caseyross

One Thing That Breaks My Heart

True or false?

• There are an estimated 2.5 million child sex slaves worldwide.
• 14,000 to 17,000 new sex slaves enter the United States every year.
• Atlanta (where we now live) is in the top 3 cities in America for child sex trafficking.
• Every 2 minutes a child is forced into sex slavery.
• 1/3 of all US runaways end up in the sex trade within the first 48 hours of leaving.

All true.

A year or so ago, some friends introduced me to an organization called Love 146. It immediately grabbed my heart. Up to that point, I had been blind to the issue of child sex trafficking.

Recently, a friend of mine had a great idea to actually do something about child sex trafficking. Today, his campaign and the web site launched! Go check out Free Chains. And, please, don't just check it out. Buy a key chain. Buy a shirt. You're actually providing aid to help prevent, rescue, and restore those children enslaved in sex trafficking.

Ready to become aware?

• Innocence Atlanta
• Free For Life
• Shared Hope
• FBI report
• or just start Googling

The Things I Learned On The Ministry Services Retreat

In keeping with the spirit of "The Things I Learned On Summer Vacation" posts, I thought I'd post what I learned on my first Ministry Services retreat...

• I am a fan of the Ritz Carlton.  I think I could go back.
• Service is my ministry.
• I love that I work with all kinds of different people.  No cookie cutter was used when assembling the Ministry Services Team.
• My team won the "talent show/homecoming king" contest...although we did not actually win anything.  We knew dressing a man in a toga and having him act like a frat guy would guarantee us a win.
• I work with some really smart people.
• While I learned, laughed, and sat by the pool and lake, my wife oversaw our moving out of our house in SC. She is awesome.  Yes, I know I owe her big time.
• I love sitting in a room of people who, regardless of the their day-to-day roles, wholeheartedly believe in our mission.
• Customer Service looks so different and so similar at every level.
• The one thing I am walking away thinking about is...systems can be environments.  In my mind and world, that is earth shattering.  I'll post more about this I'm sure.

Oh yeah, Ministry Services is the department I am a part of at Browns Bridge and North Point Ministries.

A Reminder To Forgive

Last month, I posted the most amazing story of forgiveness I had ever heard.  Yesterday, Andy shared the same story in greater detail as he talked about his trip to Rwanda.

How different would your life be if you stopped thinking and living as if someone who had wronged you owed you?  If you went from, "You owe me." to "You don't owe me."?  How powerful would that decision be in your life and, possibly, in the other person's life?

It would change things.  Forgiveness is a powerful tool we all possess.

Christians...we are stewards of forgiveness.  "All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other."  More.

What Kind Of Church Are You Looking For (In Greenville)?

My three years at Catalyst Church in Greenville redefined church for me and my wife.  It honestly changed our standard for the kind of church we want our family to be a part of.

What is our new standard?  It's simple.  Can we, with 100% confidence, invite our unchurched friends?  Regardless of our friend's past or present, regardless of how they view church or God, etc., do we feel 100% confident inviting them to our church?

For us to feel this way, it is a church where we are connecting with what God is doing and where our kids are being led towards a relationship with Jesus.  When those things are happening and happening in irresistible environments, we know we've found a church that we can partner with.

I'm so excited for Greenville that a church like this is opening on July 13!  NewSpring Greenville opens two weeks from today.  I am so excited about them being in Greenville because I know there are Christians in Greenville looking for a church to which they can invite their unchurched friends.  And there are well over 160,000 unchurched people in Greenville who need churches like this.

Welcome to Greenville, NewSpring!  I am praying for you!

The Things I Learned On Summer Vacation...This Year

Last year, I posted some things I learned while on summer vacation. I seem to learn a lot of valuable life lessons each year at Myrtle Beach, so I wanted to share this year's lessons with you...

• I don't understand why anyone in their right mind would still be rubbing on sunscreen.  Spray on sunscreen is the second best invention of all time...email is still number one.
• There is no greater feeling than holding your sleeping five month old son while looking out over the ocean.
• Looks like both of my kids are going to be beach lovers.  I'd better learn to like heat, sand, humidity, and salty air (all at once) more than I do now.
  
• Our camera broke on the first day...our fairly new, nice camera.  Thank you to whoever invented the "warranty".
• Love makes you do crazy things.  Without thinking, I found myself going deep out in the ocean with my daughter.  Of course, "deep" is a relative term.  I trust the ocean about as much as I trust animals.
• My wife and daughter disagree with how I believe Jelly Bellies should be eaten.
• Hard Rock Park was great!  My daughter is already counting on being tall enough next year to ride the coaster that takes you upside down many multiple times.  She rode all the other roller coasters!
• If anyone knows of any Uno tournaments coming up, let me know.  I played so much Uno this week, I have to be near pro status.
• My wife and I celebrated 13 years of marriage this week.  We asked each other what is the best thing that has happened in 13 years.  We both answered, without knowing the other's answer, that our relationship is the best thing that has happened.  Cool!
• Apparently poop in the pool closes the pool for 24 hours.
• Don't hold a baby who has just eaten above your head and play with him.  He may spit up in your right ear.
• And on the last day, I had a Bon Jovi, Discovery Channel, Captain Sig moment.  Some of you know what I'm talking about.  More details and pictures soon!

