Monthly Archives: May 2007

Highlights

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Ken Blanchard, et al, in his book Leading at a Higher Level gives 15 “Predictable Reasons Why Change Efforts Typically Fail”:

  • People leading the change think that announcing the change is the same as implementing it.
  • People’s concerns with change are not surfaced or addressed.
  • Those being asked to change are not involved in planning the change.
  • There is no urgent or compelling reason to change. The business case is not communicated.
  • A compelling vision that excites people about the future has not been developed and communicated.
  • The change leadership team doesn’t include early adopters, resisters, or informal leaders.
  • The change isn’t piloted, so the organization doesn’t learn what’s needed to support the change.
  • Organizational systems and other initiatives aren’t aligned with the change.
  • Leaders lose focus or fail to prioritize, causing “death by 1,000 initiatives.”
  • People are not enabled or encouraged to build new skills.
  • Those leading the change aren’t credible – they undercommunicate, give mixed messages, and do not model the behaviors the change requires.
  • Progress is not measured, and no one recognizes the changes that people have worked hard to make.
  • People are not held accountable for implementing the change.
  • People leading the change fail to respect the power of the culture to kill the change.
  • Possibilities and options are not explored before a specific change is chosen.

Blanchard says, “Over the years it has been our experience that if leaders can understand and overcome the first three reasons why change typically fails, they are on the road to being effective leaders of change.”

My wallet, a church lady, a police friend, and prayer

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Last Friday, on our way back from Georgia, we had to travel to Ohio to perform a wedding.

On the way through Ohio I lost my wallet. Apparently I placed it on the roof of the van and took off… a very “Un-Paulish” action. ;-)

Once I realized it was gone I, of course, was anxious! Think about it… we’re moving! I don’t need to lose my credit card, debit card, driver’s license, etc! That would really complicate things eh?!

I begin to pray, “God please lead a person of integrity to my wallet.”

Yesterday I got a call from a lady… a secretary at a church… a church that is pastored by a friend of mine… a Free Methodist church! Someone in their congregation had found my wallet on the entrance ramp, discovered that I am an ordained elder in the Free Methodist church, and called her church to see if they could contact me!

I also got a call from a police friend of mine yesterday! Sometime ago he gave me a card with his name on it! When they found my wallet they apparently called the police who in turn called him, and he, in turn, called me!

I prayed that God would lead a person of integrity to my wallet and he put it in the hands of someone who goes to the church where my friend is pastor! He also, just in case the church dropped the ball ;-) had the police checking up on it!

How cool is that?!

So, here’s the question, if my wallet had not showed up, would I still believe in prayer?

I don’t always understand why and how God answers prayers. Why does He answer my prayer about my wallet but my friend dies of pancreatic cancer?

What does one do with this stuff?

So I’m feeling good about my wallet, and thinking out loud about prayer!

What do you think about prayer?

Difficult conversations

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Difficult conversations often lie between where we are and where we want to be!

It’s tough to look someone you love and/or respect in the eye and tell them you’re not pleased, and yet that’s often what it takes if you are committed to growing your organization, relationship, etc.

Let me give you four reasons why it’s necessary, three reasons why it’s tough, and then three reasons why you should do it anyway…

Four reasons why it’s necessary to have difficult conversations:

  • The weakest link in the chain determines the strength of the chain. You can either strengthen the link, change the link, or live with a weak chain. Have the difficult conversation, your organization depends on it. (If your “organization” is the church… God’s honor in your community may ride on your willingness to have a difficult conversation… so have it.)
  • People around you will not improve/develop/grow if someone does not speak to the weaknesses in their lives. You have been entrusted with some degree of influence in their lives and to that degree you are responsible to speak. Have the difficult conversation, their personal growth depends on it.
  • A leader is only as effective as the team around him/her. If you do not have difficult conversations from time to time, your team will be sub-par and your leadership will be mediocre. Have the difficult conversation, your leadership effectiveness depends on it.
  • When you see ineffective practices and/or inefficient methods and you say/do nothing, resentment, frustration, anger, discontent, etc. all begin to build within you! At some point those feelings are going to show and you are going to ruin a relationship, destroy your credibility, and put a dent in your organization! Discern whether or not the issue is worth getting “worked up” about. If it’s not… let it go, but if it is… have the difficult conversation, your personal well-being depends on it!

