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Who inspired you as a teenager?

If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.” – Tony Robbins

    I was introduced to Tony Robbins by Ron Morkved, an older gentlemen I knew when I was a teenager, and he recommend I listen to Personal Power.  This was before I had real faith in God, and was struggling as a teenager to maintain santity, and was on an attempt to truly find myself. As I listened, I felt inspired by his passion, commitment, and pro-active stance for action, and continious personal growth and development.  Tony Robbins challenged me to unleash my best. It was the start of my life-long personal growth commitment.   

    Act on it.  Act on it was one of the gold nuggets of knowledge I learned from Personal Power, and action is results.  Act on it, says, “Start with something simple and build momentum.  Decide and act.  Take massive action.  Have a bias for action.  Take consistent action.  Throw massive action at your problems.”

 Tony Robbins teaches that smart’s not enough.  If we’re smart, but don’t take action, we can end up smart and broke, smart and fat, or smart and alone.  We need to take consistent actions and improve our results.  Along those lines, it’s not enough to know what to do, you need to do what you know.

 

Inspired by a fellow innovative/creative leader today...Erwin Raphael McManus

I had the privilege of listening to Erwin McManus live today at Bethel University. It was very interesting listening to McManus personally share his experience with violent-verbal abuse from many in the Christian community...being called things like a "heretic" and such.  

Erwin also shared about the criticism he received for creating his Super Bowl Doritos  commercial - most all the criticism came from the Christian communities theological watchdogs (go fetch your bones homeboyz--you bother people).

Erwin has influenced my ministry for quite some time now, and today was no different. Using Acts 17 as his foundation, he challenged pastors and ministry staff alike...we are to live out the high calling on a daily basis...how do we best communicate the gospel in various settings—among people of faith, in the marketplace, and to people without faith? 

Erwin journeyed us throw the process and tension of living in the midst of these three diverse worlds:

• First Space: It is a place of commonality.  It is a place to belong, especially with those among people of faith.
• Second Space: It is a place where we have to earn the right to be heard-in the marketplace.  We don't lead the church "into" the marketplace...we have to understand we are apart of the marketplace. There is a huge dichotomy in the Christian community between sacred and secular...that is why the American church is ineffective in the marketplace.
• Third Place: to people without faith. This space you can't go into by yourself-you must be invited into this place (relationships with unchurched people then is so important).  We build relationships and then we are invited into "their" space/we get invited into their "first space" and start to have life-changing connections and conversations. 

Kind words from a innovative photographer, and good friend.

 I found these kind words from Simon McConico on the internet about me a few days ago.  Encouragement is like oxygen to the soul...let me tell you about Simon; he is a very innovative photographer, good friend, and is also going to get married April 3rd, 2010 to a fantastic woman, Nicole Henzel.  I am very happy for Simon, and wish the best for both of them...Edwinna and I love you both.

Thanks again for the kind words Simon...

(From Simon McConico):   "A little while ago Jake and I went up to Minneapolis to shoot a wedding.  The day after the wedding we stuck around and shot some promo material for Christ Church International’s new website that is in the works.  After we shot that we hung out with Jamey who is one of my mentors and a good friend.  Some people just have a cool, down to earth vibe and that is very Jamey.  He is the pastor of Leadership and Development at CCI and does his job well.

One of the things that I really admire about him is that he is good at reading people and encouraging people.  We went to the Tea Garden (wish they had one in Wis.), and chatted for a while about Valo and the big ideas we have for our company.  He gave some great feedback to our thoughts and encouraged us to keep going after our passions.  Here are a few photos that we took when we were walking around in South Minneapolis."

Simon took these photo of me about a year ago.  If you need photos taken, HE IS THE MAN! 

  

  
 
 

Catalyst One Day, Scott Hodge, and Craig Groeschel

jamey&scott from jamey johnson on Vimeo.

I had a great time at Catalyst One Day in Chicago.  I also was able to spend some time with my good buddy Scott Hodge (pastor of The Orchard Community).  

 I also received a chance a to meet Craig Groeschell, pastor of LifeChurchTV.  Groeschel is doing some very creative, innovative, cutting edge things in ministry.  It was a privilege listening to him teach on organizational and personal momentum, and I really appreciate getting a chance to meet him.

Innovative New Business: VALO

 

This is my good homie Simon McConico (aka. Big Dr. Dope...aka THE PHOTO MAN).

Simon just started a new photography company called: Valo.  Simon started this company with his business partner Jake, another great up-in-coming photographer.  I got a chance to spend some time w/ these two fellas, and observe them on a photo shoot they did for our church...they have vision, creativity, great people-skills, innovative, and take some spectacular pictures.  Simon is YIN, and Jake is the Yang...they have a such a great creative chemistry together, it's awesome to watch, and there photos prove it.  

I seriously believe that Valo is going to be one of the up-in-coming, influential/creative photography businesses in the  5 state area.  They are helping me to create overall new branding image for my business/ministry.

