How to be a DREAM Employee (Pt.5)

Employee Here is the fifth and final point …

MAKE a difference in someone’s life

It’s great to ‘Do your Job with Excellence’, to ‘Relate to People Well’, to ‘Enjoy your Work’ and to ‘Accept Feedback”. That’s a good foundation for being a DREAM employee. But you need to go beyond that. Ultimately, what we’re all looking for is to make a tangible difference in the lives of other people. No doubt, we can do that by doing these other four things well but there are a few other ingredients that are important.

 

·         Ask God to use you to positively impact the lives of other people. 

God’s hand on our lives and God’s heart beating through our lives enables us to make a spiritual impact that is deep and lasting. Pray for that something ‘extra’ in your life. Like David, may the Lord be ‘with you’ (more than character and skill).

 

See every moment of every day and every interaction with people as an opportunity to do something positive. Does that mean that we can please people all of the time – no, of course not. But we can always treat people with love, consideration (understanding) and respect.

 

·         Think about what you want to be remembered for then live each day with that in mind. 

Will you be remembered? I’ve forgotten many of the people and leaders I have met and encountered – can’t remember their names at all – and so have you. A few stood out and had a lasting impact on my life.

 

What will you be remembered for? We can also think of people that we recall to mind with much fondness because of the difference they made in our lives. 

Continue reading “How to be a DREAM Employee (Pt.5)”

How to be a DREAM Employee (Pt.4)

Employee Here is the fourth tip …

ACCEPT feedback

 

 

·         Be open and teachable. Avoid any attitudes of pride and arrogance.

One of the characteristics of wise people is their openness to feedback and instruction. One of the characteristics of fools is their lack of openness to feedback and their arrogant belief that they’re ‘okay’ (see Prov.9:7-9; 10:8, 17; 15:31-32; 29:1).

  

Never stop being open to instruction and feedback. Open your ears and listen! Be open to correction. Listen to and take on board the feedback of others. Ignore it and you’re headed into deception. Be open to feedback, even criticism. Always maintain a teachable posture. If you don’t, you’re headed for failure.

 

Pride refuses to look in the mirror – other than to admire oneself! Arrogance assumes that we are right and others are wrong (or at least misinformed).

 

·         Seek to understand your own ‘blind-spots’.

All of us have things about ourselves that we are unaware of or don’t see. Only by being open to feedback from others can we learn about these areas and make positive changes.

 

·         Work on your weaknesses and seek to deal with any personal issues. 

Every one of us has weaknesses. Usually other people see them before we do! The sooner we find out about them, admit them and begin to work on them, the better.

More tomorrow …

How to be a DREAM Employee (Pt.3)

Employee Here is my third recommendation …

ENJOY your job

 

 

·         See the value and importance of what you are doing. Think highly of your work.

If you don’t love what you’re doing, go and do something else! Seriously – the best career advice you can ever get is to do something you love to do and get people to pay your for it. The truth is that what you’re doing is very important. It’s significant – even if it may not be prominent.

 

·         Choose to be a joyful person. Smile more.

After a while, you come to realise that happiness is really a choice! It is not a certain set of circumstances (marriage, house, position, talents or accomplishments). You’re about as happy as you choose to be. No one or no thing can ‘make’ you’ more happy than you are right now, at least not over the long haul.

 

Paul says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Phil.4:4). Make a choice to rejoice.

 

A smile does wonders – for you and for others. 

Continue reading “How to be a DREAM Employee (Pt.3)”

How to be a DREAM Employee (Pt.2)

Employee Here is step 2, if you want to be a DREAM employee:

RELATE well to other people

 

 

·         Be a friendly and considerate person to everyone you work with and for.

The greatest commandments are to love God with all our being and to love our neighbour as ourselves. The very heart of the concept of ‘love’ is an ‘others focused’ approach to life. It is about looking outside of ourselves and then seeking to be a blessing to others. This has nothing to do with personality (introverts vs. extroverts), as much as it does with the orientation of our heart and life. Selfish people walk into a room and think “Here I am”, while loving people walk into a room and think “There you are!”

 

No doubt, feeling comfortable with ourselves is an important foundation for loving others. Many people find it hard to love and reach out to others because they really dislike themselves. Their personal rejection, insecurity and feelings of inferiority become like chains that hold them down and hold them back from really loving other people. That’s why it’s so important to come to a place where we comprehend and embrace God’s love for us.

 

·         Be good listener.

