Chapter 31: Send your Bankers Audit Reports and Birthday Cards every year-Get to know the bank that you borrow money from. Treat it as you would an interview of a new employee/staff member. Keep the communication lines open with your bank and keep them posted on how things are going.
Chapter 32: You can't fire volunteers when the construction project stalls- This chapter was about using volunteers for your projects. When you do this though, you need to check their professional references, written agreements, and have accountability systems in place. If not, church leaders will find themselves in trouble.
Chapter 33: Sack the no huddle offense: Have weekly meetings with your staff and get on the same page with them. Include things during your meeting such as updates, evaluations, strategy, planning, decisions, and fun.
Chapter 34: Give your staff cool gifts: Throughout the year give your staff gifts-but BUDGET for them. Build it into your budget, consult your financial advisor, and give the gifts personally!
Chapter 35: Your website today shouldn't be seen tomorrow: Update your website frequently and make it easy to access and navigate. 3 target audiences that will follow your site are 1) people checking out your church. 2) People trying to connect to your church. 3) People who are committed to your church.
Chapter 36: Giving is person-not private: Teach your congregation that while tithing is a personal thing it is not a private thing. You as the pastor/leader should know when people in your church are robbing God of what is his.
Chapter 37: It's easier to tame the lions than prod the turtles: It's important to have people that you work with have a good sense of balance in their work habits. It creates a less stressful and more productive environment.
Chapter 38: Build your church before you build your church: When building a building make sure that it will meet the needs and purposes and that God has not only for your church but also for your community. Make sure you check your motives on why you are building your building as well.
Chapter 39: Deliver the game plan: What is your focus and vision? How is your vision developing?
Chapter 40: When you discover sin in the leadership, don't cover it up: Don't cover up sin in leadership. Follow 3 guidelines 1) The sphere of the individuals influence dictates the scope of the confession 2) If it is a sin that could expose the church to legal action, be sure to get legal counsel 3) Get counsel.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Simply Strategic Stuff part 3
Chapter 21: Good Stewardship Begins with Good Stewards-In this chapter the author discussed financial stewardship. He talked about how some people want to give to the church but cannot because their hands are tied financially. Others just do not give-he says that until God is the center of their lives they will not fully understand how important it is. Provide different outlets for people to get involved concerning stewardship by using people in your church. Outlets like this could focus on budgeting, debt reduction, tracking spending, and giving.
Chapter 22: Somebody Has to Live and Die for the Database-This chapter focuses on having an effective database that is updated regularly. The author gave 4 things to follow when creating an effective database. 1) Choose a staff person or volunteer to be the database czar. 2) Make decisions about what should be measured. 3) Protect the integrity of the information. 4) Back up your database.
Chapter 23: Let Your Leaders Lead-Chapter 23 discusses how sometimes things within your church outgrow lay led ministries and you must have your leadership staff take over. Let your leaders use their talents and let them implement the strategies.
Chapter 24: You Can Pick Only Two-Size. Quality. Cost. The three things that all people want when building a building or making an addition, but you can only have 2 of these things. The pick is decided by your values. When you decide what is the most important to you, tell your architect and he will decide the rest!
Chapter 25: Nothing is Certain Except Death, Taxes, and Building Campaigns-This chapter just went over building campaigns. The author mentioned a couple companies that can help your church during this time that you are raising the money. The author also talked about the other benefits of building campagins. Vision, teams, and stewardship were the three that he listed and discussed.
Chapter 26: Perception Matters: Perception matters. People always perceive things. The author talks about setting up boundaries that protect you from people and their ideas. He gave different scenarios and explanations saying that it didn't matter what really was happening because people will always have perceptions about what they THINK is happening.
Chapter 27: Use More Bytes and Less Paper- This chapter literally explains itself. Try moving from everything on paper to getting things online.
Chapter 28: Feed Your Construction Workers a Hot Lunch-Get to know the people who are helping build your new building or addition. Feed them and find out who they are, what their family is like, etc. By doing this their job is not a job anymore-they are doing it for FRIENDS.
Chapter 29: Disgruntled Secretaries Drain Dynamic Workers-Once again, this chapter speaks for itself. Try to encourage your administrative assistant but if they continue to have a bad attitude it can reflect negatively on you and so you are going to have to make a choice about them.
