time/part-time/volunteer at your post. It’s often the overlooked areas and the subtle leadership qualities that keep a team together. The average teenager will experience on average 4-5 youth pastors, the average for a YP is 9months. Following are five areas to focus on in staying for the long haul. Hopefully these help remedy some excuses that may come.

1. Build Personal Connections. [Doorway] This is your way into peoples personal lives. When you develop connections in a personal way you will enjoy where you are at. Jeanne Mayo said, “safety is in relationships, not in doctrine.” Doorways are not given, they are made and created. You must be intentional and care enough to get into people's lives and let them in yours.
   
2. Building Personal Vulnerabilities. [Windows] This is allowing others to see you, the real you. Pastors live in a glass house. When we live vulnerable people relate and see that we are genuine. No fakies!
3. Building Creative Adaptations. [Remodeling] Growing stale and comfortable is a wasted effort. Nothing is more annoying then bread that is dried out. Look at your surrounding, your environment and change it, remodel it. Spurgeon says, "When fatigue walks in faith walks out." Get out your tape measure and start making measurements and evaluate everything. Maybe just a remodel in your ministry might save you and help you stay for the long haul.
4. Building With Better Tools [Sharpening] Now that you have measured all that needs to change go and sharpen your tools. Abraham Lincoln said, "Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." Don't waste your efforts working to hard when a little more work upfront pays off in the end. Read a new book, a new blog. Listen to a new podcast, there are many AMAZING ones! Learn, grow and adapt.
   
5. Build Comfort Without Getting Comfortable [Redecorate] Get new furniture, or remodel, don’t move. Apply this to ministry (this doesn't mean a new sofa for your office), change the look, the feel. Begin a new campaign. Launch a movement. Start a Cause. Experiment in a new way. Start a new ministry. Roll out a new strategy. Launch an outreach. The only thing is to not be comfortable. The day you get comfortable in your ministry sofa is the day you stop affecting lives in your ministry. No spiritual couch potato pastors! However make your ministry a comfortable place for people, students, people, VISITORS, and make it an enjoyable experience not boring.
   

Let the words of Jeanne Mayo be a boost to you in ministry! "It is precisely where you are gifted where you are dangerous." She also had this to say about your position, "Your charisma may get you in the door, but your character will keep you in it."

But they have a Mac, they have lighting, they have a nice sound system and videos, people actually show up to their outreaches and service, it's no fair. Remember to be a steward where you are, it is not yours, it is God's. What the other churches/ministries has is of no issue to you to be jealous, chances are they are possible feeling the same feelings at a different level. If you have a vision and they have what you need in order to fulfill that vision then just hold on to that vision and God will make it happen in due time.

This post was published by a Mac... but our ministry needs a good speaker. That other church has a great speaker. *oops was that out loud*

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You Matter [a bunch]

It is scary of the amount of jobs that are being lost in the past 4 months. American job loss has accelerated at an alarming rate, especially at the end of 2008, and 2009 is keeping the trend strong. Pastor friends of mine has experienced this. I spoke to one pastor luckily enough, who's church administration chose a 5% reduction in pay for all staff instead of having to let go of great leaders. His comment to me was:

We couldn't think of trying to decide who is 'it' to let go. Ministry is what we do and our life is designed to love others. We couldn't even think to have to let someone go.

However there are a couple other churches in Arizona, megachurches, who are on their second and third job cuts. This takes a huge toll on the emotional and spiritual climate of a church.
Having the largest job loss at a level higher than that of the last six decades for America as a whole is a tough reality. There is an implosion in the job market and Lawrence Mishel, president of the Economic Policy Institute says,"We're seeing a complete unraveling of the labor market and are on track for getting beyond 10% unemployment."

This WILL affect the church. In multiple ways:

• Those needing help and the church being a help financially. [This definitely will be a larger topic in the near future for the church response to this issue]
• The church not being able to 'afford' to keep staff or able to keep paying staff as they are currently being payed.
• The churches ability to pour money into evangelistic efforts.
• The ability for children, students, and even adults in participating in events that costs money. [Blog to come to discuss how do we do ministry less expensive but still good]
• Families that have one or no parents that are working. They will need groceries and clothing for their families. How does the church respond?
  