Family Vacation Road Trip

On Saturday, we loaded the car and headed to the beach.  It's our annual vacation with my wife's family.  This is our first vacation with two kids, so we weren't sure how different this trip would be.  You know, it was actually a great four hour trip...okay, it actually took five hours since we stopped twice.  It's amazing how much better things go when you're relaxed and not in a hurry.

Packing the car was...well, miraculous.  I am so thankful we will have a better family vehicle this time next year after I get rid of my truck.  This year, we're "that family" you see driving down the interstate with stuff crammed up against every window.  I'm sure I caught more than one person staring at us.

My daughter was so awesome being the big sister in the back seat with her little brother.  She even shared one of her ear buds for a little while.  Unfortunately, I think my son went to sleep listening to Hannah Montana.  Oh well, I guess it could be worse.  It could be, right?

Last year, I posted some things I learned while on vacation.  I'll do the same this year.  Can't wait to see what I learn.  I did learn one thing today...

Myrtle Beach attracts all kinds of people.  And the definition of "cool" must be really different where some of them are from.

I'm Not Afraid

You know how there are some things in life you're afraid of?  Come on, admit it.  Maybe something like spiders, snakes, the dark, heights, bridges, public speaking, etc.

You know how sometimes you do something that scares you to death because you don't want others to know you're scared?

Well, I did something like this on Sunday.  I spent a couple of hours on Father's Day with Larry.  Larry is the guy who inspected our home in GA.  Larry and I had a great Father's Day together!  At one point in the inspection, Larry climbed out of our closet window and onto the roof.  I didn't mind.  I was glad he was being thorough.  I was paying him to climb on the roof.

Things changed, however, when I heard him get excited about something he'd found.  His next words caused fear to race through my body...

"Come on out here and take a look at this."

I was left with two options.  Option 1: Be honest, tell him heights scare me, and remind him I'm paying him to find problems...not show me all the problems.  Option 2: Fake it, pretend heights don't scare me, climb through the window, and go walk around on the roof to look at what he found.  What did I do?

Of course, I climbed through that window as if I do it a thousand times a day, walked around on the roof, and pretended to not be dangerously close to wetting my pants on my roof.  It's funny what we do just to hide our fears and weaknesses.

Inconsistency Drives Me Crazy

Inconsistent people, organizations, leaders, restaurants, brands, [insert just about anything] drive me crazy!

I love Chick-Fil-A and Chipotle and other places because I know what I'll experience when I walk in.  One of the things I love about the North Point model of church is I know my experience will be consistent regardless of what campus or Strategic Partner I go to.  I once had a friend, though, who was either a cool, normal guy to be around or an elitist...we weren't friends long.  And I've been to churches with an incredible, forward moving student ministry and the rest of the church contently stands still...and they wonder why the students don't come back as they get older.  Unfortunately, I think I've come to expect inconsistency.

Yeah, I know, consistency can sound boring.  Very few things are 100% purely consistent.  People add their personalities and locations add context.  Those are all good things.  When I say consistent, I don't mean cookie cutter.  I mean consistent with some personality and context added to make the experience even better.

My wife's phone freaked out on her Saturday morning.  She took it to the Verizon store closest to our house.  They treated her poorly, were not willing to help, and pretty much told her she was out of luck.  She left there and went to another Verizon store 15 minutes away and had the exact opposite experience.  They treated her with respect, paid attention to her phone problems, and fixed the problems.  Why does another location 15 minutes away make that big of a difference?

If your customers / audience experience inconsistency with what you offer them, you have a problem.  The scary thing is you may be the last to know.

They Don't Just Happen

Greatness.  Effectiveness.  Sustainability.  All focused on the win.

These things don't just happen.  I've been reminded of this over and over the last few days.

They take time.  It takes patience to truly reach these levels.  You have to be willing to be in it for the long haul.  You have to be able to see into the future and know where you want to go.

They take systems.  You have to know how to get from A to B.  You have to create and stick with healthy ways to do things.

They take people.  And not just any people, the right people.  People who get it.  And putting these people who get it in the right places.

And before you think this sounds real easy, they take honesty.  And this may be where so many organizations get off track.  It's not real difficult to be patient, create and work systems, and involve people.  Defining a win is pretty easy too.  But...

You have to be honest with yourself.  There is a difference between defining a win and achieving that same win.  Too many organizations are accomplishing something other than their defined win.  Defining it, writing it down, and memorizing it don't mean you're accomplishing it.  Don't worry, you're accomplishing something, but it may not be what you want to accomplish or what you say you're accomplishing.  Be honest.  Evaluate yourself.  Let others evaluate you.  It may require major changes in timing, systems, and people.  But it's worth it to achieve greatness, effectiveness, and sustainability...all focused on the right win.

GA Is Not SC #1

As we transition to GA, I thought I'd post from time to time about some of the differences between GA and SC.  Here is the the first installment in how GA is not SC...

