Whether you are without Twitter, new to the game or an avid user, perhaps these thoughts will provide some perspective to the possibilities of what you can accomplish through the social media tool known as Twitter.  What Twitter is not: a replacement for face-to-face, real world engagement with others. It’s not an excuse for one way conversation or disengagement with others.  What Twitter is: a way to develop meaningful relationships, start conversations, and share your passions in life.  It is a way for you to expand your influence in a variety of ways.  As You Go Unto The World…Use Twitter!  Twitter is:

1. A way to model leadership. Most of the people you lead can’t follow you around every day. They can however, follow you on Twitter and hear your thoughts, experiences and interactions with others. Twitter is a powerful way to model leadership for others, use it!

2. A way to provide resources for personal or spiritual growth. Micro-blogging through Twitter allows for concise challenges or thoughts in 140 characters or less! It also allows one to easily link to other resources that you think others may find helpful. Social media is all about giving and contributing, and less about taking and needing. Keep this in mind as you provide thoughts or material that will help others.

3. A way to be vulnerable and open to the world. Vulnerability involves humility and can even help develop a realistic view of yourself. When you write about your mess ups, you remind yourself and the world that you are a real person, flaws and all! When you are vulnerable and realistic about your short-comings, you become more aware of them, and are much more likely to grow as a result.

4. A way to develop new relationships. I’ve personally developed dozens of meaningful relationships with Tweeps from all walks of life. Many have encouraged, taught and challenged me, some have been encouraged, taught and challenged by me. 

5. A way to build existing relationships.  Twitter allows us to stay in contact and keep up with friends and family.  While I may not care as much what they are having for lunch, I do love to know about what they are thinking and experiencing in life.  When we do meet in person, the conversation is usually much more informed and fun!

6. A way to show personal or spiritual progress. When you are stretched or challenged in an area, Twitter allows instant sharing with the world. One of the best ways to learn something is to immediately apply and share what you are learning with others. Share this progress with others and push them to grow and develop!

7. A way to connect and learn from the rest of the world. I follow people all over the world and dialogue daily with people from other countries and cultures. Twitter is a great way to get out of your little box and open yourself up to people and places you otherwise may never meet or see. Twitter allows you to be out there while still being here.

What are other good reasons to use Twitter?  Please share.

Here is a Twitter Guidebook for help getting started or furthering your influence on Twitter.  If you dig TheWayItCouldBe.com, subscribe by email at the top of the page. This week, we’ll be giving away 3 copies of The Christian Atheist, so be sure to go HERE to register and come back tomorrow for the first winner! 

This is a rewind post from the Fall, hope you enjoy:  What’s your addiction?  Mine is being a producer.  I thrive on getting it done, being the first one, leading the pack.  Go, go, go.  Get…it….done.  My little 2yo old takes after dad.  Go.  Go.  Go.  Crash!  She literally runs circles in her room before crashing sound asleep in her bed in a few seconds.  I think it’s just being two…  Dad is the same way though.  Ha….sad but true: most of the time it takes a sickness or neglecting someone close to me to learn to turn it off.  I’m actually speaking on focus and time management this week in Oklahoma City, because it is an area I’ve had to work on so much.  If you are a go-getter like me and have a difficult time slowing down, here are a few tips:

1. Set boundaries.  Turn it off: the phone, the computer, all of it.  Try not to take it home.  Your kids need you; your spouse or close friends need you.  They don’t need you and all your job responsibilities too.  They really just want you!
2. Set a calendar.  We can master professional calendars, but often neglect other more important things like our faith, family and friends.  Put your personal priorities on the calendar too!
3. Set priorities.  What is more important to you, success at work or at home?  The world or your family?  Think about it and don’t let the world set priorities for you.
4. Set accountability.  Who can hold you up to taking a break?  Get accountability and tell them about it.  Ask for specific follow up.  Example: ”Will you check in with me via text once a week and ask me how I’m doing?”
5. Set your heart right.  Who are you trying to impress?  Seriously.  If it’s me, I’m not impressed.  Someone who didn’t give you acceptance growing up?  Yourself? If your self worth is based on your ability to be a producer, you are in for major disappointment later in life.
6. Set a Sabbath.  We’ve been trying really hard to take a weekly day off.  Mine has been on Fridays (in case you’ve tried to holler at me on a Friday and realized I’m AWOL).   What an awesome time to realign your goals and priorities and get some rest. Check out- Get Busy Resting: 7 Reasons You Should Rest Today

