I have decided to shelve the blog for at least this season.
It doesn't seem like this is a very practical way to get conversations flowing. That is pretty evident in yalls lack of response to the chapter questions.
we will figure something else out
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Chapter Two-Doing The Right Things...
Random Thoughts:
--If what we are doing is getting in the way of who we are to be, then there is great need for a course change.
--Church leadership is less about personal comfort and more about troubleshooting to find an equation that leads to maximum momentum and influence.
--My tendency while reading this chapter was to start listing the things that I don't want to do because I am not energized by them. The disciples weren't finding men to replace them in a task they didn't like. It was simply an issue that the food distribution ministry was too big now. We are not talking about 100 or 200 people. At this time the argument was coming from a society of people.
--If we are honest there is nothing right now that has outgrown our need to lay the groundwork necessary to create a great environment in our church. Just because I don't like organizing thank you cards for teachers and delivering them doesn't mean that I should not continue to set the tone.
--There is a difference in empowering people through delegation and casting your responsibilities on them.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1. How can we better empower people to get involved in the ministry happening at Merge?
2. What is one thing you tend to want to delegate, not because are too busy, but because you just don't want to do it?
3. What are your random thoughts about the chapter.
*****IMPORTANT NOTE******
The Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast has been updated with a new topic.
Next week have chapter three read and listen to the podcast.
BAG
<><
--If what we are doing is getting in the way of who we are to be, then there is great need for a course change.
--Church leadership is less about personal comfort and more about troubleshooting to find an equation that leads to maximum momentum and influence.
--My tendency while reading this chapter was to start listing the things that I don't want to do because I am not energized by them. The disciples weren't finding men to replace them in a task they didn't like. It was simply an issue that the food distribution ministry was too big now. We are not talking about 100 or 200 people. At this time the argument was coming from a society of people.
--If we are honest there is nothing right now that has outgrown our need to lay the groundwork necessary to create a great environment in our church. Just because I don't like organizing thank you cards for teachers and delivering them doesn't mean that I should not continue to set the tone.
--There is a difference in empowering people through delegation and casting your responsibilities on them.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1. How can we better empower people to get involved in the ministry happening at Merge?
2. What is one thing you tend to want to delegate, not because are too busy, but because you just don't want to do it?
3. What are your random thoughts about the chapter.
*****IMPORTANT NOTE******
The Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast has been updated with a new topic.
Next week have chapter three read and listen to the podcast.
BAG
<><
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Next Generation Leader Chapter One
You are Doing Too Much:
Chapter Thoughts:
-Knowing what you don't do well is just as valuable as what you do well.
-There is a great difference between working hard and working smart.
-A leader who spends large amounts of time being balanced in the leadership scales will rarely become a great leader.
-We need to strive as a team to become a balanced force and when we hire new team members we need to be aware of what weaknesses they will strengthen.
-What zapps you may energize someone else, so don't be afraid to ask them to pitch in.
-If Leadership is about getting things done through other people then we need to be empowering other people to make a difference and lead.
-It is the leader's fault if they find themselves believing the people around them are incompetent. They have lead their organization exactly to that point.
Questions:
1. What area(s) is your greatest strength?
---- mine is big picture thinking and teaching
2. What area(s) is your greatest weakness?
----mine is detail driven projects. I am zapped when I am dong administrative or day to day kind of work.
3. How can we better serve you in playing to your strengths?
---- for me you guys can take the manager need in me out of the picture by being pro-active in your areas. You can help me not have to focus time and energy in follow-up and administration.
Don't forget, Chapter 2 is due next week
__________________________
BAG
Chapter Thoughts:
-Knowing what you don't do well is just as valuable as what you do well.
-There is a great difference between working hard and working smart.
-A leader who spends large amounts of time being balanced in the leadership scales will rarely become a great leader.
-We need to strive as a team to become a balanced force and when we hire new team members we need to be aware of what weaknesses they will strengthen.
-What zapps you may energize someone else, so don't be afraid to ask them to pitch in.
-If Leadership is about getting things done through other people then we need to be empowering other people to make a difference and lead.
-It is the leader's fault if they find themselves believing the people around them are incompetent. They have lead their organization exactly to that point.
Questions:
1. What area(s) is your greatest strength?
---- mine is big picture thinking and teaching
2. What area(s) is your greatest weakness?
----mine is detail driven projects. I am zapped when I am dong administrative or day to day kind of work.
