This year, I thought I would share the list with everyone. I thought maybe it would help some of you direct your year to come and provide some conversation starters for you and your spouse or maybe thought starters for you as an individual.

Feel free to copy and share with your friends and followers as well.

I hope the following questions help in creating a 2011 unlike anything you could have ever imagined!

Creating 2011:

What would you like to be your biggest triumph in 2011?

What advice would you like to give yourself in 2011?

What is the major effort you are planning to improve your financial results in 2011?

What would you be most happy about completing in 2011?

What major indulgence are you willing to experience in 2011?

What would you most like to change about yourself in 2011?

What are you looking forward to learning in 2011?

What do you think your biggest risk will be in 2011?

What about your work, are you most committed to changing and improving in 2011?

What is one as yet undeveloped talent you are willing to explore in 2011?

What brings you the most joy and how are you going to do or have more of that in 2011?

Who or what, other than yourself, are you most committed to loving and serving in 2011?

What one word would you like to have as your theme in 2011?

Which question stirred you the most? Will you take action on it throughout the course of the year?

Building A Social Media Team – very helpful in creating direction for a volunteer social media team we are assembling at Elevation Church.

Sprout Social – an interesting social tracking tool, I am trying out.

Big Hype Media – This is where I will be hosting my blog

Standard Theme – The creator’s of my blog’s new theme. Want it? Talk to my buddy Kyle Reed about getting it!

Bless Back Worldwide – A non-profit in Charlotte I have been helping. Using what you’ve been blessed with to bless others.

Ted Talks – I finally got an iPad. The Ted Talks app is one of my favorites so far. Love the inspiration and education the content provides.

10 tips to build a social media game plan – I find it helpful to read through plans/ideas such as this to give me a foundation for my own thought process.

Deep Thinking and Sacred Space – This was perhaps one of the most thought provoking articles I read all week.

Making Innovative Ideas Happen – I am always looking for information and relative articles on how to bring Ideas to life. This was practical.

Soshable – Great content pertaining to social media here.

2011 Ted Prize Winner – Such a creative use of photography. Stick around for the last shot…astounding!

Crowdrise – A friend of mine introduced this to me since I am involved in quite a few non-profits. A great way to start raising money for your cause.

Life at Google – Inspiring look at the office life and hiring at one of the most creative companies in the world.

What Sites did you find interesting and helpful this week?

Front

Back

The new business cards have finally arrived. After a long awaited decision and design process, this is what I have decided to go with for this batch of cards.

I decided to put “Yarby” bold and forefront of the card for continued branding of the name. As I have found Yarby to be easily recognized and always available as a username, it has proven to be a good “brand” for myself. In a time where people know you more by your use of social media and as I progress my career in social media I expect Yarby to be the way people recognize me as well as my work.

My friend Evan, has been using the term Community Catalyst and I absolutely love it. So give him the credit for that. I asked him if he said I could borrow it for my cards, he delightfully said yes. Although, I didn’t ask him what it meant to him, because I wanted him to have his definition and for me to have my own. To me a community catalyst is one who creates and engages in the interaction of others. Whether it be a community that physically gathers in a group or an online community. A community catalyst propels this community forward through conversation, events, and connecting. A community catalyst engages with a broad range of communities, not for their own good but for the improvement of others; through connecting those communities, sharing one community’s work with another. I hope to improve in my community interaction, engagement and connecting. It’s on the cards now…I have to!

Oh…and the ZapBoomPow thing? For now check out ZapBoomPow….let your brain wander. It’s a little something I’m working on creating with some friends that will hopefully fulfill everyone’s creative needs.

Like the cards?? They were designed by my good friend Bryan Scott, follow him, maybe he’ll design you some too!

Cards were printed by Moo Cards. I went with the Mini Card’s. I love them.

Photo by @JeremyCowart

Lately, I’ve been helping with the launch of a Non-Profit called Bless Back Worldwide, here in Charlotte. Bless Back was established to empower the able through strategy and passion to give back in a capacity that raises the standard of living in areas affected by poverty, disease, or catastrophe. What started off as a team of Doctors travelling to Haiti within 2 weeks of the massive earthquake has now become a non-profit to help the world. Humbling enough, they’ve asked me to come on and direct their Social Media initiatives. I count it an honor to work with such an amazing organization in a capacity that i’m truly passionate about.

In December Bless Back is orchestrating two different trips to Haiti. One is strictly a medical trip and the other a trip to be among the Haitian people and provide them with love, supplies, and help in their communities. Currently Donna and I are slated to travel with them on the first trip which leaves December 27th and returns January 3rd. While there, I will be blogging about the trip, writing about what the medical team is doing in the community, the response of the people and the help provided. I will also be responsible for capturing the trip through the use of photography and video.

