Thursday, May 16, 2013

What an Education Can't Do for You

He was an extremely book smart man... an earned doctorate in his chosen field.

Of course, this often served as the golden key that opened the doors of opportunity for him.

Strangely, he could rarely stay longer than two years at any given job—with the most recent six figure job being a ten month run.

 After each job he said, "They're idiots."

It's seems that in the real world, a formal education may be able to open the door to opportunities, but once you walk through the door you still have to deliver performance, substance, and, especially, an ability to work well with people.

Carnegie Foundation studies have found that only 15% of one's success is due to technical skill while the remaining 85% is due to interpersonal relationship skills.

Here's something you probably won't learn in college: In the real world of people, emotional intelligence often trumps book smarts.

EI > IQ

Have you ever noticed that sometimes the things that really make people effective in life are the very things you can't really teach them because they're not even aware they have a need to learn—or they're unwilling to learn?

Having a great formal education is not equivalent to being a great leader—nor is it a legitimate substitute for being a great person.

It's quite possible to be an educated moron.

Related Article:
Is College Worth It?

Monday, May 13, 2013

Monday Funday: Secrets to understanding women

(Lest you think I only have fun at the expense of women, think again.)

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Thursday, May 09, 2013

Why 1-on-1 discipleship doesn't work

I thought the title of this post might get your attention.

It certainly challenges our popular understanding of discipleship.

But just because something is popular doesn't mean it is right or unquestionable.

So, before you respond in any way to this post, please take a deep breath, say a quick prayer for an open mind and heart, and then read this very interesting article by Greg Ogden, titled, "Making Disciples Jesus' Way: A Few at a Time."

Monday, May 06, 2013

Monday Funday: In the aftermath of my 50th birthday...

My friends and family made turning 50 fun and easy. The AARP? Not so much.

I got a lot of great cards and notes—very encouraging and very fun. Here are a few I found particularly interesting, true, and, thus, made me smile.

My 14-year-old daughter, Libby, gave me this gem...


BELOW: This one made my think of my inner rocker who refuses to quit rocking even though it hurts like crazy in the morning...
When I stop rocking... then you will know I am really dead. Until then, please keep my guitar in my hands.


BELOW: This one makes me smile because I often jest with my kids and the kids in our neighborhood about growing old, wearing plaid shorts, black socks with sandals and yelling, "Get off my lawn!"
From the card: "It's a documented fact: As your age goes higher... so do your pants."


BELOW: I like this one below because the family that gave it to me took the time to use a marker to give the old guy some nice chops and cool beard... just like the one I had on my 50th birthday.
From the card: "Another birthday and still going strong. And more often."


BELOW: Along with the fun cards, I also received a few age-appropriate gifts from some friends...
Nothing gave me greater joy on my 50th birthday than my friends and family having fun at my expense. Let's all do it again at my 60th birthday!

Speaking of my 60th birthday... perhaps I'll finally break down and get a tattoo... like all the cool kids are getting these days...
(All you old people relax. I'm just having fun. This is a doctored picture... I think.)

Thank you Jesus for my family and friends. And for cool Wolverine chops, motorcycles, and Gibson Les Paul guitars. And my smokin' hot wife (that was to make my kids cringe... sort of... but it's a true statement).

And speaking of my kids, a couple of weeks after my 50th birthday, I went to Chuck E. Cheese (for the billionth time) to celebrate the 2nd birthday of my seventh child, Ivy.
Rollin' with Ivy, Barney, and Chuck E. Cheese at 50. It's not normal, but it's a blast! Can't wait to see what 60 brings!

If you've read all the way to here... you are a true friend. Thank you.

Thursday, May 02, 2013

What Love Looks Like...

Seven year old Jack Hoffman has brain cancer. He's number 22.

If video doesn't appear, go here.

Ain't love in action breath-takingly beautiful?

Friday, April 26, 2013

Becoming a Disciplemaking Youth Leader

Planning, programming, and organizing are essential components of a great ministry. But God made you for more. Way more. Good news: You can become the youth leader Jesus wants you to be.

