"Reality Check" - Pt. 1

One of the points made by Kawasaki is that "good people need big projects."  This is a very interesting point--and it is so true!  It seems sometimes in ministry there are so many gifted people, but we are not properly utilizing their gifts.  It is important for me to keep this in mind as I enter into ministry. 

Oftentimes I have the tendency to want to do it all on my own--but it makes so much more sense to use "good people" for "big projects" particularly when they are skilled.  He also mentions that "if you aren't doing something worth while, you can't get anyone worthwhile to work on it."  This seems to be very wise advice--not that ministry isn't worthwhile, but really maximizing on the things that matter.

Written by:

Emily Lyden

"Visioneering"

Having a vision for ministry is one the best things about ministry and also one of the scariest. Sometimes you have such a longing for something special but when you try to put into reality it seems like a daunting task that will never get done. I myself have a huge idea for ministry but when as I sit down and really think about it, the reality of how much money, how many different people it will take to accomplish it seems like its way to much. Andy Stanley’s outline that he provides in this book gives the groundwork for a big vision to come into reality. It seems that the biggest difficulty that may arise is timing. When is the right time to pitch your vision to people, when is the right time to initiate a plan of action, when do you stop developing properties so that you don’t run out of resources. Timing seems to be the key. We must realize as Christians that our vision must be born from God’s leading and its going to get done on His timing.  

Written by:

Shawn Lakey

"Sports Ministry Today" - Pt. 1

What a great book for us to engage with!  As we learned in our previous classes there is so much more to sports ministry than most people know, including the history.  

I found Dr. Johnson's ideas and thoughts about coaching very interesting.  As I think back to past coaches, he is so right in that coaches have a great influence on those they work with.  I appreciated his ideas on how to handle each age group and suggestions he made.  

I also found his thoughts about sports ministry to women very interesting.  I had never thought about many of the issues and questions he raised within this dynamic of sports ministry.  I understand that it is very important to think about these issues if I enter into the sport world and the audience I will be dealing with.  The issues women deal with within sport are so true--and many of them I can see in my own life or those around me.  The good news, is there is hope--and that is what we will be trying to bring through the message of Christ!

Written by:

Emily Lyden

"What Got You Here Won’t Get You There" - Pt. 1

In this review Goldsmith outlines how one can change for the better.  He states that feedback is one way to do this. Goldsmith states that one should:

1. Make a list of people’s casual remarks about you.
2. Observe how people deal with you.
3. Complete the sentence: pick a thing you want to improve on in yourself and list how you will get it done and what benefit will have in your life.
4. Listen to your self-aggrandizing remarks. Figure out what you brag about and check yourself to see if its actually worth bragging about.
5. Look Homeward. Look at your home life and see if you’re the same there as you are when you’re out at work. 

Each of these are excellent options to consider when looking forward to change and better improve either your business or ministry.  While we are ultimately held to the LORD's standards and it is His opinion that matters, it is also important to be considerate of the way you are communicating to others and how others view you.  From other's feedback, one can learn how to better deal with issues in the future and avoid past mistakes.

Written by:

Emily Lyden

Legal Issues in Ministry - Pt. 1

Bayne Pounds outlines in his book legal issues to which many of them I have not ever considered.  This is one aspect of ministry that I often fail to heed attention to.  While I know that there are obvious boundaries, I rarely think through all the possible legal implications.  Through this review--it raised much awareness for me to consider--especially in the near future.  Even while working at camp this summer, it is very good to consider and be very aware of the issues at hand. 

Written by:

Emily Lyden