Management Myths

By Charles Scott
There are multitudes of material available on these management topics: time, finances, relations, human resource, career, weight and the list goes on and on.

The truth is that we do not manage these things: we actually manage ourselves.

President Eisenhower wrote, “The history of free men is not written by chance but by choice, their choice.”

As leaders we pursue success but it is only attained by choice. We don’t manage time; it goes by second by second but we choose how time is spent and what is accomplished.

We make choices how money is spent; money is neutral but our choice how it is used makes it good or evil. So how can we improve in the way we manage ourselves?

1. I can only manage me. I have the power to choose how I act, how I respond, how I speak, how I think and how I live. I cannot manage everyone else and God did not call me to the Holy Spirit for everyone else.
   
   
2. I must know what is important. The leader must know their priorities. What is the most important area to spend your time? Where should the money you have be spent?
   
   
3. I have to say no. A leader cannot serve effectively until they know how to say no. Many leaders struggle with time because other people have failed to manage their time and create a crisis for the leader. In these cases much time can be lost. The leader must sometimes say “No” and not allow their time to be controlled by a faux emergency.
   
   
4. I must smile. In a recent conversation someone mentioned to me that they were told some incorrect information. They asked how they should respond. I replied, “Just smile.” There are times it is best to not try and correct certain people and not engage them in a useless and meaningless educational effort. Just smile!
   
   

Courage

By Charles Scott
Benjamin Franklin wrote, “Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors and let each New Year find you a better man.”

There is one word that will direct us into better things: COURAGE! We must have courage to admit where we are and courage to go where we should.

Courage is the determination to keep focused on priorities. The leader must consider, “What action would be taken if we had the courage?” We find courage from the Word of God. We gain courage from prayer. We exercise courage by integrity. We build courage through fellowship. We live courage by our values.

Courage is cultivated by time spent in the presence of the Lord. Time and time again, Jesus used the words, “Fear not.” The leader gains courage to confront fear from time spent with Christ. Courage is a statement that there is something more important than fear. Courage is a map of action leading to the priorities of life.

Courage cannot be learned. It is not a textbook subject. Courage is gained on the battlefield of life. Courage is revealed in the struggle, in the conflict, in the disagreement, in the hardship and the dark night of the soul. The leader who wants courage cannot sit behind a desk and think about it; they must go out and do it.

Courage will be required of the PCG over the course of the next year. This courage will understand that things are not straight-forward but sometimes there are detours. It has the wisdom to know when to let go and when to stand strong. It knows to release the anguish of guilt, to reject the naysayer and to resist the routine of yesterday. Courage will throw off the shackles of past mistakes and embrace a visionary future filled with the possibilities of God.

Courage is living in the blessing of God.

Help us plan the 2011 General Convention

By Bishop Charles Scott
We would love your feedback on the following:

1. Would you favor a conference forum with breakout sessions?
   
   
2. What type of sessions would interest you?
   
   
3. Would you prefer outside speakers for the main services?
   
   
4. Would you prefer department led services per history?
   
   
5. What are the most important areas for you in relation to general convention, i.e. what do you expect from the meeting?
   
   
6. What would you most desire from general convention?
   
   
7. What would you like to say about general convention?

Agility

By Charles Scott
The word “agility” has become a buzz word in these times of economic challenge for America. Those who can think quickly and move with agility will be able to find and sustain success in spite of problematic situations. Lee Colan speaks on what he calls FS2:

Flexibility – The leader must stretch their mind and thinking patterns. The leader must define what subjects are rigid and which are flexible. The leader’s mind and thought process must be likened to a work-out gym: many tools that have an individual purpose to build the thinking capacity.

Strength – Colan writes, “Regardless of the whirlwind of changing circumstances around you, continue to strengthen yourself and your team.”

