Lasting Impression Teams - We exist to create a welcoming experience thru serving with excellence

I have always been jealous of people who have connections - they are friends with someone in the travel industry so they get hotels cheap and great travel offers; or they know someone in the entertainment industry so they get movie premier passes or tickets to shows and concerts.
Yesterday, I realized I was blessed to have connections in the medical field! I have worked for a large health care organization in the San Diego area for the past 10 years. I didn't realize how many "friends" I have until I needed to navigate through the system quicker than normal.
I broke my foot a few months ago and I re aggravated it a few weeks ago at the Summit. I have been limping for about 3 weeks now and I have reached my limit. I needed to have this looked at. I would have waited about 5 weeks to see the foot specialist, but thanks to connections, I only waited a week. I would have waited another 2-3 weeks for the special bone scan I need, but thanks to connects, I have my scan this morning!
It sure pays to make a positive, lasting impression upon the people I encounter every day. I am very grateful for the help they have provided me. I will remember this and "connect" them if they need anything from my area of specialty.

Posted in: on Friday, August 22, 2008 at at 6:53 AM 0 comments  

This is from Rachelle Kimberling, who serves on the Daily Journey Ministry.

Fire Up The Salsa: revised for LIT

In a day, I devoured “Just Courage” by Gary Haugen of IJM and listened to his CD twice; in obedience to a riskier ministry God had fired up my heart almost 2 years ago. Thank you, Laurie for your obedience to SWAT retreats……God shook me there. I didn’t know exactly what, whom, or where this adventure would be…………….so I waited, prayed, researched, sought counsel, and waited. I didn’t want to be impulsive, and jump into something ridiculously risky, unsuccessful, and look like a fool. Yes, pride speaking.

According to Gary Haugen, significance is found in transforming peoples’ lives through love. Amen, he must have been reading my mind. Worship is deed, not merely singing about it. I enjoy using my God given gifts in community and I do my imperfect best in love: creating a decorative haven for meditation retreats, or vocal worship for women’s ministry, facilitating a small group, cooking a hopefully delicious potluck meal. It is all unto the Lord………..but it’s safely dull. God wants to transform me through a steeper climb or by firing up the salsa. I’m a Puerto Rican that prefers medium salsa, thank you very much. I’m petrified of heights (God made me height challenged), but I have no choice except to look up and get involved.

Prayer welcomed,

Rachelle Kimberling

Posted in: on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at at 5:23 PM 0 comments  

I enlisted the help of several LIT leaders who attended the Leadership Summit 2008 to send me their "take aways" - things that moved them and they were willing to share. This is from David Youngblood - Leader of the 10:45 Greeters.

Kingdom Matters Matter Enough To put your ALL IN in.Personal vision for the Kingdom is powerful and essential as a leader. In order to get the most out of what God is doing in us, we need to put everything we have into doing what God is doing. Good works, nice ministries, even socially necessary service is ‘good,’ but they are not always what God wants to see done in the world – right now! “What does the LORD require, but that we seek/do justice, love loving (Mercy), and walk humbly with our God.”Most of the summit called on leaders to take it not to a higher level, but the highest level. For team leadership within/under the larger Kingdom mission, I was most moved to find my pastoral gifts again, specifically in the arena of helping those with whom I serve by encourage them to be creative and contributors to the ministry we are leading.
Team Goal: invest in the lives of our greeters and challenge them to come up with more ways to make the ‘howdy’ welcoming and unique.
Personal Goal: connect with Daily Journey, the Worship Band, or the prayer team to add on what is missing in my heart’s desire to serve – I’ve used the excuse that, ‘while we were greeter leaders, there was no time.’ Now I sense that there will never be enough time to serve where my passion is, I must find the way and pray with the Lord to make it so, not neglecting the gifts or ministries to which I (we) have been called, but giving the very best of what I have.