Chapter 30: Identify Leaders of Leaders, and then let them Soar- There are 3 types of leaders in your church: doers, leaders of others, and leaders of leaders. Pick out the people who do a great job of leading the leaders that you already have in place. You won't ever have enough paid staff to keep up with the demands of a church but you will have leaders within your church to help you out. It is your job to identify them and help them when you can with whatever you can.
Chapter 31: Send your Bankers Audit Reports and Birthday Cards every year-Get to know the bank that you borrow money from. Treat it as you would an interview of a new employee/staff member. Keep the communication lines open with your bank and keep them posted on how things are going.
I have really enjoyed watching different churches on my district implement "perception rules". Some of the churches have made meeting rooms with large windows in the main office so that the privacy factor is still there, but the accountability part is there as well. Others have placed various rules about trips, counseling sessions, bible studies in homes, etc. They have become very creative with it and it seems like so far their ideas and rules have been received with warmth.
Chapter 22: Somebody Has to Live and Die for the Database-This chapter focuses on having an effective database that is updated regularly. The author gave 4 things to follow when creating an effective database. 1) Choose a staff person or volunteer to be the database czar. 2) Make decisions about what should be measured. 3) Protect the integrity of the information. 4) Back up your database.
Chapter 23: Let Your Leaders Lead-Chapter 23 discusses how sometimes things within your church outgrow lay led ministries and you must have your leadership staff take over. Let your leaders use their talents and let them implement the strategies.
Chapter 24: You Can Pick Only Two-Size. Quality. Cost. The three things that all people want when building a building or making an addition, but you can only have 2 of these things. The pick is decided by your values. When you decide what is the most important to you, tell your architect and he will decide the rest!
Chapter 25: Nothing is Certain Except Death, Taxes, and Building Campaigns-This chapter just went over building campaigns. The author mentioned a couple companies that can help your church during this time that you are raising the money. The author also talked about the other benefits of building campagins. Vision, teams, and stewardship were the three that he listed and discussed.
Chapter 26: Perception Matters: Perception matters. People always perceive things. The author talks about setting up boundaries that protect you from people and their ideas. He gave different scenarios and explanations saying that it didn't matter what really was happening because people will always have perceptions about what they THINK is happening.
Chapter 27: Use More Bytes and Less Paper- This chapter literally explains itself. Try moving from everything on paper to getting things online.
Chapter 28: Feed Your Construction Workers a Hot Lunch-Get to know the people who are helping build your new building or addition. Feed them and find out who they are, what their family is like, etc. By doing this their job is not a job anymore-they are doing it for FRIENDS.
Chapter 29: Disgruntled Secretaries Drain Dynamic Workers-Once again, this chapter speaks for itself. Try to encourage your administrative assistant but if they continue to have a bad attitude it can reflect negatively on you and so you are going to have to make a choice about them.
Chapter 30: Identify Leaders of Leaders, and then let them Soar- There are 3 types of leaders in your church: doers, leaders of others, and leaders of leaders. Pick out the people who do a great job of leading the leaders that you already have in place. You won't ever have enough paid staff to keep up with the demands of a church but you will have leaders within your church to help you out. It is your job to identify them and help them when you can with whatever you can.
Chapter 31: Send your Bankers Audit Reports and Birthday Cards every year-Get to know the bank that you borrow money from. Treat it as you would an interview of a new employee/staff member. Keep the communication lines open with your bank and keep them posted on how things are going.
I have really enjoyed watching different churches on my district implement "perception rules". Some of the churches have made meeting rooms with large windows in the main office so that the privacy factor is still there, but the accountability part is there as well. Others have placed various rules about trips, counseling sessions, bible studies in homes, etc. They have become very creative with it and it seems like so far their ideas and rules have been received with warmth.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
The Defining Moment
I have been thinking alot about defining moments lately. About the things that really make your life-well...come to life. The moments that change the way you think, the way you do things, or completely transforms your life all together.
A couple of my defining moments have been on my mind lately and I have been gently reminded how incredible God is and how FAITHFUL he has been.
I began to think about defining moments in the Bible....
Adam-He got Eve-someone to be WITH him, to complete him, to keep him company because God saw he was alone.