Together, we'll explore...
* How walking closely with Jesus overflows into your friendships
* What a Jesus-like disciplemaking way of life looks like for students and leaders
* Why discipleship is good but disciplemaking is better
* Why relationships matter in disciplemaking
* How to be a disciple who makes disciples who make more disciples

Bring your Bible.

When?
You pick the date and time.

Where?
Where you live

Who?
All vocational and volunteer youth leaders.

Cost?
$15 per person for training materials.

More Info?

Thursday, April 25, 2013

The next cool thing...

When's the last time you refused to jump on the bandwagon simply because it wasn't moving where you must go?

The next cool thing isn't necessarily the right thing.

More here.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Four reasons I'm NOT signing up for AARP

April 23rd was my 50th birthday.

In the words of Mickey Mantle: "If I knew I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself."

And to make sure I'm NOT living in denial about my age, the AARP has seen fit to remind me that I'm getting old. Thank you so much AARP!
In case you're wondering, I am NOT signing up.

Why? 

Four reasons I'm not signing up for AARP...
1. Because I drink coffee and coffee is the fountain of youth.
2. Because 50 is the new 30.
4. Because of the reality of Psalm 92:14 which declares this about those who love and follow God: "Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green." 

In the Hebrew, "vital and green" are literally "juicy and fresh."

Juicy and fresh.

Those are the three words I want to describe my life from this day on.

So, instead of getting old and obsolete, I'm going to grow old AND more juicy and fresh! That's the God factor!

Yes, I'm getting old. No, I'm not dead yet. Yes, thanks to Jesus, my most fruitful and joyful days are ahead of me.
In your face AARP!

The older the fiddle, the sweeter the tune.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Strategically Training Youth Leaders!

On April 12-14, 2013, I took Cadre's disciplemaking training to youth leaders in the Western Kansas Southern Baptist Association. (Click any image below to enlarge for viewing.)
You know that saying, "Get out of Dodge"? That's right. That saying originated here. I felt like a Cowboy the whole time I was there. I even saw a guy wearing real spurs on his boots. :  ) Loved every minute I was in Kansas!

Lots of Bible-based training combined with fun interaction together as a team. We wrestled what loving God, loving students, and making disciplemakers looks like real life and in youth ministry. We call it the Ministry Is Relationships training experience!

I could rant and rave about these really wonderful donuts at the training, but I didn't have any. Okay, that's a lie. These puppies were DELICIOUS! Krispy Kreme eat your heart out!

Stop and think about this for a minute: How strategic is it to invest in training and encouraging those who disciple students? It's a never ending disciplemaking ripple effect because every youth leader works with lots of students—and students take it to other students! Ponder the eternal impact of your financial and prayer partnership with Cadre Ministries. We're out to encourage and equip disciplemakers.

Chillin' with Wyatt Earp after the training in Dodge City. Click the pic to take a close look at both of our faces. Together we have have enough facial hair for one complete beard. 

"Thanks for the awesome training Bill! I was blessed and encouraged." —Doug Ellison, Youth Pastor

We couldn't take these adventures without friends like you. Thank you for the honor of being your disciplemaking missionaries with Cadre Ministries!

Monday, April 15, 2013

Monday Funday: You know you're getting old when...

This is already my reality. So why not laugh about it. It's funny.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Volunteers Who Get It

by Bill Allison

I know a volunteer with the gift of helps who often finds himself serving God quietly behind the scenes. When I asked him how he keeps motivated to do the not-so-sexy work of tearing down and setting up rooms for the ministry’s many activities, he told me,“When I’m tearing down or setting up a room, I think of the number 1.3. Last year I counted the number of people who trusted Jesus Christ as Savior through our ministry. Then I counted the number of times I went through the work of tearing down and setting up rooms. I discovered that one person trusts Jesus Christ as Savior for every 1.3 times I set up a room.”

Don’t you just love volunteers who get it?

I’m guessing you and the ministry you’re a part of could use a lot more volunteers who get it.

But how do you help volunteers “get it”?

You start here.


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