3. How can we better serve you in playing to your strengths?
---- for me you guys can take the manager need in me out of the picture by being pro-active in your areas. You can help me not have to focus time and energy in follow-up and administration.
Don't forget, Chapter 2 is due next week
__________________________
BAG
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
At home with Barak today
Hey guys,
I kept Barak home today from school and am working from the house. My Next Generation Leader book is at the office. That means that tomorrow I will post thoughts and questions about chapter one. Next week we will be discussing chapter two.
BAG
I kept Barak home today from school and am working from the house. My Next Generation Leader book is at the office. That means that tomorrow I will post thoughts and questions about chapter one. Next week we will be discussing chapter two.
BAG
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Mutual Submission Conversation
I hope by now you have all had an opportunity to listen to the latest Andy Stanley Leadership Lesson Podcast. If you haven't please do so soon. The reason for this blog is to open up dialogue since it is difficult for us to meet on a regular basis outside of Sunday morning.
I thoroughly enjoyed all of the comments you guys left last week addressing the Catalyst recap. I spent hours reading and thinking of all the inspiring words you guys left. If you didn't read the comments go ahead and click on the link. if you don't see any comments left it is only because you guys failed to leave any. Way to pitch in and get involved!!!!
Anyways, let's try again and see if we can get something rolling.
Here are some of my thoughts and things that stuck out to me on Mutual Submission:
-every once in a while I will read or hear something that will just see to scream truth. This lesson was one of those to me. I found myself hearing words to the actions I want to lead with.
-"Do for one when you can't do for all"
I love this. There is a tendency to think (especially as we grow as a church) that we have to be fair for everyone. Truth is not everyone is equal. I think this applies staff and church wide. Most people on the outside or the losing end of this principle will scream that you are playing favorites. When in actuality...YOU ARE. AND THAT IS O.K.
-I loved the image of Symbolic Leadership: do for one what I WISH I could do for all.
-Do you feel that we have an organization where your opinions are encouraged, free from the fear of punishment or recourse?
-HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
seriously, I know that our current level as a church has us doing a lot of stuff as a unit but what do you wish I could help you out in?
-there is tension between point leadership (which is a biblical model) and team or consensus based leadership (which is man made based on the fairness doctrine)
-What are some ways we can and do serve back down through the organization?
-In your opinion, are we working at an unsustainable pace that is keeping us from serving each other?
I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR THOUGHTS.
Also, since funds are light with the renovation and stuff, let's go ahead and start next generation leader. Have chapter one read by next tuesday and I will post some thoughts and questions then.
Heart and Soul,
BAG
<><
I thoroughly enjoyed all of the comments you guys left last week addressing the Catalyst recap. I spent hours reading and thinking of all the inspiring words you guys left. If you didn't read the comments go ahead and click on the link. if you don't see any comments left it is only because you guys failed to leave any. Way to pitch in and get involved!!!!
Anyways, let's try again and see if we can get something rolling.
Here are some of my thoughts and things that stuck out to me on Mutual Submission:
-every once in a while I will read or hear something that will just see to scream truth. This lesson was one of those to me. I found myself hearing words to the actions I want to lead with.
-"Do for one when you can't do for all"
I love this. There is a tendency to think (especially as we grow as a church) that we have to be fair for everyone. Truth is not everyone is equal. I think this applies staff and church wide. Most people on the outside or the losing end of this principle will scream that you are playing favorites. When in actuality...YOU ARE. AND THAT IS O.K.
-I loved the image of Symbolic Leadership: do for one what I WISH I could do for all.
-Do you feel that we have an organization where your opinions are encouraged, free from the fear of punishment or recourse?
-HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
seriously, I know that our current level as a church has us doing a lot of stuff as a unit but what do you wish I could help you out in?
-there is tension between point leadership (which is a biblical model) and team or consensus based leadership (which is man made based on the fairness doctrine)
-What are some ways we can and do serve back down through the organization?
-In your opinion, are we working at an unsustainable pace that is keeping us from serving each other?
I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR THOUGHTS.
Also, since funds are light with the renovation and stuff, let's go ahead and start next generation leader. Have chapter one read by next tuesday and I will post some thoughts and questions then.
