I have fully jumped on the Tim Tebow bandwagon.
How could you not??

It’s wild, it’s fun.
You never know what’s going to happen, and yet you know EXACTLY what’s going to happen.

Tebow might be the most polarizing figure in the history of Sports. He has more haters than Kris Humphries or David Stern (that’s a lot of haters).

Haters hate on him for a number of different reasons.. but mainly for his outspoken faith and unorthodox style of play.

However, REGARDLESS of what the haters are saying, one thing is for sure… the world has recognized Tim Tebow as a phenomenal LEADER.

It’s impossible for great leadership to go unnoticed.

I saw Christine Caine post this week, “Fruit will tell on you”. Isn’t that the truth.

With a 7-1 record as a starter, a current 6 game winning streak.. #TEBOWING is now an official word. I would say that his “fruit” is telling on him.

Here’s what makes Tim Tebow such a great leader…

1. He’s SECURE.
Confidence in yourself allows you to praise the people around you.

Tebow has an absurd amount of security.
He’s secure enough to post verses under his black eyes.

He’s secure enough to be bold about his faith.
He’s secure enough to accept criticism (heaps of it).
He’s secure enough to admit his mistakes.

As a follower, I will tell you that I am most attracted to secure leaders. And like you, I find it difficult to follow a leader that is plagued by insecurity.

Security allows you to do two important things..

1. Promote others.
Pumping, promoting, and honoring others is actually really fun. You should try it.

An insecure leader is threatened by the success and praises of others.. Internally their heart says,
“No head shall be higher than mine”

Not Tebow. Tebow is always making the win about his teammates. Never promoting himself, always promoting others.

2. Accept criticism.
“I am whatever you say I am, if I wasn’t, then why would you say I am…” - Eminem
TRUTH!!!!!!

An insecure person is incredibly defensive. In addition, they don’t want to hear what the Haters have to say. However, someone who is secure, bends their ear towards criticism. It doesn’t threaten them. Because internally, they know, that to some degree… the Haters are right.

Tebow is a master at this. He knows what people are saying. He hears it. He accepts it. And he probably tries to IMPROVE on the weak areas that people point out.

I pray that we can do the same.

Ultimately, here’s why Tebow can do that…..

2. He’s TEACHABLE.
Great leaders don’t wait for input, suggestions or ideas… they seek them out. Great leaders say, “You tell me.”

Kanye West says, “You can’t tell me nothin”…. While Tebow says, “I’m really open to what my coaches have to say. And I’m trying my best to apply the things they’re teaching me.”

I get the sense that even though John Elway isn’t “Tebowing”… He is forced to answer Tim Tebow’s questions.

Brilliant.

3. SOBER MINDED.
Nothing dries up a leaders bones like resentment.

I have watched incredibly gifted and talented leaders fall victim to bitterness. It’s as sad as watching someone fall victim to an affair or adultery.

Tebow is sober.

HATERS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO HATE. Why let it bother you? Why let it consume you? Why focus on the negative? Take it in stride.

I believe in the “Power of Positive Thinking.”

Tebow is positive. That’s his disposition.

He doesn’t let peoples words determine his thinking. If you allow people’s opinions to dominate your thought life, you’re going to get RATTLED all the time.

Titus 2:6 says, “Exhort the young men to be sober-minded.”

4. BOLD AS A LION.
This might be my favorite thing about Tebow. That dude does not care.

He is strong, relentless, unshakeable and not afraid of big moments.

Tim Tebow has the type of boldness that could walk up to Saul… tell him that he doesn’t need his armor… go pick up 5 smooth stones… take his frickin sling shot… and go KILL A GOLIATH.

That’s the boldness that Time Tebow possesses.

Great leaders are risk takers. Sit down next Sunday.. and you’ll watch a guy that is not afraid to make a mistake, take a risk or any consequences that come from putting your neck on the line.

“But the righteous are as bold as a lion.” Proverbs 28:1

5. He’s TRUSTWORTHY.
I think this is why America watches the 4th quarter. I think this is why his teammates are willing to follow a younger player.

He has the Character.

You get the impression that he hasn’t cheated his way to get here. Not in the classroom, the weight room, or the bedroom.

