Monthly Archives: June 2011

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Reality Rant.

When it comes to watching TV I generally like reality shows more than dramas or even comedies. I have seen almost every episode of Survivor and Amazing race, I really like undercover boss and occasionally watch extreme home makeover and the biggest loser. All of which I really enjoy, mostly because I think real life more often produces a better story line than some writer stuck in a room trying to come up with something. Bad writing drives me crazy, which lead to my eventual hatrad for the show “24” started off great ended horrible.

Last winter for some odd reason I got hooked on the Bachelor, not sure why but most likely it was because one of the girls on the show lost her husband and found out that she was pregnate in the same day. In the end Brad (The Bachelor) picked her and it was a fairy tail ending or so we thought until the after show. After the show they brought out all the couples that “made” it to give them advice on how to survive after the show. Only one couple was married and made it two were engaged without a date for a show about getting married that’s really bad. 22 seasons and 1 happy couple, nice.

I then remember from watching survivor that there has been at least 5 or 6 happy couples as a result of being on survivor. Survivor is a show where you have to outwit, outlast and outplay everyone else on the show. How has a show where you try to outlast and outplay everyone produce more long term relationships than a show that is supposed to be all about finding that perfect someone.

The difference I believe is that when you are stuck on an island you have no option than to be who you really are. There are no limo rides and fancy dinners at the top of the eiffel tower. You aren’t kissing 20 girls to find the one while leading 3 or 4 on the whole show.

I watched one episode last week of the Bachelorette, words can not describe how horrible that episode was. The Bachelorette was being “roasted” by the guys on the show it was horrible. As someone who really likes reality TV and as an American the Bachelor and Bachelorette are an embarrassment. It is so sad that the producers on that show care more about ratings and creating drama for ratings than they do about truly providing a happy ending for anyone related to the show. I will never watch another episode of that awful show. Exploiting the very desire God put with each of us to love and be loved is unforgivable in my book.

While watching the show I tweeted this:

“If any of my kids ever go on the Bachelor or Bachelorette I will have failed as a parent. What an awful show.”

I guess the bottom line is if you want to fall in love go on a show about lying and cheating for a million dollars if you want to be betrayed go on a show about finding your one true love.

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Anatomy of a team.

My last post about the Mav’s got me thinking about the elements of a great team. What are the things that I believe make a great team not just a collection of talented people. You can have the best people at every position but if you don’t have a team you will never see your goals realized. Do you need talented people? Absolutely.

1. Common Goal – If everyone on the team doesn’t share the same goal and know where you are going you will never win.

2. Chemistry – I remember the 1996 Yankees they were amazing what was so amazing is there wasn’t a superstar among them. Scott Brosius played 3rd. Everyone who knows anything about baseball would tell you A-rod is a better player but as a fan I miss Brosius. What the 1996 Yankees had was chemistry.

3. Organizational clarity – When everyone on the team knows where they are going the part they play.

4. Mutual trust/dependance – If all the members of the team don’t feel that they need each other and can trust each other your team will never grow beyond the level of your collective insecurities.

5. Mutual submission – As a leader or member of a team you need to submit to each other you need to humble yourself and listen to each other and even go a step further and roll up your sleeves and help another team member even though you don’t have to because we as church leaders need to lead like Christ.

6. Need to know who the leader is – A team never replaces a dynamic leader. I in no way want to imply that a team replaces a leader. God gives leadership and those entrusted with it must lead, not apologizing but always mindful that they are leading because God has allowed them the opportunity.

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

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Why the Mavs won and the Heat lost.

As a kid growing up I loved basketball. I cut my teeth on the Celtics vs. Lakers match-ups that really prepared the NBA for a star like Michael Jordan. Who single handedly launched the NBA to another level and ruined the game forever at the same time. I saw that because the unfortunate byproduct of Jordan’s individual greatness is it has created a generation of selfish ball hogs. Jordan in my opinion was a team player but he took over when he had to.

Thanks to ESPN the only part of his game people remember is when he took over the game. Every kid from New York to LA grew up idolizing him for good reason he was and is the greatest to ever play. The problem is they focus on his ability to take over a game not lead a great team. As a result the NBA has been flooded with a generation of ball hogging babies that are very talented but also very self-absorbed.

Give me a team with less talent that’s a team any day. To me that’s what the Mav’s are. A team with talent but a team everyone has a role each role important but everyone has a clearly defined roll and they are good with that. Much like the Yankees of the late 90’s. When you play as a team it doesn’t matter who scores because you are winning as a team. The heat are the most talented team in the NBA individually but individual talent doesn’t produce long term results. Will the Heat win a championship? Maybe. Will they build a dynasty? I don’t think so.

 

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Love Wins?

If there is anything we know is that Love always wins even if we haven’t read Rob Bell’s groundbreaking book. What we do know is who the 5 people are who win Jim Wideman’s groundbreaking new book #kidmin Leadership.

The winners are:

lrwhitney Lindsey Whitney

BonnieDGCC Bonnie Deroski

pastoralan Alan Phillips

tijuanabecky tijuanabecky

gregferguson gregferguson

If you contact me via email or DM I’ll get your book out to you. Thanks!

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Retro Post: Seven people in the front seat of a pickup truck doesn't work.


Seven people in the front seat of a pickup truck doesn’t work.

Charlene, age 16
What is driving your ministry? How to keep you ministry from being driven in 7 different directions.

Be Specific – If your specific they’ll be terrific (Borrowed from Ed Young.) – Talk to your leaders often and be specific about what you want and don’t want. Share with them your vision. Talk early and often and for the love of all that is holy Be Specific.

Know where you are going – The only thing worse than “a” back seat driver is “7” back seat drivers. If you have ever driven in a car with more than one person all of whom have a different idea how to get to where you are going you know what I mean.

Stay Focused – Don’t be distracted by everything. I struggle most with this. I get distracted and because I try to do everything at once and in the course of it all…..(Phone ringing, must take this call)……what was I talking about? I wonder if I have any new emails?