Category Archives: Uncategorized

April 22, 2016 · 4:45 pm

Our Need for White Space

The idea of “white space” may have had its origin in the field of publishing and design, but it has become a metaphor in other disciplines, including the Christ following way of life.  In design work (think newspaper, magazine or website) white space is the portion of the page left unmarked.  It’s the margin or the space between columns and pictures that gives your eye an opportunity to rest.

The business world took white space on as a metaphor, and talks about it as opportunity – that place “where no one is in charge”, leaving room for creativity and passion to emerge. Businesses that give their employees a certain amount of white space often find them more engaged and energized in their work. Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Christian Faith, Spiritual Formation, Uncategorized

April 8, 2016 · 7:55 pm

Living a Leadership Legacy

Today was a good day.  It wasn’t good because I accomplished things of great significance.  It was good because I got to listen to how God is at work in the lives of others. And I got to  think about, and give thanks for, how God has been at work in my life through the influence of others.  Let me explain. tree

In the world of basketball, long tenured and successful coaches often have a coaching tree.  That is they have a list of persons who’ve both played or coached for them that have gone on to take the coaching reins elsewhere and become successful.  Well, today I spent some time in my leadership tree.

Leadership tree? Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Leadership, Uncategorized

January 16, 2016 · 9:47 am

New Vistas on a New Year

IMG_1455

I had the opportunity, along with fifteen other members of our short-term mission team, to welcome the new year while guests in Chile. I doubt that any one of us will soon forget this most unusual celebration of New Year’s, both because of our location and the vistas it provided. Nestled in the foot hills of the Andes, as guests of the Mapuche people (the indigenous tribal people of Chile) we were rich in both hospitality and scenery for the holiday.

The particular vista my host home offered was that of a pasture overlooking an alpine lake, with an active volcano jutting forth in the distance. (See picture above) Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Holy Days, Uncategorized

October 1, 2015 · 4:06 pm

A View From the Rear

This past Saturday I did something I had been wanting to do for three years.  I volunteered on my bicycle with the Columbus based “Mill Race Marathon”.  What an interesting experience.  Some 35 cyclists were involved this year supporting the Full and Half Marathon and the 5K.  We were interspersed among the 3500 or so runners and walkers on the streets of our fair city on a cool September day.

As a newbie I did not want to be in a position with too much responsibility. For example, no leading a runner off course, or getting smoked by an elite runner I couldn’t keep up with.  No, when the volunteer form was submitted I checked those positions that were more toward the middle or end of the course.  Little did I know that rookie volunteers must be assigned to the trail or sweep position, as a rule.  My assignment, along with another cyclist, was to be the trail on the last half of the full marathon.  This meant bringing the final runner in to the finish line.  This meant six plus hours on my bike (I elected to ride the entire route) with much of it at speeds that ranged from two to four miles per hour.

It may sound like it, but I am not complaining.  I had a blast doing this. Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under Cycling, Ministry, Uncategorized

February 27, 2015 · 3:18 pm

What do you do with disapointment?

One of the hardest parts of leadership can be disappointment. It doesn’t matter where you are leading; if you dare to lead, you will experience disappointment. You might be disappointed in the outcome of an event, project or initiative. You might be disappointed in those you lead and those with whom you collaborate. The disappointment might center on a colleague who didn’t follow through, or a volunteer who proved less committed than first thought. It might settle around how your group did or did not engage. You may even be disappointed with yourself. Disappointment is inherent to leading. It’s not a matter of if, or even so much when it will hit; what’s important is how you deal with it.

So, what do you do when you are disappointed as a leader in any of the above mentioned possibilities? What do you do with disappointment?

As I reflect on that question I want suggest just a few steps that have emerged over time, in my own practice of leading. These are steps I try to follow when disappointment makes an appearance:

Step One: Examine the source of your disappointment Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Leadership, Ministry, Pastors, Uncategorized