We’re All In This Together

i-Heart

Challenge the Flow

It’s easy to go with the flow.  It’s difficult to challenge it.  Some may go with the flow simply because they are afraid of conflict.  Others will not stand against it because they are afraid of what others will think or they believe leadership has all the answers.  Although they know what is right or know what could be better, they will keep quiet in efforts to keep things calm and to avoid being singled out.  I encourage you to get out of this mindset and challenge leadership.  Now this does not mean be divisive, but if you have a genuine concern over something that you believe is wrong or think could be done better, challenge it.  But you must do it in a loving and respectful way, while having the individual’s, those he/she leads, and/or the organization’s well-being in mind.  Don’t just be a spectator follower, be a participant follower.  Get involved.  Challenge the status quo.

This goes for relationships as well.  I want friends that challenge me, challenge what I do and say.  Friends that will come to me and say “hey, what the heck are you doing?”  Friends that are bold, stand up to me, and point me in the right direction even when they think it might risk our friendship.  I want to be involved in relationships where we push each other to be better.  These are true friendships.

Now be careful of hypocrisy.  Do not look at the speck of sawdust in your leader’s or friend’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye.

Texty Relationships

With the continuing advancement in technology, more and more of our everyday communication is through electronic means whether through emailing, texting, instant messaging, blogging, twittering, or whatever the new trendy invention is out there (really hard to keep up with it all).  Yes, technology does create new means to keep in contact with each other, even those we would normally have not been able to reconnect with otherwise.  However sometimes it may hamper natural human interaction.

Its not a good idea to lay the foundation of a new friendship/relationship on this technology.  I’ve never really even thought about this until recently when I sort of started off a friendship like this. Getting to really know a person naturally involves personal interaction, which includes attention to facial expressions, tone of voice, etc.  Obviously, the problem with communicating with someone via such electonric means is that you don’t get this sort of interaction.

Many issues arrive from this.  

1. If you don’t know the person first, it is really hard NOT to read into things.  You can definitely take things the wrong way.

2. Stereotypes can be created, which could be totally off-based.

3. People are usually more open and comfortable saying things that they would probably not say in person (which could be a good or bad thing).

4. People can act totally different via electronic means than in person.  You could get along with someone online or over text but yet not carry a conversation in person or even get along.

My advice:

Keep it personal.  If you want to get to know a person for who they really are, start off the relationship with personal communication.  Call them on the phone.  Meet for coffee.  Get to know someone  first and then talk online.  You will then be able to picture how the person is communicating/reacting, which gives you an understanding of his or her meaning, tone, if they are joking, etc.

I think this is the best way.  Yet, I guess it all depends on the person and situation.  Either way might work out just fine.  However for me, I think I am going to try to keep it personal (the way it was intended from the beginning before all this technology).

God With Us – Elevation Worship Pre-Release

I got Elevation Worship’s pre-release, God With Us, cd in the mail the other day.  It is awesome!  I can’t wait till the full album comes out.  I have had the pleasure to preview the album with this cd and hear some of the songs during Elevation’s worship experiences.  Chris, Mack, and Wade are truly talented with inspirational song writing abilities.  God With Us will be a must buy for any believer and especially worship leaders.  Keep checking here for the release.

You best get to it

I think my friend Amy’s response to something I shared with her that the Lord had laid on my heart says it best:

“…if the Lord has laid it on your heart, you best get to it.”

(she also told me the same night that I should join the circus, but that’s another story)

Has God laid anything on your heart lately that you should do, pursue, or change?  Well, “you best get to it!”