In case you have not read my first post on this topic start here first.

Now that you have read the first part here are some more daily tools that I use to stay mobile.

JotNot Pro.
Here is a great app that I can snap a photo of all my receipts and then email them or save them in Evernote or Dropbox and share with my secretary so she can then file them or get me reimbursed. But no longer do i have to go into an office to get this done.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/smartr-contacts-for-iphone/id492744572?ls=1&mt=8

This free app automatically creates rich profiles for all your contacts, including communication history and updates from Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Note: A Gmail, Yahoo! Mail or Xobni for Outlook account is required. me.com or iCloud mail support is coming soon!

Here are some ways you can use Smartr Contacts for your personal and professional life:
- Keep track of all the people you’ve ever communicated with – automatically
- Always know who you’re communicating with photos and recent communication history
- See what’s up with your top contents in the home screen’s social carousel
- Call, email or SMS someone with a single tap
- Stay up to date with updates from Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter
- See who you have in common with everyone
- Bring all your contacts together into one place
- Protect your contacts in the cloud, so should you lose your phone, all your contacts are safe and secure

Lynda
Here is an app that keeps me in the know through video training on numerous subjects. I also provide this for my team as well. So when I am sitting waiting for an appointment I can log into my account and learn the newest photoshop skills, or final cut, or Keynote presentation tips or more. I am constantly being a great steward of my churches time.

TeleNav GPS
3D maps with live traffic flow, turn-by-turn directions with manual rerouting, local search, cheap gas price finder and more. Now with Facebook integration & enhanced map discovery. This keeps me on the road and in the know of where I am going and how to get there.

iAttendance
Do you find yourself searching for paper and pencil to keep track of attendance for your social group? Do you help out with a Bible club and need to track participation? Or, the person every Sunday who tries to keep track of attendance at Sunday School? This app allows me to be away from my church data base and still keep track of who is coming.

There is part 2. Hang in there for part 3 coming your way soon.

I am amazed at how much my work life has changed over the last few years due to new tools that allow me to stay mobile. I no longer need an office (even though my church does provide me with a nice one that I am grateful for), or not as much need to travel to distant meetings and spend gas money. As I was reflecting these changes and being grateful for the tools, I thought it would be good to share with you what I choose to use and maybe find out what you choose to use.

Dropbox.
Here is one tool that I use daily for numerous things from backing up data bases to sharing documents with different groups. My coaching students and I use this to share documents, my volunteers and I use this to share curriculum and service material and so much more.

Evernote.
This has truly become my brain. I have bloged about this in a few places like here, here, here, here, here, here, and even here . As you can see Evernote has truly made an impact into my life and productivity. I would also recommend reading “Evernote for pastors”.

1 Password
With all of the mobile living I do, I have numerous passwords. For remembering all of these passwords, or filling out all the online forms with my info, I truly enjoy 1 Password to do all of this for me.

Skype
Here is a tool which now allows me to conference call with several people at once. I use this every week several times a week talking with all of my Kidology Coaching students. It also allows me to hold trainings on the go as well.

SugarSync
SugarSync is a service that enables you to access, sync and share your files across all your computers and devices. It enable you to backup, sync and share all of your documents, photos, music and movies so that you can access them from your laptop, iPhone, iPad, Android, BlackBerry, or any other device.

Pages, Keynote, Numbers.
There’s iWork for Mac and iWork for iOS. And they’re designed to be compatible. So you can create a document, spreadsheet, or presentation on one device and edit it
on another. I can write documents on the fly, create a presentation for training a group of leaders or even create a service with all my videos, countdowns, and all with Keynote.

Google Reader, Mashable, Flipboard, Zite.
I use all of these to stay in touch with what is going on in my fields of interest around the world. I no longer need to buy magazines when I use these free resources because there is always someone out there who is blogging or writing something about every article that is in any magazine that I could have ordered.

Here is the end of part 1 of my daily tools I use to stay mobile. Hopefully you can find some that will be of use to you. I will continue this list in future post as well seeing that I have a few favorites that I use everyday.

So, do you have any favorites?

Over the past 6 months I feel I have been challenged by God to think through what things I do everyday, every week, and every month that are truly adding value to the ministry He has called me to here at my church. This may sound easy, but it has been anything but that. I perceived everything I was doing as adding value to what He called me to do, but I could not have been more wrong.

My discoveries 6 months later…
Very little of what I tend to do was specifically adding value to what I have been called to do. Ouch!

