I realize that it is not surprising that it gets very cold in Alberta in January, but it is really cold this week... so cold in fact that the Golden Hills School District closed the schools Monday and Tuesday... though we are back to school today at Prairie Christian Academy.
Sarah and I have already been searching for a new(-ish) car with baby on the way... but this week neither of our cars would start and both of our amazing dads have been so helpful in "chauffering" us around for various things... including coming to the office even though there were no classes at school. They are soooo kind and helpful... and we are so blessed to have family around!
And this cold weather reminds us to be thankful to God for all the blessings we do enjoy... along with our amazing families, our warm house, plenty of food, a caring community and workplace, etc. This morning in our staff devotions one verse that challenged me from Proverbs 3:27 & 28: Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow" - when you now have it with you. Pretty challenging verses for us in Canada who... even amidst the deep freeze... have so much for which to be grateful.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Attending Funerals
A parent of three of our PCA students passed away over the weekend and so a number of us as staff attended the funeral (actually a memorial service) yesterday afternoon. And so I thought I'd share my 3 funeral principles for leaders:
1) Funerals are mandatory - this principle comes from the title of chapter 11 (Weddings Discretionary, Funerals Mandatory) of Rudy Giuliani's book, Leadership. A great book overall and an especially important reminder for all leaders to simply be there when the families of your staff/friends are going through one of life's most difficult times.
2) Attend a funeral before its someone you care about - I learned this principle from my mom & dad early in life and I was so glad to see many of our PCA parents also bringing their youngsters to the memorial service. Children need to learn to deal with death correctly (ie biblically) as well as appropriately. If at all possible (and admittedly this is not always the case), a child should attend a funeral/memorial service for someone they may not know very well and then feel free to talk about the service and ask questions when the people/family involved are not very emotionally close. Then, when it is a close friend or family member (eg grandma or grandpa), the emotions will be new and can be discussed fully and honestly, and yet the whole situation/context won't be nearly as strange or dreadful.
3) When you begin serving as a leader in a new community, visit the cemetary. Admittedly, this principle may not work in most urban contexts, but in rural Western Canada - where I grew up and still live - you can begin learning a great deal about people's lives and challenges, if you visit the cemetary and then start to ask a local "community historian" about the questions. Of course, when you can take this knowledge and show compassion to your people based on this information, it demonstrates your heart for people as a leader. "They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."
1) Funerals are mandatory - this principle comes from the title of chapter 11 (Weddings Discretionary, Funerals Mandatory) of Rudy Giuliani's book, Leadership. A great book overall and an especially important reminder for all leaders to simply be there when the families of your staff/friends are going through one of life's most difficult times.
2) Attend a funeral before its someone you care about - I learned this principle from my mom & dad early in life and I was so glad to see many of our PCA parents also bringing their youngsters to the memorial service. Children need to learn to deal with death correctly (ie biblically) as well as appropriately. If at all possible (and admittedly this is not always the case), a child should attend a funeral/memorial service for someone they may not know very well and then feel free to talk about the service and ask questions when the people/family involved are not very emotionally close. Then, when it is a close friend or family member (eg grandma or grandpa), the emotions will be new and can be discussed fully and honestly, and yet the whole situation/context won't be nearly as strange or dreadful.
3) When you begin serving as a leader in a new community, visit the cemetary. Admittedly, this principle may not work in most urban contexts, but in rural Western Canada - where I grew up and still live - you can begin learning a great deal about people's lives and challenges, if you visit the cemetary and then start to ask a local "community historian" about the questions. Of course, when you can take this knowledge and show compassion to your people based on this information, it demonstrates your heart for people as a leader. "They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Interview about Roe v Wade
Found an interesting interview from a legal perspective on Roe v Wade.
Though I do not have the legal background - which is why this interview is beneficial - I agree that with the progress of medical technology, the issue about whether a "fetus" is a living person is really no longer even the discussion. Any ultrasound clearly shows in every way that a "fetus" is a living person from the moment of conception.
The other argument, "the health of the mother," has also been continually proven in various studies to be harmed/endangered by an abortion - whether physically (eg. increased risk of some cancers), emotionally, etc.
Thus, rather than "yell" (in various ways) about abortion, Christians need to provide answers to the actual reasons that women choose to have abortions - irresponsible "fathers," cycles of poverty, and misinformation or lack of understanding of other alternatives (eg. adoption).
