Today was our third day to visit communities in Bangladesh. We had amazing day in another sweeper community outside of Dhaka. We visited with some families that are affected by FH’s work. Here’s a post I wrote for the Catalyst blog on the savings groups that we’ve seen impacting each community. PS – I just got my ticket for Catalyst West. I sure hope to see you in Orange County in April. 

One of the things that I’ve been so impressed by during our time in Bangladesh is our savings group model. It is obvious that these savings groups are the bedrock of our work in Bangladesh. They allow us to impact a community wholistically. Not only do the groups allow women to save for a future together, also they give the women the rare opportunity to learn to read and write, develop small businesses, raise healthy families, strengthen their communities, learn leadership skills, discover their rights, and prevent childhood marriages.

Currently FH has over 900 groups across 7 areas of Bangladesh. We have chosen to run learning and savings groups in these areas as they are particularly needy and vulnerable places, where women can be deprived or mistreated. In many of these places FH originally carried out emergency relief work in response to natural disasters. Eventually our groups help disaster torn communities to develop and recover in a sustainable way. Click here to read more. 

Have you heard of savings groups before? If so, I’d love to hear about when and how? 

Jon Acuff

How do you not get lost in the process? How do you not confuse MAKING with achieving?

1. Remember who you are. You are not the things you MAKE. Your identity is not tied to what you do for a living. Fame is the most dangerous drug in Christianity today. Remember the Creator of the Universe knows your name…that’s as famous as you ever need to be.

2. Remember who God is. God is never restricted in His Glory by the size of your platform. God will never be hand-cuffed by your failures or unleashed by your successes. He is God. Don’t put that pressure on yourself. Don’t be like the brother of the prodigal son, don’t miss the party because you are slaving in the fields, when that isn’t what your Father has called you to do.

Matt Chandler

Catalyst does one of two things to people. It encourages/magnifies or it discourages/depletes.

The Holy Spirit illuminates. And what we need is illumination.

When you get time with Him, be honest about where you are and ask God to minister to you, ask Him to break somethings, ask Him to dial in your hearts to where your identity lies.

In Galations 4:21, Paul asserts that it is not in the Biblical to live under the law. The law tells us that transformation doesn’t happen outside in, but rather inside out.

We can begin to define our value, by external things instead of internal things. If you do that, you’ll have a hard time celebrating the success of other’s ministries.

Our people need to know that God works in a mess.

Living under the law is slavery. You will never walk in the fullness and the freedom that Christ brings.

You have been saved by GRACE alone. Justification is the crown jewel of our salvation.

God calls me son. Justification leads up to our sonship. It allows us to be sons and daughters of God.

I might a lot of people who believe that we are forgiven but who act all crotchety. It is because they view God as Judge, not as Father.

We can’t forget that we are coheirs with Christ. And this is our inheritence:

1. We get God himself in good times and bad. He is our strength. He is our portion. He is all we need.

2. One day we’ll get resurrected. Death has no sting. Loss carries no weight. Everything is made new.

3. We get the world.

4. We get suffering and rejection. The promise you have been given in God is regardless of your circumstances.

Be faithful where you are. Good days, bad days, and normal days are all about God conforming you and transforming you. God is chiseling you.

God doesn’t drive an ambulance. He never shows up late.

It was a great couple of days at Catalyst. Can’t wait to be back next year!

I’m hanging out at Catalyst today and loving every minute. After missing the big Atlanta shindig last year, it’s so nice to be back, to be learning from such gifted leaders, to hang with friends from around the world and to rest, reflect and worship with 13,000 believers.

Since a lot of you couldn’t be here., thought I’d recap each day so you don’t have to miss everything! The theme this year is MAKE.

Andy Stanley – The Making of a Leader

When leaders tell their stories, they talk about what MADE them leaders.

Information and insight alone do not a leader MAKE.

When leaders tell their stories about what MADE them a leader,  very rarely do they mention podcasts, articles, or blog posts.

3 Things That MAKE a Leader:

• Unexpected Opportunity
• Unavoidable Adversity
• Unquestionable Calling

But it’s not only the opportunity, adversity or calling that MAKE the leader. It’s the response to those things that MAKE the leader.

You need to write a story worth telling. God is MAKING you a leader. Respond well.

You have no control over any of it, except for how your respond.

3 Significant Things That Shaped Andy Stanley:

• Growing up his father told him rover and over again. “God has a plan for your life and you don’t want to miss it.” There was a sense of destiny that was constantly spoken over Andy and his sister. His first journal entry as a 17 year old, “I need to tell my son at a young age that God has a plan for his life.” Not only is God making you but he’s making your children, your grandchildren, and other people that are watching. Actions can echo into the next generation. Your response to opportunity, adversity, and calling can have more impact than you could ever imagine.
• A college leader once said to Andy, “I have a postion and I have a title, but you have influence. I want you to use it. Because influence is more important that position or title.” This was important because it was the first time Andy was thrown into an arena and didn’t know what to do.  It was an unexpected opportunity and Andy felt unprepared. But he stepped up and started sharing the Bible with his peers.
• As a result of a growing tension between Andy’s church and the gay community, at 27 Andy preached a sermon  on homosexuality. It was the first subject he’d ever heard on the subject.  It’s better to MAKE a difference than a point. Every once in awhile you are going to be disturbed by something, pay attention to that tension. God MAKES a leader by stirring our hearts. Leaders walk into messes.