Noah-He got a boat, lots of animals, and a new start-all because he said YES to a crazy request
Moses-He saved a people he didn't even know that he belonged to until he was grown-it all started with murder.
Abraham-He got to keep his son-all because he was going to kill him-a sacrifice-because God told him too and because of his faith, God provided a ram to be put in his son's place. And while we are on the subject of that-look at the parallel between Abraham's story and the story of Jesus Christ being the sacrifice for us.
I could keep going-listing more that I have been having a good time uncovering. But I wanted to highlight 2 people specifically and some of the phrases that seem like their "defining moments".
Let's start with Ruth.
After a really crazy roller coaster ride-or exotic camel ride-you take your pick :-) Ruth, her sister, and Naomi set out to go back to Naomi's homeland. At some point in this trip Orpah decides she just wants to be with her family-after all her husband is dead and there is nothing for her to go to back in Naomi's home land. She leaves-and it's in that moment that one of Ruth's MANY defining moments stick out to me:
The Message: Ruth 1:16-17
But Ruth said, "Don't force me to leave you; don't make me go home. Where you go, I go; and where you live, I'll live. Your people are my people, your God is my god; where you die, I'll die, and that's where I'll be buried, so help me God—not even death itself is going to come between us!"
That is amazing to me! She has already gone thru so much in regards to the death of her husband, brother-in-law, and father-in-law and now she is willing to not only leave her home, her family, etc. all of which she probably won't ever see again-and go to a place she has never been- and even more-refuse to stay when given the opportunity!
Another thing that just amazes me with Ruth is the love story between her and Boaz. It's romantic if you think about. A woman who is a foreigner, gleaning wheat for her mother-in-law, having special treatment given to her by a man she didn't know, all because she gave up her homeland, her family, and chose to stay with her mother-in-law.
She not only gets to marry the guy-but she has a son-Obed-who was the father of Jesse-and Jesse who was the father of King David-who just so happens to be in the family line of Jesus.
I don't think that in her wildest dreams that Ruth-a widow, a stranger in a new land-would have ever thought that she would be so blessed-all because her phrase, her moment, her willingness....all because she said yes.
Another person whose defining moments stick out to me is Esther. Her story has been my favorite for the longest time. Maybe it's the mental pictures that I get when I go read the story, maybe it's the video in my head, maybe it's her courage-who knows-whatever it is though-it's something that just gets to me every time I read the story.
I could probably write a hundred pages on Esther-but here is the short and sweet preview of the story
(My paraphrase of the Message-can it get more paraphrased?!)
Queen Vashti didn't want to be shown off
Makes King Xerxes mad
Throws her out
Needs a new queen
Esther gets chosen
Bad guys enter
Stuff happens
Esther saves the day.
Obviously I'm leaving alot out. If you are heartbroken over this-read it in the book of Esther.
There are so many things that pop out to me about this story-like I said I could write pages-hopefully my profs who read my blog don't get any bright ideas.
But I wanted to point out the couple that I think are really important to me. Keep in mind that some of the adjectives are just my over imagination kicking in.
Esther was an incredibly beautiful woman. The King fell in love with her immediately and made her his queen in place of Vashti. An even longer story short the King had a real jerk of a staff member named Hamen. He hated Esther's Uncle Mordecai and made life real difficult for him. Hamen hated the Jews and wanted them destroyed-an earlier less horrific Holocaust.
Here is the moment that always gets me. Esther finds out about this-all this time her identity has been hidden-the king, Hamen, none of them know that she herself is a Jew. It is in the wise words of her Uncle that her defining moment takes place:
The Message: Esther 4: 12-16
When Hathach told Mordecai what Esther had said, Mordecai sent her this message: "Don't think that just because you live in the king's house you're the one Jew who will get out of this alive. If you persist in staying silent at a time like this, help and deliverance will arrive for the Jews from someplace else; but you and your family will be wiped out. Who knows? Maybe you were made queen for just such a time as this." Esther sent back her answer to Mordecai: "Go and get all the Jews living in Susa together. Fast for me. Don't eat or drink for three days, either day or night. I and my maids will fast with you. If you will do this, I'll go to the king, even though it's forbidden. If I die, I die."
The phrase in there: "Maybe you were made queen for such a time as this".
For such a time as this.
