Monday, December 22, 2008

Leadershift: An internal Juxtaposition for Ecclesiastical Praxis


Here's a VERY stimulating note from one of own PALC pals... Steve Pichaske. It pertains to the book we've read, Leadershift, by Don Cousins. I thought Steve was absolutely brilliant in the way he juxtaposed chapter 6 with the case study in chapter 9. (Way to go Steve!)

Here are Steve's insights... but be sure to read all the way to the end... I would love for you to respond by leaving a comment.

Just a note from my Leadershift reading that I wanted to touch on and know that I'll forget about by the time we meet again in January...

(Keep in mind that I'm really enjoying the book and the wisdom Cousins has to offer)

In chapter 6, we're given a biblical model for church leadership that includes "staff led" as opposed to "staff run," with the congregation serving in key leadership roles. Did anyone else find it interesting that his "case study" in chapter 9, particularly with respect to the youth pastor (Doug), seemed to reinforce a "staff run" mentality? I realize that this was a different chapter, and Cousins was trying to succinctly convey a different point - that we need to humbly serve in our areas of greatest annointing.

Still, I was struck by the fact that there was nothing in chapter 9 (at least that I recall) that hinted at "training God's people for works of service so that the body of Christ could be built up." Could Doug have effectively served as this growing church's youth pastor by developing a cadre of fellow youth leaders, including some who whose gifts would have been perfectly suited to the role of planning big events. We've seen this situation play itself out far too often...church realizes it needs a youth minister who can lead a big youth group but sacrifices the development of a team that can both think big and minister small (or they bring in a "superstar" and burn him/her out in 18 months). Meanwhile, "Doug" is living out his calling in the secular world (which is great) but has been lost as a gifted, called vocational minister.

The danger comes, I think, when we hear of a great idea (i.e. training the saints)...but then forget about said great idea when our thoughts move on to the next great idea (i.e. reorganizing staff for greater effectiveness).
I'm probably being too harsh, but Cousins has me doing some mental wrestling...

Thanks again for a great day yesterday (for a couple of reasons, I did end up spending the night in Peoria).

In Christ,
Steve Pichaske
First UMC
Rushville, IL


You Be the Coach
I encourage you to read pages 138-141 starting with the subtitle: "Staff Led" on page 138. Then flip to page 204 and start reading under the subtitle, "Doug's Zone." Read until page 207.

Now, think about the following... and then hit the comment button and enrich our lives:
1. What insights do you have from this comparison?
2. Given what Cousins says in 138-141, what other approach might Doug have taken?
3. How would you have coached Doug?

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

3 Assignments for 1/27/09

PALC Warriors... (you masculine men you)

I was deeply blessed by your desire to be together yesterday... even though we were in the middle of a snow storm. I'm thinking of Paul walking through the freezing weather holding his car battery on his way to Farm and Fleet (a mile away—and remember... Paul has had heart surgery). I'm thinking of Steve saying, "I can spend the night in Peoria if the snow gets too bad." I'm thinking of Kyle saying, "Can we meet 30 minutes earlier?" I could go on, but won't. All this only confirms what I already knew... God got the right guys together for this journey. I was sharpened by each of you and your love for God, each other, and your insights from his Word. I will never see swords or lilies the same. Thank you.

Let the record show that for our next PACL on 1/27/09, the following two items were discussed and confirmed:
1. Cary will be brining the coffee and goodies.
2. We're all brown baggin' it for lunch... so bring your own.

Only THREE Assignments for 1/27/09...

1. Finish your DDP
We have five whole weeks before we meet on 1/27/09. Use this time to finish your DDP. Remember, for our purposes, you are writing this DDP for YOUR own kids! Of course, the process and final product of your DDP will be TOTALLY applicable to your ministry... but I think it will mean more if we take it out of the context of our ministries and think about what we hope our own kids will become. Your finished DDP will have the following:




* Intro
(you can steal and tweak my intro or write your own)

* 5-8 big picture descriptors—each with corresponding Scripture
(you should already have these)

* As in the example I handed out to you, under each of your major descriptors, you should have the following subpoints... something like this::
A. What ABILITIES the discipled person will posses
1. Ability to.... (Bible passage)
2. Ability to... (Bible passage)
3. Etc.
B. What ATTITUDES the discipled person will have
1. Specific attitude.... (Bible passage)
2. Specific attitude... (Bible passage)
3. Etc.
C. What RELATIONSHIPS the discipled person will build
1. Specific relationship.... (Bible passage)
2. Specific relationship... (Bible passage)
3. Etc.
(Note: You're not limited to three items under each A, B, and C... it's just an example I'm giving.)


Two important tips for developing your DDP:

* Go on a DDP date with your wife.
PEOPLE OWN WHAT THEY HELP CREATE! Your wife must own this as much as you do... therefore, SHE must be involved in creating your DDP. Take what your currently have (your 5-8 big picture descriptors of your DDP so far) and ask her to change it, improve it... edit it, removed something, add something. etc. And have a DISCUSSION (not an argument) over what she is thinking and why. I suggest a coffee date to do this... but go where you won't see people you know and you can take your time for an hour or two dialogue. Once you have arrived TOGETHER on the 5-8 big picture descriptors of what YOU BOTH will call a "fully devoted follower of Jesus," then you can either work together on developing the ABILITIES, ATTITUDES, and RELATIONSHIPS of your DDP... or you can split them up, work individually on some, and then come back together to discuss and tweak them.

