Friday, February 26, 2010
Influencing the Next Generation
I realize that not all who read this blog are on Facebook so I am posting a link to a note I recently posted on my FB account.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Pitchers and Catchers begin today
I have heard that God is a big baseball fan because he starts the Bible with "In the Big Inning". Now that the poor attempt at corny humor is out of the way...
Today is the day that Pitchers and Catchers begin their official team workouts in the 2010 Spring Training. The news has been loaded with discussions about changes to the Milwaukee Brewers pitching rotation for this year.
As I thought about the term "pitching rotation" I was reminded that it is VERY rare for a MLB Pitcher to pitch the whole game. In the NFL, NBA or NHL the starting line-up is pretty consistent from game to game, but in Baseball this key position is done by rotation.
Yesterday in our service, our Senior Pastor showed a lot of determination to preach even though he was under the weather. At the end of the first service he was hit with a coughing spell and asked me to come out of the bull pen and finish the game. Fortunately he had "pitched" (actually he spoke) brilliantly and it was down "to the last out of the last inning". I was honored to be asked and am privileged to be part of a TEAM that can share the responsibilities required of our pastors.
This made me think of the valuable role you play as a Small Group Leader or Christian Education Teacher. Have you developed the talent around you so that there are people you can call up at a moments notice to take the mound? Are there others who could have meaningful contributions to your meeting time?
In other sports athletes compete for that starting role, but in baseball the GM has to develop a solid rotation of capable players if he wants a successful season.
Today is the day that Pitchers and Catchers begin their official team workouts in the 2010 Spring Training. The news has been loaded with discussions about changes to the Milwaukee Brewers pitching rotation for this year.
As I thought about the term "pitching rotation" I was reminded that it is VERY rare for a MLB Pitcher to pitch the whole game. In the NFL, NBA or NHL the starting line-up is pretty consistent from game to game, but in Baseball this key position is done by rotation.
Yesterday in our service, our Senior Pastor showed a lot of determination to preach even though he was under the weather. At the end of the first service he was hit with a coughing spell and asked me to come out of the bull pen and finish the game. Fortunately he had "pitched" (actually he spoke) brilliantly and it was down "to the last out of the last inning". I was honored to be asked and am privileged to be part of a TEAM that can share the responsibilities required of our pastors.
This made me think of the valuable role you play as a Small Group Leader or Christian Education Teacher. Have you developed the talent around you so that there are people you can call up at a moments notice to take the mound? Are there others who could have meaningful contributions to your meeting time?
In other sports athletes compete for that starting role, but in baseball the GM has to develop a solid rotation of capable players if he wants a successful season.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Principles of longevity.
I was recently asked to advise a person who is relatively new in full-time ministry about my perspective on leadership. Specifically "What have you seen that has ensured that a person in ministry has a good foundation in their own life to minister for the long term?"
While most who read this blog are lay leaders and very few do vocational ministry, the answers may be helpful to make you a more productive leader.
In no particular order, these were my initial thoughts.
- Long term ministry is more likely if the person doing ministry shares leadership/seeks a multitude of counsel. I have been isolated, I have participated with others in cooperative ways, and I have been part of teams. (For a good discussion on the difference between "cooperation" and "teams" I recommend the book, The Five Dysfunctions of Teams) The longer I am in ministry, the more convinced I become that partnership and teams is more productive.
- maintain a growing personal spiritual life apart from public ministry. Over the years there have been times when I justified in my own mind that "studying the Word in order to teach it to others" was just as good as "soaking in God's Word for personal benefit." As I look back at the most productive times in ministry, it was when my personal walk with God was not directly connected with the subjects I was preaching or teaching.
- knows a sense of divine calling to the ministry he/she is doing. Without exception, each person that I know who used to be paid to do ministry, but is no longer being compensated to do ministry had trouble articulating a clear call to ministry. I don't doubt their sincere desire to be used by God! but long-term ministry effectiveness is more than human desire or a burden to see something happen, it requires a sense of divine call.
- views long-term results more than short-term fads. I've been a Christ follower for nearly 40 years. I've seen ministry approaches come and go. Each was effective for a season. I've seen city-wide media campaigns (e.g. "I found it"), large concert events with elaborate light shows, stadium evangelistic events, 40 Days of...., many large conferences are now giving way to webinars/multi-venue video seminars, Christian illusionists are now hard to find, week-long nightly revival crusades are all but extinct, etc. But professors, pastors and teachers who faithfully participate in a long-term pursuit of becoming like Christ in thought, attitude and behavior continue to see fruit to their ministries.
If you have been doing a particular ministry for longer than 10 years, what advice would you give you an emerging leader who wants long-term fruitfulness?
While most who read this blog are lay leaders and very few do vocational ministry, the answers may be helpful to make you a more productive leader.
In no particular order, these were my initial thoughts.
- Long term ministry is more likely if the person doing ministry shares leadership/seeks a multitude of counsel. I have been isolated, I have participated with others in cooperative ways, and I have been part of teams. (For a good discussion on the difference between "cooperation" and "teams" I recommend the book, The Five Dysfunctions of Teams) The longer I am in ministry, the more convinced I become that partnership and teams is more productive.
- maintain a growing personal spiritual life apart from public ministry. Over the years there have been times when I justified in my own mind that "studying the Word in order to teach it to others" was just as good as "soaking in God's Word for personal benefit." As I look back at the most productive times in ministry, it was when my personal walk with God was not directly connected with the subjects I was preaching or teaching.
