I posted this on my instagram account at the start of the summer after my trip to Vermont and I got so many questions about it, that I decided to dive a bit deeper here on the blog on the very night where I am completeing my goal of visiting all 50 states! I write this from Alaska with a grateful heart on all that I’ve expiereinced with what started as just a “fun little idea”. Keep reading to see how something kinda silly became serious and speacial and changed who I am as a person.
When I was about 16 years old I made this “big harry obdatious goal” to visit every single state by the completion of my 30th year. As a young boy, the traveling I did with my family was a good boost, but by the time I started taking the goal seriously, I knew I was going to have to go solo on a few of these trips. I would simply pick a place on the map, plan out a trip, and dive into the unknown. I slowly begin to pick up on the trend that when I wasn’t having fun or catching up with a friend in a specific city, these trips were a great time to pray, study, ask big life questions, and discover a bit more of what my destiny was really unfolding to be. Looking back now, some of the most special moments with Jesus and my Christian walk would take place on of these trips in the middle of no where, where the only person I knew was truly Jesus. I coined the phrase “Jesus Trip” as a way to put purpose to this silly goal of traveling the United States, but in the end the only thing it put purpose to was me.
Thankfully, I love to drive and the rules that I made for myself were that as long as I was physically in the state, it would count. I spent many a miles on the highway looking for the state line, only to celebrate, take a picture, and hit a u-turn at the next convienient store. One of my bigger trips took place in August of 2015, I called it the “6 State Sweep”. It included 6 states in 6 days and started in Omaha, Nebraska and ended in Casper, Wyoming with a few Dakotas’ and a Montana thrown in the middle of it all. Was it a lot of driving? Yes! Did I love every minute of it? Absolutely! When you get out of you crush your comfort zone, you have the opportunity to truly see who you are, ask yourself questions, wrestle with the Word to find the answers. I’ve had fun too and enjoyed so much of what different cities have to offer. From an impromptu concert with Sir Paul McCartney, to an exclusive behind the scenes 4 hour tour of CNN. I’ve seen wildlife at Yellow Stone National Park, and visited some of the top churches and major ministries of the nation (without all the ministry fan fare). I visited Mickey Mouse at Disney World for a day, and enjoyed some of the greatest coffee shops around putting a pen to my dreams. Some of the most significant moments of my life have taken place on these trips.
As a guy though, that can be kind of strange to just go on a trip and “be with Jesus.” At first, to be “all by myself” was something I wasn’t use to or prepared for, but when I started truly understanding that my relationship with Jesus wasn’t something I could ever do alone, things changed. I use to squirm my way through these trips, now I look forward to them and enjoy each step with solid confidence of who I am and who Christ is within me. Learning who you are in Christ is something that your Pastor can’t do for you, it takes discipline and the ability to be authentic with yourself.
My challenge is this, whether its frequently or a one time extravaganza, take a “Jesus Trip”. Ask Him where He would want you to go, and take the time to go on a trip by yourself for the purpose of knowing yourself and working on your relationship with Christ. It doesn’t have to be crazy and half way accross the country, but it could be. Take a weekend getaway to a city you don’t go to all the time. Find something thats within a 3-5 hour radius where you are from and enjoy a drive. Don’t have a car? Rent one. Don’t have a license? Bus ticket. At some point, your relationship with Jesus is either important to you or it’s not. Your Jesus Trip doesn’t have to look like mine, it needs to be whatever YOU need it to be. The main thing is that you get real and raw with yourself and ask the BIG questions about your life, your beliefs, your convictions, your future, and ultimately your destiny.
A leader is only as strong as their ability to communicate the vision. The disconnect of communication typically happens between the heart and the head. Leaders tend to let thoughts fly so fast between their head and their heart that they don’t take time to slow them down and allow those thoughts to turn into words, and escape the never-ending pinball track of the leader through the mouth. Communication is a craft, and yes, I do believe it is a calling. The secret to speaking doesn’t start with the platform, it starts with the preparation.
