1. If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. (John Quincy Adams)
2. A leader must have the courage to act against an expert’s advice. (James Callaghan)
3. Inventories can be managed, but people must be led. (Ross Perot)
4. Leadership can be thought of as a capacity to define oneself to others in a way that clarifies and expands a vision of the future. (Edwin Friedman)
5. If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulder of giants.(Isaac Newton)
6. A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go but ought to be. (Rosalynn Carter) 
7. A great leader doesn’t care about being the leader, but instead cares about the mission, the vision and the people they are leading. (Scott Williams) 

Thoughts, comments or favorites from the above list; or share any personal favorites! 

If, If, If… 

• If your church were to close tomorrow; would the community be extremely upset, and the church be so missed because of all the lives that had been changed and your church’s impact on the community, that people would riot?
• If your boss were to leave tomorrow; would all of the employees be extremely upset, and your boss be so missed because of they type of leader he/she was, the impact he/she had on their lives and how much they truly cared about their employees, that it would take some serious time to recover?
• If you are a leader and you were to leave tomorrow; would your followers care?
• If you were to go on a business trip alone for two weeks; would your children miss the quality time that you spend with them each and every day so much, they couldn’t contain themselves?
• If you didn’t tell people; would they have no doubt that you were a Christ Follower?
• If you didn’t tell people; would they have no doubt that you are madly in love with your spouse?
• If, If, If…

If we are not promised tomorrow; why aren’t we living today as if there is no tomorrow?

I’m over there today guest blogging at Swerve.  Come check me out over there and share some BigIsTheNewSmall comment Luv.  I will be back over here tomorrow.  I will see you when you get there! 

Are you there yet?

BigIsTheNewSmall

“Christians Shouldn’t Get Tattoos” is definitely the point of view of so many people, and especially so many Christians.  As a Pastor it’s a common question that I am asked… and I personally don’t have a problem with tattoos and this topic has been debated thoroughly with people outlining scripture for both points of view.  I think that we should use good judgement; specifically on what we permanently tattoo on our bodies. 

I got a tattoo when I was in college and it was relative to my Fraternity; I have thought about getting something added to it, or over it… I have come to the realization that it represents a part of my story, so I have left it alone (I personally wouldn’t get anything below the short-sleeve line… however there are some great-looking sleeve tats, just not my deal).  There are a lot of staff members and pastors at LifeChurch.tv that have tattoos… many of which are evangelistic in nature.

What are your thoughts: tat or no tat?  Share your thoughts/opinions!  Do you have a tattoo? 

If you have never seen Mr. Ragamuffin Soul Carlos Whittaker’s  LA Ink segment you should check it out here! 

    I am turning BigIsTheNewSmall’s Friday into a day to give some things away through the process of a drawing and all you have to do is comment to be entered.  Today we are giving away your choice of books: Either a Signed Copy of my Pastor Craig Groeschel’s new book “it” or a copy of the best selling novel “The Shack.”  It will be shipped right to your door! 

My thought about this Free Stuff Friday is to obviously give away free stuff every Friday; however I would like to get those of your who read this blog involved in the giving.  In other-words one of you will have the opportunity to give something away next Friday, we will accept comments, I will draw a random winner and you will send their item to them, it’s that simple (I might have to get the kids involved in the drawing like my girl Dusty).  Some of you may be bigger givers than others and that is totally fine, we might be giving away things like the following: itunes gift cards, starbucks gift cards, $50 cash, books, music cd’s, restaurant gift cards, sports tickets, free flights, $1,000,000, vacations, Bibles… 

I will not be involved in the handling of the items unless I am giving the item away, like this week.   If you are interested in sponsoring a Friday and giving something away, you can shoot me an e-mail to scott.williams@lifechurch.tv and we will lock in your date.  Your blog will be mentioned in the post (or a blog/business of your choice) and you will also get a 1 week slot in the BigIsTheNewSmall add section.  (BigBlogAndBusinessPimpin)