One of the best ways to communicate love is to listen to people – ask questions and then take a genuine interest in what is happening in their life. This imparts value and you’ll learn a lot in the process.

 

Jesus was a good listener, always asking questions even though he knew so much and had so much he could say. James says, “Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”

 

Listening communicates love and value, helps you to understand other people and earns you the right to be heard. Poor listening habits include inattentiveness, interrupting and advice giving. Good listening habits include being attentive, seeking to understand and asking questions.

Continue reading “How to be a DREAM Employee (Pt.2)”

How to be a DREAM Employee (Pt.1)

Employee Most of us spend a great deal of our time at work. Work is part of God's purpose for our lives. It is not part of the curse. It was God's plan for us right from the beginning. He has designed us to be most fulfilled and most joyful when we are making a contribution. We are called to serve others and to make the world a better place.

Every employer is looking for the 'dream employee' (sometimes many of them!) to help their organisation fulfil its mission. For us as Christians, we should seek to be that dream employee, working with all our heart as unto the Lord (Col.3:23-24).

Here are five simple ways to become a DREAM employee:

DO your job with excellence

·         Understand and embrace the mission and objectives of the organisation.

Every organisation has a reason ‘why’ it exists. Know what this purpose is and give yourself to this cause. Understand it and embrace it wholeheartedly.

 

·         Know what your role is and fulfil your specific responsibilities.

Any mission has many parts and will take a team of people to accomplish it. Know what your role is and what specific responsibilities have been entrusted to you. The clearer you can articulate this, the better. What does your supervisor need or require from you? When you’re doing your job well, what is getting done? Know specifically what is expected of you. If you’re not sure, ask, then seek to do those things that really well. Focus on doing your job well (not everyone else’s).

 

·         Work diligently as to the Lord.

One of the keys to success and productivity is diligence – or just plain old hard work. Nothing just happens – by luck or chance. Life is about sowing and reaping. We reap what we sow. If you see someone who is being highly productive and seeing great fruit, they have simply followed some universal God-ordained principles that God is blessing (see Proverbs 6:6-11; 10:4; 12:11; 13:4; 14:23; 21:4; 24:30-34).   

Continue reading “How to be a DREAM Employee (Pt.1)”

Why Men are Happier Than Women

Men happier than women With our annual men's conference about to start, I thought some male/female humour would be a bit of fun for today's blog post.

Enjoy!

WHY MEN ARE HAPPIER THAN WOMEN

  • The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. 
  • Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
  • Car mechanics tell you the truth.
  • Same work, more pay.
  • Wedding dress $5000. Tuxedo rental – $100.
  • One mood all the time.
  • A five-day holiday requires only one suitcase.
  • You can open all your own jars.
  • You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness,
  • If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
  • Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
  • You only have to shave your face and neck.
  • You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
  • You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife.
  • You can do your Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24th in 25 minutes.

    No wonder men are happier!

  • Continue reading “Why Men are Happier Than Women”

    Communicating to Change Lives (Pt.7)

    Communication_6The fifth and final question I ask is …

    5. “How will I say it?” [The Method]

    Be practical. If the goal of preaching is changed lives, then application is the primary task of preaching! Knowledge doesn’t change the world, but action does (Luke 10:37. James 1:22). Interpretation of the Bible (what it means) is not enough. We must bring people to application (what they are to do). Exhortation without application leads to frustration. Jesus came to give life, not just information.

    Always aim for a specific action (Matthew 28:20). Tell them why – explain the benefits. Show them how. We need far less “ought to” preaching and far more “how to” preaching. “Yes, but how?” People are looking for practical answers. We need clearer application not just deeper interpretation. Don’t be a commentator (content focus). Be a communicator (application focus). Changed lives are the goal, not just explained content.

    A “lecturer” speaks about the Bible, is concerned about the facts (literary analysis), and seeks to inform. A “pastoral preacher” speaks from the Bible about the congregation, tells them what God wants from them, and is concerned about people. Life-changing preaching does not talk to the people about the Bible. Instead, it talks to the people about themselves – their questions, hurts, fears and struggles – from the Bible. Preach to people about their lives. Don’t just lecture about a topic.

    Finally, be creative. Make the message interesting (Proverbs 15:2. Ecclesiastes 12:10). Saying, “We’re not here to entertain”, sounds spiritual. Our message is too important to present it in a boring manner. “Entertainment” is simply capturing and holding the attention of an extended period of time. We are communicators of the greatest message in the world. It is a sin to bore people with the Bible. People will think that God is boring.

