10 Way to Create Margin

Posted on June 30, 2009 by ronklabunde

28-time-managementMark Batterson has published a great blog on how to create margin. Read below.

One of the quantum challenges leaders face is this: as the organizations they lead start experiencing organizational growth they stop experiencing personal growth. Why? Because of the demands of the organizational growth. They start leading the organization and stop leading themselves. And that is when the blessing turns into a curse. Growth will grind to a halt. In fact, it will probably implode. You lose spiritual margin. You lose intellectual margin. You lose creative margin. And you stop growing. No Margin = No Growth.

The key to continued organizational and personal growth boils down to this: margin. You need margin to think. You need margin to play. You need margin to laugh. You need margin to dream. You need margin to have impromptu conversations. You need margin to seize unanticipated opportunities. You need margin.

One of the primary responsibilities of leaders is creating margin. It almost seems selfish. But you are doing everybody you work with a disservice if you give them everything you’ve got. You need margin. And it starts with time management. If you don’t control your calendar, your calendar will control you.

Here are a ten ways to create margin:

1) Use all of your vacation days. You owe it to yourself and your family.
2) Protect your day off religiously.
3) Don’t schedule meetings on certain days or before certain hours.
4) Delegate more responsibility.
5) Only check email during designated times during the day.
6) Get up earlier in the morning.
7) Schedule meetings with God and yourself.
8) Turn off the TV.
9) Get out of your organizational context and go to a conference.
10) Hit the gym. You don’t have enough time or energy NOT to work out.

Have any ideas to add to the mix? How do you create margin?

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Family Needs Help

Posted on June 27, 2009 by ronklabunde

If your neighbor put this sign in front of there home, how would you respond?

family needs help

I called the family (parents with two small children). Then went over to their place.

It turns out the family is being evicted and trying to get to Winchester, VA to get some support from friends, but only had $15 in their pocket. All their belongings had to be moved out within 6 hours, but they couldn’t afford a moving van. So they could take only what they could get in their two cars – both of which had less than a 1/4 tank of gas.

I helped the family get what they could out of the house, gave them the cash in my wallet ($60) to buy gas and food, and our family is storing their desk and TV.

I am continuing to stay in contact with man of the family. Now they are staying out of the area in a camp ground until the father can get employment. He has been in and out of construction and landscaping work for the last two years.

What’s amazing about this story is that the mom gave me a bag of diapers and baby clothes to pass on to any other family who has need. Now that is generosity!

My prayer is that God’s kindness through us will lead this man and his family to relationship with God.

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Welcome – The Box Family!

Posted on June 17, 2009 by ronklabunde

box family2Our ability to establish new relationships is directly proportional to our ability to impact the community with God’s love. Through the ongoing development of new relationships, we are afforded new opportunities to share Jesus’ message. And these new relationships are essential in creating a strong environment of spiritual transformation.

Because relationships are core to Restore Community Church and to creating effective ministry, we are hiring Aaron Box as Restore’s Networking Pastor. In this role, he will be establishing Restore’s spiritual transformation model while networking people into discipling relationships that promote spiritual transformation. He will be working with both pre-Christians who we meet through Enrich NOVA (www.enrichnova.com) and Christians who are part of Restore (www.restorenova.com) while helping to equip leaders in their relationships, passions, and gifts.

I am extremely excited for Aaron to join Restore’s pastoral team, and his family (Jen, Elizabeth – 5, and Charlie – 3) to become part of Restore’s family. I look forward to all God is going to do to change pre-Christians’ and Christians’ lives through the Box family.

Because Restore is a new church that goes public September 20, 2009, Aaron is needing to raise 50% of his salary this year and 75% of his salary next year.

Please join with us in supporting them both prayerfully and financially in fulfilling God’s mission. For more information on this contact Aaron at aaronbox.home@gmail.com.

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Reaching a pre-Christian

Posted on June 6, 2009 by ronklabunde

This note came from the pastor of a local church where I recently spoke. I love it when God works like this.

Yes, I am a little tardy on this, but wanted to thank you for coming out last Sunday to speak. I heard good positive comments about the message. So much so that my sister in law’s boyfriend was there and said he really connected well with your message. He said everyone else throws him off but your message made sense. He is a pre-Christian so kudos. I am going to try to get him and his girl friend to your church – www.restorenova.com. We’ll see. Thanks again.

Listen to the message – http://www.restorenova.com/sermon/i-am-not/

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NO Church Building!

