What did you want to be...

I had the treat this past Wednesday morning to get an inside view of what takes place at a Buckhead Church staff meeting. Every time I have an opportunity to interact with any of the Buckhead staff, I am energized and affirmed--they truly are gifted and gracious leaders. They recognize the role of a leader is not to rule, but to empower. It was really an honor to be given the opportunity to come hang out with them for a few minutes this week.

My friend, Jenni Catron, was invited to be the guest speaker and the topic she spoke on was becoming "Confident in Your Calling."Jenni is an incredibly gifted leader. She serves as Executive Director for Cross Point Church in Nashville, TN under the dynamic leadership of Pete Wilson. (You can read a blog post about Pete and his book, "Plan B" here.) Jenni oversees and develops the staff and she also leads a ministry called "Cultivate Her" which is all about cultivating and developing female leaders. I. Love. This. Chick! I am still just getting to know her, and each time I have a chance to interact with her, I am challenged and encouraged in my own life and ministry.

Jenni Catron, Shelley Hendrix, Ashley Warren (Jenni's assistant) 

Jenni used one of my favorite passages of Scripture to open and end the topic:

Galatians 6:4-5 (The Message)

"Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life." 

In this passage, what words stand out to you the most? I suggest reading it again, allowing your eyes to 'highlight' key words. This one verse is just chock-full of great truth!!

Jenni asked us all, "When you were about 4 or 5 years old, what did you want to be when you were all grown up?" And she got us thinking about the difference between childhood fantasy, and God's true dreams/ callings on our lives. It's an interesting walk down Memory Lane to see how God has taken dreams of our childhood and used many different sources (i.e. our experiences, family systems, circumstances, culture, etc) to develop our relationship with Him and even the call He has placed on our lives.

When I was four, I wanted to be a mommy when I grew up. When I was 14, I wanted to be a lawyer who would one day go into politics and then become the President of the United States...that phase didn't last long. Then I thought about marketing, teaching, translating, etc. And, as I now see who I am (in Christ) and the work I have been given, it's really amazing to see how the God of the Universe has taken so many bits and pieces of my life's story and has woven them into who I am today and what I do. It's also pretty exciting to see a glimpse into what He has in store.

What about you? What did you want to 'be' and how close is that to what you're experiencing today? Do tell! :-)

I especially want to hear from the ladies... if you're in leadership, were your leadership gifts affirmed as you were growing up? If so, how? If not, how has that impacted you? 

"Plan B" by Pete Wilson

I recently became acquainted with Pete Wilson via Twitter and some mutual friends. Pete is the lead pastor of Cross Point Church in Nashville, TN. Soon after I became familiar with Pete and his wife, Brandi, along with some other great people involved in that ministry, I heard about Pete's first book, "Plan B" and was really interested in finding out more about this leader and what he believes and teaches.

As a Bible teacher myself, I find myself very protective of people. Maybe it's a mixture of being both a leader and a mom. ;-) I am careful who I personally endorse because I know there is so much teaching out there-- including a lot of teaching that claims to be biblical, but isn't. I've even been encouraged by some to adopt a certain "image" and teach others how to have-it-all. There's a belief out there, even among Christians, that in order to make impact, you must be have it all together, or at least "fake it until you make it." Problem is, I don't have it all, much less "all together," and despite what the advertiser's tell us, image isn't everything. If you have to fake it, you're not going to make it! The biggest problem with this kind of teaching is that it is fundamentally unbiblical.

So, when I found out about this new book, written by a leader of a large and growing community of faith, I wanted to get a copy to see for myself what he had to say about "What to do when God doesn't show up the way you thought He would." I've been through many, many of what Pete calls "Plan Bs"--times when God didn't show up the way I thought He would. Times when I tried to do everything I knew I was supposed to do, and the bad news came anyway. Most of those who read this blog know that I've been divorced, that I've experienced multiple losses in pregnancy, and that since God called me to ministry in 2004, my family and I have had one "Plan B" reality after another.

I was so grateful as I read through Pete's book that he never gives any kind of pat answer to any of the questions we all have struggled with. Pete, as a leader, gives permission to us to be honest, authentic, and real about what we're going through, and he doesn't pretend to have been given some higher enlightenment to share with us about how to get out of the struggle quickly --or to avoid future "Plan Bs." What he does do, he does well. He reminds us of God's good nature. He reminds us we can trust God even when we don't understand. He reminds us that we aren't alone--that not only does God never leave us, but that God has placed others around us who can say, "me, too."

Many times I tend to believe that no one struggles in quite the same way that I do. Perhaps this is one of the main things that encouraged me as I read this book because I am in a "Plan B" myself right now. God hasn't shown up in my life and in a certain situation in the way I thought He would. And while people tend to see me from a distance and might even be tempted to think I've got it all together--the truth is, I don't. And as I struggle with the temptation to throw in the towel and give up, I am so thankful for the reminders that this book offers.

I read another review of this book which said, "If Your Best Life Now, hasn't arrived. Or if it did but its stay was way too short, consider reading Plan B--not for Pete's sake, but for yours." I couldn't agree more!

I've included a few links to help you familiarize yourself with Pete, Cross Point Church, and Plan B, which I hope you'll find helpful. In addition, please watch Atlanta Live on WATV 57 on June 30 from 7-9 p.m. EDT or July 1 from 7-9 a.m. EDT to see my upcoming interview with Pete Wilson, author of Plan B. If you are not in the Atlanta area, please log on to watch live via online streaming at www.watc.tv

(And, just so you know, I wasn't asked to do this book review. I just believe in passing along info I find helpful and I hope it has been helpful to you.)