I want to come up with an official name for this Friday post and would like your help; in order to be entered into this weeks drawing just comment the name that you prefer from this list or a better name you have in mind:

• Free Stuff Friday
• Freebay Friday
• Free Friday
• TGIF- Thank God It’s Free
• Free Freakin’ Friday
• I Love Free Stuff

Go ahead comment away!  You have until 11:59 p.m. Sunday August 3rd. to comment.  Only one entry per person; however you can comment as much as you want.   :-)

I have been itching to talk about, watch and experience some College Football.  The countdown is on and I can’t wait to watch my Sooners hit the field.  I am looking forward to my Sooners going down to Miami and playing for the National Championship.  I know that we have choked in the last few BCS Bowl Games; however this year is going to be a different story! 

You are probably wondering who’s going to play the Sooners in the National Championship; here are some of my pre-season possible opponents:

• USC- They get it done every year even thought they are cheating and paying players.
• Georgia- Finished strong last year and they have a guy named Knowshon Moreno.
• LSU- Even though Les Miles is hard to like and wears his hat sitting high; the dude can flat out coach.
• Ohio State- The Buckeyes have had Bowl problems similar to OU and need to get er’ done this year.
• West Virginia- They showed that they were the real deal against the Sooners, they were 1 game away from championship and Pat White is the Man.

There are several other teams that could be in the hunt; however I can almost guarantee that those 5 teams and OU will be in the hunt. 

I would love to hear you sound off, talk smack, give some predictions,  tell us about your team, who is the Cinderella, can Appalachian State pull off another major upset against LSU the first game of the season, will Oklahoma States’ defense be improved, will Joe Paterno retire, will Bo Pelini get Nebraska playing some defense, will the Sooner obliterate the Shorthorns, will Mike Gundy go on another rant, where will the QB controversy be,  will Sam Bradford win the Heisman, is this Fulmer and Tennessee’s year???? So many questions to be answered, so much smack to be talked and it’s only 30 days away.   

I gave my predictions and I will kick off the Smack Talking!  It’s your turn: give some predictions, comment, represent, join in on the discussion.   

I was talking with a good buddy of mine yesterday who happens to work in the home building industry.  We had been playing phone tag and missed one another several times do to the fact that he had been so busy.  He said to me and I quote “Scott, I am so busy that I don’t know what to do… I’m going to have one of my best years ever.  People talking about the housing market is horrible are smoking crack!”

We have all heard the stories about foreclosures, problems with the sub-prime market, the mortgage crisis…  The hype would have you to believe that the market is horrible everywhere and for everyone.  It’s important to that people ”Don’t Believe The Hype” and realize just because something is true for someone else and there is a lot of hype, doesn’t mean that it’s the case for everyone.  In other-words:

• Just because the market is bad in one part of the country, doesn’t mean that’s the case in your area
• Just because the media says ___(blank)___ doesn’t mean it’s true for you
• Just because your boss says you can only get ___(blank)___ done a certain way doesn’t mean its true
• Just because your Pastor says ___(blank)___ doesn’t mean it’s true for your life
• Just because the media thinks he/she is the best political candidate doesn’t mean it’s true
• Just because you read it on a popular blog doesn’t mean that it’s true or right
• Just because it looks sexy and seems to be working for their church, their business, their family, their kids, their marriage…. doesn’t mean that it’s all it appears, nor does it mean it’s what’s best or will work for you.  “Don’t Believe The Hype!”

It’s so easy to get caught up into all the “Hype” of other’s opinions, thoughts, styles, trends, decisions… that you can loose your distinction.  Make your own decisions, lead up, set the trends, find your groove, find your voice… and “Don’t Believe The Hype!”

“Do You!”  It’s a statement, not a question!

What are some of the popular ”Hype” trends that people tend to believe?  How can/do you avoid believing the “Hype?”  Share your thoughts, opinions… we might just believe the hype!