Mind Mapping, a process invented by Tony Buzan, is the process of engaging your right and left brain at the same time. It’s a way to get what’s in your head out and onto paper. Seeing your “thoughts” on a piece of paper can be a fresh perspective on your topic. While mind mapping gets very, very complex, with colors and shapes, and arrows vs. dashes, etc… I simply use it to put my thoughts on the topic in the same place, and then find the places where they can connect. Visualizing the vision helps you as a speaker make sure you know where you are going while you are speaking. It also gets rid of that horrible feeling of finishing your talk and when you sit down you go, “OH man!!! I didn’t say …”
Emotions are a good thing. Emotions are a God thing. God created us to feel, and care, and respond to the environments and situations around us. While I’m a firm believer that we shouldn’t guilt trip people into a specific feeling, I do believe the Holy Spirit will anoint words to help people not only understand the big picture, but feel it as well. People are full of emotions. Their emotions are locked up within their lack of understanding, their previous experiences, or false expectations. Our role is to unlock that box so their emotions can aide in the process of connecting them to a greater conversation, the conversation of vision. Using different elements can aide in this unlocking process. While this isn’t a formula for the ultimate tear jerker, sometimes these elements can really add to the point you are trying to convey.
Most people spend too much thinking about “what they are going to say” instead of “how they want their audience to feel”. When your heart and spirit are full, your mouth will say exactly what needs to be said. Laughs aren’t your goal. Applause isn’t your goal. Tweets and mentions aren’t your goal. A connection with people is the ultimate currency of value.
My mother, who is a brilliant speaker herself, trains all of our speakers for @DiscoveryCamp to always have a “1SS”. A “1SS” is a one-sentence summary of what you want people to know. It’s a great exercise that helps you narrow down your entire message to a one-point subject that really matters. Over the years I turned her one-sentence summary into my “one-point punch” (It wasn’t violent enough for me as a guy:)) The one-point punch is something you’re going to keep hitting over and over. A brilliant lighting designer friend of mine creates some of the greatest shows out there for people like Kings of Leon, Taylor Swift, and some of the top award shows in the country. When I asked him what his formula for a great show was he responded with, “A high school fist fight.” Perplexed by his answer, I laughed and asked for greater understanding. “High School fist fights always ends up with one kid who just keeps hitting the other over and over and over and over, until it’s over… Lighting is the same way, and I’m the kid who always wins.” While it’s a very true, yet unfortunate, way of getting to that conclusion, it really was a great analogy. That doesn’t mean go beat up your audience! It means, have a point and use it and say it, over and over and over and over. Pound that one point into the hearts and minds of everyone listening. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream… Enough said.
It sets a standard and expectation for “how we do it here”. From providing a medical or safety response to making sure the bathroom has paper towels, the structure is similar because the system is familiar to the people responsible who run them. When looking at your systems, here are the top four questions to maximize and streamline excellence.
The team thing is more fun when everyone can play the game. Keeping systems simple ensures that everyone on the team has a chance to win. Packing up a portable sound system after a Sunday church plant? Turn the 3 boring black tubs into 3 different colors. XLR cables go in the red tub. Quarter inch cords go in the blue tub. Extension cords go in the orange tub. Not enough techy volunteers? Wrap the end of each cord with its corresponding color tape to match the containers. Unleash the matching games after church, and you’ve got everything in the right tub at the right time.
The digital world is constantly gathering people’s “PII”: Private Identifiable Information. People’s information is the most precious thing they can give us, so we must take it seriously and protect it. Online systems (cloud-based or locally-served) should meet the standards that currently exist. The right info at the right place for the right person, only. If everyone has a “key” to the “box”, it’s not secure. Google “Protecting PII” for a better understanding of the subject.
My absolute favorite part of any computer is the ability to “copy” and “paste”. Each system should past the copy/paste test. Can I do this same process in another location? With another person? Can I do it with technology? Better technology? Zero technology? If the process doesn’t work on paper, it will never work in person. Set yourself up for success by making sure that every system you make can be scaled to the next level with a simple “copy and paste”.
