Get Others On the Hook to Read a Book

Apr 22 2012

Get Others On the Hook to Read a Book

Here is a post from my personal blog that may help you if you are leading a book study group! This entry was written in conjunction with 20 Top-Notch Relationship Resources: a solid list of books, messages and other resources to help anyone wanting to develop healthy relationships. Always remember this when reading or listening to anything: knowledge without action can be dangerous and destructive. Plenty of well-intended grown men and women have spent a lifetime “learning,” yet never put into practice what they are learning. The intellect easily becomes a god and can lead one down a path of disappointment. This is the difference between a first-year med student (head knowledge) and a resident physician (actually putting into practice what they are learning). If I had to have surgery, I’d pick the resident over the student if I had to choose between the two! The below principles may be used in a variety of different settings:

Getting the most out of your reading, a few options:
Read the book on your own and take actions steps to grow as you read
Read the book with your spouse and take steps to grow as you read
Read the book with a friend and discuss how you are growing as a result
Form a discussion group with friends and discuss how you are growing as a result
Blog about it and share with others what you are learning and practicing

Four questions you can ask in a group setting as you go through the book with others:
What ideas in this section did you resonate with the most?
What concepts in this section were the most challenging for you?
What was your favorite quote from this section?
What will you do this week as a result of this section?

These are four easy questions that you can bring to each book study session! Ask the people in your group to come with thoughts on each of the four questions. This will encourage them to read the section and really think about what it means for their life as they apply what they are learning.

Ways you can discuss the book or message:
In person at home or over coffee (you don’t need a link for this one).
Tokbox. You’ll need and internet connection and a camera
FreeConferenceCall.com. Free and easy to use.
Set up a Facebook group.
Do an online chat via Babelwith.me- a free chat tool from LifeChurch.tv that will translate 45 different languages.

Finding others to go through the book
Ask them in person
Send a text or email
Put a twitter invite out to see who may be interested
Put a FB message out
As you talk with friends, ask if they would be interested
Pick the book, the people, the time and the place you will discuss it. Now go!

Tips for learning success
Be patient. It may take awhile to get your first taker!
Be intentional. Don’t just pick something. Identify where you would like to grow and find a resource that will help you in that area.
Be selfless. Who else can you help in your quest to learn?
Be creative. Think outside the box and do something different.
Be action-oriented. Don’t just read. Truly learn and change.

What other thoughts or tips do you have in regards to reading, learning and mobilizing others to grow? Need tips on what books to check out? Here is a great collective list of popular books of 2009 from my friend Scott Williams.

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Jan 02 2012

8 Things I Learned About Twitter, FB & Blogging Over Coffee With a BIG Blogger

By Chad and has 1 comment.

Big This was a popular post from earlier in the year…. ScottWilliams has been blogging for a few years now at BigIsTheNewSmall.com and influences thousands of people daily through social media, taking full advantage of the Power of the Social Media Tongue. He reached out to me personally last week over coffee in Oklahoma City. We both work with LifeChurch.tv in different cities and have a lot in common, especially a love for swankified coffee joints like @vintagecoffeeok.

After hanging out, here is what Scott posted on Twitter that day: Had a great time over coffee w/ @chadmissildine, he’s a sharp leader, great thinker, & has a passion 4 reaching people 4 Jesus. Follow him! Wow, nice. I recently had the opportunity to write on leadership as a guest blogger at BigIsTheNewSmall: Want To Lead? Prove It! Check it out if you are looking for leaders in your organization or seeking a higher level of leadership for yourself.

Here are 8 things I learned about Twitter, FB & Blogging Over Coffee With a BIG Blogger:

1. It’s all about relationships. Just by spending time with me, Scott showed us that relationships are vital in Social Media (hence the “social” in social media). We talked about life, diversity in the church, culture, family and social media. He asked questions about the LifeChurch.tv Fort Worth campus and showed a true interest in me as an individual. You don’t have to take people to coffee, but you can do simple things to engage with others online!