So changes started…
I got away and spent time asking who and what have You (God) called me to? I am called first (outside of to my family of course) to the families of my church and the Kansas City, MO area. I was unfortunately living the way I think and see many others trying and live. I felt called to the “world”, and my church served as my tent-making way of living. Doing ministry with this type of unrealized motives created very little value-adding ministry efforts to the ministry I am called to. My church never cared how many conferences I spoke at, camps that I spoke at, or committees I chaired or lead. None of those things added any true value to those God wanted me to reach first.

I finally had to realize there was a vast difference, as Ernest Hemingway has put it, between “motion and action”. It was so easy to forget that the work which I spent so many of my working hours on was not truly guided by what those I was called to reach really viewed as value. They didn’t care about all of the services I put together for camps, conferences, etc.. They cared more about answers, solutions, and results that solved their issues.

What activities may you be doing that might look productive, but don’t actually provide value for those God has called you to reach first? Step back and examine your daily activities for truly value-adding work that those you are called to reach first really want. I think this new view will reveal enormous opportunities for improvement, both in what you do and how you do it.

I had just read this blog post over on Ryans blog and thought it was great and worthy to make mention of again. Ryan makes mention of a guy in his church who gave him a stack of papers that he picked up from a conference. Included in that stack was a sheet with the chain of events that lead to adultery. Here is a paraphrase of 11 of the 22 steps mentioned. To read the whole post with all 22 steps go to Ryan’s blog.

1. You meet someone (the circumstances vary).

2. You grow more and more aware of that particular person.

3. You spend time thinking about that person.

4. There is a series of unplanned, innocent contacts. This can be in person or electronic (email, Facebook, etc).

5. In your mind, you compare that person to your present husband or wife.

6. You spend time thinking about how unhappy you are.

7. The unplanned, innocent contacts develop into planned, intentional contacts.

8. You find ways to seek the other person out to talk and have conversations. Again, this can be online, by email or by text.

9. You realize that you feel good when you’re with the other person.

10. You start comparing. You compare the way you feel about this person with the way you feel about your spouse. You compare how the other person treats you compared to how your spouse treats you.

11. You look for ways you can be with the other person for legitimate reasons.

Hopefully you have never found yourself in any of these first 11 steps. If you have then please be aware the slippery slope has started and you must take control of it. I was talking with my wife about this topic and we started to look at how much people will do to protect their homes, bank accounts, cars, even passwords and the whole time not put in even a fraction of that time to protecting their marriages.

What have you put in place to keep any and all of this from happening? Too many are allowing their marriages to end. Let’s take it back and protect one of our greatest relationships outside of our relationship with God.

Mail Chimp is fast approaching to become a very valuable tool for our children’s ministry of SFLCKids.

Yes I use it to send out email blast for my workers. This allows me to keep the vision, mission, purpose of our children’s ministry in front of all the volunteers. It also allows me a tool that I can use to encourage them during those seasons where maybe a lot of our team members are going through a lot of personal struggles. I use this as well to make sure my teams are always updated and informed before information gets out to others.

Another way we are using this tool is for communication to parents. This helps me to not have to have so many meetings with parents, but instead I use this tool in combination with our kids Facebook page to keep parents plugged in. I also no longer have to use flyers to communicate with parents, seeing that to me using a flyer shows that something was not thought out as well as it could have been and so to make up for it we are having to hand you this flyer in the last minute. Again for me, I make using flyers the absolute last resort, but still do use them occasionally.

With mail chimps iPhone app I am finding that during special events creating an iPhone team with the app on their phone and our kids mail chimp account loaded, sending this team out talking to the crowd and asking how they are liking the event is very profitable. While they talk with the families in the crowd we are finding that many people would like a quick email to let them know of our next big event. Now we add their email and name on the spot and add them into our “Event Only” email list. They don’t seem to mind to give us this info as much as they use to not like to give us more detailed info that we tried to collect in the past. So every time we get ready for a new sermon series, large event etc we send out to this list of people and use it as a hook to introduce them to our congregation and create memories.

Do you use mail chimp? How do you use it?

I was extremely delighted when Brian Dollar contacted me and asked if I would be willing to do a book review for his new book, I Blew It. I must say it was already on my list to buy the very next week. Thanks a ton, Brian, for this opportunity to read your book. According to me this is one of the best children’s ministry books out there.