Okay so here are some things to consider about your current situation and where you are at in life/position. Here are a couple thoughts on perspective:

• If you have a job, count your blessings. Make everyday worth it. Begin, if you're not already, to start working as if your job was dependent on your work ethic. Don't take any day for granted. Your church may feel the crunch even harder as congregants struggle to keep their jobs and pay their bills.
• If your church has cut your income don't revolt. Be thankful that you were considered worth keeping and that the whole team meant more to the church than any one individual. Find ways to bring in extra money, sell a kid or kidney (I think eBay frowns on selling people or body parts), sell the golf clubs, pick up side jobs.
• If you are one of the many that has lost your position due to the financial crisis in America keep your head up. Right now will be a tough season trying to find another ministry position. Here this next line well: Your job does not define your calling, and your calling does not define your job. Live out ministry where ever you are, in whatever location you are. Find fulfillment in living the moment real and not based on your 8 to 5.

Now for the message everyone reading this needs to hear for yourself but also to be your message to others. It is this.

What you do matters. It does! What you do matters a lot.

EVERYTHING you do matter; you matter! Make that your personal mantra and make that your pulpit/soapbox/social megaphone voice. Believe it for yourself and tell everyone you know. Each person that God has for you to meet by appointment is no accident. This is not based on whether you are on payroll at your church of choice or are searching Monster. Everyone you meet matters and everyone that meets you needs you to know that you matter. Walk in those shoes and begin to 'matter' to everyone you meet. You have significance that is more than people may recognize, possibly even more than you realize. Your job or lack of does not define your significance, or maybe it does.

Thoughts?

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The Generational Crisis

Check this out, nearly a third of younger employees would consider quitting their job if Facebook was banned in the workplace. The way many boomers respond to this is that they say they are a bunch of immature kids that need to grow up. But not forgetting the Millennials, they say, "Hey listen, if we are so immature then why are we the most educated generation in the history of mankind. The Millennial could be best described as adaptive, collaborative, updative, and integrated. Their ability to work together and dream a creative perspective of life is the driving force of the future!

Why else would Google, the largest most used search engine, be hit with a lawsuit about age discrimination? Google says that their company emphasizes "youth and energy." The strategy has led to a work force with an average age of under 30 and with less than 2 percent of employees over 40, according to the claim. Google employed just more than 1,600 people in 2003. 1600 new highers and only 2 percent are over 40. If you are not "Googling" Google to see what all they are doing then you need to start! As a leader/pastor/specialist this an interesting lesson learned.

So what is the problem? The disconnect! What is the disconnect? We have the most prolific generation we have ever seen. Watch the video below and see where we are headed but first read this:

Titus 2:1-8

1 Your job is to speak out on things that make for solid doctrine. 2 Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. 3 Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. 4 By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, 5 be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior. 6 Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives. 7 But mostly, show them all this by doing it yourself, incorruptible in your teaching, 8 your words solid and sane. Then anyone who is dead set against us, when he finds nothing weird or misguided, might eventually come around.

We have lost the generational bridge. The problem is that the bridge has crumpled from each side. Boomers don't see Millennials as focused, determined, respectful. All the while Millennials see Boomers as disassociated and unable to relate. They see all their issues as if they are the only humans to ever go through this problem.

So what does this all mean? Here is Ryan Adams attempt to address the larger issue:

• To the Boomers: seek to understand before you judge. Second guess your assumptions. Address the core issues, not the peripherals. Yes, some millennials are unproductive punks. Facebook may or may not have anything to do with it. Learn more about the tool first. And listen, really listen to a millennial when he tells you about it. Judge them by the output, not the methods.

• To the millennials: why so cocky? It makes enemies out of potential friends. We've got to learn to address other generations with a more respect and a less swagger. Use gentle persuasion techniques. Seek to inform, but only with humility. We do become punks when we become arrogant. You'll never influence a person by showing them how wrong they are. Be wise enough to recognize how wrong your ideas often turn out to be. That'll help keep you humble. (These are notes to myself...)

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secular & sacred (re)visited

This past Friday we had a concert [show] at our youth center. The venue is called eikonARTS, you can check out the fancy experiment here. I would love to show/explain the whole vision, yes it is huge, it will shape the culture of the East Valley community of where our church is for music, arts, drama, theater, etc. However after this past show, our first official launch as a venue (our first show was in-house for our own students as a soft launch) there were a couple life focusing moments that I want to share about. I had a previous post about [secular & sacred] that this post will very closely parallel no doubt. I made a remark in that post:

There is something magnificent about how we treat what is secular and what is sacred. It seems to me that growing up, those were not able to coexist, much like a radical Muslim and conservative Christian strolling through the park sipping ice tea together laughing at the most recent 'Fox Trot' Sunday comics. See, I was brought up to believe that once something or someone becomes sacred that any signs of the old, any signs of the secular must be doused with gasoline and torched.