As Donna and I prepare for this trip we are in need of the support of our friends and family to make it possible help the people of Haiti. Below you will see a letter of support we at Bless Back have drafted. Please take a minute to read it over and consider helping us get to Haiti to be a part of an effort that will truly make a difference.

On Jan 12, 2010 a catastrophic earthquake rocked Haiti. Four weeks later a team of 22 Charlotte, NC area medical personnel traveled to Cambry, Haiti to share God’s love and compassion with the people suffering there. Not only did their efforts affect the lives of those they ministered to, but each of them was dramatically impacted as well.

From that trip a vision was born: to “unite people with their unique God-given passions, gifts, and resources and send them into the world to change it. We bless others, assisting them with their physical and spiritual needs, because we have been blessed. We are the Church outside the church.” And today that vision is a reality in Bless Back Worldwide.

I have been given an incredible opportunity to partner with Bless Back Worldwide and El Shaddai Ministries International on a return trip to Haiti. Between Dec 27, 2010 and Jan 3, 2011, I will be a part of a team of 80 people traveling to Cambry, Haiti to bless others with the blessings I have been given. I will have the opportunity to minister to the people of Haiti through my gifts. We plan to provide medical care to those in need, education, sports camps, construction projects, music ministry, and more.
More than anything, I would value your prayers for our team and those whose lives will be touched by God through us. I believe God answers prayers, and I’m asking you to pray for safety, good health, smooth travel and financial support. Just knowing you will be praying will give me peace as I go into an unfamiliar place.

If you are led also to join me by financially supporting this mission, I would be grateful. Our group needs to raise approximately $150,000 to cover costs for this trip, and additional funds are needed to support the future efforts of Bless Back Worldwide. I want to extend an invitation to you to participate in this effort by making a tax-free contribution of $25, $50, $100 or more. I’ve enclosed a self-addressed stamped envelope for your convenience, and you can also make a monthly or yearly pledge if this idea sets your heart on fire like it has mine. The deadline for mission donations is November 15, 2010.
YOU are the vision of Bless Back Worldwide being lived out. By supporting our team, YOU are using your passions, gifts, and resources to change the world – one person at a time. I can’t thank you enough for being a part of this movement to bless others because God has blessed us. Take care, and I hope to hear from you soon.

With gratitude,

Jason & Donna Yarborough

Bless back Worldwide, Inc. has applied for 501(c)(3) tax exempt status and the application is pending. Once the company receives a favorable determination letter from the IRS, you will be notified and your contribution will be tax deductible. In the event this mission trip is cancelled due to natural disaster, political unrest, or other reason that may endanger the safety of team members, funds received by Bless Back Worldwide will be used to support the vision of Bless Back Worldwide, Inc. including support for future mission trips.

It would mean the world to us if you could provide any level of support. We are currently trying to raise $1800 by November 1st and another $1800 by November 15th. The costs will cover travel and supplies. If you have the ability to help us could you please let me know by email, including how much and by which deadline you could help us? (Email: jyarby@gmail.com) Following your email I will reply back with how to get the money to us. Also, feel free to send an email if you have questions regarding the organization or the trip, I will be more than happy to expand on what we are doing.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read this and to those who are willing to support us in going to help a hurting nation.

Jason

This is one of the best videos i’ve seen in a long time. Who the heck has the patience and the creativity to create such amazing images on a lite-brite!? And where can you even get those anymore?

What’s even more amazing is that apparently they created this video in its entirety.

And the song is beautiful. The whole album is really. It’s called Church Music if you’re interested.

“Tension is a powerful platform to clarify what is important”

Appetite is a powerful tension b/c we want more

There are 2 appetite’s we generally talk about:
Food
Sex
Sleep

We’re a big bundle of of appetite’s

Appetite’s we crave:
Loved
Cherished
Secure
Successful

Each appetite creates tension – at some point in your life

Our appetites only have 1 word in its vocabulary – more

When it comes to leadership there are appetites that are heightened beyond the average persons

There are tensions you will always have to manage in leadership because of appetites
Such as:
progress
responsibility
respect
win
growth
fame
achievement
to be envied
…and we always want MORE of each of these.

All of our appetites are a reflection of the image of God but there is a problem

3 things about appetites that pose as a problem
1. God created them (appetites) and sin distorted them
2. Appetites are never fully and finally satisfied
3. your Appetites always whisper now and never later

We live as though there is something out there that can actually fulfill and satisfy our appetite
-In leadership there is always tension in this area

Your appetite or your response to your appetite (your ability or inability to respond to your appetite) will determine the direction of your profession, family, or life. To find out how true that is, take a look at your parents.

There is a list of men/women who have lost there organizations because of their inability to manage their appetite, and desire for more and more and more

If you are ruled or controlled by the voice that says “more…a little more” ultimately the end is embarrassment.