Posted on June 6, 2009 by ronklabunde

church2“If Restore isn’t going to have permanent church building, then what are you going to do with all the extra money?” This question was possed by an influential community member and friend. I imagine others may be wondering too.

It’s simple. By not investing in a building, we afford ourselves the opportunity to unleash kindness by meeting peoples needs in real and tangible ways. The Bible says in Romans chapter 2, verse 4 that the kindness of God leads people to repentance. This just makes sense. God’s love is expressed through our generosity and kindness. And leads people to a right relationship with God. We believe it is more important to put our faith in action by loving people, than by building buildings.

By not investing money in a building, we avail ourselves to invest in what is eternal – people. On one occasion, Jesus’ “‘disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God.’ But Jesus said, “‘As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down’” (Luke 21:5,6 NIV). We believe there is greater value investing in what is relational, spiritual, and eternal than in what is material.

God’s resources are to be used to meet the needs of the people He loves. And through His love, we live His mission by working with Jesus to restore people to a right relationship with God and others.

Now for my disclaimer. Some churches have mastered how to shout out Jesus’ and His love through the use of their building. I applaud these churches.

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In the News

Posted on May 28, 2009 by ronklabunde

The Loudoun County Times-Mirror has written a great article on what we are doing.

Read it here – http://www.loudountimes.com/news/2009/apr/22/spreading-generosity-sterling/

Spreading generosity in Sterling

People and Community
By Elizabeth Coe
Source: Loudoun Times-Mirror
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22 2009

In classrooms around Dominion High School, students are filling trash cans with breakfast foods that will be delivered to Loudoun Interfaith Relief April 25.

The 104 trash cans at the school are part of Generosity Can, an initiative launched in February by Sterling resident Ron Klabunde, founder of the nonprofit organization Enrich NOVA.

“The whole purpose is to increase generosity throughout Sterling and the surrounding area,” Klabunde said. “We’re working to move resources from families, schools and businesses to nonprofits who have needs for those resources.”

A total of 130 trash cans have been placed at businesses, homes and at Dominion, thanks to a $1,000 donation from a Sterling resident. Each will be filled with donations for Loudoun Interfaith Relief through April 25.

Every six weeks, Generosity Can partners with a different local, nonprofit organization, providing residents, businesses, schools, clubs, churches and government offices the opportunity to fill their trash cans with goods for those in need.

Klabunde, who moved with his family to Sterling in 2008, said he chose to launch this initiative now partly because of the hard economic times, but also because he wanted to give people an outlet to be able to help others.

“There was a disconnect between people who want to serve and make a difference and getting them in touch with the nonprofits,” he said. “We’re trying to fill that gap. With a trash can, it almost feels like the antithesis, but we’re reclaiming the trash can as a symbol of hope.”

Klabunde said even in his own home, he can see how the trash can has changed the way his children feel about giving to others.

“Once a week [my kids] run around the house, find a toy they don’t play with anymore and they bring it to the can to give it to someone who needs it,” he said. “What’s cool is that I’m not prompting that. That’s the beauty of it. There is now a symbol of generosity in the home throughout the year, which reminds people.”

For more information visit www.generositycan.com. 

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Helping a Single Mom

Posted on May 28, 2009 by ronklabunde

momBeing a single mom is difficult enough. Add to it a toxic living environment and now there is crisis.

On Saturday, a caring team of people from Restore Community Church and Enrich NOVA joined together to physically move Mary - a single mom in crisis to a place of peace in a new apartment.

This is what it means to be the church and live God’s love.

The next day, she and her daughter joined us at church and then to one of our launch team member’s homes for lunch.

Here is what Mary wrote about this expression of love…

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you for all of your help with Olivia and my move. I am very grateful that you took time from all of your busy schedules to facilitate us in our need for support. You all worked so hard and we so very much appreciate  the amazing job you  did. You have all helped us to restore our  lives to a peaceful, loving, and warm home that will serve as a refuge  to grow in faith and love. Please understand that I am overwhelmed in my heart  and my spirit is uplifted with all you all have done under such difficult times with this situation. Again Thank you all so very much.

Filed under: CHURCH PLANTING, church, community service | 1 Comment »

The Real Missional

Posted on May 27, 2009 by ronklabunde

missionalsWhat does it really mean to be missional?

Jake Nelson of Response Church in Indy reclaims to heart of missional. The following excerpt is from his May 13, 2009 post at http://responsechurch.com/.

