We live in a high tech world. A world where messages, pictures and communications can be sent over the net, phone or facebook within 2 seconds. A world where we see more time on the technology and less in face to face conversations. We live in the ever changing world and still seem to have the same amount, if not more interpersonal conflict, especially in junior and senior high school.
I wanted to share some tools we can use to minimize the effects of our technology and face to face conversation-less society.
1. You will experience conflict with others in communication. We see in Genesis where Adam and Eve had conversation conflict along with Cane and Able. So, let's just expect it.
2. You have a part to play in the conflict. You might not think so but you do.
3. You can overcome the conflict cycle many people get caught up in.
Steps to minimize the effects on you and the opportunities to create conflict.
I would encourage you to begin by asking God to see things through His eyes...
1. Do you know what causes you or others to create the conflict?
2. What is happening in the lives of people?
3. If you were them, would you respond or react the same way?
I would encourage you to work through the emotions of conflict.
1. God teaches us not to let the sun go down on you before you deal with it. Simply said... it is important to deal with it as soon as you are emotionally able... more time often creates more conflict to build.
2. Maybe you need to take the high road... someone is hurting and maybe it is your turn to take the first step in (reconciliation) making it right.
3. Waving a magic wand will not remove the conflict.
I would encourage you to do the following things:
1. Ask God to forgive you, for allowing Satan to temp you and acting upon it.
2. Seek to meet with the other party ASAP, to understand their comments, and to help them see your hurt or side.
3. Agree to disagree at best. We deal with situations in different settings some we will never overcome or should but the day to day issues (conflict) we can simply agree that we disagree and move one.
4. Seek to restore the friendship if appropriate
5. Seek to grow from the conflict... so this has happened How is God working in it to make you more complete in Christ.
6. PRAY
I feel the more technological we become the more important it will be to increase our work in dealing with conflict, and preventing its damage. God is still calling us to Christ-likeness regardless of the surroundings, and media we face or experience.
Good Luck
Ultimately it is up to us to make the change.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
A Year with God By R.P. Nettelhorst
I first must say, it is so very important to be spending time in God's Word, the bible and a devotional is a great tool to help us focus on His word and potential actions we can take to draw closer to God and to help others do the same.
A Year with God
By R.P. Nettelhorst
I honestly had hoped this book would not turn out to be like all other devotional books but I was wrong. I did enjoy various parts of the book but for the majority it was just another devotional book to put on the shelf or give as a gift.
The Plus Side:
1. I really liked the various scriptures used through out the book.
2. I enjoyed the lay out of the book itself.
3. I enjoyed the ability to go deeper with the content.
The Minus Side:
1. I do not thing the book cover lends any draw to the book. If this is in the book stand with other devotionals, I would not be drawn instantly to pick it up and buy it.
2. I felt the format was good but it was so much like most devotionals. Again, maybe I had to high of expectations for the book.
3. I really struggled to get into the book, it was a force to pick it up and read it. I did enjoy some points as I read but my demands and needs were so much greater than the desire to pick up this devotional. I have several devotionals that make me want to keep reading and studying it further. This one didn't.
If you are looking for a nice devotional to work through some powerful scripture, to draw you to think about life and various applications, this book might do the trick. But if you come from a long line of devotional use, I think you will be let down and feeling blah.
Good luck reading.
A Year with God
By R.P. Nettelhorst
I honestly had hoped this book would not turn out to be like all other devotional books but I was wrong. I did enjoy various parts of the book but for the majority it was just another devotional book to put on the shelf or give as a gift.
The Plus Side:
1. I really liked the various scriptures used through out the book.
2. I enjoyed the lay out of the book itself.
3. I enjoyed the ability to go deeper with the content.
The Minus Side:
1. I do not thing the book cover lends any draw to the book. If this is in the book stand with other devotionals, I would not be drawn instantly to pick it up and buy it.
2. I felt the format was good but it was so much like most devotionals. Again, maybe I had to high of expectations for the book.
3. I really struggled to get into the book, it was a force to pick it up and read it. I did enjoy some points as I read but my demands and needs were so much greater than the desire to pick up this devotional. I have several devotionals that make me want to keep reading and studying it further. This one didn't.