Everywhere I go, I see this oval shaped letter "G".  I found this picture of the strange "G" I keep seeing.  I've seen it on license tags, yard flags, clothing,...everywhere.  It's not too bad to look at, but I never saw it in SC.

In SC, you see this orange colored paw and this burgundy colored chicken.  A little odd, but you see them everywhere, so you learn to accept them.  Being someone who is not a huge fan of animals, I didn't really get into either one of them.

So far, there is something similar about GA and SC, though.  And it is sad.  Unfortunately, in SC and now in GA, I still don't see the really cool "V" that I like to show off.  I don't get it.

[Footnote...I'm not an idiot.  This is just my attempt to be funny.]

The New Guy

Hello, my name is Casey, and I am the new guy.  I don't like being the new guy.  I like to know what is happening.  I like to have established relationships.  I like to be doing.  I like to know how things are done.

Right now, I am the new guy.  I don't know what is happening.  Every relationship is a new relationship.  I'm primarily preparing for what I'll do later.  I am learning how things are done.

I really think this is a good place for me to be right now.  Not knowing...responsibilities, people, information, etc.  It's a way that God humbles me.  Humbles me in a way that shows me I am just a part of the story he is telling.  Humbles me in a way that shows me he (not me) directs my steps.  Humbles me in a way that shows me he knows better than I do what is best for me and my family.  It is humbling to know God is that active in my life.

How is he humbling you right now?  He's trying to do it in some way.  You just have to recognize it.

Four Questions That Matter

I'm reading through the part of the Bible called Romans, and I came across these four questions.  They're asked one right after the other. 

1. If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
2. Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?
3. Who then will condemn us?
4. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?

I really believe these questions, or some form of these questions, floats around in every person's mind.  Regardless of whether or not you're a Christian or go to church or feel close to God, I really believe we all care about the answers to these questions.

Knowing we can be accepted by God matters.  Knowing we can be secure with God matters.  We may not admit we wonder about these things.  We may only think about it when we're lying awake and the lights are turned off. But these thoughts creep into our mind.

The answers to the questions are surprising.  No one would come up with these answers on their own.  The answers are humbling.  We don't deserve answers like this.  The answers are life changing.  What would your life look like if you lived everyday knowing this was the truth?

We ask a lot of questions everyday.  Many of our questions don't really matter.  What if we started asking questions that truly mattered?  What if we discovered the answers to those questions?

I Don't Know What Word To Use

This is inspiring...challenging...amazing...cool...convicting...[insert just about any positive word here].

ESPN.com says,

Catcher Adam Bender, 8, lost his left leg to cancer when he was a year old. He tried a prosthesis but didn't like it and refuses to use a wheelchair. If he reaches base, he uses crutches. He also played YMCA flag football this past fall.

I Don't Love To Share

We move into our house in Cumming in early July.  I start working at Browns Bridge next week.  While I'm working there and before the family joins me, I need a place to live. I found a few hotels that would work...and that we could afford.  Before I booked a hotel, I asked some friends if they knew anyone who had a place where I could stay.

Someone emailed me yesterday morning and offered me their cabin when they are not using it.  Since I need it on week nights, and they use it on weekends, it looks like it will work out really well.  When I offered to pay them for the use of their cabin, she replied,

"There's no charge. The Lord has blessed us with this cabin & we love to share."

I don't love to share.  I like to share.  Sometimes.  It kinda depends on who I am sharing with.  And it kinda depends on what I am sharing.  That's wrong, though.  That's not how it is supposed to be.

Who or what shouldn't matter.  Everything I have to share isn't mine to start with.  It's been shared with me, and if all I do is hold tightly to it, what good is that?  It's a waste of those things.  And it is a clear statement about who I am.  My guess is you and I have lots of opportunities to share every day.  My question is do you and I love to share?

Voted The Worst Customer Service Seven Years Straight

"For the seventh year in a row, Charter Communications Inc., the Upstate's dominant cable television provider, has received the lowest score given to any company in any industry in a national ranking of customer satisfaction by the University of Michigan."

I posted in October how Charter "won" this honor for the sixth year in a row.  Now it's seven years in a row.  Wow!  And if being voted the absolute worst in customer service is not enough, Charter actually scored 1.8% lower than its score last year.

In October, their Senior VP for Customer Operations said the company took big steps to improve customer service.  In the recent article, a Charter spokeswoman said,

"Charter has made and continues to make investments to enhance the customer experience. We know that it takes time for these improvements to resonate with customers, and we’re committed to continuously refining and making improvements. Our goal is to provide value to our customers through quality products and service, and to earn the respect and confidence of our customers."

How is your organization doing in customer service? Where is it not as good as it should be?  We'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you're trying to improve in this area.  If your improvements "take time" to resonate with your customers, try harder.  Maybe your improvements aren't really improvements...even though you think they are.

And be honest with your customers and yourself.  If you're voted the absolute worst customer service seven years in a row, don't say you're committed to making improvements that add value to and earn the respect of your customers.  Saying that makes it worse.  Don't ever over-promise and under-deliver.

Whatever you do, customer service matters.  How you treat people matters.  How people perceive how you treat them matters.