Posted in: on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at at 10:24 AM 1 comments  

Memories of Willie:

Willie Massie was an angel in more ways than he’d ever claim or probably know. He joined the greeter’s ministry on the very same day in July `07 when three of the four regular greeters went on vacation. Together with John Goldthwaite, he faithfully greeted folks on the Paint Store corner every week that he wasn’t singing in the choir. The deep sense of joy that Willie brought to the greeters and choir was from the new found well of his new relationship in Christ. Despite the grace of his gentle demeanor and great love Willie had for the greeters, choir, and men’s fellowship, Willie’s past was not one of graceful blessing. Meeting Willie’s mom at the LIT Christmas gathering was more than testimony to this grace of his redemption and freedom in the Lord, she could not stop talking about what a change had come about in her son. That his contagious smile & “hello brother/sister” came from a life redeemed from habits and fates worse than many of us will ever know, is one of the deepest graces we will miss when we gather to pray and bless the ministries of Journey Community Church. Thank you Lord Jesus for the time we were given to know you through this saint of yours, our friend and fellow greeter.
Written by Kim and David Youngblood Leaders of the Second Service Greeters

Posted in: on Monday, July 28, 2008 at at 6:43 AM 5 comments  

If I believed in putting bumper stickers on my car, they would probably say things like "I'm not tailgating, I'm drafting" or "I'm not speeding, I'm qualifying". For you non-Nascar types - it means I like to drive 80 in the fast lane.
That was until I spent over $65 filling up my 13 gallon tank
I was going to try an experiment. "Experts" say that driving 55 will net you at least 10 -20 more miles per tank. I started driving in the slow lane-at 60 miles per hr - there was no way I could drop from 80 to 55. My first week, I got an extra 15 miles out of the tank. The next week was closer to 20. Now it's a game to me. How far can I stretch that tank of gas?! I started doing other things - more right hand turns, and no putting the pedal down when the light changes to green. My goal is 350 miles per tank. I'm at 305 with a quarter of a tank to go!
See you in the slow lane and not at the pump!

Posted in: on Friday, July 25, 2008 at at 2:13 PM 1 comments  

Posted in: on Monday, July 21, 2008 at at 12:40 PM 1 comments  

I love to read. One summer (I was probably 14) my mom challenged my bother, sister and I to a reading contest. I loved that summer and I blew the competition away! I devoured about 2 books a week over the 6 weeks or so of vacation. I think my mom was sorry she gave such a challenge having to take me to the library at least once a week.
As I have gotten older, my reading tastes have changed. I used to read things like Judy Bloom, and Nancy Drew books, as well as The Little House on the Prairie series. Moved up to Sidney Sheldon, David Eddings and even Danielle Steele. After I got into management, I primarily read books to further those skills - leadership, teamwork, ect. (some may say BORING) Not so! Since my time is limited, I do enjoy settling in and reading those types of books and learning new tools. However, due to my limited reading time, it takes me what feels like forever to finish a book. I received "What Got You Here Won't Get You There" by Marshall Goldsmith for my birthday. My birthday was in March and I just finished this book last night. Sad, but true.
The entire book is about stopping things you are doing that are hindering you from even greater success. The author included a list of 20 transactional flaws. As I got to about half way in the book I began to put one of the tools suggested into practice. One flaw listed was "not listening". Marshall had some great examples of improving listening skills. Since I feel I am a pretty good listener, I decided to put these suggestions to use at work as practice before I got into my real flaws. (according to the book)
I work in the medical field as many of you know. In this field you need to be able to multi-task. It is very common for us to be looking down at a chart taking notes, while the patient continues to talk. (a good listener faces the person speaking) Fellow coworkers are not bothered by the fact that they are talking to me and I am busy entering labs or such into the computer.
After reading some suggestions from the book, I made a few changes. I face my patient and let them explain their problems or concerns; then I ask them to give me a moment to write a few notes, then I ask a few clarifying questions to make sure I remembered correctly all they had explained. As for my coworkers, I began to stop what I was going, actually put down my pen and face them when they talked to me.
I have no idea if I am making a difference with how the patients perceive me as a good listener or not. What really surprised me was the response from my coworkers. I got comments such as, "are you okay?", "what's wrong?", and my favorite was "why are you looking at me?"
I am not quite sure what to make of that!
As for my real flaws (again according to this book) are 1. Adding too much value, which is the overwhelming desire to add my two cents to every discussion, and 2. Passing judgement, which is the need to rate others and impose my standards on them. How I am going to work on these will be the subject of another post!

Posted in: on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at at 7:49 PM 1 comments