If you are looking for a nice devotional to work through some powerful scripture, to draw you to think about life and various applications, this book might do the trick. But if you come from a long line of devotional use, I think you will be let down and feeling blah.
Good luck reading.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Comparing isnt ministry success
I was leading a round table for our denominational area youth worker gathering just recently and I discovered something very interesting. So interesting I had to blog about it. The plan was to have several youth workers, and those interested in youth ministry at the local church level have a general discussion over lunch.
I asked each person where they were as a youth group and where they wished they could be. It is a very good open ended question, but as the discussion progressed more and more floated to the surface. The real challenge was how do we compete with the church down the road as we save our whole community for Jesus.
So, why do so many churches fall into the compare game with those around them, or even those churches some where in the US that appear to have it all figured out?
I encouraged them, and encourage you to stop and ask yourself two questions.
1.) What do you do really well?
2.) What makes that thing special?
If we are honest we all fear not having something for every student who walks our halls and sit on our churches. It seems funny but true. We want to be all, for all, doing all so everyone gets all... I can't seem to find scripture that encourages us to do that. In fact, as Paul teaches on spiritual gifts, we are all gifted differently. Why doesn't this roll over to the ministries we oversee and love?
What would our world, community and churches be like if we began to focus on doing the things we do and doing them with excellence?
If you do worship well, Praise God. If you do small groups well, Praise God. If you do outreach well, Praise God. Then maybe we (the church) can get together with other churches and stop competing and begin working together to reach and minister to those in need of a Savior!
I know many churches out there are doing all the right things but for the average church, there are not enough resources, finances, volunteers and time to compete. So, stop competing and start doing what you can to reach people with excellence at what you do well at.
God will bless your efforts if you use the gifts and talents He has given you to reach His people.
Praise God for churches who do the work of Christ, without comparing and coveting the other churches in their communities.
I asked each person where they were as a youth group and where they wished they could be. It is a very good open ended question, but as the discussion progressed more and more floated to the surface. The real challenge was how do we compete with the church down the road as we save our whole community for Jesus.
So, why do so many churches fall into the compare game with those around them, or even those churches some where in the US that appear to have it all figured out?
I encouraged them, and encourage you to stop and ask yourself two questions.
1.) What do you do really well?
2.) What makes that thing special?
If we are honest we all fear not having something for every student who walks our halls and sit on our churches. It seems funny but true. We want to be all, for all, doing all so everyone gets all... I can't seem to find scripture that encourages us to do that. In fact, as Paul teaches on spiritual gifts, we are all gifted differently. Why doesn't this roll over to the ministries we oversee and love?
What would our world, community and churches be like if we began to focus on doing the things we do and doing them with excellence?
If you do worship well, Praise God. If you do small groups well, Praise God. If you do outreach well, Praise God. Then maybe we (the church) can get together with other churches and stop competing and begin working together to reach and minister to those in need of a Savior!
I know many churches out there are doing all the right things but for the average church, there are not enough resources, finances, volunteers and time to compete. So, stop competing and start doing what you can to reach people with excellence at what you do well at.
God will bless your efforts if you use the gifts and talents He has given you to reach His people.
Praise God for churches who do the work of Christ, without comparing and coveting the other churches in their communities.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Transforming church in Rural America
Transforming Church in Rural America by Shannon O'Dell
I think this book was extremely well written.
The Author was called into a new world of leadership, as he transitioned from big church youth worker to a senior pastor in rural America. This would be a difficult adjustment since they are totally different worlds. Shannon had several interesting points for all leaders to consider and implement in their particular area of leadership. Notice, I did not say anything about churches or rural America.
Each chapter and step into the book unveils several interesting leadership tools and steps one could use to grow their organization.
Shannon does a great job of taking the reader outside of his or her thinking box and offers some awesome leadership tools that will stretch their thinking and team.
I would recommend every church leader, secular business leader or striving leader to read this book, and gain some valuable tools to achieve exponential growth.
The reader will be drawn into the story of a youth worker reaching his purpose in ministry and walk a way with a ton of quality tools for personal success.
I am not sure the title really serves the book well since it is truly a complete leadership book no matter where the leader lives.
I think this book was extremely well written.
