Catalyst is easily one of the premier gatherings of young leaders in the country. This year, they are taking it to a whole 'nother level. You can interact with what's going on at Catalyst at Backstage.

So we're hanging out at Catalyst this year for a couple of days...and it's an amazing experience. I figured I'd share a few thoughts about each speaker. Hope you enjoy...
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Andy Stanley/Session 1
-'What man is a man who does not leave the world better.'
-Every leader leaves a mark...good or bad.
-You'll never recognize your greatest opportunity until it's passed...take it or miss it.
-You won't realize the significance of what you do until it's done.
-Joshua 23:8-15
-'God takes full responsibility for the life wholly devoted to him.' (Charles Stanley)

Malcolm Gladwell/Session 2
-We overestimate the value of additional bits of information.
-Miscalibration = excess information - overconfident
-'Incompetence aggravates me. Overconfidence scares me.'
-As an organization grows, leadership must change/develop.

Shane Hipps/Session 3
-Christianity is fundamentally a communication event.
-How you say something means more (or equal to) than what you say.

Tony Dungy live interview. HUGE highlight for me. Coach Dungy is so well spoken and engaging. Here's the one quote that stuck with me and leaves no question why he's one of the best coaches/men/leaders the NFL will ever have.
"My job as a coach is to help my players be the best they can be on the field and the best men off the field."

Rob Bell/Session 4
Is Bigger Better?
-Inverse fidelity; With the example of the widow in Luke 21, Jesus challenged perception. Somehow, her less was more.
-We often compare ourselves to others and the life we see them living.
-10 Commandments; first 9 commandments are measurable and quantifiable, BUT the last commandment is a reward for doing the first 9.
-If you do the first 9, you won't want anyone else's life...the reward is not wanting someone else's life. You'll find satisfaction/fulfillment in your life.
-Sabbath is necessary for you. It reframes and adjusts our perspective.

Matt Chandler/Session 5
I have to admit, I didn't write down many notes for Matt Chandler's session. The reason, I was really caught up in what he was saying...sounds stupid, right? Well, it does now, but I actually felt like I got more from observing and listening. Here's a bit:
-Hebrews 11:29; May we remember what we're caught up in.
-God's plan (history)...this is our opportunity to be who we should be - not striving and creating strategies to be someone else.

Francis Chan/Session 6
-Trust the word of God and the Holy Spirit to be 'good' enough.
-Often, we try to think of things only in terms of new...unique and obscure, but the Cross is enough. Jesus is enough.

Chan really broke away from the normal and shared from his heart...and then all 13000 attendees shared communion together. It was definitely a sacred moment.

I'm looking forward to Day 2.