Nate Ward put on a concert for us with 5 bands and to my amazement he had over 100 ticket sales. With all said and done, with band members, staff, sound guys, security we pushed close to about 150 for a local concert!

As I walked the parking lot after the show I realizing the couple hundred, no, about a thousand or more cigarette butts around that needed to be picked up. Picked up because it is trash and we need to be responsible but also because there would be, only 8 hours later, older people arriving for a event at our church and the sight of all the cigarette butts might be offensive. It then hit me the irony. The fact that we had 100+ kids out at our youth center for a concert that have probably never touched foot in a church and saw it as a comfortable place is worth it all. As I strolled with my water bottle serving as a a waste receptacle to place each butt I thought more. I thought about all the lives that were there that night so caught up with the music/lights/event that have not stopped to think about eternity. There was something about all the kids that have no hope yet enjoy life or maybe have a facade and hate their own existence, and for a moment, a brief moment in their life I/we have the opportunity to infiltrate it and in someway put hope in it.

I thought, but how, how might we do that? Well the night wasn't half over before we put our eikonLIVE cards on every car, I didn't pick up ONE SINGLE card off the ground, they were all taken, maybe someone will be back! Then I thought, but that isn't enough, see I just taught the morning before Evangelism for eSOM/Western Bible College and I had this itch that only a soul could quench, a soul that was lost and searching, one that was on a quest to find meaning to this life.

The night would not end without that happening. Jordan, the lead singer of The Constellation Branch who was headlining sure enough was on that quest, tonight our paths would cross. As we finished and I was talking to one of the band guys and I realized that there was a conversation about God and hope, I looked and I saw Jordan. We met earlier that night after they finished playing and I thanked him and asked him what he thought of our venue. He was ecstatic and loved it and thanked us for having them. I shook his hand, he shook mine and embraced it, I felt a connection, I felt something, there was a feeling that this guy is looking/searching.

That night would end after midnight as we would stand in a circle talking about hope and life and eternity and God's love, yes, his unconditional love! I was reminded by my daughter, only 18 months old. We play hide and seek, sometimes I hide from her and she can't see me. This is similar to God, many times we don't feel him and it may feel like he is nowhere around and we are lost, all alone. Me as a father, the moment I realize that Amberlyn is scared I jump out and get her and she laughs. Same is with God, many times we don't necessarily see/feel/experience him then when we really search he can be found.

What is sacred, our church building, our pretty church asphalt and planters with the secular influence of cigarette butts became beautiful to me that night. As I would pick up butts that prolly had germs on them and a pop can or two and get pop spilled on my hands and got dirty I couldn't help but be broken that lives had the opportunity to be in a safe environment, and be around a place that was so sacred.

Let us never sell out our understanding that we are what is sacred, our very lives is what the bible says is the salt and the light of the world. Not our buildings, planters, youth centers. Here is another thought from my previous post:

Take a walk through the gospels and see how many times Jesus was with the seculars. The interesting thing is both places he went... He was either at the sacred Holy temple chastising the "self-puffed, self-righteous sacred leaders" explaining to them that they have missed it and simply don't get it. They were great on theology but lousy on application. They knew how to live the bible intellectually but not missiologically. Or the other place Jesus was at was with the seculars, the lepers, the drunks, partyers, etc. hanging out, feeding, teaching, loving, and number one of all SERVING. I do believe secular and sacred can coexist, the main difference is that the secular does not try to convict but loves and serves!

That night we were missiologically blending the secular and sacred! We simply loved and served!

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Faith Makes Failure

To say that faith "is" or "makes" failure would be a sad ignorant definition but allow me to elaborate on faith becoming failure. A person must know faith makes things happen. Faith creates blocks. Those blocks then build structures. Our faith has the ability to create dreams, they have the ability to make masterpieces.

Many things in life that is powerful typically has the ability to be a power for good or to be a power to do harm/evil/ugliness. Faith is one of those things. I can have faith that a good person will make a good choice but I can also have faith that a bad person can make a bad choice. Most speak positively of faith and how it brings something out form within that one may have never have seen or felt inside. However we shouldn't fool ourselves to think that faith can't also be a destructive force.

For many, the problem is that faith for them has lowered their own expectation, or I should say their low expectations has changed their faith. Now they still have faith but their faith has a new target (maybe faith is similar to a habit, never destroyed only replaced). Maybe it is you, maybe your low expectations for yourself has begin to cause you to have faith that you will fail. The problem is that some of you have faith that you can't do anything so you fulfill your expectations. You typically live to your level of faith.