I’m guest posting over on the Catalyst blog today about an event I’m really excited about.

One of my favorite things about blogging is the way a community is formed around mutual beliefs, interests, and passions. And, one of my favorite things about Catalyst is the way community is formed around mutual beliefs, interests, and passions. That’s why I am so excited about the Bloggers Meetup that is happening the Wednesday, October 3, at the Old Towne Tavern and Grill.

Here’s the way I think of it…

Online Community + IRL Community = Friends Are Friends Forever

Click here to continue reading…

You don’t want to miss the Catalyst Conference, where 13,000 young leaders will converge for the leadership experience of the year, including high-octane speakers, powerful worship, innovative programming, and a leadership experience unlike any other. It is going to take place October 3-5, 2012 in Atlanta, GA.

Hear from leadership authorities including Andy Stanley, Patrick Lencioni, Francis Chan, David Platt, Christine Caine, Craig Groeschel, Perry Noble and Matt Chandler, along with several innovative thinkers and practitioners like Emmy award winning executive producer of Survivor Mark Burnett, Harlem Children’s Zone founder and TIME 2011 Most Influential People list Geoffrey Canada, Equal Justice Initiative founder Bryan Stevenson, musician Israel Houghton, uber blogger and best-selling author Jon Acuff, and best-selling authors and TED Talks sensations Susan Cain and Simon Sinek.

Plus, be sure to go in early for Catalyst Labs, featuring thought leaders like Reggie Joiner, Michael Hyatt, Mark Batterson, Tim Elmore, Lysa Terkeurst, David Platt, Carlos Whittaker, Eugene Cho, Bob Goff, Lynne Hybels, Nick Vujicic, Tullian Tchividjian, Jen Hatmaker, Jon Acuff, and others.

A special registration rate of $219 is being made available to you (over $100 savings). To take advantage of this Exclusive offer, call 888.334.6569 to speak with the Catalyst Concierge team, or register at www.catalystconference.com and use RATE CODE FOB. The special rate expires this week on Thursday, August 23rd, so make sure and register early.

PS – Wednesday night is the annual Bloggers Meetup. It’s only $5 and it goes to a great cause. {Yes, this year it is benefitting  Food for the Hungry!} The Bloggers Meetup is a great time to mix, mingle or stalk some of your favorite online friends. Go here for more information and here to register. 

What’s your favorite Catalyst memory? 

I am finally catching my breath after an incredible couple of days at Catalyst West. And before next week launches another incredible adventure {more on that later this week}, I thought would share with you a guest post I wrote for the Catalyst blog for Earth Day {that’s today you know?}.

Too often saving the earth is viewed as a left wing political agenda and not as the God-ordained responsibility of every human being that inhabits this beautiful earth that He created as our home.

“The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Genesis 2:15

But as Genesis so clearly states, from the very beginning, we were put here to work and to preserve creation. So today, on Earth Day, let each of us take a few minutes to reflect on this incredible gift we’ve been given and the and little steps that we can take to take care of it.

Here are five easy ways that you can help save the earth: Read the rest here. 

Happy Earth Day, friends!

I’m in one of those weeks where my thoughts, my fears, my plans, my memories, and my prayers are fluttering around in my head so frantically that I am not quite sure how to untangle them. Each morning, I’ve slowly gotten out of bed, put one foot in front of the other, checked things off my seemingly endless list of to-dos, and done my best to avoid the “hot mess” that is my head.

But unfortunately Catalyst asked me to put together some thoughts on the theme for their Atlanta event, “Be Present.” So here I sat, staring at my blank white “edit post” screen, cautiously trying to make some sense of my jumbled thoughts and scanning the web for procrastination, or perhaps a touch of inspiration, when I stumbled upon this beautiful post from Amber Haines after discovering her 19-day-old son Titus has a small whole in his heart.

The presence of God is a riptide, and I do want to go under – thanksgiving, awe, love, and fear intermingle only there with truth and peace.

Let it be said of me that I knew I wasn’t in control. Let it be said that I threw my hands in the air, took the free-fall and found my joy deep in His mysterious river.

“Even though I walk through [hospital hallways (not to mention my insanely vivid imagination,)][the craziness of a cross-country move][enter what you are walking through here] I fear no evil, for You are with me.” (Psalm 23:4)

May we all BE PRESENT to this Truth. May we all discover the presence of God. May we all embrace the riptide.

