Filling Your Leadership Gaps
February 7, 2009 by godsdabomb
Filed under Leadership/Ministry
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Ministry worth doing is worth doing together.
I sat down with a group of amazing people tonight. These are my teammates.
If anything, I’m simply a player-coach, on the same playing field as every one of them. In fact, many of them have done ministry even longer than I have. They see my blind spots and rather than exploiting them, they cover them. They’ve got my back and I sense that they know I’ve got theirs. When things didn’t go as planned at a recent midweek service, they were right there to bring it together. Unfortunately, I often get so focused on what I envision, that my peripherals are clouded and I don’t see those around me waiting to jump in.
I had to do a few things tonight that are almost always hard for a leader. 1) Apologize, 2) Ask for them to help me understand what went wrong, and 3) Recognize that their ideas were superior to mine. I was taking notes as some of them explained how we could have better handled the situation. We’re still a pretty new team, so I had to give them the permission to help me make those adjustments on the fly. Next time a dilemma arises, we’ll have the tools and communication to meet it head on.
All I know is that I walked away thanking God for the people he’s put around me. Not one of us is perfect (least of all me), but I’m glad for it. We get to do ministry together in a way that compliments each other’s weaknesses and fills in the gaps.
Tonight was realigning. Tonight was refreshing.
What are the ways you fill your gaps?
What does “team” mean to you?
Podcasts Every Leader Should Consume
January 28, 2009 by John Weaver
Filed under Leadership/Ministry, Technology/Media
Leaders are Learners.
We’ve all heard it before and I’m sure it won’t be the last time I say it. In a day where much of our time is spent in translation–down the road, in a plane, on our way–the hours must redeemed. An unfruitful mind is a terrible waste. Fortunately, there are all kinds of resources for those of us who wish to grow in the in-between times. Not to mention, many of us who speak for a living and thrive on conversation process experiences and lessons verbally. One of the greatest tools for today’s leader is also absolutely free and comes streaming through the web in an easily digested format–audio.
If you find yourself with mindless “in-between” time–in the car, at the gym, doing yard work, on a jog, etc.–pull up your iTunes and subscribe to some of the podcasts listed below.
These are Podcasts Every Leader Should Consume:
· Leadership
o Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast
o Catalyst Podcast – The leadership filter for what’s NEXT in the church
o Practically Speaking – 7 Practices of Effective Ministry
o Rick Warren’s Ministry Podcast
o The Leadership Moment Podcast
· Youth Ministry
o Simply Youth Ministry
o Who Are These Guys?
o Dare 2 Share Uncensored
o NWMN Youth Ministries
· Church Sermons
o Elevation Church – Steven Furtick
o Generation Church – Judah Smith
o Hillsong Church – Joel Houston
o Imago Dei – Rick McKinley
o Life rules – Andy Stanley
o LifeChurch.tv – Craig Groeschel
o Mars Hill Bible Church – Rob Bell
o Mars Hill Church – Mark Driscoll
o Mosaic – Erwin Mcmanus
o North Point Community Church – Andy Stanley
o North Point Ministries: Andy Stanley
o ROCKHARBOR podcast
o TheaterChurch.com Podcast – Mark Batterson
o Willow Creek Podcast
· Media/Technology
o Church Media Design TV
o Creative Synergy
o ChurchTechTalk
(Those that are linked will take you to their related sites)
(Search the given titles in the iTunes Music Store to find and subscribe to these podcasts)
The Revolution Begins…
January 20, 2009 by John Weaver
Filed under The Re(love)ution
I’ve finally done it! After holding out for months and coming up with all kinds of justifications why I shouldn’t enter the world of blogging, I’ve finally taken the leap into the wild blue yonder. Ya, I know what you’re thinking right now, “Does everybody who starts a blog have to begin with a post like this?” Trust me, the same thought has run through my head as I’ve perused other valuable blogs over the past several months.
Nevertheless, here I am posting my obligatory “hey look at me, I’m a noob” blog for the world to see. Call me asinine, but I felt a transition from the world of all-to-safe, immemorable introspection to the realm of immortalized insight we call the “Blogosphere”, to be a necessary evil. This proverbial “first post” serves as my inaugural entrance into the world of blogging (ironically, only hours before our next president makes an entrance of his own).
Don’t let me confuse you, I’m not arrogant enough to imagine that the world waits with bated breath for this post. However, I will commemorate this moment for my own benefit as a leader and therefore—lifelong learner.
The moment I stop learning is the moment I stop leading.
So my hope is that some of you have stumbled upon this blog, not so my ego can be uplifted, but so that your hearts and minds may be encouraged. Perhaps you live by a similar code of continual learning. My perspective may be small in comparison to the great men and women we look to. Yet, what I have, I will give. As we dive into Re(love)utionary Reflections, we’ll look at topics and insights central to leadership, relationship, humanity, and life. In the months and years to come, I look to contribute faith, hope, and love to a global community of individuals searching for just that.
So I guess I better shut up and get started huh?