Fortunately, the scholar interviewed also points out the importance of supporting crisis pregnancy centres and other such alternatives that provide necessary assistance and hope for women.
Though I do not have the legal background - which is why this interview is beneficial - I agree that with the progress of medical technology, the issue about whether a "fetus" is a living person is really no longer even the discussion. Any ultrasound clearly shows in every way that a "fetus" is a living person from the moment of conception.
The other argument, "the health of the mother," has also been continually proven in various studies to be harmed/endangered by an abortion - whether physically (eg. increased risk of some cancers), emotionally, etc.
Thus, rather than "yell" (in various ways) about abortion, Christians need to provide answers to the actual reasons that women choose to have abortions - irresponsible "fathers," cycles of poverty, and misinformation or lack of understanding of other alternatives (eg. adoption).
Fortunately, the scholar interviewed also points out the importance of supporting crisis pregnancy centres and other such alternatives that provide necessary assistance and hope for women.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Second Chance - the movie
Not usually a big fan of "Christian" movies though the small summary on the back of the DVD at our local movie store convinced me this movie might be worth a peek... and it certainly was worthwhile! I would recommend the movie "Second Chance" to leaders of any of the following Christian groups:
*Church leaders in North America - it has a serious message to "wealthy" Christians, that is all Christians in Canada & the USA
*Church boards - you can become so busy "building" your church with well-intentioned vision and plans, that you forget where you began and why God "blessed" you (plural)
*Mission leaders for two reasons:
a) in the day-to-day efforts of cross-cultural workers to proclaim the Gospel and deal with immediate needs, we ask for people to give their money rather than really "experience" the immensity of the task
b) it reminds us that if structural change and Holy-Spirit working transformation does not occur, we are just going to be throwing money at an issue/concern for generations, with minimal, if any real progress.
Although the acting, cinematography, and story line of the movie are not particularly outstanding or unique, it brings home a few key points about life, ministry and leadership that are important for 21st century leaders of the Church to come to grips with and talk about.
*Church leaders in North America - it has a serious message to "wealthy" Christians, that is all Christians in Canada & the USA
*Church boards - you can become so busy "building" your church with well-intentioned vision and plans, that you forget where you began and why God "blessed" you (plural)
*Mission leaders for two reasons:
a) in the day-to-day efforts of cross-cultural workers to proclaim the Gospel and deal with immediate needs, we ask for people to give their money rather than really "experience" the immensity of the task
b) it reminds us that if structural change and Holy-Spirit working transformation does not occur, we are just going to be throwing money at an issue/concern for generations, with minimal, if any real progress.
Although the acting, cinematography, and story line of the movie are not particularly outstanding or unique, it brings home a few key points about life, ministry and leadership that are important for 21st century leaders of the Church to come to grips with and talk about.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
People who seem to always land on their feet
I sat down to watch my favorite team, the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night. And within the first few minutes I saw #8 Anders Eriksson make two hideously brutal defensive plays that would be a reason for a bantam or midget player to be benched - never mind an NHL veteran. A bad night, maybe? It would have been hard to convince me having watched Eriksson for a few years with one of his six NHL teams. But I sat down last night to watch a portion of the Flames game and once again, Eriksson got caught twice in ten minutes making a bone-head play! And it got me thinking, how does this guy stay in the NHL? After 5 NHL teams and three European teams, why did Calgary get rid of Roman Hamrlik (or a couple other defenceman) and pick up Eriksson? Yet this guy just seems to get more ice time and has never been a consistent player on any team?
I also can think of a few people I've met in my work life who are nice people and yet no matter how bad things get at their workplace, they are never the ones laid off. In fact, they are often promoted. Most of the person's fellow employees seem to wonder how s/he will survive the "latest cuts" and yet somehow, some way, the person always "lands on his/her feet."
I fear this may sound like sour grapes - that somehow I recently got a bad deal in some way and this I my chance to vent. Yet nothing could be further from the truth... I have no axe to grind and the Lord has always provided for me every step of the way, even in difficult, frustrating, or challenging circumstances (read previous blogs about the year 2007 if you are still suspicious!)
