Love Your Leader

If you serve under a good leader, count your blessings and love your leader.

Leadership is often a solitary role. While leaders are often responsible for those they lead, they often go under appreciated. They spend long hours making sure things are taken care of, with little thanks in return. We all hope this isn’t the case, but unfortunately it happens more than we like.

How can you love your leaders? Try giving back to them. Here are some ideas:

• Give them a sincere “thank you," perhaps with a short story on how they have positively impacted you or others
• Send a thank you card and enclose a gift certificate to their favorite store (something non-churchy can make it more personal)
• Give them a weekend off by covering for them
• Babysit (or hire babysitters) to care for their children and give them a date night with their spouse
• Give them a nice meal by cooking or providing a gift card to a nice restaurant (no fast food)

Take some time to love the leaders you report to and the leaders you serve alongside.

[from Agile Ministry by James Higginbotham]

Public School Students Still Have Religious Rights

A newly launched campaign is reaching out to public school students, teachers and parents across the nation to promote greater awareness about the fundamental right that students have to express themselves – even when it comes to religion.

“Students have the liberty to express their faith at school,” clarifies Eric Buehrer, president of Gateways to Better Education, which has teamed up with the Alliance Defense Fund for the National Free to Speak Campaign.

“One of the most important civics lessons all students should learn is that freedom of religious expression is a fundamental right of all Americans, and, as the U.S. Supreme Court has stated, this freedom does not end at the schoolhouse gate,” he adds.

Over the past 15 years, the U.S. Department of Education has thrice issued guidelines on freedom of religious expression in public schools – two times (1995 and 1998) during the Clinton administration and once (2003) under the Bush administration.

Included in the guidelines are statements clarifying a number of important religious freedoms on public school campuses including a student’s right to share their beliefs, pray, evangelize, read scripture, and invite students to participate in such activities so long as they are voluntary, student-initiated, and not disruptive or coercive.

Under the guidelines, students are also free to express their religious views in a class discussion or as part of an assignment, so long as the expression is relevant to the subject under consideration and meets the requirements of the assignment.

“Faith is an important part of millions of teens’ lives,” notes Buehrer. “The classroom should be a safe place for students of all ages to express their faith in class discussions and homework assignments, just as the U.S. Department of Education has affirmed.”

The problem, says ADF Senior Legal Counsel David Cortman, is that the guidelines had been sent to every school district but didn’t make it into the hands of school administrators, teachers, parents, and students.

“As a result, some schools have practices that are in direct violation of the guidelines and the U.S. Constitution,” adds Cortman, whose Christian legal group often intervenes in religious liberty cases.

As part of the National Free to Speak Campaign, Gateways to Better Education will be distributing pocket-sized pamphlets that it has produced to the churches, communities, and schools of those who order them.

Additionally, ADF has donated its time to the National Free to Speak Campaign by offering to send a personalized six-page letter to school officials clarifying the freedom of religious expression students and educators have on campus.

The goal of the two organizations is to distribute 500,000 pamphlets and reach 5,000 schools by the end of the year.

“This campaign will help schools improve their practices,” says Cortman.

[By Lawrence D. Jones, Christian Post Reporter]

Where Is Michael Jackson?

More Like Jesus

"When I surrendered to Jesus, I found not a tyrant, but a savior; not a boss, but a brother; not a dictator, but a friend." - Pastor Rick Warren

Wouldn't it be nice if Christian leaders could be more like Jesus?

Today's Quote

"Those who waste time attacking perceived faults of others never grow up. Envy and bitterness shrink their hearts. (Jn 8:15)" - Pastor Rick Warren

Walter Cronkite Dies at 92

Walter Cronkite, the long-time CBS News anchorman once called "The Most Trusted Man in America," has died, according to reports published late Friday. He was 92.

At every turn, he acted as if he had a responsibility to his audience. He didn't do the right thing because he thought it would help him get ahead and then one day he'd get his share. Instead, he always did the right thing because that's who he was. No sellouts, no political consulting, no false transparency.

And, that's the way it is.

One bad apple spoils the whole barrel / bushel / lot / bunch.

Did you ever have a bad apple in your church or on your team? Do you have the right people in the right seat on the bus?

