Our ZION staff had the pleasure of joining other multi-site churches across PA. in State College last week.  It was interesting to see how other pastors and staffs are living out the call to grow God’s kingdom.  Each philosophy was unique.  Each process was individual.  I loved to see the variety.

Our staff had the priviledge of presenting on our creative process at the multi-site conference.  (I added a link above under ZION to share that process.)   Our journey towards our creative process is one of discontentment.  Three years ago we were discontent with our ability to maximize our Sunday Morning gathering.  We were discontent with the amount of time we had to get the best elements together.  We were discontent with the alignment we didn’t have from what we were teaching and how people were living.   So for the next three years we have refined that process.   At the heart of our creative journey is a key principle that can help everyone.  We learned we could do more and do it better if we give ourselves more time to do it.  We started being intentional with the time we gave ourselves to do the task before us.

If I could offer individuals, families, staffs and churches a gift I would give them time.  It wouldn’t be time to do more but time to decide what you are going to do. Could you maximize what you do if you took a bit more time in the front end to think it out?  Could family events become more meaningful if we thought about if before hand?  Could pastor’s messages be better if they had more time to plan and develop them?  What about church services?  I honestly can’t think of anything that would not profit from a little bit more forethought.

Consider the simple statement, “Let us make man in our image….” (Gen 1:26) God planned what he was going to do.  He planned how he was going to do it.  He planned out the extent of what he was going to do.  If we brought that much intention to the biggest decisions in our life we would see a drastic improvement on the outputs.  You get a better output if there is better input.  Test that theory this week.  Do four things:

1.  Look ahead and find one project, event or moment where you want a “better” output.  The event needs to be at least a week away.

2.    List the various components your event needs to succeed and then set the list down and walk away.

3.  Come back to your list a couple days later to refine it and improve it.  Finalize it.

4.  When the time comes do what is on your list.

Example:  Date with spouse.  Plan a date with your spouse to happen in two weeks.  List out everything you would like to do on that date.  In a couple days revisit that list.  Cut dinner at McDonalds and change it to the fine italian restaurant in the next town.  Add to the list flowers.  Now, do everything on the list.  I understand this seems a simplification.  But, this isn’t complicated.  It is just about doing things better.   What in your life could profit from planning?  Give yourself a gift…time.  No one is so good they could not use more.

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