What I am going to share is not Rocket Science; however it is definitely true.  Here is the question: “What do Bloggers Want?”  Here is the short answer:

1. Readers- This is generally the driving force behind writing a blog… for bloggers to share and for people to read.
2. Comments- Most bloggers love comments, the more the merrier.  Many times comments can be perceived to show how popular a blog is.  There is not always a correlation between the number of readers and the number of comments, some of my most read posts didn’t have many comments and vice versa. 
3. Subscriptions- Bloggers like for people to subscribe to their blog; as it provides a more consistent reader base and some readers don’t want to go to the site.  You can subscribe to BigIsTheNewSmall.com by clicking here.
4. LinkLuv and Trackbacks- Bloggers appreciate seeing their blog listed on someone else’s blogroll.  Bloggers enjoy other bloggers talking about and linking to their blog posts (Trackbacks are cool).    BTW- If you have added BigIsTheNewSmall.com to your blogroll, let me know so I can show you some LinkLuv.  
5. Making Money- Some bloggers have the desire of their blog being able to make them some cash, by the following methods: google ads, advertising, sponsorship, affiliate programs, selling products, donations, book deals, speaking engagements…  BTW- I have had several people inquire about advertising, sorry I have not made it happen yet.  I will try to go live w/ advertising in August.

Do any of these ring true for you?  What else do bloggers want? 

My Madness:

• My wife got us some bikes for my birthday; we rode about 10 miles last night.
• My wife also got me one of these; if you don’t have one you need to get one!
• My boys are at the in-laws until Wed. night; momma and daddy time!
• I am in a really good season; a lot of stirring and churning… really good stuff.

My Church Madness:

• We had right at about 2,500 people this weekend and you could not find a seat at the 11:30… fall get ready here we come!
• We have “Partnership” tonight… check out my previous post talking about moving to “Partners”
• This Guy led worship at the “N-Dub” this weekend and rocked the place!
• We are kicking off a new series this weekend entitled “So You’re Dead Now What”

Random Madness:

• If you didn’t get a chance to check out the message I taught at Flamingo Road Church entitled “Envy Exposed” as a part of the MyNakedChurch.com series; you can check it out here!
• This JibJab Presidential Campaign piece is funny!
• Social Networking:  
  • Facebook (Let’s be friends… click here)
  • Twitter (Follow me… click here)

HOW WAS YOUR WEEKEND?  WHAT’S GOING ON IN YOUR WORLD?

“That’s Too Loud!” is one of those phrases that we hear from a very young age: that toy is too loud, your TV is too loud, that music in your car is too loud…  The bottom line is that someone was telling you that they didn’t want to hear whatever it was, at that noise level or that you were going to damage your hearing by listening to ___(blank)___  at that level.  The reality is defining loud is a matter personal preference.  The Dictionary defines loud as: (of sound) strongly audible; having exceptional volume or intensity: loud talking; loud thunder; loud whispers; loud music.

I know you are probably wondering what does any of this have to do with anything?  The purpose for this Loud discussion is to talk about music being “Too Loud” at church.  No matter where I attend church, it seems as though this definition of loud is a moving target and it is one of those topics in which everyone has a different opinion: the worship leader has a different opinion then the pastor, who has a different opinion than the young guy, who has a different opinion then the musician, who has a different opinion than the middle-age lady, who has a different opinion then the old guy, who has a different opinion then the teenage girl, who has a different opinion then the sound guy, who has a different opinion then the new guy, who has a different opinion then the deaf guy, who has a different opinion then you…  you get the picture.

How Loud is Too Loud? 

• Do you want it to sound like a concert?
• Do you prefer A-Capella?
• Do you want to be able to hear yourself sing?
• Do you want to feel the music?
• Do you want it relatively low?

How Loud is Too Loud?  At LifeChurch.tv we use a “Db” or Decibel Meter to stay within a specified range; however we do offer earplugs for your listening pleasure!