* Use your devotional time to write your DDP:
Since developing your DDP is by necessity a Bible study, you and your wife each can your devotional time from now through 1/27/09 to write your DDP. It's just a thought.

2. Email from Hell audio/PDF CD:
Each of you left our December PALC with an Email from Hell CD. Please be sure to put the CD into a regular CD player and listen to the dramatic reading of the 15-20 minute lesson. Once YOU'VE heard it, then either use it with your family (junior high/high school), or use with the students in your youth ministry, or pass it on to a staff or volunteer who works with students and ask them to use it and report back to you. On 1/27/09, I will ask each of you what you did with this CD and ask for a report on how it went. I did not give this CD to you to sit on your shelves.

FYI... here's what is on the CD: This dramatic audio edition is designed for small group, whole group or personal use. This single episode CD pack includes an enhanced format audio CD that is designed to play in a regular CD player or in Mac/PC computers. The disc includes the master PDF file and license to enable you to print whatever number of companion audio scripts for read-along study with follow-through questions. The CD includes an audio introduction by series author, Bill Allison. Also the dramatized audio as read by John Mehalic for mentoring his young demons of destruction to put into play Satan's strategy. This episode makes for a great stand alone lesson for use between series or as an effective devotional tool for personal or small group use.

3. Memory verses
Leadership Community
Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17

The Power of a Personal Growth Plan
Luke 6:40
A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
Luke 6:40

Pathway to Purity
2 Timothy 2:22
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:22

Train Others to Do the Ministry
Ephesians 4:11-12
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
Ephesians 4:11-12

Jesus’ Strategy: Select, Train, Coach, and Mentor
Mark 3:14-15
He appointed twelve—designating them apostles—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.
Mark 3:14-15

Deeper Relationships with the Right People
John 3:22
After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them...
John 3:22


Before I go, let me say one more thing. (Warning: Public shaming ahead.) What is it with YL and YFC? Dan and Cary seem think they don't need to memorize God's Word with the rest of us??? OK... they will each quote all of our verses one at a time at PALC on 1/27. And the rest of us will give them a rating between 1-10. The judges (the rest of us) can decide if we want them to do it over.

Friday, December 12, 2008

DDP Help

PALC People...

Attaching a sample of ONE of my big picture descriptors from my very own DDP... notice the descriptor and the Scripture.



For Tuesday, I want you to bring 5-7 big picture descriptors—each with corresponding Scriptures. Yes... I know this will stretch you and make you think hard... my point exactly. Generalities are the sign of a lazy mind. Specific is terrific. This exercise of choosing 5-7 big picture descriptors is like peeling the onion of discipleship... down to the very core of YOUR understanding of discipleship... and that's precisely where I want to go with you. (Think about the ramifications of NOT having a clear and biblical idea of what a REAL disciple is!)

Oh yeah... how goes that study of Song of Solomon?

I'm quite fond of you all...

BA

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Prepared or panicked?

Looking forward to time with you on Tuesday, 12/16... for PALC 2.0.

One question: Are you prepared for 12/16... or panicked?

No pressure at all. Just six other guys who want to learn to love God, their wives, etc. counting on YOU to enrich their lives in a Proverbs 27:17 way.

Great news... you have a full week before we meet. Lean into it...

This message brought to you by your Proverbs 27:17 pal, BA

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

DDP Discussion

I've been struggling to get my mind around writing a DDP. Anyone else?

Here are a few starters that I know I want to include ideas from...

Luke 2:52- And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
(In this verse I'm seeing a focus on a child's intellectual, physical, spiritual, and social growth)

Quote from James Dobson (on pg 54 of Bringing up Boys)- "If I may be permitted to offer what will sounds like a hyperbole, I believe the future of Western civilization depends on how we handle this present crisis. Why? Because we as parents are raising the next generation of men who will either lead with honor and integrity or abandon every good thing they have inherited. They are bridges to the future. Nations that are populated largely by immature, immoral, weak-willed, cowardly, and self indulgent men cannot and will not endure. These types of men include those who sire and abandon their children; who cheat on their wives, who lie, steal, and covet; who hate their countrymen; and who serve no god but money. That is the direction culture is taking today's boys. We must make the necessary investment to counter these influences and to build within our boys lasting qualities of 1) character, 2) self-discipline, 3) respect for authority, 4) commitment to the truth, 5) a belief in the work ethic, and 6) an unshakable love for Jesus Christ. The pursuit of those objectives led me to undertake the writing of this book."
(italics & numbers mine)

5 Smooth Stones for Parenting from Chip Ingram:
1) Teach them to Suffer well (Genesis 37-50, I Peter 2:21-23)
2) Teach them to Work for the Lord (Genesis 2:15, Colossians 3:23)
3) Teach them to Mange their lives wisely (Genesis 1:26-28, Matthew 25:14-30)
4) Teach them to Discern good from evil (Exodus 3:5-6, I Peter 1:15-16)
5) Teach them to live Grace-Filled lives (Genesis 3:21, Ephesians 2:8-10, I Peter 1:13)

I'd love to hear any of your initial thoughts... or sound off on these!