Busyness...

Question: So, how are things going?

Answer: Busy.

This is the new common question and answer from me, from friends, from colleagues, from everyone. The common response in the past is to be fine, but now everything is busy. At some point, there was a transitional response that happened from fine to busy. There has been a cultural shift that defined busy was a better term than fine. I think it is a shift in translation that happened in the last three years, since the economy has been hindered. Busy showed that we had work, which too often was a positive answer. But, it needs to end at some point in dialogue with trusted individuals. I say it too much. The truth is that I really am busy most of the time. It can be good, but in many ways I am realizing it also is not.

I am learning that busyness may be my great deterrent to true community. I am busy and many of my friends know that I am busy. What this communicates to my friends is that I don’t have time for them. Friends begin to think that if I am busy, I don’t need them. When you are busy or fine, it is a common answer that says I don’t need you right now. Being busy is a common answer for: "Stay out of my life... I don’t have time for you."

When I am busy, I choose to not engage in community. It is a verbal and chosen time response to friendship. When I am busy, I am actively not inviting others into my life. But, in my head I think that busy is good. In all reality, being busy is selfish.

I know there are times that people really are busy and need to focus on the task at hand to address a given problem. But if we are too busy to engage in relationships, we have a problem. When we respond and tell you we are too busy, too often, we need help. We really need deep relationship, comforting and concern. The result of being extra busy is loneliness and depression. You may not relate with this, but I truly need freedom from being busy. Time is of the essence. If you are not busy, you are setting an example for the rest of us. Please take time to engage people that are too busy. We need you.

Be The Church...

“We Are The Sermon” Day, or WATS Day, will take place at SoHills this Sunday, April 17. For the seventh straight year, WATS Day will be an opportunity for Christians across the city of Abilene to honor God by providing works-of-service to people in our community living in difficult situations.

WATS Day = the church is leaving the building.

Change...

I don't know if it's that I like change so much as that I dislike doing the same thing when it's not working.

Leadership Basics...

1) Be responsible. If you say you are going to take care of it, then take care of it.

2) Be professional. Arrive on time. Actually be early. And be organized.

3) Be the best. Get better every day at what you do.

4) Be humble. Talk less. Listen more.

5) Be proactive. Not reactive. Respond and initiate before being told to, or asked to, by your supervisor or peers.

Sustaining Leadership...

This insightful quote from Israel Galindo's book Perspectives On Congregational Leadership has deep implications for all of us who desire to be Christ-like leaders:

Here is the heart of what it takes to sustain leadership. We move from the impossible--controlling others--to the merely difficult--managing ourselves.

We can in fact manage ourselves, if we choose to. We cannot control others. But we can offer our point of view, challenge them, and give them room to respond.

Defining The Real Problem...

I got an iPad recently. And one of the iPad apps I've already found to be quiet useful as a personal brainstorming tool is Whiteboard. I find myself using Whiteboad to think in pictures, and to scribble out a quick thought. Like the following:

Could we be addressing issues, symptoms, reactions… attempting to correct a problem… but the real problem continues to be unaddressed?

Hey Jude Flowchart...

While listening recently to the Beatles' classic "Hey Jude" on my iPod, I came across this interesting flow chart. Try it out yourself. Cue up "Hey Jude" and stare at the flow chart. Caution: don't get stuck in an infinite loop of "na na na na na na na na na..."

12 Characteristics of A Godly Leader...

1. Be humble.

2. Be authentic.

3. Be generous.

4. Be Christ-like.

5. Be the best at what you do.

6. Be consistent.

7. Be courageous, willing to go first and take risks.

8. Be honest and trustworthy.

9. Be thankful.

10. Be a learner.

11. Be adaptable and open to change.

12. Be an encourager.

11 Words For 2011...

Need some inspiration for 2011? Check out these 11 words.



Are you inspired?