Go to HERE to watch a message called How to Be an Addict; it will blow you away!  So how about you, what’s your addiction?  Have you overcome one?  How did you do it?

If you dig TheWayItCouldBe.com, subscribe by email above by clicking the envelope icon. 

If you dig TheWayItCouldBe.com, subscribe by email by clicking on the envelope icon above.  Don’t forget to register to WIN a free copy of The Christian Atheist HERE. 

This week is the release for Craig Groeschel’s new book The Christian Atheist.  What is a Christian Atheist?  Someone who believes in God, but lives as though he doesn’t exist.  The book is a bold challenge to live out the life Christ has called us to live.  I got my hands on a copy last week and can tell you that it is an incredible resource that will challenge and stretch you! 

Wanna win a free copy? Just tweet or retweet this post (if you are not on Twitter, just post the link on your FB wall) AND leave a comment below.  You can also drop this post onto your blog for bonus points, using this link:  http://ow.ly/1pDBq  Next week, I’ll pick a few random comments for 3 winners!

You may also want to check out: 25 Ways to Become a Christian Atheist, I’m Sure Not Craig Groeschel, But I Did Give His Message at LifeChurch.tv & When Church and Culture Collide.   Dig TheWayItCouldBe.com?  Subscribe to email updates by clicking the handy new envelope icon at the top of the page.

I’m a very normal person working with a very abnormal church. I’m nothing special, but happen to be a part of a special move of God.  I’m on staff with LifeChurch.tv, the second largest church in the country.  A lot of people ask me what it is like.  Here’s my attempt to give a little bit of an answer.  Fan of TheWayItCouldBe.com?  Subscribe by email by clicking on the snazzy new envelope icon at the top of the page.  What It’s Like Working With the 2nd Largest Church in America:

Intimate.  To me and many others, it feels intimate.  I’m sure it’s not this way for everyone, but it feels like this to me.  We have over 100 worship experiences weekly around the world.  However, in my city (Fort Worth, Texas), this means only a couple hundred people per experience.  That is pretty intimate!  I received a note last week saying, “I love how intimate it feels when I walk through the doors.  People are real and I walk away changed every week.” We are big and small at the same time, trying to get smaller, more intimate.

Mind blowing. I’m speechless every week at things I hear happening in my city and around the world: 3.6 million cell phone users of an online Bible, one million unique users at Church Online in 2009.  Mind blowing!  Here are some more crazy stats from last year, what is being done locally and globally : When Church and Culture Collide.

Imperfect. No church is perfect, has all the answers or has it all figured out, especially since humans are involved! LifeChurch.tv is no exception. We make mistakes all the time!  The difference is that we have a high culture of honest feedback with one another.  This is true for staff and volunteers.  Instead of dancing around issues, we simply talk about them. We’re trying to get better at this all the time. A culture of feedback and honesty.  Mess up, learn from it.  Improve the next time.  Sound like a novel idea? I think so!

Personal development. Personal and spiritual development is a high priority. My leadership cares way more about “me and my family as individuals” than they care about “what they can get out of us.”  There is a heart that sees me as “family” and extremely important as a person. This is what makes me want to work with LifeChurch.tv for a long, long time.