2. Let writing fit into the flow of life. Scott talked about allowing social media to fit within the currents of life. Allow people in on the big things and little things. When you have a thought and a moment to share it, share it. Be careful with the time that you spend. Allow writing to fit into the flow of life baby!

3. Titles are important. When posting links to blogs on FB or Twitter, titles are SO important. A great post is nothing with a boring title. This post could have been titled, “Being a better blogger” but that wouldn’t be very compelling now would it? In the ad world, headlines contribute to approximatley 90% of an ad’s effectiveness. The same is true for social media. Titles are huge.

4. Find your Rhythmn. Linking to posts throughout the day is good, but don’t wear people out. Scott likes to post one link to his blog early in the mornings when people are up browsing, another around lunch time, one around dinner and another before bed. Check out Twitterblogology and the Twitter Effect on Blogging for great Twitter Tips.

5. Manage your time: jot notes when you have a creative thought. Finding a place to capture creative ideas when they arise will allow you to build a “bank” of topics to develop. When you do finally sit down to post, you’ll have a wealth of info to dig through. I use Dragon Dictation, which allows me to speak thoughts and ideas in my iPhone and send them to myself. I also like to use the simple note pad on my iPhone (when I’m not driving)!

6. Develop Consistency. One analogy Scott used: If a newspaper company decided to deliver its papers whenever it felt like it (one on Mondays, another on Fridays, etc.), they probably wouldn’t develop consistent readers. Blogging is the same way. The degree to which one is consistent will determine how much one is consistently read.

7. Community Involvement is huge (much like Scott’s hair). I think the mayor in OKC had Scott’s cell number. The week we hung out, he was up at the Oklahoma State Capitol helping out the Senate. Scott also talked about trying to be more involved in local Tweetups and gatherings in the future. It was a reminder to me to always give back to the local community, and to build relationships with leaders in the community.

8. Be yourself. Don’t try to be someone else. You will dig: The Lost Art of Authenticity, Even on Twitter & Facebook. Don’t try too hard, just be who you were created to be and help other people as much as you can.

What other big social media lessons have you learned from bloggers like Scott Williams? What are your favorite social media blogs? We would love to hear! To hear more on social media and social good, subscribe for email updates HERE.

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Dec 26 2011

40 Ways to Worship God When You’re NOT at Church

By Chad and has 10 comments.

Re-post: Certain people think some things are spiritual while other things are secular. I tend to think that God created everything, and that real worship transcends the church experience on the weekend and leaks out into every part of a person’s life. It’s not that corporate worship isn’t extremely important (see Lone Ranger Christianity); it is vital in the life of the church! It just doesn’t stop there.

These aren’t ways to earn God’s love, be a better Christian or anything like that. Impossible. Instead, true worship comes out of a heart that has been transformed and filled by Him and what has been done for you. Real worship can’t help but express true gratitude through the everyday life.

Here are 40 Ways to Worship God When You’re NOT at church:

