As someone just asked me today, "what is your website for?" I guess I'm still struggling with that question. With all the garbage on the internet, what on earth do I think I have to offer anyone?
I think I have an answer. I want a site where people can learn about me, where my friends and family can keep tabs on me, and where I can express myself creatively. Unfortunately, the internet community is not really dying for that information. Maybe I should rename my site "Picked Last on the Internet, too!" I can't really find the group of people I belong to (or, to which I belong).
So for all you skeptics and H8rs out there, here's my dream goals for internet-land:
--A site where people can anonymously talk about and work through secret sins
--A site where people can see and listen to encouraging words from God
--A site where I can release all the pent up frustration and feelings of inadequacy
--A site where Christianity is discussed in ways that my generation can understand
--A site where I can at least pretend that other people care what I think
--A site where other people KNOW I care what they think
--A site that God can use to accomplish something greater than I could ask or think
How will these things happen? I've got some ideas. Hopefully, soon I can put up some streaming video and audio stuff. Hopefully, I've typed the right words that people can stumble across me through search engines "just by accident." Hopefully, some of you reading this will give me some good advice on some new directions to take.
What do I have to offer? Only everything.
What do YOU have to offer?
Friday, November 30, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Leadership Lessons from UPS
Last night, something dumb happened to me at work.
Apparently, a supervisor was sent to help keep track of all the extra volume that was coming in. He used to have my job so he thought he'd help me out. He gave me what I thought were suggestions on how to manage things. When I didn't do them, I got an enormous lecture on what a dirt bag supervisor I was. (Even though my area did pretty well despite some big obstacles).
What he did wrong:
1) He did nothing to establish rapport with me. He came in "guns a-blazin."
2) He made it clear that I was there for him, and not the other way around.
3) He never tried to understand the methods and procedures we already had in place.
4) He never explained to me the importance of what I was doing, or how it fit in to the grand scheme.
5) He never gave me a clearly-defined set of duties and responsibilities, and faulted me for my lack of understanding (and caring!).
How to be a good leader: do the opposite of those things.
1) Try to establish rapport and goodwill with your fellow workers.
2) One of the best ways to establish goodwill is by being a servant and letting people know that it is your job to make them successful.
3) Work to understand what is already in place--if it ain't broke, don't monkey with it. If it is broken, then involve your people in brainstorming a solution.
4) Sell the job. Let people know they are making a big impact. Make people aware of where they fit in with the big picture. Let them know the results that their work is producing.
5) Let people know exactly what's expected of them, and how they will be held accountable to them. Nothing is more frustrating to me than vague procedures.
Good leadership is good leadership, whether it is in the business world or in ministry. Take a moment to reflect on these and see if you need to change your philosophy of leadership. Also, take a moment to pray for those who lead you. I need to pray for my guy right now! Hopefully tonight will be better.
Apparently, a supervisor was sent to help keep track of all the extra volume that was coming in. He used to have my job so he thought he'd help me out. He gave me what I thought were suggestions on how to manage things. When I didn't do them, I got an enormous lecture on what a dirt bag supervisor I was. (Even though my area did pretty well despite some big obstacles).
What he did wrong:
1) He did nothing to establish rapport with me. He came in "guns a-blazin."
2) He made it clear that I was there for him, and not the other way around.
3) He never tried to understand the methods and procedures we already had in place.
4) He never explained to me the importance of what I was doing, or how it fit in to the grand scheme.
5) He never gave me a clearly-defined set of duties and responsibilities, and faulted me for my lack of understanding (and caring!).
How to be a good leader: do the opposite of those things.
1) Try to establish rapport and goodwill with your fellow workers.
2) One of the best ways to establish goodwill is by being a servant and letting people know that it is your job to make them successful.
3) Work to understand what is already in place--if it ain't broke, don't monkey with it. If it is broken, then involve your people in brainstorming a solution.
4) Sell the job. Let people know they are making a big impact. Make people aware of where they fit in with the big picture. Let them know the results that their work is producing.
5) Let people know exactly what's expected of them, and how they will be held accountable to them. Nothing is more frustrating to me than vague procedures.
Good leadership is good leadership, whether it is in the business world or in ministry. Take a moment to reflect on these and see if you need to change your philosophy of leadership. Also, take a moment to pray for those who lead you. I need to pray for my guy right now! Hopefully tonight will be better.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
The Next Generation
No, I'm not talking about Star Trek. What I am talking about is the enormous population gap that churches are becoming more and more ineffective at retaining: 18-35 year olds. Why is that? There have been many suggestions. Postmodern worldview, worldly temptations, boring services, too early to get up, and on and on and on. We can come up with all kinds of excuses, but what if, what if, the reason is inside us?
While this may not be true for everyone, in my experience churches don't like "kids" messing up the good thing they've got going. Instead of involving them in decisions, giving them leadership opportunities, and mentoring them, churches keep them perpetually children, locked away from the "real" church, throw a bunch of pizza at them, and make them continue to sit at the children's table. Why would anyone want to continue at that kind of church?? I can eat pizza and play video games at home.
Meanwhile, these "kids" are out designing websites, making music, and being trained in management in the secular world.
Southern Baptists like to claim that every believer gets a spiritual gift when they become a Christian, but in practice, the only thing we let youth and young adults do is listen to adults, watch movies, and eat pizza. Maybe instead we should let them exercise their gifts (under encouraging supervision), and find a way for them to be the church, not just an auxiliary to the old people.
While this may not be true for everyone, in my experience churches don't like "kids" messing up the good thing they've got going. Instead of involving them in decisions, giving them leadership opportunities, and mentoring them, churches keep them perpetually children, locked away from the "real" church, throw a bunch of pizza at them, and make them continue to sit at the children's table. Why would anyone want to continue at that kind of church?? I can eat pizza and play video games at home.
Meanwhile, these "kids" are out designing websites, making music, and being trained in management in the secular world.
Southern Baptists like to claim that every believer gets a spiritual gift when they become a Christian, but in practice, the only thing we let youth and young adults do is listen to adults, watch movies, and eat pizza. Maybe instead we should let them exercise their gifts (under encouraging supervision), and find a way for them to be the church, not just an auxiliary to the old people.
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