Patrick O'Connell

On Selflessness

Selflessness will change the world around you. Jesus knew it. That's why I am interested in it. 

Selflessness is something many of us want more of in our lives. Yet, we find it hard.

Seth Godin offers some helpful insight here.

Fringe Benefits

One of the benefits of my flexible work-schedule is to get outside and exercise, even when I don't want to do it.

Take today for instance. I was tired and stressed. The last thing I wanted to do was to go for a run. But my friend Josh called and even though I hesitated, he talked me into it. We met Tommy at his house and we went out and did a four mile run.

I've been running with Tommy and Josh on a regular basis as they train for a 1/2 marathon. This has been really cool. I find the time spend an opportunity to refresh and renew. I really look forward to this little mid-day break.

In my former life, my schedule would have never permitted me to just get up and go for a run. Another blessing about being here in KC with Restore.

Hello 2008!

Happy New Year!

We have just arrived back from a short trip back home to Chicago. Other than some nasty weather during the drive back, all went well. We spent some quality time with family and friends while I finished up some business. Now it's back to KC and back to work.

I am going to try and be a better blogger in 2008 which for me means trying to post at least once per day. (I know I set this goal for myself in 2007 and failed miserably but…)

Here are some of the things going on:

1. I've started a new journal. For the past 6 months I've been really intentional about journaling.
2. I began the One-Year Bible reading program. Check out this blog if want to read through the Bible this year.
3. Working on projects related to Restore Community Church.
4. Been playing Guitar Hero III for Wii with the kids.
5. Joined the YMCA here in KC and can't wait to get at it.

What about you? What have you been doing lately?

Commitment

John Maxwell on Commitment:

7 Enemies of Commitment

1. A Lifestyle of Giving Up
2. A Wrong Belief That Life Should be Easy
3. A Wrong Belief That Success is a Destination
4. An Attitude of Negative Thinking
5. An Acceptance of Other People's Fences
6. An Irrational Fear of Failure
7. A Lack of Vision

Now here are Ways to Develop Commitment:

1. Realize it Usually Begins With a Struggle
2. Understand That it has Nothing to Do With Talent or Ability
3. Recognize That it's Not a Matter of Conditions but of Choice
4. Start With the Little Things
5. Settle Moral Issues Before You're Confronted
6. TRUST IN GOD

Yoga!

I did some Yoga this morning. I've been messing around with it for the past couple of months but have yet to make it a routine.

I wanted to write this post to urge you to try it yourself. Man, do I feel great. I am not at all flexible but after 40 minutes of Yoga I feel like I can wrap myself around a tree! 

If you know anything about Yoga or practice it, I'd love to hear from you.

Appreciation

(I wrote this one some time in August 2006 after attending a workshop about 'Appreciation.' Not sure why I didn't post it then but here it is. I will eventually post the lists I refer to. In the meantime, make sure you're telling everyone how much you appreciate them.)

I recently attended a workshop that focused on values in the workplace. The experience was positive and I learned much. But there was one bit of information that was quite beneficial. It concerned appreciation and its importance in our relationships. We conducted several practical exercises that were designed to help show us how we could show appreciation to others in the work-place. Showing intentional appreciation for what others do can have enormous benefits in our lives.

I soon begin wondering why not try and implement some of these ideas at home. The organizers of the workshop were one step ahead and provided all of us a list of appreciation statements that we might use in our private lives. It's called 30 Days of Appreciation from Parents to Children and 30 Days of Appreciation for Spouses.

I am going to use the list to generate statements for each member of my immediate family. I'll try and provide you their responses. At some point I'll post the entire list.

February Spending Fast

Every few months or so my wife and I try to wean ourselves from money. For one month we go on a spending fast.

We tried it last September and made out quite well. It's not that we don't spend money. We simply do not purchase anything that is non-essential to the running of our household. This includes NO meals out, no music (absolutely no iTunes downloads); no new clothes, and (for me the most difficult) no books. We simply limit our spending to essentials: food, gasoline, household bills etc. I know some people live this way all of the time either by choice or circumstance. But since we are blessed and have the option for these other things, I think it's necessary for us to to fast from it all from time to time.