Speed – The best way to quicken your decision making skills is to get prepared spiritually through prayer, study and analysis. Generally speaking the 80/20 rule holds true for leaders in a decision making situation: the leader will in all likelihood not have all the facts. A good rule of thumb is that if you have 80% of the facts and you have prepared yourself through spiritual disciplines you can make a good decision. Colan states that there are four steps in this process:

1. Identify the top 5 pieces of information you need and decide which four of these are highest in priority;
2. Next, identify the outcomes from the alternatives placed before you;
3. Harness your advisory team and listen to their advice;
4. Make a decision!

Colan concludes by reminding leaders how necessary it is to build an agile team. A strong team sees no obstacle as too big. A strong team is able to see creative solutions to overcome big problems. We may face big problems but we have a bigger God!

Transformational Leaders

By Charles Scott
It has been stated that many scientists of Galileo’s time refused to look through the telescope rejecting the possibility that their belief system could be wrong. They opposed to accept anything outside their belief regardless of the evidence.

Leaders must deal with these type of people but more than deal with them; we must serve them. It is difficult to serve those who restrict the progression of the entire organization.

In the words of Phil Pringle, “Insecurity keeps us from serving people.” It is human nature to prefer to be seen as the important person rather than the less significant individual.

Jesus washed the feet of the disciples because He was/is secure in Himself. Leaders who are secure can willingly bow in service and know their service is in dignity. Insecure people cannot serve because they must have others make them feel better about themselves.

Jesus knew who He was, where He came from and where He was going. He knew what He had and He knew what He had to give. Knowledge produces security and security produces a servant’s heart.

Concepts on Serving:

1. The main area of service is to serve the Lord. There is a story told that Abraham Lincoln purchased a slave girl for the sole purpose of giving her freedom. He paid the price and handed her the papers for her freedom but she did not understand. He told her she was free and could go anywhere. She replied, “Then I will stay with you and serve you until I die.”
   
   
2. The next area of service for leaders is to serve other leaders. Timothy served Paul in the Gospel. Joshua served Moses and Elisha served Elijah. Leaders are called to assist other leaders in accomplishing their vision. We grow more by serving other leaders than by serving ourselves.
   
   
3. Leaders are called to serve the Body of Christ. It is critical that leaders model service to the Church. Ne person stated, “Serving people means solving their problems.” Regardless of the abilities a person may possess until they learn to truly serve they will fail to reach their God-given potential.
   
   
4. Leaders are also called to serve everyone, even those and perhaps especially those outside the Body of Christ. An interesting comment about service oriented businesses said, “Service focused companies go out of their way to hear customer complaints. The Church must change the method of “selling” Jesus through so-called spiritual marketing and began to serve people in a manner they will see Jesus. Francis of Assisi is known to say, “Preach the Gospel always and if necessary use words.”

What Defines Success?

By Ken Row
Darla Smith, lay minister at God's House in Lafayette, IN, recently asked her facebook peers to define ministry success. I felt it'd be good to hear what other PCG folk have to say on the matter, so, with her permission, I am posting her questions here for your discussion:

What defines success in your ministry?

Does how busy you are in your ministry say you are successful?

Does the feedback you gain from people define your success? (ex. people telling you that the sermon or lesson helped them, encouraged them, etc.)

Do the souls that are saved or people who have grown spiritually while sitting under your ministry define whether you are successful in what you do?

Is it quantity or quality?

Or is it "just doing what God has told you to do?"

Do you believe that God calls you to a ministry and then never places it on others to use you in that ministry? Or do we, as ministers, always have to create our own opportunity to minister?

Why Are English Interpretations in King James?

By Ken Row
Here's a topic for discussion (meaning I don't know the answer)...

Why is it that many prophecies and interpretations are given in King James English? E.g. "Thus saith the Lord, I am the God that healeth thee".

God doesn't use KJV when He talks to me directly. It's usually short bursts of contemporary English ("Sit down", "Look in the cabinet", "Pray for ____", "Tell him I heard his prayer").

I'm curious...

For those of you who have interpreted messages, do the messages "come in" as KJV, or do they come in as general concepts which you then speak as KJV?

If interpretations are always delivered verbatim (i.e. both received and delivered in KJV or in contemporary speech), have any of you ever seen God speak both ways -- that is, with KJV in some circumstances and contemporary English in others?