Yet in terms of Life and Leadership... this seems to be an interesting phenomenon. First, how do these individuals have people around them who really do not appreciate or trust them and yet are never honest enough to tell them? They think these people are their friends and yet no one is kind enough to tell them how they are really perceived.
Secondly, how do leaders in an organization not notice that a person is barely competent in multiple areas and yet never help the person or deal with the concerns? I am all in favor of helping a person find their strengths and moving them within a company so that they can excel and have a satisfying work/life. And I realize that some individuals can really put on an impressive front and fool some people for a while. But the individuals in my mind are people who've worked in multiple positions in an organization for 1-3 years, and then get moved up or over and then are not really a fit in that position either, and so get moved up and over a couple years later and so on and so on...
And "leaders" just keep rewarding mediocrity while also sucking the life out of their faithful, diligent, competent, people who are working extra hard to accomplish the mission of the organization. I think I'll call this the "Eriksson Effect."
I also can think of a few people I've met in my work life who are nice people and yet no matter how bad things get at their workplace, they are never the ones laid off. In fact, they are often promoted. Most of the person's fellow employees seem to wonder how s/he will survive the "latest cuts" and yet somehow, some way, the person always "lands on his/her feet."
I fear this may sound like sour grapes - that somehow I recently got a bad deal in some way and this I my chance to vent. Yet nothing could be further from the truth... I have no axe to grind and the Lord has always provided for me every step of the way, even in difficult, frustrating, or challenging circumstances (read previous blogs about the year 2007 if you are still suspicious!)
Yet in terms of Life and Leadership... this seems to be an interesting phenomenon. First, how do these individuals have people around them who really do not appreciate or trust them and yet are never honest enough to tell them? They think these people are their friends and yet no one is kind enough to tell them how they are really perceived.
Secondly, how do leaders in an organization not notice that a person is barely competent in multiple areas and yet never help the person or deal with the concerns? I am all in favor of helping a person find their strengths and moving them within a company so that they can excel and have a satisfying work/life. And I realize that some individuals can really put on an impressive front and fool some people for a while. But the individuals in my mind are people who've worked in multiple positions in an organization for 1-3 years, and then get moved up or over and then are not really a fit in that position either, and so get moved up and over a couple years later and so on and so on...
And "leaders" just keep rewarding mediocrity while also sucking the life out of their faithful, diligent, competent, people who are working extra hard to accomplish the mission of the organization. I think I'll call this the "Eriksson Effect."
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Eight is Great!
January 5 is always a day I am used to celebrating a great woman in my life... you see January 5 is my mother's birthday (and actually my maternal grandmother's birthday also). However, this January 5 I celebrate Eight Great months of being married to the most amazing and beautiful woman in the world!
They say that "behind every great man is a great woman." I have two comments on this quote. First, I can think of many wonderful women who have had a significant influence on my life, including my mother and my wife, as well as my mother-in-law, Dr Char Bates, and a few others. Secondly, what is the woman doing behind the man? If, as the quote implies, the woman is the reason for the man's success (another interesting question), then why is she not beside the man! So as of today, I'm modifying this quote: Beside every great man is (at least) a great woman! Better yet, "Around every great man are great women!"
On another topic, I've been working through Oren Harari's book The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell - which I purchased through Amazon.ca a few months ago. Though I don't know much about the US military dynamics or politics, I've admired Colin Powell. It is a very challenging book and leads me to appreciate Powell's character and accomplishments more.
They say that "behind every great man is a great woman." I have two comments on this quote. First, I can think of many wonderful women who have had a significant influence on my life, including my mother and my wife, as well as my mother-in-law, Dr Char Bates, and a few others. Secondly, what is the woman doing behind the man? If, as the quote implies, the woman is the reason for the man's success (another interesting question), then why is she not beside the man! So as of today, I'm modifying this quote: Beside every great man is (at least) a great woman! Better yet, "Around every great man are great women!"
On another topic, I've been working through Oren Harari's book The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell - which I purchased through Amazon.ca a few months ago. Though I don't know much about the US military dynamics or politics, I've admired Colin Powell. It is a very challenging book and leads me to appreciate Powell's character and accomplishments more.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Happy New Year 2008
Just wanting to wish all those who check in on my blog a very Happy New Year and all God's best to you for 2008! Thanks for reading my blog and I hope you'll keep in touch over the year!
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