And don’t forget The Catalyst Early Bird Deadline is tomorrow! Don’t Miss it – BE PRESENT.

I will BE PRESENT in my new role with Project 7 and I hope to see you all there. It is going to be an incredible event.

Call 888.334.6569 or go here to register: http://ow.ly/6b96t.

I am wrapping up my first week OFF the job {so far, so good} and thought I should check in and let you all know that…

1. I am alive. And well.

2. It might be 2011, but it is still not too late to put a 2009 spa gift certificate to good use.

3. Massages and pedicures are quite relaxing. Especially when you don’t have to pay for them.

4. You can, in fact, get a big ol’ sunburn when it’s overcast with a chance of rain. {I know. I am dumb.}

5. Part-time “Interning” for some of my favorite stay-at-home moms this summer might not pay big bucks, or any bucks, but it’s sure gonna be fun.

6. Catalyst knows how to hold a creative meeting.

7. The cafeteria at Chick-fil-A has an overwhelming amount of lunch options. And piles and piles of “life-changing” {and you know I don’t use those words lightly} Chick-fil-A sauce.

8. I am incredibly blessed with wise friends. I don’t deserve them. Or the advice and encouragement they continue to bestow.

9. Atlanta traffic can bring you to a standstill in the middle of afternoon. {I just don’t get it.}

10. This weekend is going to be epic. First-Ever U2 Concert + Out-of-Town Friends + In-Town-Friends + Fireworks = One Happy Girl.

What do you know?

I don’t know much about what this fall, next month, or even next week but I do know that I am going to “Be Present” at the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta this fall. It’s happening October 5-7 at the Gwinnett Arena and includes high-octane speakers, powerful worship, and an experience unlike any other.

Truly, it’s unlike anything you have ever seen or done.

Join me and learn from leadership authorities including Andy Stanley, Jim Collins, Francis Chan, David Platt, Priscilla Shirer, Mark Driscoll, Dave Ramsey and Judah Smith, along with several innovative thinkers and practitioners like Princeton professor Dr. Cornel West, TOMS Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie, Global Soap Project founder Derreck Kayongo, Hillsong United visionary Joel Houston, Barna Research President David Kinnaman, and adoptive mother of 13 Katie Davis.

Be sure to register for the Catalyst Labs so you don’t miss Michael Hyatt (Thomas Nelson Chairman of the Board and my former boss), Reggie Joiner, Mark Batterson, Pete Wilson (my pastor who is real, authentic and rocks quite “a do”), Tim Elmore, Scot McKnight, Margaret Feinberg, Bob Goff (the whimsy master and probably my favorite person to follow on Twitter), Mike Foster, David Kinnaman, Mary Graham (one of my very favorite women of faith), Samuel Rodriguez, Jon Acuff, Lecrae, Jo Saxton and Vicky Beeching (two of my favorite Brits), Eugene Cho, Lysa Terkeurst and others.

Best Rates on Catalyst tickets end on Thursday, June 23rd, so register now. Call 888.334.6569 to speak to a Catalyst Concierge, or register online at www.catalystconference.com. Use Rate Code FOB and receive a ticket price of $199 (savings of $120 off regular prices).

Catalyst will sell out, so make sure and register early!

Here’s the preview video:

Catalyst Atlanta 2011 {Be Present} Preview from Catalyst on Vimeo.

Okay, who’s in?

Today is one of those days where I have a thousand different thoughts circling around in my head and so instead of fleshing one out to make a tidy little post, or not blogging at all (which is the more likely alternative), you are going to get a whole bunch of randomness.

Last night I got to help out with Cross Point’s new internet campus. I am such a huge fan of my church and so I am stoked that they have created a way for me to share the experience with friends and family who aren’t in Nashville. Be sure tune in with us next Sunday night at 6 PM CST at http://www.crosspoint.tv/live.

I am so very sad to be missing Catalyst Dallas. As I said here, Catalyst and Dallas are two of my favorite things so I am pretty sure that together they will be pretty freakin’ incredible. If you go (there are still tickets available here if you haven’t purchased yours yet), be sure to take good notes so you can tell me all about it. And will someone please keep an eye on Bianca for me? I have this fear that she is gonna go all cowgirl on us and we won’t be able to get her back to her to the “gnarly” Southern California girl I know and love.

Instead of heading to the Lone Star State, I am heading to Louisville, Kentucky to participate in the Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit at Southeast Christian Church. I am really excited to see some friends, learn more about how we can get better serve orphans, and blog about the experience. It’s gonna be awesome. And this is my first trip to Louisville. Any tips on things to do, or more importantly, places to eat?

Last but not least, today Shaun Groves posted a sweet introduction to all the Compassion Bloggers that are heading to the Philippines. Go meet them and join me in praying for their trip. The month or so before they head out can be scary (I know that I was a big ol’ mess before my trip) so pray that they will find peace as God begins to open their hearts and prepare them for this journey.

Now it’s your turn. What’s circling in your head today?