Bad apples are staff-members who cause problems, reduce productivity, or have a negative impact on morale. These types of people come with a variety of traits, personalities and problems. Most leaders are well-equipped to handle problems, but almost universally, leaders feel inadequate when it comes to solving personality problems or person-to-person conflicts. And these often have the biggest influence on reaching goals.

Identifying Bad Apples - Some easy to recognize signs of a troublesome people include tardiness, leaving early, failing to follow instructions, argumentativeness, and inability to take direction well. The best test for a bad apple is to ask if he.she negatively affects the accomplishment of the vision. Whatever he/she is doing (or not doing) can make it harder for other people, or for him/her to complete theirs. Some types of bad apples include backstabbers, passive-aggressives, liars, bullies, whiners, career climbers, gossips, laziness and more. The ultimate outcome of that person’s attitude or behavior is that the church/ministry does not succeed as well as it could have.

Evaluate Productivity - When it comes down to it, people are primarily valuable to the team because of the work they accomplish which helps bring the vision into reality. There may be people on your team who work for you that you don’t like, find annoying, or whom other people dislike, but the ultimate test of whether they are bad apples is how they impact productivity.

You need to look not only at that person’s own productivity, but at how he/she influences productivity for the entire team. A person who does not do his job well is an obvious problem, but one that drains the resources from others is not as easy to spot sometimes.

Understanding Bad Apple Behavior - Just as there are lots of behavior that qualifies as problematic, there are many reasons that can explain bad apple behavior. If you can pinpoint and understand the reasons behind their actions (or inaction's), you’ll be in a better position to be able to solve the problem.

Some common reasons for below par activity include:
- he doesn't like his job
- he doesn't like the work environment
- she doesn't like her co-workers
- she feels dissatisfied with the church
- he has skill set deficiencies he is trying to manage or cover up
- he really has no idea he’s not measuring up
- she is experiencing a personal, health, or family problem outside of work
- he has a basic clash with leadership
- she has basic personality traits that are just incompatible with the job or ministry

The best way to find out the reason behind their behavior is simply to talk to them. Find out what her concerns are, how she feels, and what’s going on in her life. It’s impossible to properly correct something if you can’t identify the cause and sometimes we tend to over think things when there really is a simple explanation. If you have someone who is not turning in projects on time, you could extrapolate all sorts of complicated reasons for this – she can’t work with the new version of the software, she’s trying to make you look bad, and so on, when the explanation might be as simple as the fact that someone else is giving her work that is more urgent. Find the root of the problem and you can then fix it. Unless you understand the core cause of the problem, you might end up just solving a symptom, but not resolving the underlying issue. A solution that deals only with the symptoms is going to be an incomplete solution. If you Spackle over a cracked wall in your house you can mask the problem, but it will simply crack again if you have a shifting foundation that needs to be repaired. Your team member is in the same situation. You can temporarily change some behaviors, but if the root cause of the problem remains untouched, you’re likely to experience problems with this employee over and over again. You won’t always be able to completely fix the problem, but understanding the cause can help you be a more effective leader.

Rehabilitating Bad Apples - To change a bad apple, first talk to the team. Find out what is going on. Take some time to observe and create your own conclusions. Next, think about what might be creating the situation. You might have a situation where two people are incompatible or has been placed in a situation that is outside her area of skill or confidence. If you can identify and isolate a situation or problem that is contributing to the behavior, you have a much better chance of creating a solution for it.

If the problem is inherent to the person’s attitude or personality, first demonstrate the benefits of being a good member by rewarding other members. Demonstrate the consequences of bad apple behavior – follow protocol for write-ups and discipline. Talk to him about what the problem is, but do so in a way that shows you want to work together to solve the problem. Be prepared to really listen to their explanations and feedback. Create a goal for the person. Don’t step back and expect him to get there himself – help him reach the goal. Doing so ensures success and shows you are on his side. Provide real suggestions and tips and always give positive feedback as you move along.

[from Great Leadership by Dan McCarthy]

Today's Quote

“The farther I run away from the place where God dwells, the less I am able to hear the voice that calls me the Beloved, and the less I hear that voice, the more entangled I become in the manipulations and the power games of the world.” - Henri Nouwen in Return of the Prodigal

[From Larry Duncan]

Today's Quote

"Your church’s foundation will determine both its size and strength. You can never build larger than your foundation can handle." - Rick Warren

Church Humor

(Click on image to enlarge it.)