I can just picture it-Esther walking thru an elaborately decorated courtyard, dressed in beautiful clothes, scared out her mind, but walking with confidence and determination knowing that the Lord her God was with her-and that she was the only hope for her people.
The end of story is like all great stories of courage-the bad guy dies, the good guy gets what he deserves, and Esther and her people are free.
If there was ever a question about the faithfulness of God, a question about can lives really be changed by just obeying-by just stepping out in faith-the answer is yes and my proof is in the best selling book of all time.
A couple of my defining moments have been on my mind lately and I have been gently reminded how incredible God is and how FAITHFUL he has been.
I began to think about defining moments in the Bible....
Adam-He got Eve-someone to be WITH him, to complete him, to keep him company because God saw he was alone.
Noah-He got a boat, lots of animals, and a new start-all because he said YES to a crazy request
Moses-He saved a people he didn't even know that he belonged to until he was grown-it all started with murder.
Abraham-He got to keep his son-all because he was going to kill him-a sacrifice-because God told him too and because of his faith, God provided a ram to be put in his son's place. And while we are on the subject of that-look at the parallel between Abraham's story and the story of Jesus Christ being the sacrifice for us.
I could keep going-listing more that I have been having a good time uncovering. But I wanted to highlight 2 people specifically and some of the phrases that seem like their "defining moments".
Let's start with Ruth.
After a really crazy roller coaster ride-or exotic camel ride-you take your pick :-) Ruth, her sister, and Naomi set out to go back to Naomi's homeland. At some point in this trip Orpah decides she just wants to be with her family-after all her husband is dead and there is nothing for her to go to back in Naomi's home land. She leaves-and it's in that moment that one of Ruth's MANY defining moments stick out to me:
The Message: Ruth 1:16-17
But Ruth said, "Don't force me to leave you; don't make me go home. Where you go, I go; and where you live, I'll live. Your people are my people, your God is my god; where you die, I'll die, and that's where I'll be buried, so help me God—not even death itself is going to come between us!"
That is amazing to me! She has already gone thru so much in regards to the death of her husband, brother-in-law, and father-in-law and now she is willing to not only leave her home, her family, etc. all of which she probably won't ever see again-and go to a place she has never been- and even more-refuse to stay when given the opportunity!
Another thing that just amazes me with Ruth is the love story between her and Boaz. It's romantic if you think about. A woman who is a foreigner, gleaning wheat for her mother-in-law, having special treatment given to her by a man she didn't know, all because she gave up her homeland, her family, and chose to stay with her mother-in-law.
She not only gets to marry the guy-but she has a son-Obed-who was the father of Jesse-and Jesse who was the father of King David-who just so happens to be in the family line of Jesus.
I don't think that in her wildest dreams that Ruth-a widow, a stranger in a new land-would have ever thought that she would be so blessed-all because her phrase, her moment, her willingness....all because she said yes.
Another person whose defining moments stick out to me is Esther. Her story has been my favorite for the longest time. Maybe it's the mental pictures that I get when I go read the story, maybe it's the video in my head, maybe it's her courage-who knows-whatever it is though-it's something that just gets to me every time I read the story.
I could probably write a hundred pages on Esther-but here is the short and sweet preview of the story
(My paraphrase of the Message-can it get more paraphrased?!)
Queen Vashti didn't want to be shown off
Makes King Xerxes mad
Throws her out
Needs a new queen
Esther gets chosen
Bad guys enter
Stuff happens
Esther saves the day.
Obviously I'm leaving alot out. If you are heartbroken over this-read it in the book of Esther.
There are so many things that pop out to me about this story-like I said I could write pages-hopefully my profs who read my blog don't get any bright ideas.
But I wanted to point out the couple that I think are really important to me. Keep in mind that some of the adjectives are just my over imagination kicking in.
Esther was an incredibly beautiful woman. The King fell in love with her immediately and made her his queen in place of Vashti. An even longer story short the King had a real jerk of a staff member named Hamen. He hated Esther's Uncle Mordecai and made life real difficult for him. Hamen hated the Jews and wanted them destroyed-an earlier less horrific Holocaust.
