We had an awesome staff meeting today.
Yep, staff meeting on Memorial Day.
Go ahead and say it.
“Furtick’s a freakin’ slave driver.”
Actually, it was Chunks’ decision. So he’s the jerk, not me.
And we’re comping some time at the end of the week instead.

Honestly, it’s just that I was gone all last week and couldn’t wait to see everyone. I’m serious. I really miss my staff when I’m away, and I like coming to work, and couldn’t wait to dive into some things.
Plus, I hear Larry B. is grilling burgers for our interns who start work today, and that should usher in the holiday spirit in fine style.
Chunks isn’t going to let me eat any buns. He says it’s time for me to get back on our modified Body-For-Life diet. He’s right. I ate like a man with a death wish at the beach last week.

Our staff is pretty remarkable. I see them growing so much from week to week, and it’s scary to think about how dangerous they’re going to be a year or two from now, or when we all start growing some grey hair in a decade or so.

This staff has baptized 426 people in the last 3 weeks, and they’re still hungry for more… ready to pick the next fight… and take the next mountain.
That’s pretty cool.

I led a quick discussion from our Good to Great reading in staff meeting today, and posed Jim Collins’ question:
“What do we have the ability to be the best in the world at?”

As I sat back and listened to our team answer that question (with some pretty audacious answers!), I realized that I might not be totally clear about what we can be the best in the world at, but I am certain that I have the best people in the world doing it with me.

For example, the growth I’ve seen in Chunks, our Executive Pastor, in the last 3 months even has been an amazing metamorphosis. He’s improved in every possible way. Communication ability, fashion sense, faith, decision making processes, professionalism, confrontation… he’s just blowing up as a leader and a man of God before my very eyes. He’s proving to be a highly competent Joshua who handles almost every battle so I can stay on the mountain.
It’s even more amazing to realize that he was a physical therapist a year ago with no ministry or business training.
In fact, when he started as our Administrative Pastor he didn’t even know how to use Microsoft Excel.
Our first financial report was recorded in a spiral notebook.
You’ve come a long way man.
I’m proud of you.

Elevation, I did something I haven’t done in the entire life of our church yesterday-I visited another church on a Sunday morning!
I told Perry I felt like I was doing something wrong by being at another church on a Sunday… like I was at a strip club or something.

It was really good to be with my NewSpring friends and spend some time with Perry, who is quickly becoming one of my best friends. You guys have got to take those Skittles out of the green room.

Getting away from Elevation for a morning did 2 things for me:
1. Allowed our staff to run the show without me (things probably run even more smoothly when I’m gone).
2. Got me super pumped about preaching this week. I should be on fire. Especially since I’m preaching about worship… a favorite topic I haven’t talked about enough in the past.

Thanks J.D. for bringing it yesterday. You’re an excellent preacher and a good friend. We are going to change this state together. Bet.