1. Listen to Willie Nelson, I think God likes Willie Nelson.
2. Worship Him while brushing your teeth.
3. Thank him for clean, running water.
4. Worship him while shaving. Don’t lose focus, you may cut yourself!
5. Thank him long beards aren’t still in.
6. Watch the sunset and compliment Him for it.
7. Be honest in your business dealings.
8. Respect your spouse, He loves this.
9. Write a friend a note, thanking God for them.
10. Thank him when you are belittled or mistreated, he can relate.
11. Sit still and be silent.
12. Respect people who are different than you.
13. Do nothing for a whole day.
14. Do something for someone else for a whole day.
15. Grow a mustache and thank God for enough confidence to walk around with that thing on your face. Here is mine.
16. Go in your closet and round up your favorite clothes and give them away.
17. Read the news and prayer for those in need.
18. Read the news and do something about those in need.
19. Feed someone who is poor, this is real worship.
20. Do the best you can at whatever you are doing today.
21. Honor God in your thought life.
22. Stop worrying! Don’t worry about things you don’t have control over.
23. Stop being lazy! Do something about what you have control over.
24. Sing in your car at the top of you lungs.
25. Love your neighbor, then pray for them.
26. Love your enemies, then serve them.
27. Share an encouraging word with someone.
28. Paint a painting, this is worship.
29. Write a song and share it with someone else.
30. Do what you love and know that this can be worship.
31. Watch nature; it is worshipping its Creator by doing what it is designed to do.
32. Don’t judge people, love them instead.
33. Mow your neighbors yard for them.
34. Read Youversion.com today for 5 minutes.
35. Clean your house and talk to him while you do it.
36. Listen, don’t talk.
37. Write about ways to worship God when you are NOT at church.
38. Love your kids; you can raise spiritual champions that change the world!
39. Eat meat and thank God for it or decide not to eat meat and thank God for it.
40. Invite someone to church for Easter, you never know the impact you can make.

What are other creative ways to worship God? Please feel free to add to the list!!

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Dec 09 2011

Christmas Caption Please?

By Chad and has 2 comments.

This Family Christmas Picture below needs your caption!

Here is a little bit about my family… 88 Reasons We’ve Lived 8 Places in 8 Years, Welcome to the Missildine Home, Meet Molly Missildine, All I Want For Christmas

Ok, lets hear some captions!

TheWayItCouldBe.com? This is a site promoting cultural impact through personal and spiritual transformation. Post topics include family, faith, social media and leadership. Feel free to browse around by category. If you dig the site, you can subscribe for free email updates by simply entering your email address in the sidebar out to the right.

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Nov 18 2011

Um, Caption Please?

By Chad and has 3 comments.

Welcome to TheWayItCouldBe.com, a site promoting cultural impact through personal and spiritual transformation. Post topics include family, faith, culture, social media and leadership. Feel free to browse around by category. If you dig the site, you can subscribe for free email updates by simply entering your email address in the sidebar out to the right. Thanks for visiting – Chad

Um, this picture needs your caption. This was my costume for the 2011 Big Show at LifeChurch.tv FTW. I actually wore this in front of all the LC.tv Fort Worth volunteers. Ready, set, captions away!

Don’t just me. Ha. Ha.

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Nov 16 2011

You Have ONE Shot.

By Chad and has no comments yet.

One shot. You have ONE Shot to win them over. You have ONE shot with new customers in your business, guests in your church or or potential clients that you may be able to serve. ONE shot. If you are lucky or they are forgiving, maybe you have another one. Judgement comes quickly in a world with so much competition. In the church world, some will argue that a guest decides in the first 7 SECONDS out of their car whether or not they will return to that church. ONE shot.

I know our readers would love to hear your take on the importance of first impressions and excellence in the marketplace or even in the church world. Should these things be a big deal? Why or why not?

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Nov 01 2011

A Sketch of Your Priorities

By Chad and has 2 comments.

Here is a sketch I drew up about managing priorities. It may help you as you think through what is most important, but least urgent or better yet least important, but most urgent. What do you need to let go of? What do you need to elevate to a top priority? What is taking your time that shouldn’t be taking your time. To what areas do you need to focus your best energy, time and attention?

Ok, love to hear your feedback. What do you think? What keeps us from doing what we have drawn up here?

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Oct 30 2011

Caption Please??

By Chad and has 4 comments.

You’ll probably want to wear this to your church Fall Festival (code name for Halloween Party)

Thoughts or captions? Let’s hear em!

New to TheWayItCouldBe.com? This is a site promoting cultural impact through personal and spiritual transformation. Post topics include creativity, family, faith, culture, social media and leadership. Feel free to browse around by category. If you dig the site, you can subscribe for free email updates by simply entering your email address in the sidebar out to the right.

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