Crazy-fun culture. With the pressures and weight of ministry, you’ve got to learn to keep it light!  If a staff can’t have fun together,  they will all too often burn out!  Your mom jokes are fairly common. Our Senior Pastor played a prank a few weeks ago on a staff member and got the cops involved (on purpose).  Here is a video example of crazy-fun culture: When Dodge ball and Biblical Community Collide.

Intense. While I know I am valued as an individual, there is a high, high level of expectation to perform. We’ve been given so much to work with, so many resources and have such an incredible opportunity to impact culture around the globe. The expectation is to be a good steward of the opportunity.  It is a big calling and can be pretty dang intense! I love the intensity.

Humbling. What most churches charge for and make millions in revenue producing, our church gives away for free. Our leadership cares more about empowering churches around the world than adding to the bottom line. They trust that God will continue to provide ways for us to do what we do.  

Volunteer-driven. I believe we have the best volunteers in the world! Over the last 2 1/2 years, I have met some of the most passionate and gifted individuals ever, many completely sold out for what God is doing through the local church.  Here is a video of a few things volunteers have pulled off at our campus over the last 5 months at our campus.  Last week alone, our campus had over 150 individuals volunteering-  just to help put on the weekend and mid-week teen experience!

Hilarious. Every week, someone I don’t know on my staff calls or emails trying to help me, provide a resource or support. Chad, we’re launching our new database this week and I’m trying to help you reach more people by helping in the transition. Whah?? Amazing…and hilarious. Hilariously amazing.

Courageous. We are doing some things that I believe are pretty bold.  I got this note about our Church Online experiences:  Google Ads- This week we’re changing the Google Ad landing pages so that people searching for “adult entertainment” go directly to the Church Online experience, not landing pages. Others still go to landing pages. Thanks for your flexibility and understanding. Yes, this means people searching for porn go straight to our live Church Online experiences. Yes I said porn.

If you are on staff at LifeChurch.tv, what did I miss?  What is it like at other churches?  If you don’t attend a church, is this any different than what you’ve experienced with churches in the past?

You may also enjoy: I’m not Craig Groeschel, But I Did Give His Message at LifeChurch.tv; 24 Ways to Become a Christian Atheist; How Twitter Helped Save a 3rd Grade Girl;  Christians, Put On Your Big Girl Panties!

This is a rewind post with a few juicy details added.  One time, my wife and I were praying for opportunities to give to others.  Being comfortable in life had become too high a priority for us… We got a call from a pastor at our church mentioning that a refugee family was in town and needed a place to stay for a few days.  Hmm, prayer answered I guess.  Better judgment said that we shouldn’t have strangers in our home, but we felt led that we’d prayed for an opportunity and this was our chance to be obedient. 

I was building homes at the time and had built our new home with a guest bedroom.  An hour or so after our guests went to bed, we heard a crash in the next bedroom, along with screaming.  I jumped out of bed and ran into the living room, heart rate thumping and adrenalin flowing.  I told Macy to stay in our bedroom.   

What were we thinking?   There was an Ultimate Fighting Championship match in our guest bedroom…and not the kind on TV.  I did not order this one!  After listening to more crashing and more yelling for what seemed like forever, I finally opened up the door to their bedroom and ran in.  He, twice my size (freaking huge), had both hands around her neck and her face had lost color.  Someone was being strangled in our guest bedroom.  I yelled and pulled him off and walked him into our living room.  She followed shortly thereafter.  I prayed quietly, asking God what to do.  I didn’t learn very much in seminary, but I suddenly remembered a mediation technique.  I’d always wondered if it really worked….time to find out!

We talked and got issues out on the table.  She thought he’d been cheating.  He felt disrespected and unloved.  Respect was given.  Mends were made and we ended our time and they held each other and showed a long lost affection that honestly made me a little uncomfortable.  Really uncomfortable actually.  I slept that night, but with one eye open.  I’m not sure if Macy slept at all.  The next day we helped our new friend find a place to stay and some friends helped them get started with some basic stuff. A year later, they were on their own and being mentored by a family at our church.  There lives were completely changed.