The system should be a solution to a problem, but sometimes, the system is the problem. It’s not what happens if the system breaks, it’s what will you do when it breaks? Your volunteer knows how to click the computer screen to check kids into class, but what happens when the computer goes down? Every system needs a team to support it. We like to support with people 3 position levels deep. Volunteer, department contact, vendor contact. When you have support for a system, you become less stressed when trying to “think on your feet”. Come to grips that systems will break and rest in the fact that you have a support system to get it back on track.
You’re not a person, you are a process. Constantly changing. Constantly growing. Keep showing up to the places that matter (your righteousness, in relationships and in personal reflection) and learn to love the process you are.
You move things forward one opportunity at a time. Problems and projects, they are all a gift. By finding that sweet spot where you’re slightly challenged yet not completely overwhelmed, you can continue to grow your gifts and turn them into an expression of your Kingdom assignment in excellence.
Are you in leadership? If you’re around people then that answer is easily answered for you. Whether you carry the title or not, if you love people and care about their outcome in life, then you are a pastor. Our heart as leaders is to guide and care for people as they go through their own process. Sometimes that’s easier said than done. You will go through seasons where you feel not only proud but mad, disappointed, hopeful, grateful and tired all in the same person. It’s normal to feel and navigate those emotions, but what isn’t normal is to abandon the person when you’re tired of their current emotion impact on your leadership. That’s part of the process, enjoy it.
Every year Christian broadcasters from around the world gather together to learn the technical trends of the day, as well as hear the latest updates from the FCC in Washington. While these elements are important, there are always takeaways every year that go unnoticed. Today, I’d like to spell those out for the leaders of this blog. You don’t have to be a “media person” to understand these, you just have to understand how important media is in our culture today.
I’ve always told our students at TBI that being professional isn’t a certificate they can get, it’s an attitude they embrace. The NRB staff is full of people who take what they do very seriously. They don’t settle for things that are done halfway or incorrectly. Flexible to change? Yes, but not at the level of losing or tarnishing the standard they have set as a team. From registration processes to security and door greeters, everyone knew what they were doing, why they were doing it, and truly felt like they were making a difference in the attendees around them.
In today’s world, from our Facebook feed to the billboard we see while driving down the highway, fighting for people’s attention is our greatest challenge. People are being pulled in 20 different directions, and it takes something of stature and stamina to keep them grounded on a message that is going to make a difference in their life. When someone gives you their full undivided attention, you win. Yes, it might come in short spurts over a 6-month time. But, when they notice, we can know that we’re right on track with helping people hear the message we’re trying to say.
Video is no stranger to the social media/marketing game. We’ve been watching video on TV and online for years. With everyone’s ability to whip out their phone and “go live” or post something that resonates with their network of people, then more than ever you should use this tool to your advantage. There was a lot of talk about live-streaming at the conference this year. It’s a very valid way to reach people that may never step foot in your church. The rise of 4K video is really picking up. It’s not just for the “big shots”. Anyone can get into an affordable solution for 4K video that will create a plethora of technical options in the future. Short-form video (2-5mins) is getting tons of play time. Those who know me know I’ve been crazy about vertical video these days, still am and still think we will see it continue to grow. Closed captioning your videos so people can view them without turning on the sound is a popular strategy these days as well. The FCC mandated that video that meets certain criteria will require closed captioning in the days to come. Video is here to stay. It’s not as hard as it use to be, and it’s worth your time and investment to see great video coming from your platform.
It’s no surprise that some people use platforms for their own personal gain. This isn’t to be critical of those individuals, but to be a reminder for myself and others that it’s a fine line we must all guard against. When you get that many people in the same place you can quickly see motives and methods people have. While everyone is attempting to do great work, only some are doing great ministry.
Can the Holy Spirit use anyone to get His message out? Of course! However, I think leaders will have to be more “focused” than ever on keeping ministry pure and focused on the original purpose of telling people about Jesus and helping them grow in their faith.
