Archive for • Disciplines
• Creative Emergence
Creative Emergence It may be helpful to explain two very divergent approaches for Creatives. The first is the deductive approach called Reductionism—“How does this work?” The emphasis is upon taking something apart to determine how it works. The second is the additive approach called Emergence—“What is this?” This is based on the formula: A […]
• Finding Your Life Verse
Finding Your Life Verse I have not seen much emphasis on this of late, except last Sunday in Church. Our Pastor decided to do a two-week series on Finding Your Life Verse. In my generation it seems that many of my peers had life verses. But the newer generation, they have this vague look when […]
• Build a Good Reference Library
Building A Good Reference Library Early on, at the beginning of my ministerial career I was challenged to collect volumes for my library that would contribute to building my own ministerial library. So I began seriously buying books as I could afford them. As I began my Bible School training I would always buy […]
• Leadership: Recalculating
Leadership: Recalibrating (Take a Good Hard Look and Adjust) Every leader must learn to evaluate themselves and their ministry. This process can be both introspective and challenging. If you are part of a ministry that values an annual Performance Review, then you are familiar with being evaluating by another. However, there is nothing more invigorating […]
• What Stepping UP Means
What Stepping Up Means! Stepping UP is the concept in leadership that involves moving forward, but exerting more than normal walking energy to lift that other foot higher. It involves taking that extra effort to raise your game to another level. This can occur when people enhance the productivity of their existing activities and assets […]
• Leadership: Isolation
Leadership: Isolation Why would the subject of Isolation be included in a list of desirable qualities for leadership? We are surrounded everywhere by sounds and noises, in cars, in home, in elevators, at work, answering machines, shopping malls and restaurants. Being alone in such a social world is different. Isolation is the opposite, a removing […]
• Moving Forward, Stepping UP
Moving Forward, Stepping UP Sharon and I took an Alaskan Cruise this year for our vacation. Of course, the Holland America Cruise Ship Zuiderdam was just huge. One of our off repeated experiences every day was to leave our room to navigate our way from deck to deck. There were really two ways to do […]
• Measuring Kidmin Success
Measuring Kidmin Success There seems to be some confusion about what constitutes Success for the Children’s Minister. We all think about it. We want to be successful at what we do and be known for that success. I think part of this confusion comes from our American culture, which basically says…Success has to do with […]
• Growth by Extension
Growth by Extension On my last trip to Baltimore to visit the grand kids, we had some free time, so we gathered up the kids and went for a walk and bike ride up the street from my son’s home. We stopped at a large grass area that the road circled around. In the center […]
• My Love Affair with Books
My Love Affair With Books The warm embrace of a really good book is what I long for now—a kind of closeness that envelops you. Granted, not all books treat you with this kind of intimacy, but you know it when it does. For me, books did not hold this esteemed place in my childhood […]