Here is the moment that always gets me. Esther finds out about this-all this time her identity has been hidden-the king, Hamen, none of them know that she herself is a Jew. It is in the wise words of her Uncle that her defining moment takes place:
The Message: Esther 4: 12-16
When Hathach told Mordecai what Esther had said, Mordecai sent her this message: "Don't think that just because you live in the king's house you're the one Jew who will get out of this alive. If you persist in staying silent at a time like this, help and deliverance will arrive for the Jews from someplace else; but you and your family will be wiped out. Who knows? Maybe you were made queen for just such a time as this." Esther sent back her answer to Mordecai: "Go and get all the Jews living in Susa together. Fast for me. Don't eat or drink for three days, either day or night. I and my maids will fast with you. If you will do this, I'll go to the king, even though it's forbidden. If I die, I die."
The phrase in there: "Maybe you were made queen for such a time as this".
For such a time as this.
I can just picture it-Esther walking thru an elaborately decorated courtyard, dressed in beautiful clothes, scared out her mind, but walking with confidence and determination knowing that the Lord her God was with her-and that she was the only hope for her people.
The end of story is like all great stories of courage-the bad guy dies, the good guy gets what he deserves, and Esther and her people are free.
If there was ever a question about the faithfulness of God, a question about can lives really be changed by just obeying-by just stepping out in faith-the answer is yes and my proof is in the best selling book of all time.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Snowdays
I am with you in all that you do, even in the menial tasks. I am always aware of you, concerned with every detail of your life. NOTHING escapes my notice- not even the number of hairs on your head. However, your awareness of My Presence falters and flickers; as a result, your life experience feels fragmented. When your focus is broad enough to include Me in your thoughts, you feel safe and complete. When your perception narrows so that problems or details fill your consciousness, you feel empty and incomplete.
Learn to look steadily at Me in all your moments and all your circumstances, Though the world is unstable and in flux, you can experience continuity through your uninterrupted awareness of My presence. Fix your gaze on what is unseen, even as the visible world parades before your eyes!
It's snowing....again.....
On days like this I enjoy just curling up under my feather blankets and think about all sorts of things. I was re-reading some of my previous blog posts and the above portion really stuck out to me.
Lately I have been feeling really overwhelmed, stressed, angry, irritated....well you all get the idea. I found great comfort in these words. I was reminded that lately the reason things have been getting to me is because I have not fixed my gaze on Christ-my awareness of his presence "falters and flickers" and as a result the saying "I try to take one day at a time, but lately several days have attacked me at once" becomes my reality. I have never been a huge fan of constantly unstable conditions or situations-I'm a slight control freak....ok....I am a MAJOR control freak. When I read this though, I am reminded that life would be a little bit easier if I would just fix my eyes on what is important, that if I just kept Christ with me in all of my moments-things wouldn't be attacking me and dragging me down.
So today as the storm rages outside, the snow piles up, and prayers across the campus are sent up that MNU miraculously will cancel class for a 2nd day in a row, I am comforted with the reminder that even when my faith falters and flickers.....HE is always aware of me and I will always be able to experience HIM.
Learn to look steadily at Me in all your moments and all your circumstances, Though the world is unstable and in flux, you can experience continuity through your uninterrupted awareness of My presence. Fix your gaze on what is unseen, even as the visible world parades before your eyes!
It's snowing....again.....
On days like this I enjoy just curling up under my feather blankets and think about all sorts of things. I was re-reading some of my previous blog posts and the above portion really stuck out to me.
Lately I have been feeling really overwhelmed, stressed, angry, irritated....well you all get the idea. I found great comfort in these words. I was reminded that lately the reason things have been getting to me is because I have not fixed my gaze on Christ-my awareness of his presence "falters and flickers" and as a result the saying "I try to take one day at a time, but lately several days have attacked me at once" becomes my reality. I have never been a huge fan of constantly unstable conditions or situations-I'm a slight control freak....ok....I am a MAJOR control freak. When I read this though, I am reminded that life would be a little bit easier if I would just fix my eyes on what is important, that if I just kept Christ with me in all of my moments-things wouldn't be attacking me and dragging me down.
So today as the storm rages outside, the snow piles up, and prayers across the campus are sent up that MNU miraculously will cancel class for a 2nd day in a row, I am comforted with the reminder that even when my faith falters and flickers.....HE is always aware of me and I will always be able to experience HIM.
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