If I have faith in God I will live like their is a God (imagine that life lived out). You see my life will begin to change. If I live like I can overcome then I will be a champion. Whether you believe in God/bible or not, James in the bible talks about this, he says in chapter two, "do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it?" He is saying that faith is lived out, what you believe is then turned into action. My best definition for faith is, "belief in action."

Check this out, a few verses later it says, "You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove." Here is the dilemma, if you have faith that you will fail, faith that you cannot overcome, faith that you will fall short then it is highly probable you will fail. James is almost willing to wager, set up a little gamble that you cannot do one without the other. True faith will cause action in your belief system.

Be careful for what you believe you will fail at, it might come true...
| but even bigger |
be aware [beware] at the world that you can change if you believe that you are a world changer!
[Maybe the world needs to beware of you]

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My daughter

My beautiful daughter playing in the mall in Chandler, AZ.



sent via Moto Q9c

Mobile post sent by shaunMayfield using Utterli. Replies.

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Trends Facing Youth Ministry

There is a great post over at the Youth Specialties blog about the trends facing youth ministry. Youth leaders were asked to identify the top three trends they felt students and youth ministers were facing as it related to the future of youth ministry. Read it to get a better perspective of what I am writing. Here is my response to some of the questions and my insight to some of the issues affecting youth ministry. Let me know what you think.

These at least for me are not new but put me at ease that I am not the only leader dealing with these problems (tongue in cheek).

#1 square off has, I think, always been a battle, Competing for Time of a student is tough. I remember when I was a teen hearing my YP voice his frustration. OF course we can wrestle it till we are blue or learn to leverage it. I think there are ways to leverage the time we have and the time we don't. Help the student who is on the football team adopt his team as his personal mission field and help him identify himself as the pastor/shepherd to them instead of making him feel guilty over choosing football over a youth event/service. Allowing students their 'spot' to shine can help us with our 'need' of their time. We need to learn how to make the secular and the sacred mesh into harmony and not battle it, I admit it is very tough!

#3, Social Networking for me at home has been a win. In ministry/life learning to leverage what we cannot muscle has been the biggest advantage anyone has with something. Let us not be quick to call this a lack in any proportion, possibly we are seeing a new wave of culture moving across the horizon that many of us leaders are not a tune to. Learning to ride the wave can be your biggest advantage. Marty Burroughs, a District Youth Director for the state of Texas told me a story how a church of a 100 had a youth ministry of about 90, that is insane. Every kid that came in, they got their Facebook and Myspace and added them and their top 10 friends. Then when an event was to happen they would sent invites out to the students and their top 10. They were sending upwards of 5000 invites. I have responded to a post on twitter here, what a TOOL, I would pay for this if it weren't free (Twitter don't get any ideas). There are great ways to harness these tools.

twitter.com/shaunmayfield
twitter.com/eikonlive

#4, Economic Turndown is a killer, parents out of jobs is huge add-on to that one. There is not much to do but be more creative about our events and look and alternatives to costly events, sometimes those cheaper events can be more richer in the end.

#2 & 5 are tough, the Definition of Family and Sexual Confusion. These represent the cultural trend of a cultural agenda. Never before have we seen such an agenda at the forefront of America. The definition of family, at least here in AZ and in California and other states is in a battle to be redefined. This may not seem like a big deal but what it has attached to it's roots can hugely impact the church and pastors.

Secondly, identity issues and sexual confusion, I am so glad this hit the top 5. That sounds horrible of a statement, but I am glad because this will put more focus from a broader audience of YP's to effectively build curriculum and teaching lessons and sermons. For many years the 'church' at large has not been equipped to handle this and has almost feared the subject. We are dealing with it huge. What hurts the most is the agenda from MTV and Hollywood. The agenda is trying to make it a civil issue which then means that anyone who speaks out against it can be charged as a hate crime. It has become so rampant in the school system and what was once considered PDA between a girl and guy is now accepted as normal between two guys or two girls. This agenda has made it very curious for our teens to experiment. That experimentation mixed with just the sexualism of puberty has made so many students confused.

This will be probably one of the biggest topics of discussion amongst church leaders in the next decade, that is my prediction. I believe this is just the beginning of an issue that will hit the church so hard we BETTER begin now or even a year ago on developing strategies on winning this war and #1, helping students learn their identity roles. We need to be teaching masculinity to the men and what marriage is and why the definition should be preserved in our hearts of a 'Holy Matrimony' between one man and one woman. That is why I grouped these together. When the definition of marriage is attacked and the agenda of homosexualism as a trend widens, these two unite as one joint problem. Let us look to God to direct us on how to love and teach and allow the Holy Spirit to convict and change hearts.

Thoughts?

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