Filed under: C&MA web
Well another week has passed.
I’ve been part of many conversations, most of which dealt with content strategy and user experience development.
We have been discussing C&MA DNA and what needs to appear on the product page as well as what needs to show up on the information and belief pages.
We discussed a new tool for funding the ministry brought by TOF to people that are looking for the ability to maximize their assets through a Donor Advise Fund.
We discussed the user experience for our district offices and published the new District MyCMA page that has a significant upgrade of usability and integration with the CMS tools.
We talked about combining the e-news and ecommunity newsletter into one newsletter and have made some initial design concepts and new titles. We have discussed combining all of our prayer resources into one single email resource and how that will be received with our audience.
I built a section to contain a source that for now will not be released until the fall because we have not received statistical relevant results showing this is a usable resource for kids curriculum. Boo.
I updated and published the changes to the General Council webpages removing the online registration option for this fantastic event. I’d say overall it was a pretty productive week of maintenance. I really don’t like maintenance, but it is what it is.
I’m hoping that next week I’ll spend more time in planning and design for some of our plans that are about 2 years old now. I was using viewpath to map out a work chart but I haven’t reviewed it for some time now. I know that might sound kind of lame, but it’s not as bad as it sounds. Sometimes you just need to throw on a new coat of paint and spruce up the place.
Well there I was. Faced with a decision. April 5, 2011 dawned and I had received an email reminding me that it was One Day Without Shoes day. So I wrestled with the idea while I drove into work (shoes on) and on arriving in my office took off my shoes and socks.
Not a big deal, right? Not so much. I took a pic and posted it to my facebook page. I was cruising along just fine (thank you very much) until I needed to leave my office.
Suddenly I was exposed. Would I look foolish? Would people stare? There were a couple of comments such as “I thought I smelled something around here,” and an occasional stare, but I was going to be just fine. Then my feet got cold. And I found myself considering the people I was calling attention to; those without shoes.
I was haunted by these unknown souls, my fellow human beings that go without shoes every day and are exposed to all kinds of bacteria and infections. And I was moved to pray for them. Every time I got a chill I said a prayer. It seemed that there were a bunch of prayers going up as my thoughts turned to these shoeless people.
So the day was over. I had gotten the chance to speak about this issue with a couple of folks in the office. I had done my duty. But it was only 4:30 and the rest of the day was still ahead of me. I decided to complete the day in this shoeless state. Went home, had dinner, and went to my son’s soccer game. It was windy and cold and once the sun went down it was brutally cold on my feet. Again, I thought of those that deal with this all the time because they do not have shoes.
So, the game was over and we came home. I stayed up after the kids went to bed and thought deeply about my day. The fact that I had gone without shoes was surprising to me. The emotions this stirred in me was surprising to me. And the fact that such transformation would be possible by removing my shoes and socks and walking miles as others do every day was a surprise to me. Honestly I was sad the day was over.
So fast forward to this morning. I woke up and thought twice about putting on my shoes. Thought twice about the people that were not able to do this. And decided the least I could do was write about it a bit. I guess the moral of this story is be bold to do something outside of your comfort zone because you never know what God might have in store for you.
Filed under: belief
So I’ve been awake since about four thinking about reality and theory. Eiher Jesus was being real when He was talking about the end of all things or He wasn’t. Either He meant there were going to be wars and rumors of wars with earthquakes and famines or He didn’t.
There was an earthquake last night. There have been many globally since I signed up for an earthquake alert tool on the USGS site. I originally signed up after the Haiti quake to be alerted to parts of the world that suffer a devastating quake where Alliance workers live and work. But this thing has been steadily active ever since.
So here I sit. Considering quake data and Jesus words. And His truth. The truth He died and rose to get out to His creation. So what am I to do with this?
I’m considering and weighing other things He has said. Like about sin and living righteously and loving like He does and self-sacrifice and giving myself away. Things that don’t make much sense in a first-world context. But His word says that His ways are foolishness to humankind.
So here I sit. Is He for real? No doubt. Now what do I do with it?
Filed under: C&MA web
I just watched the Book of Eli, a really good drama about a post apocalyptic earth and a man driven by his purpose. If you’ve not seen it, I do recommend it. A bit of violence and some intense language, but seriously good content.
The thing that captivated me was his ruthless resolve to get the message out. It was inside of him and he was going to stop at nothing to get that out of him. I won’t tell you how it ends, but man, I feel like it ends well.
So often I feel like the message in me gets stopped. For whatever reason, I let it get hung up. Whether it be meetings (endless), or fears (useless), the message gets stopped.
This web thing is the perfect platform to enable a continuous flow of message. But the key is the reception of the message. That is communication of content. Content for content’s sake is just a bunch of noise, but content connection is the brass ring. Let’s grab it, shall we?
Filed under: C&MA web
Seriously. “If you build it they will come” went out with an Iowan baseball field in the 90′s.
What I am finding more and more is that without true and relevant content your customer will move right on to something else just like that xxl shirt on a walmart rack.
Not that there is anything wrong with an xxl shirt, mind you. It’s such a shot on the dark that the majority of your audience is looking for that shirt…but I digress.