His integrity has lead him here.

6. He never QUITS.
Jimmy V (Jim Valvano) said in his famous last speech “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.”

Tebow never does. There’s no quit in that guy.

How about for you?
What do you do when you hit your quitting point?
How do you handle adversity?
When you’re down by 10 in the 4th quarter, with only 4 minutes left in the game…

Quitters never prosper. And “If you don’t quit, you win.”

The writer of Hebrews wrote “You hath need of endurance” - Hebrews 10:36

I pray, that as a person and as a leader, you learn how to BREAK THROUGH YOUR QUITTING POINTS. Your life, marriage, ministry.. and your world is way to important to quit on.

See, I believe that you should “Never apologize for your desire to be GREAT.”

You were made by greatness.. for greatness. And He has placed the desire in you to do something for Him, you didn’t discover that on your own.

“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
Philippians 2:13 NKJV

So today, go be great… like TIM TEBOW great.

1. LAUGH AT YOURSELF… EVERYONE ELSE IS.

Don’t take things so personal.

Some of the most foolish times in my ministry have been times when I have taken things TOO PERSONAL. Which always goes back to taking myself too serious.

If you take everything personal in ministry, your shelf life is going to be about as long as an NFL running back… a few years of gold and then you’re good for nothin.

2. APOLOGIZE.

3. THERE ARE 2 SIDES TO EVERY STORY.

“Only a fool listens to one side of the story and draws conclusions.”

4. IF IT’S BROKE, FIX IT.

If something is not working, fix it. Change it up.

The service time, the flow of the meeting, personnel, systems, philosophies, etc.

Remember, “Wisdom is proven by fruit”… So if something isn’t bearing much fruit, change it.

5. WHAT YOU FAIL TO HONOR, YOU LOSE.

I’ve had a number of talented leaders with me through the years. Awesome, gifted, fun, powerful, influential leaders.

Whenever I lose a leader, I always have to ask myself how big of a role I played in their departure. I have to admit, a lot of times I was the “reason” why they left.

Either I had taken them for granted, stopped giving them attention, didn’t release them in their gifting, etc etc etc.

Whatever the case may be, I have learned to make sure I honor all people at all times.

What’d Beyonce say again… “If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it.” See what I’m saying.

6. GOD KNOWS WHAT I NEED TO HEAR.. AND WHEN I NEED TO HEAR IT.

Time and time again, God has come through at just the right time, to give me a “word in season.”

God not only knows WHAT, but He is superb with the WHEN.

7. TRUST IS EVERYTHING.

A great question to ask yourself as a leader is “Do people feel safe around me?”

You cannot lead people until you have their heart. You cannot have their heart until you are someone who is trustworthy!

8. IT’S NEVER WORTH IT.

Anytime you go off on someone, lose your temper, give someone a piece of your mind.. you lose.

Lose your temper and you will eventually, inevitably, lose your people.

9. FAVOR AIN’T FAIR.. AND NEITHER IS FAVORITISM.

I used to try to be fair. But then I realized that “life is not fair”

Jesus had favorites. 12 He called “disciples,” 3 were brought closer than the 12. And 1 was his favorite.

It’s ok to have favorites. It’s ok to have a close inner circle. Jesus had one. And it’d be smart for you to create yours.

Without favoritism, there would be no passing of the baton. There would be no replacing yourself. There would have been no Timothy (YOUNG GUN) for Paul, no Elisha for Elijah and no Joshua for Moses.

10. ALL OF MINISTRY FLOWS OUT OF MY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.

When this goes bad, it all goes bad. When this gets dry.. everything goes dry.

When I was young in ministry, I worked hard at having a “DEVOTIONAL LIFE”

As I grow older, my focus has become a “DEVOTED LIFE”

My relationship with Jesus Christ is my ministry.

1. THAT SCHOOL CRAY.

Every year is different. You never know which school is going to explode! What I love about that is that you never know which school is going to explode with growth.

Usually, these types of explosions go back to one or two students who are really excited about what God is doing in their life and church.

This year, for UG, it’s been AUBURN MOUNTAIN VIEW. Shout out to Jonel for doing it big!

