On the Links

• Purpose Driven Coaching for Pastors
  Pastors are in the trenches everyday building and communicating vision, leading change, studying, resolving conflict, leading staff, planning the weekend, caring for family, and working through growth issues. To help you lead well, pastors Gerald Sharon and Ron Sylvia are teaming up to offer a leadership coaching network that will meet one day per month for six months at Saddleback Church in California starting next month. The cost is $175 per month with a $100 registration fee. Space is limited to 12 lead pastors, so apply now on this site.
• Digital Sanctuary blog
  Cynthia Ware has expertise in online technologies and strategic development. She mixes the two in her blog, which is typically updated at least weekly with articles about the intersection of church and tech. Her husband is an associate pastor in the Los Angeles area.
• When church goes to the dogs
  An L.A. church recently opened its doors to pooches. It’s one of a growing number of churches exploring ministry to pet-lovers.
• Rockbridge Seminary
  Help your leaders get on-the-job training at Rockbridge Seminary. Many of Saddleback’s staff have attended this online seminary.
• Blue Letter Bible
  This site has a variety of free Bible study resources online. Find Bibles, maps, concordances, and other reference tools on this site. 

Book Look

• Holy Bible: Mosaic
  Tyndale House Publishers, 2009With insight from every continent and century of the Christian Church, the Holy Bible: Mosaic offers a variety of content for reading and reflection. It’s arranged so that every week includes Scripture; a historical reading; a contemporary reading; and a prayer, creed, hymn, or quote for a rich devotional experience. The New Living Translation text is set in a center-column reference format with Greek and Hebrew word studies, giving readers greater insight in their study.

Saddleback Sayings

• “No two plants grow in the same way, at the same rate, or to the same size. Each plant’s growth pattern is unique. The same is true of churches. No two churches will ever grow in identical ways. God intends for your church to be unique.”– Rick Warren

Bible Bytes

• “A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.’”
  
  –Proverbs 14:30 (NKJV)
• “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.”
  
  –Galatians 5:24-26 (NLT)

Notes & Quotes

• “Envy is the art of counting the other fellow’s blessings instead of your own.” – Harold Coffin

• “The envious man thinks that if his neighbor breaks a leg, he will be able to walk better himself.” – Helmut Schoeck

• According to USA Today one million committed smokers have made the transition to “e-cigarettes,” a battery-operated device that includes inhalable nicotine vapor. (Source: USA Today, November 4, 2009)

• “In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.” – Bill Cosby

• “Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.” – Mother Theresa