    Never make a point without a picture. Have an illustration for every exhortation. A picture or story is better than a definition. A point gets to the head. A story gets to the heart. Use visuals, drama, or role-playing. We live in a visual generation. Get people involved. Use humour. Be interesting, appealing and delightful. Humour relaxes people, it lowers defences, and it creates positive emotion. It’s not a sin to help people feel good.

    Learn from others. No one can be brilliant every week. God has called us to be effective, not just original. Listen to good communicators and learn from them. Keep fresh. Ask for feedback.

    Conclusion

    We must faithfully preach God’s Word by motivating and enabling people to change. There are few things more satisfying in life than knowing you have influenced others in a positive way by helping them reach their potential in God. Yes, you can do it. Preach to change lives!

    P.S. For a list of books and resources on the art of preaching, see my list of best preaching books, many of which have been very helpful in my own growth as a speaker and from which I have gleaned many of the insights shared in these blog posts. Also, check out the preaching category on this blog for more tips and thoughts on the topic of preaching.

    Communicating to Change Lives (Pt.6)

    Communication_5The fourth question I ask is …

    4. “Who is talking?” [The Messenger]

    This makes me have a good look at myself. In many ways, as a communicator, you are the message. How you speak is very important – your personal style. Your personal style is a combination of your personality and your attitude. This has a big part in determining the impact of your message.

    The basic elements of communication are message content, body language and voice quality. Communication experts tells us that effective communication is 7% content, 55% body language (things such as eye contact, a smile, gestures, dress, and appropriate movement), and 38% voice quality (things such as appropriate volume, pitch, and vocabulary).

    When thinking about yourself as the communicator of your message, be enthusiastic. Do you really believe what you’re teaching? Are you excited about it? Do you believe it can change people’s lives? Put life and energy into your message. Inspire people. Make it interesting. Have a great attitude that’s contagious. Do it with excellence. Put a lot into it and show the audience their value.

    Be open and personal. Honestly share your struggles, mistakes and weaknesses (2 Corinthians 1:8; 6:11. 1 Thessalonians 2:8). Be transparent. Drop your mask and let people see your heart. Talk about your problems. You’ll get people’s attention. Authenticity and genuineness are attractive. Share who you are and what you are currently learning. Be a model. This is the most effective way to change people. The minister is the message. The Word must become flesh (incarnated). Get people to trust you by being real.

    Be encouraging. That’s purpose of God’s message as recorded in the Bible (Rom.15:4) and of everyone who speaks for God (1 Corinthians 14:3). Life is tough. Everyone’s had a tough week. People need their faith reinforced, their hope renewed and their love restored. Don’t tell it like it is. Tell it like it can be. “You have the potential to be … Here’s how.” Lift people to a higher level. Be positive. Jesus came to save, not condemn. He message was good news and so is ours.

    The number one factor in communication is like-ability. If people like you, they’ll listen to you. Love them and they’ll like you. What you have to say (content) vs. how you say it (style) – both are important! Be yourself!

    [Part 7]

    Communicating to Change Lives (Pt.5)

    Communication_4The third question I ask is …

    3. “What will I say?” [The Message]

    Once you have established your purpose and formulated an objective statement, you are ready to do your research and prepare the content of your message. Purpose first, then content and outline.

    Ask yourself what the Bible say about this subject or the audience’s needs. We don’t have to make the Bible relevant. It already is! We have to show its relevance by applying it to people’s needs.

    Gather information on your topic from Bible study, personal experience, and other resources (books, articles, statistics, research, or advice from other people). Think of any illustrations that could support your message. Once you’ve done your research, narrow your ideas into a few points. Be brief and concise – keep it fast paced. Eliminate what's unnecessary. Summarise key points.

    Next arrange everything into a logical sequence. The basic parts of your message are: (1) the opening or introduction where you gain rapport, generate interest, and establish a need to talk about your topic; (2) the main body of your message (organised around your main objective); and (3) your close or conclusion, where you summaries and call for action and/or a response.

    Work on the transitions so that you tie each part together smoothly. Each new point should begin with an overview statement and conclude with a bridging statement to lead the audience to the next point. Help move your listeners from thought to thought with you.

    Also, consider the time element. How much time should you give to introduction, body (key points) and conclusion? What is most important? Allocate time according to priority.