So, was this an ignorant thing to do: Invite strangers in our home for the night and put our family’s safety at risk?  This time I don’t think so; I think we both agreed on it and both felt like if God had opened up the door that he would protect us and he did.  A relationship came completely undone in our home, but was put back together with a little help.  We drew healthy boundaries with our new friends and helped them be independent as fast as we could.  

A lot of us think being comfortable is some sort of right.  I do all the time!  I’m not so sure it is.  I’m more willing to believe that if we become uncomfortable, we will put ourselves in a place for God to move on our behalf, to change a life forever.  When we step out in faith, he will provide and use us.  He will use us if we are willing to become uncomfortable.  He will do the same and perhaps has done the same with you.  He knows more, sees more, understands more and can do more than we ever could on our own.   

What can you do today to make yourself a little uncomfortable (It doesn’t have to be opening up your home; that’s not always the best thing to do)?  What can you do to step out in faith to help someone?  How can you use what has been given to you to help someone else?   Can you recall a time where you stepped out in faith and things worked out?

Do you dig TheWayItCouldBe.com?  “Subscribe by Email” by clicking on the handy new envelope at the top of the page.  Thanks for reading!

You may also like: 88 Reasons We’ve Lived 8 Places in 8 Years, How Twitter Helped Save a 3rd Grade Girl, First on the Scene at a Bad Wreck, 10 Ways You Can Fight Domestic Poverty, 50 Ways to Blow it As a Husband or Father

Three years ago, my wife was pregnant with our first child.  I thought it was a boy and thought a lot about baseball, fishing and talking about guy stuff some day.  Nope. We found out we were having a girl.  I was so excited! I couldn’t stop smiling all day! It’s not that I didn’t want another lady in the family, I had just never thought about what it would be like to have a little girl.  I never thought about what it would be like to have princess dresses all over the house and pink everything.  Seriously, everything. Now I know.

Fast forward three years to today and here we are in the same spot.  I thought about how we could let everyone know.  Here’s the most creative thing I came up with on a really busy day:

There you go, coming this July! Questions? Comments?

You may also dig: 70 Ways to Save Your Marriage Before It’s Too Late, 50 Ways to Blow As a Husband or Father, 88 Reasons We’ve Lived 8 Places in 8 Years, Meet My New Family & 25 Ways to Become a Christian Atheist

If God wanted to speak to you today, would you listen?  Your choice!  Below are some thoughts.  You may also enjoy reading: 20 Tweetable Quotes for Followers of Christ or Anyone Who Wants to Influence Others, 25 Ways to Become a Christian Atheist, Lone Ranger Christianity, God Can’t Hear Us & Spend Some Time Alone

Here are 57 Things God Could Be Trying to Say Today: Which One is For You?

If you let me, I will use you to change the world.
Start believing me.
You are created for this moment, this day.
You are created for a reason.
You are unique, there has never been anyone like you. Ever.
Let me love the world through you.
Let me love you.
Let me love you for who you are.
Let me into your life.
All the little moments, the little things.
Like when you wake up and think.
Like when you dream about things.
Let me into those moments.
Let me into the little conversations.
Allow me to exist in your home.
Please let the past be in the past.
Yesterday is no place to live today.
Be generous with your time today.
Be generous with your gifts today.
Be still and know.
Know that I am God.
I could use you to change generations.
I want to use you to change nations.
I believe you are capable to do what I’ve called you to do.
Only because of your relationship with me.
Your humility means more to me than your gifts.
Your brokenness is what I truly want.
I desire you.
I am waiting for you.
I want to give you hope for today.
I want to give you hope for tomorrow.
I want to give you this hope.
Everyone in your life is there for a purpose.
You are my joy, my prize.
You are unique, be unique.
Your character is more important to me than anything.
Let me use your gifts.
Let me use you and see what I will do.
See who I will help.
See who I will encourage.
See me.
See the joy that is waiting for you.
Joy that doesn’t come from things or performance.
That doesn’t come from your perfections.
Joy that comes from your Creator.
Real joy.
What do you want from me?
What can I help you with?
What do you want?
Ask me.
Just seek me and I’ll reveal myself to you.
Seek me with all your heart.
The thing you’ve been trying to understand…
I’ll give you true understanding.
Understanding that comes from trusting in me.
I am jealous for you.
Crying out for your attention.