Three reasons why it’s tough to have difficult conversations:

  • Who am I to address this “issue” in his/her life? You are the person who sees it and maybe the only one who will say something about it! Sure you have “junk” in your own life, but we’re not talking about you right now. Don’t allow the difficult conversation to turn into a “Yea, but you…” exchange. You are the leader and your responsibility to the organization, individual, and yourself is to have this conversation. Having said this, don’t miss the opportunity to be the receiver of a difficult conversation! Hopefully you’ve set yourself up as a good listener and learner so that your friends will be willing to take the risk and have a difficult conversation with you.
  • What if they don’t like me anymore? They may not. BUT, if a difficult conversation brings lasting division… were they a friend anyway. If you allow superficial relationships to trump the well-being of the entire organization (e.g. family, church, business, etc.) then you shouldn’t be the leader. Being liked is not the number one goal of the leader. Bringing honor to Jesus is the number one goal and sometimes that means having difficult conversations, and it may even mean being unpopular (see this Bible story as an illustration)… do it anyway.
  • It takes time! Being busy is no excuse for not having the difficult conversation. What I’ve found though is that “too busy” is often, in my life, a sign of fear. It’s easy to hide behind busyness in order to avoid the difficult conversation. Man-up buddy! Sure, it’s going to take time to have the conversation and do any follow-up necessary (e.g. mentoring, accountability, discipline, etc.), but the end result, organizational, relational, personal well-being, is well worth the time-investment! Have the difficult conversation!

Three reasons to do it anyway…

  • You’re organizational effectiveness and efficiency will improve. If you’re in touch with reality and you’re having the right difficult conversations in the right way (i.e. speaking the truth in love), your organization will continue to improve relationally and in terms of effectiveness and efficiency.
  • In the end, people will respect you more. Don’t believe me? Check this out… Proverbs 28:23
  • The “Three P’s”
    • Piss them off – this may/will happen when you have difficult conversations. Have them anyway.
    • Push them out - some people will leave after you have the difficult conversation. If you do it right, by speaking the truth in love, it’s probably better for everyone that they leave… so have it anyway.
    • Push them up – most people, when you do it right, will appreciate the fact that you had the courage and the love to have the difficult conversation. Initially they may be upset, but in the end they will (if you do it well and they receive it well) GROW and so will your organization!

Where are you now? Where do you want to be? It could be that a difficult conversation is what is keeping you from getting there so… go have it.

Highlights

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The last few days I’ve been doing a lot of reading in the van! ;-)

A couple resources worth checking out…

This morning I started reading a book by Watchman Nee… Authority and Submission. He has some thought provoking stuff in here, but one line has grabbed me all day… “God’s greatest demand on man [and woman] is submission.”

Speedlinks

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Some interesting reading for your Sunday afternoon…

After church thoughts (5/20/07)

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This was a big weekend for our church! So many mixed emotions!

  • Pastor Vern and Pastor Darlene both announced that they have accepted calls to serve in other churches. Vern will be serving as the Senior Pastor of the Gowanda Free Methodist church.  Darlene will be serving as the co-pastor at the Parma Free Methodist church. You can track with their journey’s on their blogs (Vern’s blog & Darlene’s blog).
  • The Emily Grace Pavilion was dedicated today! Our volunteer team did a GREAT job of dreaming, creating, and building this facility! Thanks to all of you who have honored Emily Grace through your giving and service! It’s a proud day at Northgate!
  • I had a little man (maybe nine years old) come up to me after the 9:30 service today and say, “Paul, I gave my life to Jesus yesterday!” I cried! This is what we labor for! This is why we “do” church! Thank you Jesus for giving me the chance to serve in your church and see people’s lives change as they come to know you!
  • This weekend we ministered to 846.

OK, a few words to the church…

We are going through an uncommon amount of change as a church. To say “Goodbye” to three pastors in one season is no small thing. Let me just share a few thoughts…

  • Each of us is going to serve in a new role because God has called us. We are NOT leaving because there is a problem in the church. Northgate is a great church and it is an honor to serve here.
  • It is an honor that our denomination would look to our church staff to find two new senior pastors!
  • It is a natural tendency to look to a spiritual leader/pastor/mentor for our strength! It’s natural, but not healthy! If you are leaning on a pastor your faith is going to be shaken in these days, but it doesn’t have to be that way! Let me encourage you to love your pastors, and LEAN on Jesus! The church is His body and He will take care of it!
  • As we move through these next weeks, love your pastors! Don’t pull away to dull the pain of separation! Let’s come closer so that on the day we say “Goodbye” we’ll say it with tears in our eyes, but hearts that are at rest because “We loved well until the last minute.”
  • The next pastor is gonna be GREAT! You will be blessed and he will be as well. I’m going to be blogging about some ways that you can love your pastor in the coming days, but for now let me say, he will love you and you will love Him.
  • Thank you, Northgate, for the honor of serving as your pastor over the last two years. I love you.