2. CAMPUS MINISTRIES.

“The most untapped mission field in all the world are our school campuses.”

I cannot agree more with this statement. Youth ministry is still about youth. It’s about kids. Kids could care less about the glitz and glamour of your production or notoriety. They care most about you being interested in their world.

Going to campuses always reminds me that I can’t let church get weird, irrelevant or weak. When I’m with them, the mission and the method always becomes clearer… and more urgent.

The most successful youth ministries are RELATIONALLY DRIVEN.

3. YANK THE WHEEL.

When working with adults.. if you yank the wheel.. YOU’RE DEAD MEAT. When you work with young people, if you don’t yank the wheel.. YOU’RE DEAD MEAT.

In other words, keep everything fresh. Young people check out when everything gets predictable. I’m always trying to remind myself NOT to be ROUTINED!

“Healthy things are GROWING and growing things are CHANGING.” If we want to grow, we have to change.

So if you’re struggling to keep things fresh… log on to thevous.com and watch Rich Wilkerson Jr’s service. That’s what I do.. and then I just copy everything he does :) (He’s the best)

4. THE LEADERS WE LEAD.

The UG is blessed to have some of the greatest leaders in the world. I would do anything for them. They are family to me (LOYALTY OVER EVERYTHING).

I’ve always felt like a youth ministry is only as good as it’s leaders. If that’s the case, pouring into our leaders should be priority #1.

The way I look at our leaders is never “What can I get them to do?” but always “How can I help them grow.. how can I do a better job of releasing them to lead?”

5. I’M BIASED, BUT I THINK TODAY, WE HAVE THE BEST YOUTH PASTORS THAT YOUTH MINISTRY HAS EVER SEEN!

There are so many incredible youth pastors around the country.. and world today. So much talent.. So much passion.. So much creativity.

One of the things I love about what’s happening in youth ministry today is that there is a special friendship that is being created both nationally and globally. Twitter and facebook has done that for us. Somehow, someway, a lot of people have gotten to connect. And through that connection, we are able to see what each other is doing.. and through that be ENCOURAGED.

Just to know that there are other dudes out there who are going to games and lunch rooms. Other people out there who are living to make a difference in young people’s lives…

I don’t know about you, but I’m always encouraged by seeing what everyone else is up to. So from me to you… thanks family.

Good music is like good preaching.. Hard to find! When you find good music, the only option we have is to play it over and over until we’re sick of it! Here’s what I am currently addicted to…

_____________________________________________________________________________________

  GOD IS ABLE - HILLSONG LIVE

Consistently, the NEW Hillsong album is the soundtrack to my summer. This years album is no exception.

My favorite tracks on this record are; Lost are Found, Rise and You are More.

  EVERY TEARDROP IS A WATERFALL - COLDPLAY

Just feels good to hear some NEW Coldplay. So you know I’m playing the heck out of this track.

  HEY MAMA - MAT KEARNEY 

I really like where Mat is going with his sound. Super fun, super catchy, super ear pleasing… but still really creative.

I think the world of Mat. Love his music. Always have (Even when he was rapping back in the day!!!!)

  I GIVE MYSELF AWAY - WILLIAM MCDOWELL

I have a strong addiction to Gospel music. Not annoying “Please stop singing” Gospel music… I’m into really really good Gospel music (makes sense right).

When I found this guy, I thought “I haven’t heard anybody like this since FRED HAMMOND!”

  HOPE - FOURSQUARE UNITED GENERATION

Shameless plug, I know. But my boy Luke BVG did kill this track on the Misfit Soundtrack.

  BETTER FIND YOUR LOVING - DRAKE

Can someone please write a worship song that sounds like this???!!!!

  MY SALVATION - ROYAL

Trust me, ROYAL is the dopest thing you’ve never heard of!!! But when it comes out… you’re gonna listen to it non-stop. I listen to ROYAL in the gym, at my house, in the car, in my office…. Everywhere! My good friend Nathan Finnochio is a genius.

   AFTERMATH- HILLSONG UNITED

I’ve listened to this record a ridiculous amount of times. Never gets old. An incredible album!

That’s what I’m listening to! What about you? What are you listening to?