Above strategies and good marketing, the “story” will always be the thing that keeps everything in perspective and balance. As Christians, we have the greatest story ever told: The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our continued mission is to tell other people’s stories on how the Gospel has changed their world. We tell this story through books, blogs, and movies. We tell it through sermons and chats at coffee. We tell it through our social media posts and bumper stickers on our cars. We share it through our actions and conversations with friends and family we know the deepest. Stories aren’t made, they are created and crafted. It’s our job as media professionals to tell these stories in a way that honor the Father and connect with culture.
If you blew it, fix it. Don’t allow ego to stand between you and your mistake. If a conversation with a team member went South, track them down and set things straight. It’s amazing how little things become BIG things in culture because BIG things were never handled as little things.
Remind yourself what you are called to do. Why are you in leadership to begin with? What’s your daily goal, or the daily win? Take time to think about destination of vision and not the detour of deflate. When you take time to remember who you are and where you are going you set yourself up to learn from your mistakes and then keep making moments.
Biggest mistake after a blowout is to jump back in like it never happened. Own it. Fix it. Now rest. Take some time to recharge the batteries of leadership and then jump back in with two feet. A rested leader continues to give their whole heart to the vision. A whole heart guarantees you won’t make half hearted decisions.
[clickToTweet tweet=”A whole heart guarantees you won’t make half hearted decisions. ” quote=”A whole heart guarantees you won’t make half hearted decisions. – @a_burchfield “]
[clickToTweet tweet=”‘A vision without a plan is just a dream. – @a_burchfield'” quote=”A vision without a plan is just a dream.” theme=”style2″]
I’ve always been the “gadget guy” in the family, and as technology does serve as a great tool, the vision process needs another path. I’d suggest finding a journal or notebook of that you enjoy looking at and writing in. Keep it with you wherever you go, and when you get a thought, picture, or idea about the vision, jot it down. Every vision has a path, and it flows a lot easier from the heart to the hand then it does the touch screen of the computer attached to your pocket.
Vision comes from the heart but plans come by the spirit. People know I love to drive, and it’s not uncommon for me to go for a drive, hit record on a voice memo and just start talking and praying. It’s amazing the ideas that you can think up when you aren’t trying to think about it. Allowing the Holy Spirit to guide the conversation causes you to listen back to the recording later and say, “Wow! That’s a great idea.” Take note, it’s more than an idea, it’s a part of the plan for you vision.
Everyone has “their place”. It’s that place where you feel like you and are comfortable in every way. Maybe it’s at home, or on a walk, possibly could include eating or sipping a legit cup of coffee. Whatever your space looks like, find a place that you go to only when it’s time to think out the special things in life. Multiple men in the Bible found time to get away to a mountaintop to spend time with the Father.
[clickToTweet tweet=”‘When you find your mountaintop, you may just find your vision.’- @a_burchfield” quote=”‘When you find your mountaintop, you may just find your vision.'” theme=”style2″]
Visualizing the vision doesn’t mean you know every step to take, or where every piece of the puzzle goes. Visualizing the vision means you have landmarks and mile markers along the way that will continue to give you cues when you’re getting closer to all that God has for you to do.
]]>
Most college kids will eventually have to jump the, “I don’t want to go to class today.” hurdle. While you have the option, it doesn’t mean you can afford the opportunity. Set a time to “go to class” and stick with it. It should be a set time daily or weekly for as long as you determine to learn strictly more about something you don’t know enough about. The great part of this class is you determine how long it will be. I have what I call “Sunday School”, and will typically spend 1-2 hours researching or reading something I’m not familiar with. Find the time. Make the time. Just GO to class!
Remember your favorite teacher? It’s not that you liked the way they taught, it’s more that you liked the way you retained the knowledge. Find a study style that works for you. A quiet library with a book may drive you nuts. I prefer a busy coffee shop with a playlist of Youtube videos. Find your flow and get in the know. (Apologies for the cheesy rhyme.)
Every field in every industry has their expert on the topic. When you search out a topic, find the person who knows everything about it, and become an online fan. Follow their stuff, and saturate yourself with their content for as long as you need it. When you feel like you got what you need, move on to the next topic.
