Monday Meditation: Delegation of Work

Acts 6:1-7
“It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.”

Delegation or distribution of work: support work and the main event

This episode in the early church illustrates mature leadership. Not only do the apostils realize their limitations and acknowledge the problem before them they also empower a group of people to solve the problem so they can return to their primary task. This model is applicable to all group situations. 

First the problem was identified. All parties agreed about the basic problem. Everyone should agree about what the fundamental problem is before solving it. Communication is vital to solving any problem everyone should understand what’s going on and what tasks are assigned to them. 

The leadership then asked the people to identify the best individuals to solve the problem. After coming to a consensus on this they then gave their blessing and got out of the way allowing the appointed people to do their work.

Something I’ve observed: when people are not empowered or challenged to contribute to the solution they often become problems by complaining, sitting around doing nothing, or walking away angry.

In Christ all needs will be met however no individual can provide the complete answer. Church is collective response. Learn to be content with tasks assigned when God needs to move you to a new one he will. Be thankful for all kingdom work no matter how important it may be. However learn to know your main calling and be faithful to it. When a side project calls to you ask if there really is no one else who needs to be called forward into service, also ask yourself if it’s vital that it gets done. What is your motive for wanting this done?

I’m not in a position to delegate much at this point, however, it would be good for me to ask for “help” and practice assigning tasks so that it becomes second nature. Why? Because without practice I will have a tendency to hoard work and that’s actually kind of silly because the last thing I need to do is kill myself with work. 

When you find yourself saying, “The church should ___.” Ask yourself why she should, what is your motive for wanting this done?

Sage Thought Friday

The problem with the world is that bugs don't respect doors.

Noon on a Monday

It’s noon on a Monday and I’ve got 80% of my to do list done. It’s been two years since I’ve been able to do anything on a Monday. This feels good.

I know I will be going back to the killer schedule in a month but I thank God for this break. I trust all will be well.

As part of personal business I was getting a credit card for emergencies, etc. from the bank’s point of view I’m risky. Not because my credit’s bad, it’s actually really good, but because I don’t make enough money in a given month to satisfy them. Every time I run into this sort of thing I think about getting another job. But I remember how exhausting my theater work has been. I don’t want to be a zombie I want to be present for people. Still I’d love a desk job to balance out the run around.

Monday Meditation: beginning of peace

1 Kings 12:7
“If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever.”

1 Kings 12:15
the king did not listen to the people.

 

To listen is the beginning of peace

Wise leadership comes from listening. It’s interesting to note that the elders didn’t say the lightening had to  be permanent though I suppose to go back on it would be just as bad as the arrogant speech the king did make.

Ok, fundamental human issue we all desperately want to understand and be understood. Unwillingness to listen is often the trigger for conflict at all levels.

You know it makes me feel better if I think at least one person listened to me today. Maybe there’s a service in that. I could see someone operating a listening booth where a person could go and just talk and be heard without being told anything. How refreshing that could be.

Opening: Mistakes Were Made

Last night our director called us into the last little huddle to thank us for our hard work. We open tonight and odds that we’ll get to say anything meaningful to each other are kind of slim, openings are chaotic.

I’m not feeling anything special right now. But then I’m not the one who will have to look at the audience looking at me for 90min. straight!

Here’s what I’d like you to know about all this, I really appreciate the effort this director has gone to in order to communicate clearly. You don’t know how amazing that is for me. Yeah, not everything came out brilliant the first time but she was intelligent enough to listen and buffer her reaction and that went along way to making my job the cakewalk it is.

So, thank you Shana. I’m very glad I got this opportunity to work with you and really everyone. This has been a lovely experience.

Sage Thought Friday

It's the ordinary things that humble me reminding me to slow down, let go. Today, moldy bread. Thank you Lord, there is relief in the letting go.

Business as Usual

Matthew 3
John dramatic in appearance and rhetoric

Matthew is concerned with prophesy, yes, but also with the dramatic. John’s movement is very cultish. Well, wasn’t it all supposed to be a passing fanaticism? Weird diet, weird cloths, trendy ritual, and so forth a leader who said inflammatory things. And Jesus came.

At first it’s more of the same flashy stuff. I think to myself, things happen so quickly, things seem so exciting in the beginning, large crowds and all. But after he gets their attention then the harder things come. The obedience, this will only work if…

I think society has a three week attention span. Look at big news stories, humanitarian groups have always complained that after an event there is initial show of support and we go, wow! There’s a lot of support or interest, and then about three weeks later it’s business as usual (KONY, anyone?). How long did it take for Jesus? When would it become business as usual?

To be Christian is business as usual.

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