Highlights (5/20/07)

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“Stuff” that grabbed me as I read this morning…

Bible:

  • Proverbs 26:4-5 – Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools,
    or you will become as foolish as they are. 5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.
  • My takeaway – sometimes we think that we have to treat all people equal. These verses teach otherwise. Sometimes we must simply ignore foolishness and other times we must confront it. It is the wise leader who knows what to do and when to do it. All situations and all people are NOT equal and the leader who thinks so errs in judgment.
  • 1 Samuel 10:6-7 – After Samuel annointed Saul to be King, he said to him, “At that time the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you with power, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person. After these signs take place, do whatever you think is best, for God will be with you.”
  • My takeaway – if you’ve been “anointed” for leadership and filled with the Spirit of God, then why shouldn’t you trust your leadership instinct? If The Spirit of God is living in you, and you’re submitted to His Leadership… then lead with courage!
  • Samuel had just annointed Saul to be the first king of Israel, and two groups of people showed up… (1 Samuel 10:26-27) 26 When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, [Group 1] a band of men whose hearts God had touched became his constant companions. 27 But there were [Group 2] some wicked men who complained, “How can this man save us?” And they despised him and refused to bring him gifts. But Saul ignored them.
  • My takeaway – Every leader needs some close friends. Do you have some? Will you be one?
  • My takeaway - Every leader will have detractors. I love how Saul dealt with his! (v. 27) ;-)
  • After Saul experienced his first victory and momentum was on his side… check out what happened – (1 Samuel 11:12-13) 12 Then the people exclaimed to Samuel, “Now where are those men who said Saul shouldn’t rule over us? Bring them here, and we will kill them!” 13 But Saul replied, “No one will be executed today, for today the LORD has rescued Israel!“
  • My takeaway - When Saul had the opportunity to “Stick it” to his detractors. He didn’t! Instead, He pointed the people to God! That’s what great leaders do!

Surviving Information Overload:

Kevin A. Miller gives seven “life-altering maxims” for information junkies (of which I am one!)

 

  • “Blessed are those who admit their ignorance, for they have found the starting place of knowledge.”
  • “Blessed are they who know less than others, for they have more teachers.”
  • “Blessed are those who decrease their choices, for they shall increase their time.”
  • “Blessed are those who are less than certain, for they shall certainly make better decisions.”
  • “Blessed are they who are stimulus-poor, for they shall be experience-rich.”
  • “Blessed are they who make small changes, for they shall see big results.”
  • Blessed are they who expect less from information, for they shall receive more from life.”
  • Miller’s bottom-line, “Blessed are we when we know that it takes more than information to live a meaningful life.”

My joy!

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I love being “Husband” to Sherri and “Daddy” to “The Ladies”. These roles give me great joy!

The world’s GREATEST wife and mom!

Daddy and “The Ladies”

Lexington

Reagan

Reagan’s pet…

Dallas

Thank you “Ladies” for the joy you bring to my life!

It’s Happening!

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So many things go through my head as I look at these pictures, but not one of them consists of doubt! I know God has called us to a new role in a new place. In spite of this confidence, there is still a “Batavia” spot in our lives!

  • Batavia will always be the birth-place of Dallas, and our new baby!
  • Batavia will always be the home of some of my greatest friends.
  • Batavia will always be the home of a great church… Northgate.
  • Batavia will always be the place where God called me to church-planting.
  • Batavia, you have a special place in my heart. Thank you for two great years!

Highlights

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I just finished Mark Batterson’s book, In a Pit With a Lion.

I highly recommend this book for anyone, but particularly for those people feeling like “There’s more” (which is anyone who will listen closely to the whisper of the heart!).

Some final takeaways from this book…

  • “One of our greatest spiritual shortcomings is low expectations. We don’t expect much from God because we aren’t asking for much.”
  • “Living in prayer mode is the difference between seeing coincidences and providences. Prayer has a way of helping us recognize that what we might dismiss as human accidents are really divine appointments. All I know from personal experience is this: When I pray, providences happen. When I don’t pray, they don’t happen.”
  • A quote from Howard Schultz’s autobiography, “This is my moment, I thought. If I don’t seize the opportunity, if I don’t step out of my comfort zone and risk it all, if I let too much time tick on, my moment will pass. I knew that if I didn’t take advantage of this opportunity, I would replay it in my mind for my whole life, wondering, What if?” (Schultz is the chairman of Starbucks and shares this reflection as he recalls pondering if he should purchase the upstart, unknown coffee chain. History tells us that he made the right decision).
  • “More often than not, the only thing between you and your dream is a rational excuse.”
  • “I’d rather be disliked for who I am than liked for who I am not.” (Me too!)
  • A quote from Gordon MacKenzie’s book Orbiting the Giant Hairball, “My guess is that there was a time – when you had at least a fleeting notion of your own genius and were just waiting for some authority figure to come along and validate it for you. But none ever came.” (How many people let their dreams die or their genius wither because no one ever validated it? How many people have been stifled because what they dreamed of was not “safe” or “normal”? I don’t want people to do this to me and I don’t want to do it to my children, or other people! I want to encourage people to “CHASE THE LION!”)
  • “Part of spiritual maturity is caring less and less about what people think about you and more and more about what God thinks about you.”
  • An old proverb, “Those who hear not the music think the dancer is mad.” (I wonder though, what would happen if people heard what I, or you, hear? What would happen if they felt what I feel?)