Today's Quote

"Self-interest is the enemy of all true affection." ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

Another religious-themed attraction for Gatlinburg

Officials in Gatlinburg, Tennessee have announced plans to open a religious-themed attraction at the site of the old Christus Gardens, which closed in January 2008 after nearly 50 years.

Christ in the Smokies Museum and Gardens, backed by local businessmen, is to open next spring.

Christus Gardens portrayed the life and death of Christ. Millions of people had visited it, just off the main parkway through the Smoky Mountain resort town.

In a news release Monday, officials said the developers have been acquiring items from around the country for the new exhibition.

The site was to have been developed for condominiums, but those plans fell through.
Renovations at the site are already under way.

[The Associated Press.]

Faith & Risks

Taking a huge risk without patiently gathering the facts, seeking wise counsel, keeping in alignment with our life’s purpose, and lots of prayer is simply unwise. Faith is not an excuse to be lazy and irresponsible.

After patiently gathering as many facts as you can, seeking wise counsel, striving to keep in alignment with your life’s purpose, and lots of prayer, big risks still require faith. There remains that "stepping into the unknown," "jumping off the ledge," "entering the point of no return," that requires faith.

There are times when we may need to stand down and not take that risk in the name of faith. There are times when we may need to step out and take that risk because God has prepared us and the time has come.

Where are you? Is it time to "stand down" or "step out?"

[from LifeChurch.tv : swerve by Guest Blogger]

Paula White Goes Back to Pastor

Charismatic preacher Paula White is stepping in as senior pastor of the Florida megachurch that she and her now ex-husband founded nearly two decades ago.

On Sunday, White was expected to officially mark the start of a new chapter in the history of Without Walls International Church, which once attracted 23,000 worshippers and was heralded as one of the nation’s fastest-growing congregations.

“It will be my first Sunday to officially preach and to minister to you as the mandate and the mantle that I’ve received for the great assignment for this city, for this ministry, and for our lives collectively as your new senior pastor,” White reported in an eBlast to the Tampa-based congregation.

Since her divorce from Bishop Randy White in 2007, White has been ministering in New York, Texas, and abroad, making only periodic visits to Without Walls.

The church, meanwhile, has shrunk drastically and found itself having faced foreclosure, with their bank demanding immediate repayment of a $12 million loan on the property last November.

Though the church and its lender, the Calif.-based Evangelical Christian Credit Union, later agreed to a modified loan agreement this past March, Bishop White, as recently as last month, reported that the church was in great need for a “financial blessing.”

“We’re at a very critical juncture in our life right now with the church where we must have financial blessing,” he said on June 23 in urging his congregation to donate.

“God is faithful, and He spoke to me at the beginning of this year and said that 2009 would be our greatest year. And isn’t it like the devil ... to cause confusion, to bring a discouragement just before our biggest breakthrough?” the 51-year-old preacher added.

In an interview with the St. Petersburg Times on Friday, White said he was stepping aside as senior pastor because of health concerns and that he has been in and out of the hospital for much of the last seven months.

"I have some serious health issues right now," the bishop said. "I've had six different doctors say that I had to take the stress, the pressure out of my life."

As a result, Bishop White called up his ex-wife about two months ago to inform her of his health situation and to ask her to consider returning to lead the congregation they once pastored together.

After much prayer and counsel, Paula White decided accept the mandate and mantle of senior pastor of Without Walls International Church and the entire ministry organization, according to Paula White Ministries.

“Pastor Paula is very excited about this wonderful assignment and opportunity from the Lord,” her ministry reported. “We know this is the divine plan of God and that great things are in store!”

As for Bishop White, the ailing minister said he is staying town and will still be connected to Without Walls – just in a different position.

“It’s not something that we’re losing. You’re actually gaining,” he told his congregation last week. “And we’re going to gain momentum as we go forward to build the Kingdom of God.”

On Sunday, Without Walls was expected to honor Bishop White “for the leadership and the legacy and richness that he has brought to Without Walls.”

“And we look forward to our future as God has big things for all of us,” Paula White added. “God has big things for us.”

[By Eric Young, Christian Post Reporter]

Today's Quote

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." - Leo Buscaglia