The Author was called into a new world of leadership, as he transitioned from big church youth worker to a senior pastor in rural America. This would be a difficult adjustment since they are totally different worlds. Shannon had several interesting points for all leaders to consider and implement in their particular area of leadership. Notice, I did not say anything about churches or rural America.
Each chapter and step into the book unveils several interesting leadership tools and steps one could use to grow their organization.
Shannon does a great job of taking the reader outside of his or her thinking box and offers some awesome leadership tools that will stretch their thinking and team.
I would recommend every church leader, secular business leader or striving leader to read this book, and gain some valuable tools to achieve exponential growth.
The reader will be drawn into the story of a youth worker reaching his purpose in ministry and walk a way with a ton of quality tools for personal success.
I am not sure the title really serves the book well since it is truly a complete leadership book no matter where the leader lives.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Living Life in the Zone intro
I finally got the book in the mail today. Living Life in the Zone: A 40-day Spiritual Game Plan for Men by Kyle Rote jr. & Dr. Joe Pettigrew
It begins with a brief intro to the main ideas and topics: Faith, Fatherhood, Marriage, Work, and Friendship
and a key point to me: "When God speaks; he doesn't stutter."
This is going to be a neat book because it gives thought for the day, the coaches corner, the game plan, playmakers, time outs, today's assignment and home field advantage.
I am encouraged that the book is so easy to pick up and read but has great substance for us to consider and apply to our lives.
Stay tuned for more challenges and thoughts from this 40-day experience
Mobile Blogging from here.
It begins with a brief intro to the main ideas and topics: Faith, Fatherhood, Marriage, Work, and Friendship
and a key point to me: "When God speaks; he doesn't stutter."
This is going to be a neat book because it gives thought for the day, the coaches corner, the game plan, playmakers, time outs, today's assignment and home field advantage.
I am encouraged that the book is so easy to pick up and read but has great substance for us to consider and apply to our lives.
Stay tuned for more challenges and thoughts from this 40-day experience
Mobile Blogging from here.
Monday, September 20, 2010
The Test
This weekend I experienced a few tests, some were personal tests and others were tests I watched. I watched several football games: East Central High School played Batesville, Michigan played Umass and the Indianapolis Colts played the NY Giants ( the Manning bowl). I watched a few episodes of Wipe out which tests the participants ability to do the course ad fast as they can to win money, also watched some Minute to Win it.
the greatest test came in Sunday morning in church. we have been discussing the book Christian Athleist and this week we talked about giving something up that might have a hold of our heart in front of God. it is a hard test to pass since we live in a world consumed with self and wants. I am challenged to think through my day and determine what has a greater hd on my heart than God and then work towards releasing it.
I hope to continually pass the test of time and grow to be more Christ like. What about you?
the greatest test came in Sunday morning in church. we have been discussing the book Christian Athleist and this week we talked about giving something up that might have a hold of our heart in front of God. it is a hard test to pass since we live in a world consumed with self and wants. I am challenged to think through my day and determine what has a greater hd on my heart than God and then work towards releasing it.
I hope to continually pass the test of time and grow to be more Christ like. What about you?
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
V - ABC Tuesday Night Showing
I have been enjoying the parallels between the hit show and a personal walk with Christ.
A brief History.. V is a show about these aliens coming to the US. They are presenting themselves as a helpful people but have different intentions. One group of people (aliens and humans) called the 5th Element are trying to stop them.
One of the main character's Erica's (played by Elizabeth Mitchell) son Tyler is being drawn into the V by another Alien.
As this unfolds over the past few weeks, I have been thinking about the Christian walk. We are often drawn into the lives of the world by the unknown, or seeing things are more fun, exciting or even new.
I will continue to blog about the V's in the upcoming weeks and would challenge you to think about what draws your attention and how does it effect your journey
A brief History.. V is a show about these aliens coming to the US. They are presenting themselves as a helpful people but have different intentions. One group of people (aliens and humans) called the 5th Element are trying to stop them.
One of the main character's Erica's (played by Elizabeth Mitchell) son Tyler is being drawn into the V by another Alien.
As this unfolds over the past few weeks, I have been thinking about the Christian walk. We are often drawn into the lives of the world by the unknown, or seeing things are more fun, exciting or even new.
I will continue to blog about the V's in the upcoming weeks and would challenge you to think about what draws your attention and how does it effect your journey
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