One of the best ways to grow personally or spiritually is to find truths that speak to you and memorize them: Scriptures, thoughts derived from Scriptures, quotes, etc.  Commit one truth to memory and over time, you will begin to “own” it.  I’ve even written down thoughts on cards, mirrors & even on my iPhone.

Could He Be Trying to Speak to You? Will You listen? Which one of these is for you?

So my wife and I were the first ones on the scene at a pretty bad accident.  Here’s the vid: 

Here are a few things we can learn, a few questions for you:

Who may be in your life for a reason? Everyday you cross paths with gas station clerks, waiters, co-workers and others. You have an opportunity and a decision.  What if they are in your life for a significant reason?  What can you do to reach out and help? Here are 49 Practical Ways to Make Someone’s Day

Are you trying to save everyone? You don’t have to save everyone in life! Often people just need help finding the right resources.  You can be a connector, connecting them to the right people and resources.

Do you have eyes to see?  Just because you have two eye balls in your head, does mean you can truly see!  Ask God to open up your eyes to see what He would have you see in life.  This could be different than what you are used to! If you truly ask, and I mean ask, he will give you the ability to see things you may have never seen before. Ask, ask, ask. You may like: God Can’t Hear Us.

What have you done with what you’ve been given? Maybe you’ve been given opportunities in your life, but you haven’t really done anything with the opportunities.  Why should you be given more? Seriously.  Be faithful with the small things.  Perhaps this will open up a door with the bigger things. Check out: Leadership Ain’t a Title! How to Gain Influence Where You Are Now.

What is your family all about? What do you hold as important?  I doubt my daughter will remember us stopping in the video above, but I want her to know that our family is about serving others, not just about our own priorities and agenda. What actions does your family see in your life?  Actions speak louder than words! What is your life about? Check out: The Player Piano & Leadership: Wrting Your Own Song In Life

Do you have margin in your life? What is margin? Margin is space or time.  Do you have extra time for others or is your calendar so booked with activities and events that you simply don’t have time for opportunities when they arise?  Think about it. Take a moment and look at your life.  Is there something good you need to give up for something better?  Here are 10 Crucial Questions to Ask Yourself in 2010.

What other thoughts did you have when you saw the video above?  What other lessons can we learn?

You may also dig: Becoming Uncomfortable, Meet My New Family & Don’t Be a Sell Out to Culture- Be a Culture Shaper!

Here is what happens when dodgeball and Biblical community collide (more on Biblical community here). This is proof that following Christ and leading others to impact culture is anything short of boring.  The video is pretty rough, but hey I was in the middle of the Dodgeball Party Zone! I was a little late to the game and walked right into the line of fire.  This is a group of 25 or so LifeChurch.tv pastors from around the country after a long day of leadership training:

Here is Church Online Pastor Daniel Demoss accepting his award for his ridiculously scandalous outfit. From age 23 to age 45 or so, this normal group of guys from around the country gathered together to learn more about what it means to impact communities in a not-so-normal way. Worship pastor Joe Dingwall, from Albany, NY, talks about having our perspective changed by God & joining in with creation to worship God with our lives (you may have to up your volume a bit).

Here is a little bit more actual worship.  Check back soon to hear what we actually spent our time doing besides dodgeball and worship. You may also dig: I’m Sure Not Craig Groeschel, But I Did Give His Message at LifeChurch.tv,  When Church and Culture Collide, Church is For Sissies & 25 Ways to Become a Christian Atheist.