Aug 11

Lead From Where You Are And With All That You Have (Lolly Daskal)

Lead From Where You Are And With All That You Have

Themes: (other) people, communication, connecting, dialogue

quote:

How many times have you heard yourself say If only I had the right role … the right job … the right business … the right opportunity, then I would step into my leadership.

But that role, position, opportunity, or business may never come along. So when is the right moment to start leading? That moment is now, right where you are.

If you can’t start from where you want to be, how do you start from where you are?

Here are some ways to clear the path:

Develop yourself. To lead others, you must first learn to lead yourself. As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world as in being able to remake ourselves. Who you are and what you learn about yourself is more powerful than where you are.

Develop alliances. Nothing great was ever done alone. To be successful you need to be able to get along with others, which means building strong relationships and deep alliances. We are all as strong as we are united and as weak as we are divided. The best leaders know the importance of alliances and do everything they can to cultivate them.

Define your worth. Everyone has a unique talent and their own way of expressing themselves; learn what yours is and it will be your worth. The best competitive advantage you have is you. Your talent determines what you can do; your motivation determines how much you do; your attitude determines how well you do it. Lead by your worth and make your mark.

Engage in constant dialogue. When dialogue is constant communication is easy, instant and effective. The most important aspect of dialogue is usually hearing what is not being said. The art of reading between the lines is a lifelong quest of great leaders because it leads to understanding, connection and mutual appreciation.

Seek out experience. Experience as much as you can. People never truly learn anything by being told; find out for yourself is much more powerful. Once you’ve experienced failures and successes you can begin turning those experiences into wisdom.

Invest in other people. People matter—especially when it comes to leadership. Find what is good about others and do everything you can to illuminate their work, support their development and nurture their success. Invest in other people’s successes and groom them to be leaders too. When they win, you win.

You don’t have to wait until you get to the top, until the right role is available, until you’re in the perfect place at the perfect time. You can reach everything you need, and everything you need to accomplish, right where you are. Then when opportunity knocks (and it will) you’ll be ready.

Lead From Within: Everyone has the potential to lead successfully, regardless of the positions they hold and the title they have. Be ready today by leading from right where you are and with all that you have.

– See more at: http://www.lollydaskal.com/leadership/lead-from-where-you-are-and-with-all-that-you-have/#sthash.uqRQefUM.dpuf

Aug 08

Needs to be the Big Four: Four Things Ministry Leaders Should Invest In

http://www.harvestministryteams.com/blog/2015/03/four-things-ministry-leaders-should-invest-in/

Aug 08

50 Simple but Powerful Habits to Leave Your Mark

http://www.inc.com/lolly-daskal/50-simple-ways-to-leave-your-mark.html?cid=sf01001

Aug 04

12 ways to increase your church sending capacity

http://www.harvestministryteams.com/blog/2015/08/12-ways-to-increase-your-church-sending-capacity/

Aug 01

Youth Group Mission Trip 2015

Wesley (Macomb), Savoy, and Pekin First UMC churches.

July 18-25, 2015.

Denver. Stayed at Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, CO.

DICP Day Camp

  • Monday: met Geogina, asst. Director. Stayed at school most of the day. Watched Lion King. Went to performing art center for voice and actions games.
  • Tuesday: a.m. Scavenger hunt at Colorado Mills Mall, swam mini water park, performing art center for voice and actions games. Given a theme groups made two tableau scenes. Rained
  • Wednesday: p.m. WenPut on skit and did craft on the Creation Story.

Jul 11

One Word transformation.

https://leadershipfreak.wordpress.com/2015/01/08/one-word-away-from-transformation/ 

Describes how to pick one word a year to focus on.

Kinda like, in a way, my Christmas boxes.

  

Jul 10

Curating 21st Century Faith Formation

Nice list of e-resources for Faith formation.

http://www.21stcenturyfaithformation.com/digital-faith-formation-resources.html

Jul 07

Five Great American Paintings

In 2008 a series highlighting five great paintings by Norman Rockwell appeared on the ruleofreason.blogspot.com/ site.

Author, Nicholas Provenzo, begins with the words, “The American painter Norman Rockwell ranks among my favorite artists.”  I whole-heartedly agree!

Provenzo describes, in nice detail, five great Rockwell paintings.  They are:

Part I: The Scoutmaster
Part II: The Homecoming Marine
Part III: Lincoln the Railsplitter
Part IV: The Problem We All Live With
Part V: Freedom of Speech

Provenzo’s descriptions are on many levels and well-written and thought-provoking–and still relevant in 2015.

While all five are excellent.  I’ll highlight two.

“Part IV” is noteworthy because it is of an actual six-year-old child, Ruby Nell Bridges, on November 14, 1960.  It is the first day black children in New Orleans would go to school with white children. There is a photo, similar to Rockwell’s painting — but the painting is better, more meaningful.

ROCKWELL_Norman_The_Problem_We_All_live_with_1964This was a major historical day in my lifetime. It rates up there with the Berlin Wall coming down.

As an educator, I appreciate Rockwell’s piece and the history — and am well-aware that we have much work to do to give all children the quality education they need to be successful.