We have several goals for our little exercise:

• To prove to ourselves we can do it
• To save some money
• To remind ourselves that it's not about the things we own
• It's all God's stuff anyway--we're just the managers
• It's where we started anyway (married young and living like peasants for the first couple of years)

Now I know it wouldn't be very good for the economy if all of us this did this, but you might try it some time.

Inspired!

If I include both study groups I am leading through The Bible in 90 Days, there are nearly 30 people attempting the challenge with me! That is HUGE and a tremendous blessing.

This study is an incredible opportunity for me to help people who have committed themselves to read through the entire Bible reach their goal. We are still early in our journey, but it I am confident that we will succeed together.

Most inspiring to me is that each of the participants has had to sacrifice time in their lives to make room for God. They've pushed aside their own priorities and let God in. I don't know about you, but I think that's awesome.

I want to thank each of you who've joined me in this challenge: you are inspiring me in ways I couldn't have imagined.

Planning for 2007

Happy New Year!

As I have done for several years, I spent some time outlining my non-professional (my professional goals for 2007 are on another list) resolutions/plans/goals/visions for the coming year.

The problem is that I plan and always start the year out strong but then burn myself out because I have attempted too much.

So this year I was determined to keep my list short. I went to Starbucks and while listening to my iPod started writing out my 2007 goals. Here's what I came up with (NOT in any order of importance):

1. Quiet Time every morning to include journaling, bible reading, and prayer. This will also include a reading from the devotional My Utmost For His Highest.
2. Get 10,000 Blankets off the ground; start asking people for blankets, and getting them to people who really need them. (I have no idea how much time this is going to require.)
3. Train for and run another marathon (something earlier than Chicago 07 I hope.)
4. Get to the gym at least three times a week.
5. Lead the 90 Bible small group at CCC.
6. Read Bible at least twice in 2007.
7. Plan a special day for each of my children at least once per month. This would be a day I do something that they want.
8. Find time to take my wife away for a long weekend at least every three months.
9. Keep writing at least one post per day on Atropica.
10. Write a book (I have several in the works).
11. Keep a journal/diary (not sure how this would be different than number 1?)
12. Reorganize/redecorate my office. This will include a better filing system because I am rather disorganized.
13. Serve more frequently at CCC as opportunities arise.
14. Serve in my small group.
15. Spend more time with friends and family.
16. Find ways to make Sundays a true sabbath day.
17. Assistant coach my son's soccer team.
18. Take a class in theology.
19. Better balance work/life.
20. Re-plant the lawn and finish our landscaping projects.
21. Consume less and conserve more.Live a greener lifestyle.
22. Focus on my diet, including better meal planning.
23. Plan a family vacation in late Spring or early summer
24. Read all of the books on my 'To Read' list (at least 20 on the list presently).
25. Above all, listen to God and follow His will for my life. I am going to do all I can to further His Kingdom and I am going to try to be mindful of the fact that my best laid plans are meaningless if I am not following God's will for my life. I am going to trust him to lead me wherever he intends.

As you can see this turned out to be a rather lengthy list. I found it impossible to hold back. What can I say, I am guilty of being excited by life--especially a life lived for Christ. Besides, the more I thought about it, the more I wondered why should I try and limit myself? If these are God's goals for my life, than I am in good shape. I'll probably complete half of them, but that's alright.

What about you? What are you planning for 2007?

Dave Ferguson's 10 Practices for Creating a Leadership Culture

Dave Ferguson, Lead Pastor at Community Christian Church, recently wrote about creating a leadership culture in our church. I thought it a great piece and found myself reflecting on the fact that some (probably all) of Dave's points could be applicable to both business (for truly visionary management) and even home-life (for parents). He notes that these are simple practices, yet they are not easy to accomplish. 

Moreover, I was inspired reading over these practices because I find them a testimony to the genuineness of the leadership vision at CCC and therefore the reason why the church is succeeding so well in its mission of helping people find their way back to God. It's a church that I am proud to belong to!

Here are Dave's ten points. Read the article for yourself by clicking here.

1. Make sure leadership development is tied to the success of the vision
2. Give leaders a dream worth sacrificing their and trading their lives
3. Vision casting should include leaders in the details
4. Tell stories of leadership development
5. Make known your leadership pipeline
6. Make risk-taking a value
7. Success is measured in terms of leadership development
8. Reward faithful leaders
9. Use small groups to develop leaders
10. Have high expectations, but easy entrance into leadership(