Filed under: C&MA web
Well, I’ve gone completely to the dark side. No more Lorem Ipsum for me. In fact I’ve become a bit of a fiend because every time someone at the office asks for a web page I’m asking “why” and “who is your audience” and stuff like that.
It is really pretty amazing to make that shift. The function of web communication far exceeds any look I can develop. What is the end of the communique? What do you need to accomplish? How will you stand out from the communication buzz?
I just don’t know when it happened…but it is strangely comforting. No pressure to make it pretty so much as make sure it is clear. I like it. I guess that I’m finally getting mature when it comes to communication. Now if the rest of the world could it would really be a beautiful thing.
When did you first detect that “I am a leader”–I’ve never felt more than normal…remember the first time i had to get up in fromt of an audience to say something that they don’t want to hear. Conventional wisdom is occasionally the comfortable thing to do, and the comfortable thing to do is not the right thing to do.
The toughest thing about leadership is that most people like to be liked. You take a decision inside yourself that are not to be yielded, the irreducible core is that which can not be chipped away. That view may be uncomfortable to others. You must stick with that. I must do what I think is right, stand by it, and if need be fall by it. There are things that you can not yield on. It is helpful to be prepared to walk away. This matters to me but not more than what is most important.
Leaders know when they are taking the comfortable way…its inherent. Being a leader is not being obstinant.
How do you handle doubt? Doubt is best expressed as a deep conviction and thought through action with consideration and reflection. If he had known that he would be faced with war 4 times he would have been horrified.
What role has faith played in your leadership? If you are of faith it is the most important thing in your life. It is odd to consider that it would not impact your political life. Faith is potent force for the world. It’s not about changing your faith into one religion, but different faiths can come together to accomplish this goal.
Strategy should be based solely on principle. To get there, there will be many tactical adjustments.
What must a leader do to guide the country through difficult times. Make a statement “We are coming together…” Get the facts and make the managerial decisions in a rather clinical way.
Leadership is a blessing and a gift you have been given. No matter how difficult it is worth doing. The way the world works is without a leader is things do not get done. It’s a gift from God to be used.
Everyone is running back to their seats…Bono is on his way.
Bill H is speaking about the difference between Aid and lifesaving acts of compassion. We are called to this while we are on the way to fixing the system through long term lifesaving empowerment and aid. We can sort this out under the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your path straight. This path direction has lead him across the path of Bono. when the video was aired he was a bit unsure of how it would land.
The interview:
- 1963 Kennedy said that in a decade we would put a man on the moon. He lead this way, not waiting for others to approve, but he did it.
- We should be able to accomplish putting humanity back on the earth since we sent a man to the moon. Clean water, saving the environment.
- Only love can leave such a mark.
- The church has done remarkable things….didn’t know the giant could run that fast.
- It’s an offense that we are not getting 2 pills a day…and the church is in the lead in accomplishing.
- Bed nets have malaria deaths down by 50%
- Rwanda has pediatric wards with no children because there is no need. ARV’s are now available. Love thy neighbor is a command. Can we enjoy the benefits of a globalized economy without participating in a helpful way.
- Eaglebrook Church in MN was keeping up with their own church growth…came to the conclusion that we must act globally. Watch where God is working and go there. People are ready to give but the leader is responsible to channel that. Visually and emotionally engage…Spiritual maturity is marked by fiscal generosity. Did you do anything for the least of these.
- Bono…when a new song comes to him he is blessed. Where the streets have no name is one of these…feels like God walks through the room. he wrote the lyrics in Ethiopia 20 years ago at a feeding station. He saw people that had been coming through the night to get food as the mist was rising.
Lyrics:
I want to run
I want to hide
I want to tear down the walls
That hold me inside
I want to reach out
And touch the flame
Where the streets have no name
I want to feel, sunlight on my face
See that dust cloud disappear without a trace
I want to take shelter from the poison rain
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
Were still building
Then burning down love, burning down love
And when I go there
I go there with you…
(its all I can do)
The cities a flood
And our love turns to rust
Were beaten and blown by the wind
Trampled into dust
Ill show you a place
High on ta desert plain
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
Still building
Then burning down love
Burning down love
And when I go there
I go there with you
(its all I can do)
- There are churches that built hospitals. There was a girl that became a face of the hospital campaign. Sacrifice and give. The emotion draws people. cutting back on lunch saved this many kids…there was a family that was saving up for infertility treatment. They gave the money to save lots of children. There was a move of God as they raised 500k when all they needed was 160k.
- Why did it take a rock star to make this kind of change?
- The government bail out says in a crisis we can find the money to take care of the banks. So someone crying out across the world for lifesaving is not a crisis!
- Why are you not affiliated with a church? Suspicions of denominational-ism. Happy just walking down a road. Tired of a lifeless ceremony. In a place where everyone is welcome. They want magic and a moment…
- Churches that would encourage the members to go and serve because they have been given an idea at the service. Unleash people to go do what God has called us to do.
- We need to put ourselves in the equation.
- We will better to stand for things than stand against things.
