I am anticipating a great service with Dick Brogden on Sunday.  Brogden closed the I Want To Lead conference on Thursday with an incredible morning of teaching and inspiration.   I anticipate a great Sunday at CIL with Brogden’s message to us.

The last three days have felt like two weeks.   The first ever I Want To Lead conference has gone better than we could’ve hope.  A small group of students has been hand chosen by God to launch a student leadership movement.   All of our presenters have been amazing!   Every single presenter – Amy Stroup, Andy Kirk, Rob Winter, The Dave Ramsey team, The Show Hope team, Hazel O’Leary, The Canton Plantation historian, Robby McGee – did a remarkable job!

Last session on Thursday!

Rob Winter is one of the leaders behind the company 1ChristianNet, which includes 1CN Records and teaching/training website Innovative Ministry Leader. Winter has also been instrumental in designing Worship Planner Internet software for the company. He has been leading worship and training worship leaders for over 15 years and currently leads worship at NorthPointe Community Church outside Philadelphia.

Father’s Day is an easy day to verbally beat up all Dads for the sins of the weak ones.   I want to take another angle – I think in many ways (not all ways) contemporary fathers have improved on their predecessors.   Many sociologist have concluded that the reason today’s young adult children are not leaving home in their twenties and thirties is a result of their bond with their parents.   They don’t want to leave, and their parents don’t want to see them go.

Here are positives things I am seeing in today’s father’s:
– A passion to spend time with their children
– High participation in their child’s activities
– Appropriate verbal and physical affection toward the child
– An affirmation of their child’s natural talents and interests
– Shared hobbies and expeiences

Try to encourage a father this week!

If you want some encouragement today, read the post below from Seth Godin – my favorite blogger.  Seth doesn’t claim to be a Christian, but he is full of wisdom that impacts my life on a regular basis.   You can check out the link here.

You matter by Seth Godin

* When you love the work you do and the people you do it with, you matter.
* When you are so gracious and generous and aware that you think of other people before yourself, you matter.
* When you leave the world a better place than you found it, you matter.
* When you continue to raise the bar on what you do and how you do it, you matter.
* When you teach and forgive and teach more before you rush to judge and demean, you matter.
* When you touch the people in your life through your actions (and your words), you matter.
* When kids grow up wanting to be you, you matter.
* When you see the world as it is, but insist on making it more like it could be, you matter.
* When you inspire a Nobel prize winner or a slum dweller, you matter.
* When the room brightens when you walk in, you matter.
* And when the legacy you leave behind lasts for hours, days or a lifetime, you matter.

IWTL is proud to announce Hazel O”Leary as a presenter this year.

Hazel O’Leary has served as the president of her alma mater Fisk University in Nashville since 2004. She was the 7th U.S. Secretary of Energy (1993 to 1997) and was the first African American and woman to serve in that Cabinet position. During her tenure, O’Leary provided the leadership necessary to end nuclear testing in the U.S. and gain support for nuclear weapons reform internationally with the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in 1996.

I want to commend Sarah Palin for her courage and boldness to stand up to a popular cultural icon like Dave Letterman.   Earlier this week, Letterman made comments about Palin’s family that included what Palin called “sexually perverted comments” about one of her teenage daughters.  You can read more details here.

Despite your affinity for these two popular figures, I think objectively you can conclude that Letterman was wrong and Palin is right on this issue.

For too long we have allowed men to make inappropriate jokes about under age women, with no consequence.   We can’t condemn something with our laws, then laugh about it in our humor.

Sarah Palin is not without flaws or political shortcomings, but at least she is courageous enough to speak her mind on an issue and take up for her children.   She is setting an example of candor and leadership a lot of men should follow.

During IWTL, we will visit New Life International headquarters and meet with Robby McGee.    McGee serves as the President/CEO of New Life International. A native of Dallas, McGee became affiliated with the organization in January 2003. New Life funds missions projects worldwide from revenue generated through its real estate and market investments, various business ventures and charitable planned giving. Its vision is to see two million people per year for the next twenty years accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

During IWTL, we will visit the Dave Ramsey Show. During our visit, Dave will be broadcasting the radio show live. Dave’s daughter who is a senior at the University of Tennessee, will be our special host for the afternoon. We will plan a time for our group to view the radio program, meet the show’s producer and his production team. We will also have a chance to spend some personal time with Dave. This is a great opportunity to not just meet Dave, but to see first hand how a world class media operation is run.

I can’t believe that I Want To Lead is almost here.  After years of dreaming, this special mentoring program for HS Seniors will start on June 22.

The event is smaller than we first anticipated, but this small group of students and leaders will be a perfect group to test some of our concepts.   We want these students to network together as future leaders who will make a life-long impact on our nation.

The first step is always the hardest step . . . here we go!