 

The second one I’ll highlight is “Part III” Lincoln the Railsplitter.  Again Provenzo’s description is excellent. LincolRockwell_Norman_Lincoln_the_Railsplitter_1965n’s work ethic is clear. He’s a hard worker physically and as a scholar–with a plumb bob over his shoulder. While I have no desire to be in politics, I can learn much from Lincoln as a railsplitter, scholar, and thinker. (I also chose this one because, for me, it is a lesser-known Normal Rockwell work.)

The painting also reminds me of one of my favorite Lincoln quotes:

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

 More: the NY Times had a nice article ‘Norman Rockwell, the Storyteller’ here. 

 

Jul 07

A Principled Pluralism

A few comments following the Obergefell v. Hodges SCOTUS decision handed down 6/26/15.

I’m intentionally not commenting here on the decision itself.  My concerns are the bigger picture.

The decision handed down is contrary to the beliefs of many Christians and it is also consistent with the beliefs of many Christians.

I’m concerned that Christians could be limited in what they can, and can not believe.

I’m concerned that loving Christians will be unfairly and incorrectly labeled for what they believe.

Michael Gerson

Michael Gerson wrote a nice opinion piece in the Washington Post.

He is calling for “a principled pluralism in which gay people can enjoy the institution of marriage and religious institutions can organize, educate and serve according to their beliefs. In a post-Obergefell world, this is an outcome many of us could welcome.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-next-gay-marriage-question/2015/06/29/03a54b8e-1e8c-11e5-84d5-eb37ee8eaa61_story.html

I Hope Churches Can Choose

The Crossing Church (of Quincy, Macomb, and elsewhere) has posted a statement on their website stating their opposition to redefining marriage.  A couple quotes:

“We will reach as far as possible with the grace and love of Jesus without losing a firm stance on the foundation of God’s unshakeable truth.”

“The Church thrives counter to culture. It is the refiner’s fire where the Church is purified.”

http://thecrossing.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/SCOTUS.pdf

See also a statement here.

There are many Christians and Christian churches who favor same-sex marriages.

I’ve heard that there have been gay marriages already performed in a (at least one) church in Macomb (prior to the SCOTUS ruling).

I think it is a good thing that gays will have the opportunity to marry in a church, as per the new SCOTUS ruling and that there are churches that have decided that they do not support gay marriages and will not perform them.

Kennedy’s Words for Believers

Here‘s an article that begins with words from Justice Kennedy’s majority decision:

Finally, it must be emphasized that religions, and those who adhere to religious doctrines, may continue to advocate with utmost, sincere conviction that, by divine precepts, same-sex marriage should not be condoned. The First Amendment ensures that religious organizations and persons are given proper protection as they seek to teach the principles that are so fulfilling and so central to their lives and faiths, and to their own deep aspirations to continue the family structure they have long revered. The same is true of those who oppose same-sex marriage for other reasons. In turn, those who believe allowing same sex marriage is proper or indeed essential, whether as a matter of religious conviction or secular belief, may engage those who disagree with their view in an open and searching debate. The Constitution, however, does not permit the State to bar same-sex couples from marriage on the same terms as accorded to couples of the opposite sex.

I like the sound of this.  It supports my main premise in this posting and  Michael Gerson’s call for a “principled pluralism.”

The author of the article goes on to claim that, over time, Christians will not be allowed to practice their beliefs against same-sex marriages (or if they do, they’ll be punished or persecuted).  I hope that this will not be the case.  Some will say I’m naive. I do see the possibility that this is a slippery slope. I hope that First Amendment rights will be maintained.

I like to take Kennedy’s words at face value.

This is a Legal Definition of Marriage

The SCOTUS decision makes a new legal definition of marriage. This legal definition does not have to be accepted as the Christian definition of marriage.

No the Name-Calling from Either Side

People are entitled to their decisions. Name calling should be avoided.  It does not accomplish anything, but is divisive. Here’s something that was posted on Facebook that is rather crude (OK, it’s Facebook), but puts it quite succinctly:

YesImA-ChristianNoI-AmNotConclusion

To repeat, I am neither supporting or disagreeing with the SCOTUS decision itself. My main concern is that I hope individual churches can continue to practice what they believe and not be persecuted for it.  In fact, churches on both sides of the issue need to be respected.

I’m happy for my friends who are gay because they can experience the fulfillment of marriage.

Jul 03

Connecting and Community

Yesterday the Pekin community lost a high school boy to an apparent suicide.  Pastor Jim McClarey and youth from his church will be joining us on a mission trip in a couple weeks.  The boy was not in his youth group, but many of the youth going, were friends with the boy they lost and he asked for our prayers.

Pastor Jim sent another email following a candlelight “observance” held in Pekin.  Jim reports that they did light candles and had a moment of silence, but he left disappointed.  He discussed disconnectedness–which lead to tragedies and which seemed to be present at the “observance.”

Here was my reply:

Thank you Jim for articulating that.  I appreciate your words and thinking it through.
I understand what you are saying.
We (our culture) is losing the ability to connect and build community (and leverage the things it provides).  I’m using these words ‘connect’ and ‘community’ in the full sense.  The full sense includes the soul.
Unfortunately, our culture thinks they are connecting and forming communities via electronic technology.  Texting and posting on Facebook does not connect people or create community in the full sense.
Going on a mission trip, elbowing up to a table together for a meal, sleeping in the same room with a snoring comrade, sharing a pick-ax, and worshiping God together has potential for connecting people and building community. Hey, let’s do that.
Yours in Christ,
Jim O