- Bono:The church tends to stand for what separate us. That is not grace. I’m moved when I see grace like in Africa. Shouldn’t be surprised that we are facing resistance. It’s an ongoing message of equality.
- 2 families sharing one bed. Makes you angry. Put the anger into action. These ‘statistics’ have faces with blood running through their veins. It’s not ok for a child to die for lack of a .20 shot or someone to starve in the 20th century.
I might add that it is not ok to let people die without the chance to hear the gospel.
- failure is the early warning sign for success.
- We attribute things to people rather than there situation. We look at people rather than their circumstance.
- Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die
- Let’s broaden opportunities for the workers. Sculpt the path so the elephant can succeed.
- When change occurs there is usually a
- A deep emotional appeal will draw people to the change. It directs the rider…the elephant goes that way.
- had problems getting online so this is why I’ve not gotten a lot of good stuff here…you should get the DVD if you can.
- Leadership is journey that we are on individually, but there are people that will help you. Introduce you to literature, etc.
- A teacher will not produce a leader…but can create a culture within the organization
- it’s not when students learn things but when they go and do things.
- How does a leader get better at leading? you must learn to lift yourself up…be a reflective practitioner.
- reflective practice…where you learn leadership is in the practice of it. You must read about it as well. Truman became self educated “not every reader is a leader, but every leader is a reader”
- Taking time to reflect is vital to develop your leadership potential. Journaling, reflection, discussion (blogging)
- we should not confuse motion with progress.
- Do a 6 week plan…then review it to see how far you’ve gotten in the process.
- Journaling: enables the opportunity to grow. Questions asked: how did we get here.
- When you are on the dance floor dancing it’s good to go up into the balcony to see the dance. (think of looking at the entire chess board.)
- someone that can look farther back enables you to look farther ahead. Nixon
- Ford was a decent man…nice guys finish last? On the contrary, we have come to prize decent people. ford looks better in the rearview mirror.
- Clinton-bright man. Tactical mind. He was resilient–a tragic figure always ready to get back up…tubthumper
- Reagan–best leader since Roosevelt. Principled man with a contagious optimism on life. “Be around leaders that always encourage people. it’s exciting and you are a part of building something.” These were tempered by the war (WWII presidents) and they understood common sacrifice as well as a sense of humor. They were bonded.
- Weaknesses: Nixon held everyone on the periphery. the struggle in his white house was between those that appealed to the good side and those that appealed to his dark side.
- Ford’s weakness: sometimes was a bit naive. People took advantage of him.
- Reagan: weakness was his detachment. Let others put their hands on the wheel. Then things went off the track. Then came back on the wheel. Entrust to the point of detachment is trouble. Inspect is as good as respect as a leader.
- Clinton: a parallel with Nixon. Character issues and questions. He made the worst mistake with Lewinski not with the action but with the way he handled it.
- Great leaders are greatly flawed. “it’s hard to find flaws in Jesus leadership” you CNN guys keep looking for great flaws in Jesus…laughter.
- We need to integrate the two sides, flaws and strengths, get your flaws under control enough so that you don’t harm those around you.
- How do you bring alignment between your private and public life? How do we square the man with the myth…I am not a saint. Get up every day and try to be better. (my perspective is that this is impossible…apart from the divine intervention of Jesus Christ). But we do need to be demanding of the public life but need to be tolerant of the private life.
- Leadership does not need to be lonely. the days of the Lone Ranger leader are over. Your goal should be a leader of other leaders. The world is too complex to try to do it alone. You need to work outside your group. We build things together.
- If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together.
- Symbolism in leadership. It’s about trust and communications–through language and role modeling. What is your brand? Churchill gave the v for victory…ghandi and his loin cloth emphasized his simplicity. mandela and informal clothing…the prisoner. Reagan and the horse. These things are authentic.
- who the speaker is speaks as loudly as what they say. Who will we listen to in the midst of the cacophony? Do you trust them? You will not listen to someone that is just spouting off. Aristotle was the first to understand public speaking. 3 elements ethos/logos/pathos. Who is the person/what is the logic/what is the emotion.
- 15-20 minutes is the great span of the most effective speech. more than 20 minutes and the data says 25% will continue to pay attention, 25% will be fighting off sleep, and 50% engage in fantasy…much laughter!
- the emotional appeal at the end gets people up and give a call to action! when Cisero spoke people said Come let us think…when Demosthenes spoke people said Come let us march.
- Habits for good leaders
- It is important to be physically fit. when you go flabby in your body you go flabby in your mind.
- Build time in your day to reflect
- build time to be with people that you cherish and who cherish you.
- what do you hope when you are walking up to a church…what do you hope will happen?
- Where I can step back and find inner peace from something larger than you
- Would like to learn something from the text. Will go back and read them to see the context for the message.
- Many young people today care deeply about social change and are on a spiritual journey. Spiritual foundation is important to leadership…it helps you find a moral compass. And it is important to have anchors in life. Your ego can get larger as you succeed. You think the rules do not apply to you (Clinton). Religion gives you the sense of things that are bigger than you. Be the change you want to see in the world.
- Each of us is to bring a log to the fire…