Heart and Soul,
BAG
<><
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Catalyst Recap and Andy Stanley Podcast
All right sports fans,
1. I am working on getting a copy of "IT" for you guys that we can start shortly.
2. Andy Stanley's leadership podcast just updated. Take some time this week and listen to the message (about 21 minutes) and next week I will have some questions to discuss.
3. Let's do a quick Catalyst recap. Shoot a paragraph not describing the conference (we were all there), tell us one thing that really stuck out to you. One thing that you are still wrestling with or thinking about.
For me it is...
Matt Chandler's simple quote of "Jesus only is the difference between the church being the church than just a rotary club" (my paraphrase of course). How true is that. We can spend our time putting community service events on the calender. We can fill back packs, help in ESL classes, be a part of Christmas Express but if it doesn't point to the love of Jesus then we are really nothing more than just a club of do gooder's. We need to be on the front lines of desperate prayers that only God can answer as He unleashes His love on this city for His glory.
See, it's not that hard.
I love spending time with you guys in Atlanta. I look forward and pray for the day when we can share moments like that daily in the office.
Heart and Soul,
BAG
<><
1. I am working on getting a copy of "IT" for you guys that we can start shortly.
2. Andy Stanley's leadership podcast just updated. Take some time this week and listen to the message (about 21 minutes) and next week I will have some questions to discuss.
3. Let's do a quick Catalyst recap. Shoot a paragraph not describing the conference (we were all there), tell us one thing that really stuck out to you. One thing that you are still wrestling with or thinking about.
For me it is...
Matt Chandler's simple quote of "Jesus only is the difference between the church being the church than just a rotary club" (my paraphrase of course). How true is that. We can spend our time putting community service events on the calender. We can fill back packs, help in ESL classes, be a part of Christmas Express but if it doesn't point to the love of Jesus then we are really nothing more than just a club of do gooder's. We need to be on the front lines of desperate prayers that only God can answer as He unleashes His love on this city for His glory.
See, it's not that hard.
I love spending time with you guys in Atlanta. I look forward and pray for the day when we can share moments like that daily in the office.
Heart and Soul,
BAG
<><
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast Thoughts...
There are a few notes I jotted down from this talk:
*Everyone of us is emotionally attached in how we do ministry.
*Are we leaders or people pleaser's?
*The local church rarely gets serious about change until the money runs out?
*What is in decline? What are we manufacturing energy for?
*What assumptions do we have that are driving our decisions?
*Fall in love with the mission, be infatuated with your system.
*As culture changes so should our assumptions. Not our mission.
My thoughts:
It is difficult to really evaluate a lot of our systems based on the lack of programs and the length in which we have been a church. I think many of these questions will be better next summer as we take a look back and look for area of improvement and overhaul.
I like their willingness to confront redundancy in efforts to combat having stuff on the calender. 7:22 and kidstuff are big things in NorthPoint.
We have to be daring in our mission while at the same time be committed to doing the leg work to build the necessary momentum. Jim Collins in Good to Great calls is The Flywheel. The effort we are putting in today (if attached in the mission properly) will build momentum for the future.
Questions to respond to:
1. Where are we currently building momentum that you believe will have a positive effect tomorrow?
2. Is there already something in decline in our church that we need to address? Secondly, are we manufacturing energy anywhere?
3. Do you have any additional thoughts about the podcast?
*Everyone of us is emotionally attached in how we do ministry.
*Are we leaders or people pleaser's?
*The local church rarely gets serious about change until the money runs out?
*What is in decline? What are we manufacturing energy for?
*What assumptions do we have that are driving our decisions?
*Fall in love with the mission, be infatuated with your system.
*As culture changes so should our assumptions. Not our mission.
My thoughts:
It is difficult to really evaluate a lot of our systems based on the lack of programs and the length in which we have been a church. I think many of these questions will be better next summer as we take a look back and look for area of improvement and overhaul.
I like their willingness to confront redundancy in efforts to combat having stuff on the calender. 7:22 and kidstuff are big things in NorthPoint.
We have to be daring in our mission while at the same time be committed to doing the leg work to build the necessary momentum. Jim Collins in Good to Great calls is The Flywheel. The effort we are putting in today (if attached in the mission properly) will build momentum for the future.
Questions to respond to:
1. Where are we currently building momentum that you believe will have a positive effect tomorrow?
2. Is there already something in decline in our church that we need to address? Secondly, are we manufacturing energy anywhere?
3. Do you have any additional thoughts about the podcast?
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