mike goldsworthy

[warning...kind of gross picture below...don't say I didn't warn you]

Yesterday, I was helping – actually helping might be too strong of a word since I hadn’t even really done anything yet – but, I was helping to move some concrete pieces into a dumpster at one of our Elder’s houses.

As I took my first full wheelbarrow up the ramp into the dumpster, I failed to notice that there was a large metal bar running the length of the dumpster, which just happened to be the height of my forehead. Part of why I failed to notice it is that I was concentrating on gaining enough speed to get up the ramp and was therefore running with the wheelbarrow straight towards it. After it knocked me and all the concrete that I was carrying over, I got up and did the manly thing…pretended like it was no big deal.

Until I looked at my shin and saw a gash that ran almost to my bone.

So, yesterday, for the first time in my almost 32 years, I got my first set of stitches.

What’s your best story of getting stitches?

A few random things this monday morning…

• We’re taking off this week to spend a few days in Yosemite. I’ve never actually stayed in the park, I’ve only driven through it. We were stoked to find a couple of available nights really late in the reservation game.
• I love that there’s some interest in doing the Leadership Learning Community. I’ll connect with those of you who signed up next week. If you’re still interested, you can still let me know. We’ll try to solidify dates and the group within the next few weeks
• We’ve got some really exciting things happening in the Fall that I can’t quite talk about yet, but it’s pretty much consuming my life right now
• I’m excited to get to spend the day with our high schoolers at CIY on Friday. Definitely one of the things I miss the most about youth ministry is getting to do trips like that
• If you’re a church leader and need help with finances – whether it’s raising money or just day to day operations, connect with Casey Graham. He’s been really helpful with me and our team lately
• Even if you don’t connect with Casey…this seminar is definitely worth a listen. Really helpful, practical tips for church leaders.

Tonight, I recorded Allison reading books before bed to the kids. It’s something we do every night, and so it’s always seemed like something pointless for me to record – it’s ordinary.

Most of what we usually get video of is the big stuff – the kids first steps, something funny they did, a memorable moment or experience. We get the camera out for the things that are out of the ordinary.

But tonight as Allison was reading to the kids, I thought, I want to remember this…the ordinary.

Too often I miss the beauty and the significance of the everyday and the ordinary because I’m too busy looking and waiting for the things that are out of the ordinary.

I had an abnormally crazy week this week, which was capped off with a crazy weekend. On Sunday, after about 11 hours of being out of the house, I got this voicemail from Isaac.

IsaacVoicemail

Every once in a while you’ve got to have days or weeks like this. But it was a good reminder that every time you say yes to something, you’re saying no to something else.

I was talking with someone today who asked me a question that I’ve rarely been asked. We were talking about books, and I told him that I have a goal of reading 50 books each year. For me it’s a bit of a stretch to read that many, but I know plenty of people who read twice as much as that, but I guess it is still a significant number of books.

He asked me with ministry and family and whatever else, what I do to be able to read that many books in a year.

I’m totally convinced that good leaders read regularly. So, in order to help myself become a better leader, I’ve had to learn to force myself to read more. So, if maybe this is helpful to you, here’s a few thoughts that I’ve learned…

Make it a discipline
Find regular times to read every week, and even times to get away for a several hours or even a few days where you’re able to read and process.

Where you read matters
There are certain rooms or environments that are more conducive for reading than others. In our house, there are rooms that I rarely read in, because for whatever reason I just can’t concentrate on reading there. I’m able to read quite a bit in coffee shops with my headphones in, but I know others who can’t.

You don’t have to finish books
This has been so helpful for me to learn to be ok with not always having to finish a book. It may not resonate with you right now, or it may not be written well or very challenging…if that’s the case, then put it down. You only have so much time to give, don’t waste it finishing a book just to finish it. Also, if there’s only a particular chapter or two that seem to be helpful for you, it’s ok to only read those.

Occasionally read things that are outside of your norm
The majority of books that I read are non-fiction books on theology, leadership, sociology, etc. I force myself to every once in a while read a biography, or a fiction book, which helps me to break out of my norm and to not get stuck in what I’m used to reading.

Read with others
I regularly have books that I’m reading alongside friends or other staff. If I know we’re going to talk about a book or a certain chapter on a specific day it gives me motivation to get it done.

Read at random times
It’s helpful to always have a book with you. The Kindle (and the Kindle app for the iPhone) has really helped this. When you’re waiting for your car to be washed or if you’re early for a meeting, you can grab 5 or 10 minutes of reading if you have something with you.

Watch less TV
Seriously…if you cut out 1 show each night, and read instead during that time, you could probably finish 25 books a year just with that time.

A few things that I’ve learned that’s been helpful for me to read regularly. Anyone else got any tips to help us out?

A little over a year ago, we got Allison a DSLR camera. She’s been spending that time getting to know it better, learning how to use it on manual mode and taking some really great pictures.

She’s finally allowing me to tell you about her secret blog where she’s been showing her pictures, which I guess is now no longer a secret. I’m stoked to finally get to tell you about it:

Go check her out at allisongoldsworthy.com

And here’s a few of her recent pictures to get you started…

Today’s tax day.

It’s been a bit since I’ve updated…crazy weeks leading up to Easter, and then I spent the last week on vacation. As I’m gearing up to get back into the swing of things, thought I’d give a few random updates:

• Easter was awesome. Later this week, I’ll point you to the videos that we created for it if you’re not in the LBC and didn’t get to see it. I haven’t been in to get counts, but every service was full…some of them standing room only.
• I do know this though…including Good Friday, our 7th St Campus broke 1,000 people Easter weekend!
• Love the generosity of Parkcrest and our annual Easter Offering. Can’t wait to find out how much we’re giving away.
• I was on my 3rd annual mancation this past week. I think it was the hardest backpacking trip we’ve done & we ran out of water the first night – it’s not a mancation without some good stories
• I didn’t want one, but then I did, and now I’m typing this on it. Don’t judge me! By the way, the way I often buy new technology is by selling some of my old stuff – I’ll only get something like this if I can make it a zero sum deal. And yes…it’s lived up to it’s hype
• We ran into Chief Luna while at the Pike this week. He ended up giving us an impromptu behind the scenes tour of the Police Station. Isaac, Kate and their cousin got deputized.
• Stoked to get back into the swing of things this week