1. “@hillsong church is not built on the talents of a FEW but by the sacrifices of many.” - @carllentzNYC

- You know it’s a good tweet if it makes you say WOW! This quote reminded me of another quote I love… “I’d rather have a SMALL PART in something BIG than a BIG PART in something SMALL.” Hillsong church constantly amazes us all, not by their music alone, but by their LEADERSHIP and EMPOWERING of other leaders.

2. “My favorite preacher is one who gives me more of a hunger for God!” - @pastorjude

- A great preacher leaves you impressed with God, not himself… And Pastor Jude does this better than most anyone I know!

3. “Toxic culture is like carbon monoxide: You don’t see it or smell it, but you wake up dead!” - @samchand

- I am fascinated with church cultures. Always have been. As someone that is responsible for shaping the culture of the UG, this statement caught my eye. Everyone loses when the culture goes toxic!

4. “Abraham had 8 channels through which $$ flowed to him. Gen 24:35 What channels can God use to bless you?” - @Willie_George

- HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5. “I wish Christian men would spend as much time & energy personally sharing the gospel one on one as they do watching sports.” - @rickwarren

- Last year the Lord asked me to take a 40-day sports fast (during March Madness and the Masters nonetheless). Hardest thing I’ve done in a long time. What I learned in those 40 days was powerful… sports was getting more of my time than I had wanted to admit. When I read this, I said “Wellllllllllllllll”.

6. “INFLUENCE - Never comes cheap - never comes easy - never comes with guarantees - never comes without reason! Use it or lose it!” - @BrianCHouston

- The man dominates the RETWEET. I heard Mark Batterson say “Out of the abundance of the heart the tweeter tweets.” Pastor Brian’s heart is full of wisdom and I loved this quote on INFLUENCE.

7. “Sin will fascinate, then assassinate! It will thrill then kill. It takes you further than you want to go & holds you longer than you want to stay.” - @jentezen

 AINT THAT THE TRUTH!

8. “The world’s about to end YO!” - @HaroldCamping

- Really? Like… Really? COMEON man!!

9. “Dad and I watch Johny Wayne, love pedal steel, sing “Don’t worry baby” by the Beach Boys out loud, and love espresso. What do you & your dad do?” - @nathanfinnochio

- My dad and I watch sports, play golf, talk church and listen to Alexander Fairchild together!

There are a lot of leaders I really want to be like (Brian Houston, Tony Dungy, Rev Run, etc) … and there are a lot of leaders I really DON’T want to be like!

Here are a few…

1 The INCONSISTENT Leader

“People don’t have a problem with AUTHORITY as much as they have a problem with INCONSISTENT AUTHORITY.” – Wayne Cordeiro

 

2 The EXAGGERATOR

In our line of work, CREDIBILITY is everything.

If you are credible, you are trustworthy.

I work really hard on being accurate. If anything, I will downplay things, so that I never lose my audience (or people’s respect). I never want people to think “Oh, that’s not true” OR “Divide that in half and that’s probably how many people were there.” (Or how many calls a day you really get, etc.)

The thing about the EXAGGERATOR is that they don’t realize that most of the time they are LYING… and somehow, someway… intuition, discernment, whatever… everyone else knows they’re lying too!

 

3 The SELF-PROMOTER

Self-promotion is really self-validation. Ultimately, it stems from the feeling of, “I haven’t been validated enough by others so I need to validate myself,” OR “I haven’t been validated enough so I need you to see that someone else is validating me.” (Hence the RETWEET a compliment)

Let’s all make sure we’re on the same page: The bible says, “Promotion cometh not from the east nor the west; promotion cometh from the Lord”   Psalm 75 (my version)

Great leaders are always BEING PROMOTED. They NEVER feel like they have to promote themselves because everyone is doing that for them.

Whack leaders work hard to be able to NAME DROP….

Great leaders, their name is always being DROPPED.

You have to decide what kind of leader you want to be when it comes to this!

 

4 The ISOLATED

“A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.” Proverbs 18:1

I have seen a lot of great leaders make this mistake.

When you are isolated, you lose two important things; COMMUNITY and ACCOUNTABILITY.

Community: Having friends, meaningful relationships, laughter (like from the belly type stuff ya know),  health, etc.