As time goes on, I am enjoying the true transparency the children’s ministry world is beginning to live out. What were once known as “Trade secrets” are beginning to be shared. Resources, methods, networks, and yes, even mistakes are being told openly. This is one of the things that stood out to me throughout Brians book, “I Blew It”. Brian takes transparency to a level many have been too scared to share openly. He does this through life lessons he shares and the Biblical lessons he includes as well.

At first I read over the 12 chapter titles, and must admit he had me just with those. Then I could not resist starting the book a few days earlier than I had planned. I am very glad I did not wait to read his book and here are just a few reasons why…

Brian shares how his Pastor Rod Loy shared that many people in the American church have rewritten Proverbs 3:5-6 to be:
” I’ll trust in the Lord as much as I’m able-as long as it doesn’t cost me too much, make life inconvenient, or keep me from fitting in with everyone around. I expect Him to bless my plans….” You have got to read the rest in his book. It was great.

“We enjoy all kinds of modern conveniences and technology, but we’ve let drive thru windows, ATMs, and online shopping convince us that spiritual life should be just as effortless.”

“One of the surest signs that we’re getting our identity from our strengths instead of Christ is that nagging and gnawing habit of comparison. We don’t compare ourselves to everybody in the world-but only those who have similar talents as ours.”

I could go on and on with great quotes from this book. It gives very practical insight and shows it is from 20 years of experience and situations lived out, not just a bunch of theories. I will go beyond just saying this is a good book to read, but instead this is a “must have” book in any children’s pastor’s arsenal. In this book you will find yourself laughing at what he did and then in the very next sentence you will be squirming with him as you relate to how he blew it.

Please feel free to email me or post your thoughts and comments on this book once you’ve read it.

Today I continue our effective meetings can happen part two. If you have not read part one yet I would suggest to do so either now or after you finish today’s reading. So here we go with some more suggestions to help not have meetings that bring the dread on for so many.

Encourage Responsibility and Contribution.
When participants share responsibility for running meetings they not only develop their leadership skills, but they are more likely to contribute, collaborate, learn and feel engaged.

Icebreakers are a Constructive Way to Start the Meeting.
Even when participants know each other, the beginnings of meetings can be a little uncomfortable. You may be cautious about participating if you are unsure of what to expect. Icebreakers can be used to get to know each other better, to start thinking about the topic to be discussed or just to feel more at ease so that you can take risks and try new ideas.

Structure the meeting so that there is a variety of discussion, presentation and focused activities.
When brainstorming, problem solving or decision making, there are a variety of techniques to use. Don’t use the same techniques every time. Research these strategies in advance so that you can use the most appropriate strategies to maximize your group’s effectiveness.

End on Time With a Review and Agreement on Next Steps.
Demonstrate your respect by ending on the time. As it is possible for people to walk out of the meeting with different versions of what occurred, it’s a good idea to schedule a quick review of what was discussed and what was agreed upon. It is vitally important that the facilitator identifies the steps that need to be taken before the next meeting, who will take responsibility for each step, and by when it will be accomplished. Clarity goes a long way to getting results and action.

Make sure you thank everyone for his or her time and show appreciation for what was accomplished in the meeting.
Everyone wants to feel appreciated, especially if they just invested their valuable time into a meeting over the last 30, 60 or 90+ minutes.

Use these tips to turn your meetings into EFFECTIVE meetings so that everyone will feel that their time, thoughts and contributions are appreciated. EFFECTIVE meetings should energize, give direction and inspire confidence about what your team can achieve.

What else would you add as ideas to use for more effective meetings

I know so many people who once they hear they need to attend a meeting you can see it on their face, complete dread and misery. Why do so many people feel like meetings are something to endure rather than benefit from? To turn your meetings into a time that is EFFECTIVE, here are some tips to create an environment where participants can bring their strengths and ideas to the table to make meetings effective.

EFFECTIVE meetings establish the Purpose and Desired Outcomes.
Once you articulate, in specific terms, what you want to achieve, then you can decide if a meeting is the best way to reach your objective.

