We’re talking about GOALS! Let’s make 2009 better than 2008!

If you want to be successful and intentionally make a difference, it helps to have goals.

The goal for January is to GET IN A GROUP!
A group of people who care about you, people with whom you can share your biggest struggles and successes. People who will encourage you in your goals and help you Get Things Done this year.

Goal 1: was to brainstorm a list of people that you could form this kind of group with, and call them.
Goal 2: Finalize your group and decide on when, where & how often to meet

GOAL 3: CLARIFY EXPECTATIONS

A few people getting together to help each other grow and accomplish goals is awesome. But it can quickly degenerate into buddies hanging out playing video games. You have to establish core values, stay focused and remind each other what you’re about.

Here are some core values we suggest:
+ Confidentiality = your group needs to be safe to share your junk. Of course, no talking about stuff outside the group!
+ Commitment = every member needs to be committed to come to every meeting and participate. Minimize missing meetings, maximize involvement.
+ Safety = in order to grow, you have to know each other. In order to know each other, it must be safe to share stuff. Decide at your first meeting that you will not judge each other or forsake each other. Decide that you can always share what’s in your heart, everything, and that you will still love each other and help each other, no matter what!
+ Honesty = to know each other, you have to be honest. Preferrably 100% honest. Part of the reason for this group is to give you a place to confess your sin and release all the junk that builds up inside. It will help you and them if you’re totally honest with your struggles and feelings. James 5:16 “confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed”
+ Sharing = this means sharing your victories, dreams and positive things. You can’t know each other if you don’t know the good and the bad, and you don’t know each other, you won’t trust each other. If you don’t trust each other, you can’t help each other.
+ Encouragement = by yourself, it’s easy to get discouraged and overwhelmed. It’s easy to fall to the lowest common denominator in your life and just survive. You can’t accomplish your goals and grow without having teammates encouraging you! This means: talking, listening, being positive, praying, etc.
+ Feedback = this is a tough one. You can’t grow if you never address the negative things holding you back. Another key purpose of the group is to discuss problem areas—areas where you’re messing up, doing something wrong. Your teammates need to help you see these areas, in love, and you need to listen to them, respectfully and consider what they say. Prov 13:18 “He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame,  but whoever heeds correction is honored.”
+ Purpose = In addition to being a safe place where you know all about and encourage each other, you should be pushing toward goals—things you want to accomplish this year, like: run more, eat better, read 20 books, write a book, start a company, love your spouse more. Without goals, you’ll probably end the year no further than before.

It’s important that you discuss these things your first meeting (doesn’t have to be these exact things, but decide them and discuss your first meeting). If you’re not clear what your group is about, you’ll devolve into a meaningless and valueless group—a waste of time. Therefore, we suggest you all agree on your core values and remind yourselves every week what they are, what you’re doing and why you’re meeting.

Set your group up for success!! Agree on what you’re doing and don’t forget!

This is your life. You are part of the body, uniquely gifted and fashioned to do specific stuff with other body members for the Kingdom! Don’t waste another year, get in a group and LET’S GO!

Do you have any other goals for this year?

Do you do microsites for your sermon series?

Here's a cool microsite we found for a sermon series - LIVE AMPED

It has some creative flash stuff, playfully illustrating the motivation for their sermon series.

What other creative microsites have you seen? for a sermon series?

Steve Fee is giving away the lyrics and chords to his new song, Glory to God.

Also, there's a brief video of Steve and Matt, taking a break from recording in the studio to share the acoustic version with you, and give you the chord charts and lyrics.

Go check it out!

Have you seen this? Starbucks is giving away a free coffee to everyone who pledges to serve 5 hours of community service!

It's awesome that Starbucks is using their influence to help the nation, and market their company virally. Lucky for them, regular coffee is dirt cheap - I don't even like it, but "I'M IN!"

I think what makes this campaign successful are some key factors:

1) Great, timely idea: people want to help others, or at least it's cool to help others right now. Also, it's the beginning of the year. We're thinking about doing better this year, and pledging 5 hours is an easy way to do something good.

2) Good Giveaway: Free coffee from Starbucks!? I usually pay $4 for this, yeah, if it's free, I'm interested. NOTE: it's only a "tall" and it's "brewed coffee" so it's not what you probably drink, and it only costs them like 10 cents, but when you here "FREE STARBUCKS" you think big value.

3) Great Brand: Starbucks has one of the strongest brands out there. Starbucks is really cool. Because they're so cool, people want to "hang-out" with their brand. (Just like with Mac). They have the influence to do something like this and get a lot of people to join.

4) Everyone's Doing it: A "movement" or event helps generate more followers. By using language like "Are You In?" and saying "What if we all did?" then putting the counter at the top showing me that everyone else is doing it. (not literally, but to the mind it seems that way).

5) SIMPLE: simple idea, which is huge. Also the interface is VERY SIMPLE. You type in your info, and click, "I'M IN" (which is a fun phrase in itself). The page doesn't even change. Simplicity is key, you must have a low barrier to entry.

6) Good Design: In keeping with the Starbucks brand, this site has good design. Good design is also helpful to get people interested and bought in - gives a professional, finished, quality look to the campaign.

Think about these things for your next big ask.
Way to go, Starbucks. Let's go, Church!