Accountability: Having people that are close enough to you to call you out on your junk.

Another thing that hurts the isolated leaders is that they only care about themselves or “their thing” (i.e. their goal, their life, their thing, their church). 

Living for “our” thing will only limit how powerful we can be together.

 

5 The “MOUNTAINS OUT OF MOLE HILLS” Leader

Please don’t ever be the leader that makes a BIG DEAL about things that are SMALL; and a SMALL DEAL about things that should be BIG.

This is always a sign of immaturity. Most punitive leaders will tell you that they are not punitive… the only reason why they say this is because they KNOW that THEY ARE!  Punitive leaders are experts at making “mountains out of a mole hill”

They REACT rather than RESPOND. Highly emotional leaders tend to fall prey to this dysfunction and the cost is high (loss of respect, trust, peace, etc).

Great leaders MAJOR in the MAJORS.

Weak leaders MAJOR in the MINORS.

 

6 The Leader that STOPS GROWING

When a leader stops growing, it is usually because they think they have “arrived.”

Why read more, study more, podcast more, inquire more, research more, find out what Brian C Houston is doing more???

Arrival is a nasty disease. It creeps in slowly and takes a long time for it to do it’s work. It really doesn’t show it’s TOTAL DAMAGES for quite awhile. In fact, it could be years before you can calculate the damages of ARRIVAL.

Great leaders are ALWAYS GROWING. They are learning, asking questions, reading, etc. 

My pastor always says “ANYTHING THAT IS NOT GROWING… IS DYING”

I think there’s a lot of truth in that statement.

The solution is: stay HUMBLE and stay HUNGRY!

“Chad, when are you guys going to have kids?”

First of all, this is a really good question! Julia and I have been married for 2.5 years and you would think that we would have already started having kids. I’m 31, she’s 28. We’re both getting a touch older…

The simple answer is NOT YET. However, I do ask her daily “When are you going to give me a child woman?” to which she replies, “Can you help put these clothes in the laundry basket?”

So we’ll see…

“When are you guys going to leave youth ministry and go plant a church?”

Well, let’s get one thing really clear… I LOVE YOUTH MINISTRY. I’ve been a youth pastor for over a decade and have absolutely loved every second of it. I have no plans to leave young people any time soon, quite simply because they still mean the world to me! And I am in no hurry to carry the responsibility that they carry. I live a great life. In fact, I’m having the time of my life! When God see’s fit, He will let me know that my days with young people have come to an end. Until then… it’s football games, cafeteria’s and long talks about so and so’s dating life!

“When were you first called into the ministry?”

Like I said, I’m a pastors kid. At almost every camp or conference I attended growing up, the guest minister was always prophesying over me that I was called into the ministry (Really can’t tell you how many times this happened). That was cool and all but unfortunately, I had NO DESIRE to be in the ministry. Growing up I was more concerned with what the FAB 5 and Tupac were doing then with what God was trying to do in me.

All that changed my sophomore year in high school at a Promise Keepers crusade. One of the few times in my life that I have heard God speak to me audibly. From that point on, it was no looking back!

“What’s your best practice?”

Anyone that knows me knows that my life is rooted in Daily Devotions. I was introduced to Daily Devotions (the Life Journal) when I was 19 years old, in bible college. My best bud from Hawaii, Aaron Cordeiro’s dad invented the journal. When he showed me how to do it, I had no idea that it would become my daily routine for the next 12 years…

Now of course there are COUNTLESS mornings that I have missed and I by no means am trying to paint you a picture of a PERFECT devotional life (I actually miss quite a few days). BUT devotions have been my best practice. It has led me to fall more in love with Jesus. Reading the Bible has allowed me to understand God better…which has allowed me to desire Him in greater ways than I would have ever imagined.

I’m careful in emphasizing this point too strongly because I don’t ever want people to make their relationship with the Lord about religious duties such as Bible reading. Devotions, to me, is not about checking off a box to say I’ve done my devotions… it’s about sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to what He wants to say to me! When I approach the Bible with that attitude, the whole experience is fresh and riveting!

“Chad, how did you get so buff???”

Wait for the next blog… I’ll explain!