Monday meetings

Every Monday around here is meeting Monday. Sometimes it feels like "Death by meeting", but I honestly believe that one of the things that builds team, and challenges us to take it to the next level are our meetings. They are not always fun, they are probably too long, I probably talk too much, but I thoroughly enjoy hanging out with our staff-team. As our staff grows, I am trying to restructure our meetings, because not everybody needs to be at every meeting.
A typical Monday meeting generally contains evaluations from Sunday's services, time to hear the success stories of transformed lives, shoring up any areas that need attention, and a lot of laughter. Once a month as a staff, we study and discuss a book that stretches us. Right now we are going through "The Starbucks Experience."
One of my last meetings of the day is our Creative Team meeting. These are a lot of fun. Some days we laugh more than we work. People ask us all the time, how we plan for upcoming messages and series and the creative elements; Well, this is where that takes place. We spend a lot of time brainstorming and usually the ideas begin to flow. One of the keys to a great service is in the planning. (Some people may ask, "doesn't all the planning prevent the Holy Spirit from working? Actually, NO. I believe the Holy Spirit is at work in our advance planning. There is nothing spiritual about not having a clue what you are going to do until you show up on Sunday---actually, that's pretty stupid!) We discuss message ideas, songs, video ideas, etc. and then finalize who is responsible for certain items and pray that it all comes together!!
Of course I am simplifying it, but you get the idea!