Preparation!

As I prepare to lead Nicole Unice's small group study "She's Got Issues" next month I happened to stumble upon her encouraging words for leaders.  Hope they help you too!

In my nine years of parenting, I’ve attended some really bad kid’s birthday parties. In my years in ministry, I’ve also participated (and lead) awkward small groups. I’ve been on volunteer ministry teams that didn’t accomplish much. And I’ve held jobs where I spent more time frustrated than fulfilled. The experiences were painful in different ways, but they had one thing in common: they all lacked vision.

For example, let’s consider the bad birthday party. During one of those experiences, I observed the group dynamics of a gaggle of preschoolers. Although there were clearly fun things available, there wasn’t any sense of direction. No one led the kids into a plan. No one helped them experience the fun together. Some kids clumped together in packs and began fighting. Some wandered aimlessly, loners outside of the group. And none of them really had much fun at all. The party didn’t lack the essential elements of a good time–it just lacked vision.

The party debacle reminded me of Matthew 9:36, when Jesus had compassion on the people because they were “harassed and helpless, like a sheep without a shepherd.” Yep, I just applied that to a preschool birthday party, a vision-less, shepherd-less experience for everyone. And that same concept applies to your work today.

Most churches and organizations have overarching vision statements, but as leaders, we can underestimate the need for vision in everything we shepherd. Perhaps you can tell me about your big vision in your church or company, but can you tell me about your vision for today’s staff meeting? Maybe you have a sense of what your manager or senior pastor believes is the vision of your team, but can you tell me about your vision for the event you are holding next month?

What that bad kid’s birthday party reinforced in me is that my primary role as a leader is to spark and maintain vision. Here’s a few ways this applies:

The Hook: Start off meetings or emails with a personal story. Use the story to hook back into the vision of your program. Most people are motivated when they know their work makes a difference, but you are responsible for communicating these connections. This can help us all keep the “main thing the main thing.”
Rigorous Pruning: As a leader, we must ask ourselves the hard questions. Does what we are doing actually accomplish the vision? Even if no one is talking about it, they are certainly thinking about it. Lead with courage, and prune projects and programs that aren’t accomplishing the vision.
Careful Tending: In order to lead with vision, I must carefully tend my own soul. The more vision-casting that’s required of me, the more solitude and prayer I require. Being the vision-holder is a tiresome job, no matter how much you believe in what you are doing.
Repeat with Diligence: Although your vision may be very clear and present to you, it’s never as clear or present in your team. Never assume that your team knows what you are after without a reminder. Spark the vision. Maintain the vision. Repeat.

Not only do we need vision for the work we do, we need vision for the life we live. In ministry, we all have the temptation of becoming reactive. I asked a co-worker recently about his workload, and he admitted he can lose a day (or more!) each week merely answering email.

We need personal vision. What is the most important thing you do? How do you prioritize? When should you say no in order to say yes to the most critical needs of your soul? If you are operating in a personal vision vacuum, today might be a day to spend some time refreshing yourself on what matters most to God, and what he’s gifted you to do. Tend your soul, tend to your team, and remember…even your kid’s birthday party needs vision. Click here for more info!

Coming Up!

Hot off the press and coming to you shortly...

Bringing Up Girls Book Review

Book Review of Bringing Up Girls

  by Dr. James Dobson
"Practical advice and encouragement for those shaping the next generation of women."

      After much prodding, Dr. James Dobson has released Bringing Up Girls!  A follow up to best seller Bring Up Boys.  It is completely jammed packed with applicable information on raising daughters.  It hits topics we all deal with like - peer pressure, eating disorders, decisions on love, romance, and sex, life goals, academic demands, and many others.  Are you equipping your daughter to make wise choices?  Are you guiding your daughter on a journey through womanhood?

     WOW!  I'm in utter awe of this book.  The practical advice given here is unparallelled.  My book is already worn from constant referral.  Our daughters are growing up in a hard and unyielding world; where the enemy is looming around every corner to steal their innocence, purity and heart.  Dr. Dobson not only breaks down every aspect of a girl, and why they act and think the way they do.  But, he also provides information relevant to today's issues.  It's like having a real instruction manual for your daughter, and an arsenal of advice and encouragement.  Everything is backed up by godly wisdom and the Bible.  He also references many experts in the field of everything girl.  I love that is an compilation of the advice of many - not just the opinion of one.  If you have a daughter - you must pick up a copy of this book today.  Do not waste another moment blindly raising your daughter.  Get the encouragement and guidelines you need to do it right!

(I received this book free from Tyndale Blog Network as part of their blogging. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.")

NEXT UP!  Reviews coming your way this Fall....

She's Got Issues DVD Curriculum by Nicole Unice 

Monday's With My Old Pastor by Jose Navajo

The Power of Prophetic Blessing by John Hagee  (blog tour)

What You Need To Know About Bible Prophecy Book Review

Book Review of What You Need To Know About Bible Prophecy

  by Max Anders
"12 Lessons That Can Change Your Life"

    

     Why do I need to study prophecy?  Are prophecies to be understood literally or symbolically?  Rapture?  Millennium? This book will answer these questions and many more.  Inside this guide you will find:

• 12 lessons that can be completed in under an hour each
• Real-life application of biblical truth
• Explanations of prominent Christian views on each topic 
• Easy-to-teach lessons, including previews and summary features
• Questions for discussion
• Core teachings on Christianity that will challenge any seeker, new believer, or veteran belieber looking for a stronger foundation.  

    This guide is set up to be used with a small group Bible study - but could be used individually or with a spouse.  I chose to use it with my husband, and found that it fit perfectly.  It's appropriate for a once a week study that takes about an hour with discussion questions.  There is review within each chapter, much like a text book, so that key points and material are digested.  All of the points and focus are backed up with Scripture - totally biblical based.  The book doesn't present it self as "the only way".  It gives you points objectively, explaining the beliefs behind each type of theology.  It's flexible - presenting the various responsible positions that may be held on a subject.  The reader will find it easy to identify and expand upon their view or view of their church.  This guide also respectfully presents different evangelical positions, so there are no forced conclusions.  The book is easy to read, and seems friendly and warm.   It also contains a teaching outline so that you can present the book to your group with confidence.  I do recommend this book to anyone looking to brush up on biblical prophecy; or someone looking to strengthen their worldview for evangelism or debate. 

(I received this book free from Booksneeze.com as part of their blogging and book giveaway program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.")

NEXT UP!  Reviews coming your way this Fall....

She's Got Issues DVD Curriculum by Nicole Unice 

Monday's With My Old Pastor by Jose Navajo

The Power of Prophetic Blessing by John Hagee  (blog tour)