Never meet out of habit or to tell people something they can read.
Respect everyone’s time, including your own and look for alternatives to live meetings where possible. Some acceptable purposes for a live meeting include:
- Making a big decision
- Making a decision that effects several different ministries
- Working together to create an idea, plan, project or to share information when the subject requires interaction and explanation.
- Finalize an Agenda.The agenda should include the purpose and outcomes statement and be distributed 2-3 days before the meeting so that participants may be prepared. Any background data and information should be distributed at that time as well. Communicate the intent of each agenda item rather than just the topic. For example, activity, information only, discussion, decision. Each item should also have a start time, a duration and a stop time, including breaks if the meeting will last longer than 90 minutes. This enables participants to take the agenda more seriously and work more efficiently.

Free the Prisoners.
Restrict meetings to only those who truly need to be there. Only those who truly need to be there should be invited. Really. Truly. On a need to be there basis. Don’t try and flatter yourself by having a BIG all inclusive meeting so you feel like your agenda is that important.

I will post some more ways tomorrow that I would suggest trying to have those effective non-dread meetings.

Watch the video and let me know what you think? Why do you think it has been so quiet around the children’s pastor scene? Just curious of your thoughts.

I hear this question so many times from so many children’s pastors and leaders in general, “What does your day/week look like?”

I thought I would go ahead and turn today’s post into a list post that will briefly show my week and how I have chosen to “chunk” my agenda for each day of the week. Allow me to also say that with each one of our schedules they should really reflect where we are going, what assignments God has us individually working on. As you review peoples schedules make sure you don’t cross over into comparing your schedule to others. Doing this comparison can sometimes be a disguise of “Pride” (look how much more I do than so and so..) or “Shame” (wow I don’t do anything compared to so and so..).

Again, as you review schedules don’t look at the amount or minimum that each one does, but look at the flow of their day. How have they chunked similar type projects together to keep them going in similar directions so they have less stop and start for the day which will allow them to maintain better momentum.  I believe so much in this I work with everyone of my coaching proteges to help them get this accomplished for themselves. And then I celebrate as they share with me the great results they are experiencing.

Monday (Admin, Coaching, Reading)

- Go through process files. This is a file electronic and paper file that I throw things that I dont want to lose but it is not mandatory for me to look at right then.
- Send emails
- Review week and prep for future
- Set up church networking schedule. Who am I going to network with this week, month etc.
- Write/Call cp’s to encourage
- Set up lunches, mtgs., read selected books
- Coaching Skype calls
- Review from Sunday
- Create Mail Chimp newsletter
- Contact new visitors
- Set time apart for vision casting

Tuesday(Meetings)

- Pastoral team mtg
- Eat lunch with someone
- Eat Breakfast with someone
- School assemblies
- Touch base with new volunteers, go over background checks for future volunteers
- Eat at schools if not with someone
- Building network with other churches by visiting them
- Meetings scheduled
- Sunday School appreciation cards

Wednesday (Writing, Reading, Coaching)

- Write sermons, curriculum, blog, articles to publish, Light Coaching appointments
- At night I make rounds through all children’s ministry areas and check in with parents and leaders to get unofficial feedback concerning cm overall.

Thursday (Training, Networking, Ministry improvements)

- Improve 1 thing for each ministry I am over. usually from my MBWA list (Management By Walking Around List)
- Network with cp’s
- Meeting overflow from Tuesday
- Work on training from Lynda.com which I provide for my team as well.
- CP Network (email team, send individual encouragement)
- Visit Kids
- Social network

Friday (Day Off)
This is the day that I get to choose what I want to do. A lot of wife time while kids are at school. Reading, walking etc.

Saturday (Ministry, Follow up, and family time)

- Review Sunday message before bed
- Read
- Ministry with teams
- Outreach
- Check in with JBQ, Nursery, Jr. Jam, Sunday School, Jam City leaders to make sure all are ready for the morning.
- Drive community to look for new places for ministry opportunities and keep in touch with the community flow

Sunday (Church, training)

- Arrive at church and make my rounds through the facility, start computers for check in, start the coffee for my team and me.
- Go to pastoral prayer and check in with everyone
- Greet all my team leaders when they arrive and pray with them and hold stand up mtgs
- Church (preach and all) and then training each group of ministry I am responsible for on their assigned Sunday of the month after service.
- Go to lunch with friends or ministry leaders or new visitors.

There you go, a brief overview of my weekly schedule. I try to the best of my ability to keep common themed items on the same day so that again as stated above it helps me with not having that feel of multi-tasking. I can also tell you that my schedule does change and gets adapted as God brings in new things, and this schedule above is by no means a detail of any day (seeing I left out family time, personal time, God time etc) but hopefully will serve as an overview to show chunking.