What I did this week January 22nd until January 31st

 

Sunday –

• On the way to airport learned of the death of Donna Rhodes, sister of one of my running buddies from High School. Tough loss. Car crash.
• Arrived in and had dinner with the i3 major domos Linda Stanley, Todd Rhoades at Maggianos.

 

Monday

• Gathered with our fantastic Leadership Network team at Bent Tree Fellowship to begin i3 prep.
• Spent the afternoon in a pre-meeting session with Scott Thumma, Warren Bird, other scholars and reps from 12 churches that participated in an every member survey program last year. Incredible findings. Will shake up the megachurch world for sure. To be released in the coming months. Not to be missed. I twittered on it as did @daveferguson, @jonferguson, @patmasek and @missyhannon.
• Yankees laughed at weather reports for Dallas.
• Did dinner with same group.

 

Tuesday

• Gathered with an early group put together by Greg Ligon and Chris Willard down at the Hilton to discuss ongoing innovations. You would know the name of all 20 pastors I think that were there, but I will let Greg and Chris share some of the learnings.
• Slipped out after introductions to go join team doing registration at i3.
• Helped set up multiple hundreds of chairs for the gym.
• Had some nervous moments as Mark Driscoll’s airline stuck him on tarmac for a while.
• I3 kicked off with a great session – Pete Briscoe, Tim Keller, Stacy Spencer, Craig Groeschel and Mark Driscoll.
• Running clock on screen unnerves many participants but I think it is the way to go.
• Several hundred hit the confab on our live site www.innovation3gathering.com/live
• See several hundred old friends.
• Sat in on breakout with Anne Jackson – www.flowerdust.com
• As ice storm hits we start making decisions on the fly about “late night” after parties but continue on with our evening sessions
• I introduce Lomenick and Arment to about a dozen people they need to meet for Catalyst in about 15 minutes.
• Bent Tree worship leaders did great all day. Fantastic with theme, selections, songs, worship leadership at its best.
• Fantasmic song to close the night featuring Bent Tree Missions photos and Camron Ware’s great visualworshipper tools. www.visualworshipper.com – Incredible. “Greater things are yet to come, greater things are still to be done in this city…”
• I walk over and tell Linda and Todd how proud I am of them.
• Rescued by participant from Omahawho is the only person in conference to have ice scraper.
• Takes an hour to drive back to hotel.
• Collapse.

 

Wednesday

• Up early to get to conference to get things started. Luckily, all is well.
• We push it morning open back 15 mins to allow for some of the traffic issues.
• Kickin session in the a.m.
• I have a front row seat during entire conference to help keep stage running on time.
• Robbie Seay band that day.
• Front row seat and other responsibilities prevent me from meeting and seeing the dozen of blogging and twittering friends that are doing a great job covering conference via the internet for those online. @tonymorganlive @cynthiaware
• John Atkinson runs the sound and tech stuff flawlessly for the live experience.
• We have a few issues on the online side of the conference but we were trying just to offer it to help out some friends.
• Robbie Seay band closing song “Rise, Rise, people of God rise and give yourself away.”
• We close the final session with a blessing on participants.
• As I exit the big room I have lots of folks to thank. And our team has packed up most of the things as we have to get on over to a big bash banquet celebrating 25 years of Leadership Network.
• We celebrate and honor Linda and Bob Buford for all their contributions as well.
• At my table, Chuck Fromm, head honcho or Worship Leader, my editor, Sheryl Fullerton of Jossey-Bass, Reggie and Cathy McNeal, Mark and Janet Sweeney, Mel Lawrenz of Elmbrook Church and me and my wife.
• I am disappointed that I didn’t get to see lots of old friends at banquet but that is part of the deal when you have 500 folks.
• , Banquet was great. Allen Levi (www.allenlevi.com) the most famous folksinger in Hamilton, Ga with music. More frivolity and speeches including tributes by Randy Pope of Perimeter Church, Dale Dawson of Bridge to Rawanda, Robert Lewis of our board.
• I have the job of recognizing former presidents Fred Smith of the Gathering, Mark Sweeney, and Brad Smith, now president of Bakke Graduate University. Also our current president, Tom

  Wilson

• Finally get to bed about 1 a.m. Long day. A blur.

 

Thursday

• Mostly at airport waiting for planes to catch up.
• Delayed but made pleasant by time with Sam Chand (www.samchand.com) and Allen and Dwayne, the musicians from last night.
• Pull into house around 5 and have dinner with girls.
• The Dog is excited to see me.
• Watch Earl.
• Collapse in pile of mush.

 

Friday

• Catch up on the blogs and twitters. Incredible response to our conference.
• Warmed by reading my friend Steven Hunters “25 thing” notes including:

“Of all the things I am involved with at church, my favorite is being a Greeter one Sunday a month. Each Sunday, I know I will meet at least one person who hasn't set foot inside a church in years, or thinks he/she is unworthy, or thinks all churches are snooty and full of hypocrites. And it is my responsibility to make that person feel welcome and accepted right from the start. I love that responsibility.

 

24) I always give money to panhandlers, if I have money on me. I know it's usually a scam. I don't care. It's not my money, anyway, it's a gift I'm the steward of.”

Steve is an old friend from High School

• Connect with a few of Steve’s friends and other old high school folks via Facebook.
• Call a few folks on our team.
• Record intro and outro for our February “Leadership Network Audio Advance” – our most popular podcast download, with Dr. Warren Bird. (www.leadnet.org/resources)
• Reflect on how many people commented on my dirty gray hair. I don’t color it to look this good, I really don’t.
• Saw myself do a walk through Hitchockian cameo in Rickwsmith.com’s first video from i3.
• Decide that since I was in several classes with Ken Wisenhunt at Ga. Tech, I must cheer for the Cardinals.

Comments

[Linda Stanley]

One small correction about i3 conference - GREG ATKINSON was master of audio/video tech during the Innovation 3 Conference. He did a fantastic job and is a really nice guy to boot!