Recommended Resources from Sunday's Meeting

With all the papers that come into our house, I'm usually looking for ways to throw it all in the trash (technically, we recyle!).

So that you can declutter your house too, here are some lists of resources for you CG leaders out there that was passed out at the recent CG Leader Meeting. The first group are some guides to helping you lead:

• Seeker Small Groups by Garry Poole (order at Willowcreek.com for $21.99)
• Simple Small Groups by Bill Search (order at Willowcreek.com for $13.99)

The next group of books are studies in the Life Connections series (order from serendipityhouse.com or call 800.525.9563)

• God Can Use You to Touch Other People
• Find Power in the Essential Truths of the Faith
• Being Real in an Artificial World

This list is studies from Fellowship Church's Ed Young Jr. (order also from serendipityhouse or the above phone #)

• Far From Perfect, but Loved by God
• Let God Morph Your Life
• Refine & Purify Your Faith

If your group has done a phenomenal study, post it here! Include the author or publishing company and any other info (ISBN, etc) that would make it easy for others to find the study!

Book Recommendation

I wanted to pass along a book suggestion and, for that matter, solicit additional suggestions from any of you on the topic of things that would be helpful to all of us as community group leaders.

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High is a book that was recommended to me by a friend of Craig Neidhart. It is a fantastic book. It is an insightful and practical guide to having and managing difficult conversations. These could be with individuals or groups, professional or personal. It has been very beneficial to me personally. I think it would be a good resource for anyone wanting to have and lead others in open, honest, intimate and, therefore, sometimes difficult conversations.

You can find it at Amazon here, at Half.com here or at the local library (I checked!).

Next Community Builder Meeting

Please make plans to attend our next Community Builders meeting. Here's what we have planned:

• Dinner and fellowship
• A very special WoodCreek update along with details on the transition issues we'll face
• Skill building with your coaches

January 20th -- 6 pm to 8 pm -- Fellowship Center

Happy New Year!

Hey everybody! I just wanted to say Happy New Year! I hope everyone is doing well. I will be contacting you soon and then, hopefully, visiting each of your groups in the upcoming weeks.

Scotts?

It looks like you have to be named Scott or a man of God to be part of the group.

More Scotts

The thing our group does best is eat. Really.

However - one fun thing has been to invite our missionaries when they are in town and sometimes get those that operate locally to stop by our group and share. It is inspiring to hear about how God is using people and have a chance to join them in ministry through prayer, friendship, and support.

We are working on a service project = but it hasn't happened yet.

Probably the best thing that has ever happened to us is getting this cool new coach, though....

What kind of name is Scottito?

OK. Just to explain the name thing...

For security reasons (Witness Protection Program), I didn't want to use my last name, so I decided to use a nickname and Scottito is the only clean, non-offensive one I have. It comes from back in the day when I would go with the youth group down to the MITC in Cordoba, Mexico. Since our esteemed Reverend Scott had already taken that name and since he is 9 feet tall, I was quickly dubbed Scottito, which is a made-up word for "Little Scott".

There you have it.