There is no equivalent in our culture, we don’t truly understand the story of inherited birthrights

3 essentials that made the birthright extraordinary:
Financial – you got twice the inheritance
Authority – you gained authority over the family
Blessing of God
(power, money and blessing)

Genesis 25
Brothers:
Growing up older brothers rarely need the younger brothers. The younger brother is always wanting something from the older brother. When the older brother finally needs the younger, he relishes in the moment, takes notice. In those times, younger brother pauses and thinks “What is most valuable to older” what can I get out of this.
Esau never needed anything from Jacob. When he did, Jacob asked for the birthright,

Who would trade their future for something as temporary as a bowl of stew?

Who would throw away their future (marriage, family, ministry, influence, etc) for a bowl of stew?
We all would if it was the right bowl of stew.
Because appetites are powerful, they are never fully satisfied.
This is tension we will carry every single day of our life.

There’s a couple things a strong appetite will do to us.
Impact Bias – takes a simple appetite and magnifies it out of proportion
your brain lies to you. tells you that if you accomplish this “thing” you will feel way better that it is actually going to feel. Which is why we have buys remorse
Focalism – focuses our minds on one thing and blurs out everything else

If we could step into the story of Esau we would tell him to “wait a minute before you take the stew. Let me explain to you what God is going to do. You will be the father of many nations. God is going to raise up Moses and introduce himself to him.He will intro himself as the God of Abraham Isaac and Esau – you take this stew and that all changes. Becomes the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, your younger brother. All because you took some stew.”

The same thing when Jesus comes on the scene.

You want to trade all of that for a bowl of stew? It would be better you die that to give that all away.

There was no one to reframe his appetite, nor will there be anyone around to reframe ours.

As leaders – this tension will never ever go away. What ever you want you will only want more. All of your appetite will whisper now, not later.

Your only hope is to reframe your appetite into the broader context into what god has called you to do. On what you have set your sights on.

There are places you should never go, that are bigger and better, with more – audience growth, money – there are appetites we allow to dictate our futures when we should really just stay put.

If you give in, you trade a part of your future for nothing more than a bowl of stew.

Whats your bowl of stew?
Whats that thing right now thats being held out in front of you that you are having a hard time saying no to?
What are you talking yourself into?
Whatever your hunger is talking your brain into is your bowl of stew?
What are you contemplating that your spouse is uncomfortable with?
What is it that your doing thats not illegal and not immoral but you hope no one founds out about?

“Never do anything in your personal life that you wouldn’t want to stand up in front of your congregation and tell them about?” Ronald Blue

The bowl of stew changes a legacy.

Refrain and Reframe.
Whatever you do don’t trade your future for a bowl of stew.

10 YEARS FROM NOW…….
_______________________________________________
Write whatever comes to mind here.
What do you want to see God do ten years from now? In your biz, community, marriage, family, church. In doing so you will reframe your appetite for what controls you.
The more framed, the less grip those appetites have on your life.

I remember learning how to tie a knot. I learned how to tie on a pair of roller skates…in my basement. My dad wouldn’t let me come out of the basement until I had gotten the knot thing figured out. It’s been one of the most useful lessons of my life. Or so our parents make it seem that way. Anytime a kid has a shoe untied the parent immediately tells them to tie it. As if they will launch out of their shoes never again to be seen. Although, walking around with an untied shoe can be a little dangerous. Remember what your parents would say? “Tie your shoes before you trip and fall.” “Don’t ride your bike with your shoes untied.”

I rode my bike a lot when I was kid and never thought laces would get caught in a bike; until it happened. It hurt. Bad. I also ran Cross Country and Track in High School and College. In Cross Country you can’t wear slip ons. Laces are required. You need the laces to cause the shoe to take the right form around the foot, to be tight on the foot and to keep from falling off.

Shoes play a crucial role in our life. They support our feet and ankles, protect our feet, provide us a sense of style, and can keep the feet warm.

The other day I laced up my running shoes to go for a run and thought about something. Life has shoes, too. I thought about this because for a couple of months I walked around with my “shoes” untied. I never even knew they were untied. Until I tripped. I just assumed we had on lifelong slip ons. Well, we don’t. We have to make an effort every day to keep our “shoes” tied. To keep our support and our protection. The proper shoes can take us a long way. On long journeys. Sometimes not investing in the right shoes can cause a lot of pain or damage. I can’t wear Nikes because they don’t support my feet properly and they don’t last long enough. There are certain “shoes” I know I can’t wear in this life. They are not right for me. And I must come to grips with that. Although, there’s a lot of sexier “shoe’s” out there, there are only certain “shoes” that are made for me. Designed specifically for me. I tend to sometimes want to wear the sexier shoes, but sexy never stays sexy forever. Right is always right…forever.