Here’s what I highlighted from Andy Stanley’s opening session at Catalyst

• “What man is a man that does not leave this world better” Kingdom of Heaven
• Every leaders leaves a mark
• You don’t know your mark until after you’ve left it
• Joshua 23:8-11 – Cling to God, Love God, Choose who you will serve
• It’s about leaving God’s mark, not yours
• “God takes full responsibility for the life wholly devoted to Him” – Charles Stanley
• It’s not who’s for you, but who you’re for
• Living to leave my mark is too small a thing to give my life to

I think these statements are all self explanatory. This opening session hit me really hard. I think leaders become decieved into thinking that it is about the marks that we leave… even good marks. But it truly is the mark that God leaves through our obedience.

I reflected on moving out to KC to plant Restore and how this would be great for me and my music but when I got here, I felt that God was asking me to shelf some of my marks because there were marks of His that He wanted me to leave.

Are there any marks that you are leaving that are good marks but your marks? What is the mark that God is asking you to leave in this season of life?

Have you ever looked ahead at your long term goals and wondered how you’ll get there? For much of what we set out to do in church, in business, and in life someone has done before us and their is a proven process in place. Other times we’re setting out to do something that hasn’t been perfected.

At Restore, part of our mission is to be a reproducing church and to do that we want to grow exponentially on a continual basis. So many questions are arising as we have embarked on this journey. Good questions. Important questions. I’m finding over and over that there isn’t a definite answer and I’m learning that OK.

So here’s is what I’d tell you if your long term goals involve roads yet to be traveled.

• Begin with the end in mind. Know where you need to get to and let that direct your next steps.
• Let it happen naturally. Don’t force your initial ideas. Let people’s response to your goals craft the process.
• Trust your leaders and contributors. Let those who are going to make it happen, formulate the equation. I know you’re smart and you can make anything good. Trust in your prior coaching of these people and let them make it great.

Are you starting something new? What are your thoughts?