    [Part 6]

    Communicating to Change Lives (Pt.4)

    Communication_3The second question I ask is …

    2. “What am I trying to say?” [Purpose]

    Purpose is basic and central in preaching. You need a well-understood, clearly articulated and biblically justifiable purpose for your message. It is on this that you plan and execute everything you do when you preach. Whatever you do in a sermon, you should do consciously and deliberately to achieve some purpose. Everything should have its objective and you ought to know what that is.

    Your purpose may be to inform, to equip, convince, or to motivate. It addresses what people should learn, believe, disbelieve or do. What do you want them to know or do?

    If you can't write the objective of your speech in a single sentence, then either you're trying to say too much or you don't know what you're talking about. If you don't know what you're aiming at, you'll be sure to hit it. You will never be effective unless you know exactly what you want to accomplish with your message and thoroughly plan your strategy for achieving that goal.

    Prayerfully choose a subject, then a central theme, and then narrow that down to a clear objective. Most topical messages are either in the form of an obligation message – ‘You should …’ or an enabling message – ‘You can …’ The logical question for the first is ‘Why?’ while the obvious question in response to the second is ‘How?’ For example, you might speak a message with an objective of communicating the message ‘You should pray’ and then you’ll show people why. Or you might speak on ‘You can be free from worry’ and the message will teach people how.

    Whatever you speak on, it is essential that you have a clear purpose for your message and a single objective that you are trying to accomplish. Everything you then do or say in your message needs to contribute to this overall goal.

    [Part 5]

    Communicating to Change Lives (Pt.3)

    CommunicationEvery time I prepare to speak, I ask myself five questions. Let’s begin with the first question.

    1. “Who am I speaking to?” [The Audience]

     

    When preparing to speak, I always start with my audience. Who am I speaking to? The first question is not “What do I speak on?” It is “Who am I speaking to and what are their needs?” The goal of teaching is to move people from where they are to where they need to be. Where do we start? Where they are!

    We should always begin with: the patient, not the medicine; the student, not the curriculum; the customer, not the product; and the audience, not the message. Preachers at times are the only group who don’t do this! Something can be good in and of itself, yet irrelevant if it doesn’t match the needs of those being spoken to. Jesus always started where people were, not with the next lesson in his Scripture reading. The majority of his teaching to the crowd began with their needs. This determined his preaching agenda (Luke 4:18-19). We should do the same. The aim is to find ‘common ground’ (1 Corinthians 9:22-23) so you can speak words that will be helpful and beneficial (Ephesians 4:29).

    Who are you speaking to? Think of your listeners right from the beginning. If you don't meet a real need, then your message is a waste of time. A message that is specific is much more powerful than a general motivational message. For every sermon we preach, people are asking, “Am I interested in that subject or not?” If they aren't, it doesn't matter how effective our delivery is, they won’t be attentive nor will they benefit from the message, no matter how good we think it is.

    Ask questions about things such as people’s needs, problems, stresses, challenges, hurts, and interest. Get appropriate and relevant information. Do all you can to know all you can about your audience. Take a survey of your congregation or of the needs in your community – “I wish someone would preach about …”

    If we don’t do this step well, then we will be scratching where people aren’t itching!

    [Part 4]

    Communicating to Change Lives (Pt.2)

    Communication_3Jesus was a master communicator and therefore he is our model for preaching to change lives. Jesus was the greatest speaker, teacher and communicator who ever existed. He spoke to large audiences in places like the synagogues, the mountainside, the seaside, and in the streets. He addressed small groups such as the Pharisees who liked to debate him, the disciples who wanted to learn from him, and his friends such as Mary, Martha and Lazarus who conversed with him about their daily needs. He also spent time one-on-one with people like the Samaritan woman and the rich young ruler.

    Jesus was always prepared and he spoke with authority and confidence. So much so that the people were often amazed at his teaching (Matthew 7:28-29). He used simple language (not shallow, but easy to understand) yet the awed the educated. He used a variety of techniques (parables, object lessons – coin, analogies, humour, role models, questioning, and lectures). No wonder the Gospel writers tell us that the common people heard him gladly – they listened to him with delight (Mark 12:37).

    In John 12:49, Jesus tells us that the Father told him what to say (the content of his message) and how to say it (the delivery style of his message). Both of these are important. Through learning from Jesus, the disciples gained confidence in speaking even though lacking in formal education (Acts 4:13).

    The objective of our communication is not oratory or brilliant speech but to make the message clear so that people can respond (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). The great commission commands us all to be teachers of the gospel and of God's ways of living. There must be a balance between our preparation (skill) and our dependence on the Holy Spirit (anointing).