I’ve gotten to know Simon personally over the past few years and here’s the bottom line when it comes to Simon: He is willing to take risks, use his innovative/creative gifts, has a passion for what he does, and has such a great vibe with people (that it's ridiculous).

These are just some of the photos they did for me...I had a great time fellas...blessing to you both! 

 

Smile!

There are photographers...and then...THERE ARE PHOTOGRAPHERS!  You need to check out this dude's photography site (simonmcconico.com).  Simon was a former intern with us at Christ Church International.  I was privileged to work with him in one of our young adult environments called, AfterHours.  Simon was very innovative and creative in video and photography, therefore, he excelled in both our music and promotions department. 

Simon now works in Wisconsin (dang-nab-it...we need to get him back here).  This dude has taken his photography business to a WHOLE NEW CREATIVE LEVEL...he is a fantastic photographer! 

Simon promotes himself as a child, senior, fashion, commercial, and anything else photographer in the Milwaukee area. If it includes taking photos, he says, "count me in."  Go head' and check his site and let him know what you think! 

Catalysts of change

My homie Scott Hodge recently wrote about The Orchard's journey of transition and change on his blog.  Scott's post struck a nerve!  I started to think about the church I serve at, and pondered our journey, and wondered our we really ready to make a tranistion and embrace change.  Then I started to think about the lack of change and movement in many churches today...Why?

Pastor, leader, and innovator Erwin McManus said, "For too long the church has longed for the good old days, has hoped that the future would simply be a detour to the past...We are not only called to be changed and to embrace change but to  be the catalysts of change."

Pressure to stay relevant

Do you find pressure to keep your ministry or business relevant, engaging and innovative?  I know I have.  However, I have found most of the "real" pressure comes from within.  The fear of failure, making mistakes, and people pleasing is where the real pressure comes for me.  In the process of attempting to be relevant, engaging and innovative we must not be afraid to fail and make mistakes.  In order to stay FRESH in our organization, I believe it is essential to create a culture that is alloted to make mistakes and isn't afraid of trying new things. 

In the current issue of Ministry Today, Ed Young tells about his process to stay relevant, creative, engaging, and innovative within his ministry and leadership, he said, "Every church should be growing because living things grow."  To keep a church healthy, active, creative and maturing, Ed offers up seven keys of encouragement: 

1. Say it and spray it--often.  Ed points out the need to assert what your church is all about and why it does what it does from the pulpit often.  This is a must to discover who is truly on board with the vision.  Ed points out, "I've discovered that people forget why they do what they do after about three weeks."

2. Go gospel.  At the core of every activity within church must have the simple message of the gospel.

3. Pastor your future church.  Young encourages leaders to pastor their churches as if they were three of four times their present size.  This isn't just for pastors' own sake, but to prepare the entire congregation for future growth.

4. Use what you've got.  Use the people in your organization to the fullest - equip, equip, equip.

5. Do only what only you can do.  Leaders are good at taking on burdens, whether we have the ability of gifting to resolve them or not.  Find those things that you are good at, and assign the rest to those who are more qualified.

6. Be your own best critic.  Use people (creative teams) to critique your sermons, meetings, and talks.  release insecurity/defensiveness and be open to critique.

7. Grow with subtraction.  Every time you go to the next level in your church (organization), there's going to be a new devil, and people are going to go by the wayside.  So don't tell me who's coming to your church, tell me who's leaving your church.  Because whenever your talk about VISION, people will bolt--and that's OK, because when they bolt, more will be added.

A church in transition, a dad who tragically died, a son in grief, and a pastor who stood tall…

Are you in need of change?  Is your church in need of change?  Are you afraid of transitioning your church to a new tomorrow? 

Scott Hodge's story will answer these questions and so much more.  This pastor's remarkable journey tells a story of joy, pain, grief and hope, it will impact you and your church community!!!  What did you do with what God has given you?  

When you hit the link you need to get through the funny/goofy church folks skit at the beginning.

Catalyst, HomeBoyz, and Ribs @ Fat Matt's Rib Shack

I just came back from Atlanta with one of good friends and homeboy, Scott Hodge.  Our purpose for traveling to Hot(lanta), was to attend the Catalyst Leadership Conference.  The conference was good, leaders such as Andy Stanley, John Maxwell, Erwin McManus spoke on various leadership topics.  However, though I enjoyed the leadership training aspect of the Catalyst conference, I really enjoyed hangin' with Scott, meeting new people, and eating at Fat Matt's Rib Shack (this Rib Shack is highly recommended as you can see...we threw down!!!).

I also met a new homeboy and friend, his name is Carlos Whittaker.  I first was exposed to Los (Carlos) from his blog--Ragamuffin Soul.  It was great meeting Los in person (good guy, great musician, leader, and family man).  Carlos just got INKED on the T.V. show L.A. Ink - really cool - nice TAT LOS!!!