Getting comfortable with the amount of knowledge you understand is easy. When you stretch yourself, that’s where the real fun begins. We recently were expanding some things with our databases in the ministry. I know what a database is and how it functions, but I didn’t know how they connect with each other. So a few Sunday’s and a ton of boring Youtube videos later, I get it! By doing that I am now in a better position (as a leader) to make the qualified decisions, to keep the vision moving forward.
Episode Mentions
Episode Mentions
]]>1.Move God from the God position to the Father position. When He becomes you’re Father you will see Him differently.
2. Jesus must become life.
It’s great to leave Him first place, but that would suggest there is a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th thing. Jesus is the center and EVERYTHING revolves around Him. He influences decisions, choices, and all areas of your life.
3. The Holy Spirit must become you’re best friend. Listen to Him. Spend time with Him. Let Him guide you. “The Holy Spirit knows everything and the Holy Spirit is always right. – @R_Burchfield”
4. The Word is the standard!
We leave no room for interpretation or margin for movement.
If the Word says it, then we will believe and live by it.
5. The world is your parish.
Learn to look past your everyday tasks and trials to see that their is an entire world with great opportunity and need.
]]>
I recently looked up on an old friend who I was expecting to be taking over the world in the media circuit. He’s extremely gifted and talented and although his media is still great, the content isn’t. I saw things that I would of NEVER expected coming from his angle of the camera. I sit here in my favorite coffee shop praying for him, and thinking about the boundaries he slowly started to cross.
So many times we use the new year to think about change, but what about the things that need to stay the same. I believe there is a time for change, but there are also times when you need to allow your boundaries to stand strong. Boundaries are their to build our lives. They keep us focused on the true things that really matter. Boundaries don’t keep us from the good things they keep us focused on moving towards the best things.
When’s the last time you looked at your boundaries? Things like what music movies you will entertain yourself with, or the types of friends you hangout with. Boundaries give you the ability to tell yourself no, when you want to say yes. This is a growing discipline that we all work on. 1 Timothy talks about the false doctrines and teachers that would come amongst us, boundaries keep us safe. You won’t need to fear moral failure, if boundaries are built. The Holy Spirit is given to us a helper and even a builder of boundaries. 1 Corinthians 13:11 shows us the best freedom we can find knowing that those boundaries will always be a way of escape from temptation.
(Side Note: Temptation isn’t always a “sin thing”. Temptation could be a great thing. Temptation to quit your job too early. Temptation to stay the same when you know you’re called for more.)
]]>
As leaders it’s important that we do this more than once a year however, it’s a good time to talk about this so here we go! If our vision gets cloudy and unorganized than so does the productivity of our team. Here are some things you need to clean to make sure the productivity keeps moving!
[clickToTweet tweet=”If our vision gets cloudy and unorganized than so does the productivity of our team. -@a_burchfield” quote=”If our vision gets cloudy and unorganized than so does the productivity of our team.”]
1
Clean Your Space
As much as you may not like it, cleaning the space where you do the most life will drastically change the way you feel about yourself. So bust out the dust rags and detail some of the places you haven’t looked at for a while.
2
Clean Your Head
Can you remember the last time you sat in absolute silence for longer than 30 minutes? When we get things quiet and don’t think about what’s going on around us the brain has a way of refreshing itself. Leaders are always on the go, but our brains weren’t designed to be like on-going high computers. We need to slow down and rest. Stop thinking about the situations that are over and done with. Reset your thoughts to focus on what’s important to your vision here and now. When I need to clean out my head I’m in one of three places:
3
Clean Your Spirit
In this day and age, we are always getting more and more preaching and teaching than any generation has before. From podcasts to books, special conferences, web streams, coffee chats, it is never ending all the things that our spirit is capturing. Take some time to clean your spirit. Re-evaluate your true core beliefs, your convictions and values. Bypass the resources and go to the source, the Word of God. Don’t seek the truth, go find it. Don’t talk about God, talk to God.
]]>
Smith Wigglesworth – The Anointing of His Spirit
Bill Johnson – “Jesus Christ is perfect theology.”
GROWTH
OBSTACLES
ADDRESS
LENGTH
– How long do you have?
– How long do you need?
Systems
– Episode #012: People’s Profiles
People Talking About Goals