    Tomorrow we’ll begin looking at five questions I ask myself every time I prepare to speak.

    [Part 3]

    Communicating to Change Lives (Pt.1)

    Communication_2A healthy growing church has good leadership and good teaching. It is well-led and well-fed. There is clear vision and change is occurring in people's lives. Teaching heats up the church’s values. It is like a rudder that steers the church in the right direction. What do you want to see happen in your church? Teach it into existence. Teaching is an important factor in church health and growth.

    Preaching and communicating the message of Christ is to be a vital part of every church and ministry (see Luke 4:18. Mark 16:15. Acts 2:42. Romans 1:15. 1 Corinthians 9:16. 1 Timothy 4:13. 2 Timothy 4:1-5). Evangelist D.L. Moody once said, “The best way to revive a church is to build a fire in the pulpit!”

    Our desire as ministers is to be clear communicators anointed by the Holy Spirit to impart truth that will bring godly change to people's lives. People come to church with a desire to hear a message that is both practical and relevant to their life situation. Learning to communicate better will pay off in every area of church life. Good preaching enhances your leadership skills, gains respect and credibility, and enables you to help bring about change in people's lives.

    Some people have a God-given gift of teaching. How do you know if you have this gift ? I once heard Bill Hybels share five indicators that you have the teaching gift. Here they are:

    1. You sense a positive anticipation towards the preparation of a message and the communication experience itself.
    2. You enjoy the wonder of discovering truth and the creativity of working through how best to communicate it.
    3. You have an unusual confidence in the power of God’s Word.
    4. You receive regular uninvited affirmation from others after you have spoken.
    5. You sense a quiet affirmation of the Holy Spirit after you have spoken.

    Although only some people have the gift of teaching, each one of us can learn and grow in our ability to speak well. Preaching and teaching are gifts but they can be developed. You can preach, enjoy doing it, and do it well by blessing people through your message. Keep learning and improve your God-given abilities. Presidents have speaking coaches. Speaking is not a natural skill yet doing it right is important and essential to our success as a minister.

    Tomorrow we’ll look at Jesus as our model for communicating in such a way as to help change people’s lives.

    [Part 2]

    The Canaanite Genocide

    GenocideOne of the challenges of reading the Old Testament is gaining an understanding of the Canaanite genocide. When the nation of Israel went into the Promised Land of Canaan, God commanded them to kill all of the people living there, including women and children. they were to show them no mercy

    Most people see this as an expression of the judgment of God on these people for their pagan beliefs, practices (including child sacrifice), and sins.

    A few questions surface:

    1. Is the God of the New Testament the same as the God of the Old Testament? Jesus came full of ‘grace and truth’. To the woman taken in adultery, he didn’t stone her, but showed her mercy, while telling her to “Go and sin no more”. Was God harsher in Old Covenant times?
    2. What about the love and mercy of God? Is this shown indiscriminately?
    3. Did these people have an opportunity to place their faith in God and be preserved from judgment OR were they destined to be punished this way?
    4. How do we reconcile this with Jesus’ teaching on ‘loving our enemies’, do good to all people, and to avoid violence? 

    What do you think? Why not make a comment on this blog post and let me know. It will be interesting to see the conversation that develops.

    For those wanting to delve into this controversial topic a little further, you might want to check out the book Show Them No Mercy, which presents four different views on this issue, along with debate between the views.

    A Leader’s Survey

    One of the challenges a pastor faces, especially of a large church, is the inability to know and relate with every person who is part of the church. One way to get a bit of pulse on how your leaders or congregation are going, in addition to spontaneous impromptu conversations from time to time, is through the use of a survey.

    We did an online anonymous survey quite a few years ago and found it very helpful. It gave us some good insight as a leadership team into how we can serve our church better, as well as in helping to lead our church forward.

    The seven questions we are asking are open-ended questions. Here they are, for your interest …

    GO AHEAD AND SAY IT!

    1. The most exciting thing happening at our church right now is …

    2. The biggest thing that concerns me about our church right now is …

    3. The thing that is the most fulfilling about my ministry is …

    4. The thing that frustrates me the most about my ministry is …

    5. I think the most common problem that people are facing right now is …

    6. I wish someone would preach about …..

    7. Do you think you have grown as a leader over the last 12 months?  If so – how (i.e. through what avenue or activity)?

    By having our congregation and leaders complete this survey online, we are able to compile the results much easier.