In my thought process…, missional church means being completely irresponsible.  It means valuing the kingdom over the local church.  It means investing continually in those who won’t meet your 15 bucks a head offering ratio.  It means going for broke as the woman in Bible did by placing her last two coins in the offering.  Missional means declaring the name of Jesus not my congregation.  It means addressing REAL issues like poverty, abuse, hopelessness, and reconciliation.  It plays itself out by mentoring, instilling hope, and most importantly, introducing people to a Jesus that sees value in what the world views as worthless. 

A bottle of water or a free cup of coffee is easy.  It’s a good place to start, but not necessarily redemptive. 

Missional means being bold.  It means being messy.  In its very nature, its goal is to accomplish a “mission.” 

I wonder if some people have forgotten how to dream big, attack huge issues in reckless abandon, depending on God’s power and vision all along the way.  Many use “we can’t” as an excuse to not try rather than a reminder that GOD CAN!  It’s a long, tough and oftentimes treacherous road.  One that I probably haven’t even seen a glimpse of the whole picture.  It’s rewards look different than we are used to.  Missional requires us to let go of ourselves and see everyone else as better.  But it sure is amazing when embraced. 

Dream big. Be irresponsible. See the mission through. See the world change.

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God’s Blessing!

Posted on May 8, 2009 by ronklabunde

Doug Foltz – a good friend and Restore’s project manager published this post on his blog in regards to the generosity that Group Imaging and Church Marketing Solutions lavished on Restore Community Church in a combined gift of over $13,500.

Ron Klabunde, a church planter I’m working with from Sterling, VA, had his own motto released on him today. Ron is starting Restore Community Church with services starting in September 2009. Every year Group Imaging, prints several banners to bring to Exponential for their booth. This year they decided to unleash generosity by printing the banners for a church planter that could be used after the conference in a real life church plant. Restore was blessed to be that plant. Group Imaging donated nearly $10,000 in signs, banners, a door mat, 2 video screens, a stage backdrop, tableclothes, etc. But great banners need great design. That’s when Church Marketing Solutions decided to step in a unleash even more generosity. They donate $3500 worth of design for all the signs and banners. Together these two companies have greatly blessed a new church. A big thanks to Group Imaging and Church Marketing Solutions for generously blessing Restore Christian Church. Here’s some pics of their great work.

Church Marketing Solutions (Patrick) – thank you for donating over $3500 of graphic design to Restore Community Church. I love working with your team. I appreciate what you have done to capture our values and message in your work. Your gift is empowering us to unleash even greater generosity in Northern Virginia to those who are far from God.

Group Imaging (Jeff) – thank you for donating over $10,000 of specialized directional signs, banner, table cloths, floor mats, and projection screens to Restore Community Church. Your gift is empowering us to unleash even greater generosity in Northern Virginia to those who are far from God. Your team is great to work with. And I appreciate your commitment to excellence.

If you are a business owner, church planter, or ministry leader, I strongly encourage you to work with Church Marketing Solutions and Group Imaging to meet you graphic design and printing needs.

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What a RUSH!

Posted on May 8, 2009 by ronklabunde

The last several months have been a rush of activity mixed with new relationships and strategic partnerships for both Enrich NOVA and Restore Community Church.

  • In April, Generosity Can, a community needs initiative of Enrich NOVA, delivered 550 pounds of breakfast foods, juices, and other non-perishable items to Loudoun Interfaith Relief. This food will be added to the pantry and serve over 55 people 3 meals a day for 3 days. We were excited to receive a shout out from the Loudoun Times Mirror. During the months of May and June, Generosity Can, will be partnering together with community residents, businesses and Dominion High School to collect a variety of resources for The Good Shepherd Alliance.

     

  • For months, a pre-Christian friend had been sharing with Ron his desire to start a business. Six weeks ago, Ron engaged in a weekly, one hour, coaching relationship with this friend to help him start a new company. Gary and his wife Krista have opened up to our family about the difficulties that have affected their family in the last 12 months and the light that they now see as a result of Ron helping them. During these coaching times, Ron has been able to share with Gary and Krista that the things that are happening are a result of this new church and the generosity of others.

     

  • In the last five weeks, we have begun meeting regularly with families and individuals who are committed to seeing Restore Community Church make an impact in Sterling. We share weekly in a meal, examination of scripture, the way we see God at work around us, prayer, and community service. As a family, we have come to cherish these times and are excited about the work that God is doing in Sterling.

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