Getting Ready for Atlanta

I started reflecting back to last year's Catalyst Conference this morning and recalled a few 'aha' moments. Thought I'd write 'em down as a reminder for me and encouragement or challenge for you.

So here are 10 leadership lesson highlights from Catalyst 2009.

1. Sometimes the crowds thin (Rob Bell). When you preach the truth of the gospel, sometimes the crowds don't multiply...they thin.

2. There is a gap between our expectations and our experiences of the people around us. (Andy Stanley). What you choose to put in the gap...either "Believe the best" or "Assume the Worst" will make all the difference in your organization, church, or staff.

3. Integrity trumps Image (Chuck Swindoll). Everyone wants us to polish the image. Make the appearances more stylish, sexy or relevant. But at the end of the day, how you do what you do is more important than what you do when you do it.

4. Move that bus! (Louie Giglio). The people should see His glory on our faces. They don't even have to see God to know that he is awe-some. Because they see it on our faces.

5. Focused Intensity over Time multiplied by God gives us Momentum (Dave Ramsey). You want to see significant organizational, financial or life change? It won't happen just by wishing it to happen.

6. Arrogance is the cause of the financial meltdown in our economy and its the cause of many of our church's meltdowns as well. (Malcolm Gladwell) Don't be like John Lee Hooker!

7.God is doing exactly what he said he'd do! (Matt Chandler) Maybe we will see great victory, maybe we will be crushed, but the bottom line is that God is doing what he said he would do and we just need to be faithful to him.

8.Don't waste a minute of your time wondering who is for you or against you. (Andy Stanley) But instead, spend every moment living out who you are for.

9. Sometimes we get so good at conveying and teaching the message that we never internalize it. (Francis Chan) His Word IS enough. His cross IS complete. His grace IS sufficient!

10. High diving into a kiddie pool from really high distances can be done...even by old guys.

Captain Splash at Catalyst from Tommy Bowman on Vimeo.

Depending on wifi availability, I will try to keep blogging throughout the week. If not. Be back this weekend!