- knows a sense of divine calling to the ministry he/she is doing. Without exception, each person that I know who used to be paid to do ministry, but is no longer being compensated to do ministry had trouble articulating a clear call to ministry. I don't doubt their sincere desire to be used by God! but long-term ministry effectiveness is more than human desire or a burden to see something happen, it requires a sense of divine call.
- views long-term results more than short-term fads. I've been a Christ follower for nearly 40 years. I've seen ministry approaches come and go. Each was effective for a season. I've seen city-wide media campaigns (e.g. "I found it"), large concert events with elaborate light shows, stadium evangelistic events, 40 Days of...., many large conferences are now giving way to webinars/multi-venue video seminars, Christian illusionists are now hard to find, week-long nightly revival crusades are all but extinct, etc. But professors, pastors and teachers who faithfully participate in a long-term pursuit of becoming like Christ in thought, attitude and behavior continue to see fruit to their ministries.
If you have been doing a particular ministry for longer than 10 years, what advice would you give you an emerging leader who wants long-term fruitfulness?
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Is Marriage Politically Correct?
Many tell us today that marriage is no longer politically correct. Society wants us to believe that marriage is an outdated institution and that co-habitating, common law marriage, and domestic partnerships are just as beneficial to our society.
Hallmark, FTD and the Jewelry stores want you to believe that this Sunday the only acceptable way to express love is by giving gifts. Other elements of our society want you to think that this Sunday is all about passion for another person.
I ran across some trivia today that said the founding of St. Valentine's day is actually the remembrance of the day (February 14, 240 AD) that a Priest was beheaded for performing weddings when the Emperor had outlawed marriage (because soldiers were claiming brides in an attempt to avoid battle).
How could you use this Sunday's holiday to remind your students/small group participants of the importance and value of Biblical marriage?
Let's not take our cues from advertisers, society or government, but remember that marriage is a holy institution established by God himself.
Hallmark, FTD and the Jewelry stores want you to believe that this Sunday the only acceptable way to express love is by giving gifts. Other elements of our society want you to think that this Sunday is all about passion for another person.
I ran across some trivia today that said the founding of St. Valentine's day is actually the remembrance of the day (February 14, 240 AD) that a Priest was beheaded for performing weddings when the Emperor had outlawed marriage (because soldiers were claiming brides in an attempt to avoid battle).
How could you use this Sunday's holiday to remind your students/small group participants of the importance and value of Biblical marriage?
Let's not take our cues from advertisers, society or government, but remember that marriage is a holy institution established by God himself.
Monday, February 01, 2010
Your Ministry Toolbox
I have found that most people like to accumulate tools. Men tend to like tools that are found at the Sporting Goods store or the Hardware store, while women like tools that are found at the Kitchen Gadget store or home parties held by Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, Stampin' Up, etc.
Some have extravagant organizational systems like thousand dollar Snap-On rolling toolchests or hardwood custom cabinetry with marble counter-tops, while others use an empty 5-gallon bucket or plastic bins to move their tools from job to job.
Have you considered your ministry toolbox? I was adding tools to my ministry toolbox by attending a training workshop last Saturday and in a sidebar conversation somebody said "Just because you are a hammer doesn't mean everybody is a nail."
In my past years I have driven a nail with a hammer, the handle of a screwdriver, and the side of a wrench. but I have never set a screw with a wrench or turned a nut with a hammer. I have heard that women can use a kitchen knife to do just about any task (but they may ruin the screwhead so that it will never come out and may ruin the edge on the knife so that it won't even cut soft butter).
When teaching and leading others, it helps to have a variety of tools. Telling, questioning, assigning tasks, silence, doing activities, artistic representations (pictures, skits & videos), discussion in triads then reporting to the rest of the group, study guides, PowerPoint, Flip-charts are just a few tools that you can use.
Just as buying an expensive stand-mixer won't make a person a good cook, or having a quality table saw in the garage won't make you a good carpenter, collecting books or learning communication skills won't instantly guarantee that people are learning.
Each of these tool must be used at the right time, in the right way to increase the probability of a desired outcome.
What ministry tool do you need to add to your toolbox? Which of the tools that you already have do you need to learn to use more skillfully?
Some have extravagant organizational systems like thousand dollar Snap-On rolling toolchests or hardwood custom cabinetry with marble counter-tops, while others use an empty 5-gallon bucket or plastic bins to move their tools from job to job.
Have you considered your ministry toolbox? I was adding tools to my ministry toolbox by attending a training workshop last Saturday and in a sidebar conversation somebody said "Just because you are a hammer doesn't mean everybody is a nail."
In my past years I have driven a nail with a hammer, the handle of a screwdriver, and the side of a wrench. but I have never set a screw with a wrench or turned a nut with a hammer. I have heard that women can use a kitchen knife to do just about any task (but they may ruin the screwhead so that it will never come out and may ruin the edge on the knife so that it won't even cut soft butter).
When teaching and leading others, it helps to have a variety of tools. Telling, questioning, assigning tasks, silence, doing activities, artistic representations (pictures, skits & videos), discussion in triads then reporting to the rest of the group, study guides, PowerPoint, Flip-charts are just a few tools that you can use.
Just as buying an expensive stand-mixer won't make a person a good cook, or having a quality table saw in the garage won't make you a good carpenter, collecting books or learning communication skills won't instantly guarantee that people are learning.
Each of these tool must be used at the right time, in the right way to increase the probability of a desired outcome.
What ministry tool do you need to add to your toolbox? Which of the tools that you already have do you need to learn to use more skillfully?
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