I am working on a speech on how to be a better leader. So, I thought I would test my main points out on my readers. I appreciate all your feedback. The speech is centered around an acronym LEAD, each letter being a main point. If any of you know of resources that will back up my points I would love the info.
Listen - be open to your group's ideas, opinions, and concerns
Encourage - motivate your group and let them know their work is appreciated
Assist - work alongside your team, delegate and organize tasks but get down to their level also
Dedicate - if you ask a team to be committed the leader needs to have a even higher level of commitment to be able to do the above tasks.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Monday, March 19, 2007
Who will the next Wilberforce be?
As I sit at work right now I get to watch some excitement. We are in the midst of a lobby remodel and they are putting in carpet in front of my desk and tearing down a corner of the wall across from me. So, as I listen to the sounds of construction, I will try to put my thoughts in order and give you a rundown of my weekend. I was able to watch two movies with my family, "One Night with the King" on Friday night with my parents and "Amazing Grace" on Saturday with my parents and brother at an brand new theater.
"One Night with the King"
This movie is a thematic version of the Biblical story of Esther. The beginning of the movie is hard to follow because if jumps around to different locations and it is hard to make out the characters and figure out who is who because many of the scenes are dark. We first see Hadassah, as she is first called, at home with her Uncle Mordecai and around the town with telling Biblical stories to other Jewish children. Between flirting with a friend, she begged Mordecai to let them go on the caravan to Jerusalem. Her Uncle firmly refuses until just before she is captured and taken to the castle. Shortly after she arrives at the castle she is asked to read to the King to put him to sleep. It was love at first sight for Esther. She ends up telling him the love story of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah and it becomes their special story. Esther pushes aside her Jewish heritage and relationship with God until she is in trouble and realizes she was made queen for 'such a time as this.' There are lovers quarrels between Esther and the King just before the edict to kill all the Jews is sent out. The touching climax of the movie is the feast she throws for the King and Haman to beg for the Jews life. She lets them know she is a Jew by shining her necklace in the candles making Jerusalem stars shine around the pavilion built on 12 pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. Haman is unable to see the stars as is the King at first, but after Haman attacks Esther the King returns and says he came back because he could see the stars and renewed his love for Esther. The one thing I did really like about the movie was Esther's dresses and jewelry.
"Amazing Grace"
Wow! The best movie I have seen in a long time! "Amazing Grace" is the retelling of William Wilberforce's fight to end the slave trade in England. Saturday was the second time I saw it and it was even more inspiring than the first. The first time I saw it, I was confused when Wilberforce would flash back to an earlier time and a lot of the characters can look very similar in their white, powdered wigs. The movie begins as Wilberforce travels to his cousin's home to recover his health after fighting for seven long years to get his bill passed in Parliament. You see a man who is worn down with loss and failure to a point were he cannot continue but is tormented with what he knows about slavery and the faces of children on sugar cane plantations who are dieing with no hope. At this time Wilberforce meets and marries Marianne who gives him strength to not only introduce his bill again but to also fight his conic medical condition. One of the moving scenes is when one of his long time opposer signs his petition in front of the entire parliament and a line often quoted is John Newton (author of 'Amazing Grace') says "I am a great sinner but Christ is a great savior." The movie finished as Wilberforce's bill is final passed through parliament and the whole room gives him a standing ovation not only for his accomplishment but more to recognize his dedication, commitment, and passion. As I walked away from the movie I could not help but think what am I passionate about? How can a be a Wilberforce in my family, church, city, country, or even the world? Do I have the courage to stand against everyone else to do the right thing and not only oppose it but work to change it? "Amazing Grace" was an inspiration, encouragement, and challenge to me and how I live my life.
"One Night with the King"
This movie is a thematic version of the Biblical story of Esther. The beginning of the movie is hard to follow because if jumps around to different locations and it is hard to make out the characters and figure out who is who because many of the scenes are dark. We first see Hadassah, as she is first called, at home with her Uncle Mordecai and around the town with telling Biblical stories to other Jewish children. Between flirting with a friend, she begged Mordecai to let them go on the caravan to Jerusalem. Her Uncle firmly refuses until just before she is captured and taken to the castle. Shortly after she arrives at the castle she is asked to read to the King to put him to sleep. It was love at first sight for Esther. She ends up telling him the love story of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah and it becomes their special story. Esther pushes aside her Jewish heritage and relationship with God until she is in trouble and realizes she was made queen for 'such a time as this.' There are lovers quarrels between Esther and the King just before the edict to kill all the Jews is sent out. The touching climax of the movie is the feast she throws for the King and Haman to beg for the Jews life. She lets them know she is a Jew by shining her necklace in the candles making Jerusalem stars shine around the pavilion built on 12 pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. Haman is unable to see the stars as is the King at first, but after Haman attacks Esther the King returns and says he came back because he could see the stars and renewed his love for Esther. The one thing I did really like about the movie was Esther's dresses and jewelry.
"Amazing Grace"
Wow! The best movie I have seen in a long time! "Amazing Grace" is the retelling of William Wilberforce's fight to end the slave trade in England. Saturday was the second time I saw it and it was even more inspiring than the first. The first time I saw it, I was confused when Wilberforce would flash back to an earlier time and a lot of the characters can look very similar in their white, powdered wigs. The movie begins as Wilberforce travels to his cousin's home to recover his health after fighting for seven long years to get his bill passed in Parliament. You see a man who is worn down with loss and failure to a point were he cannot continue but is tormented with what he knows about slavery and the faces of children on sugar cane plantations who are dieing with no hope. At this time Wilberforce meets and marries Marianne who gives him strength to not only introduce his bill again but to also fight his conic medical condition. One of the moving scenes is when one of his long time opposer signs his petition in front of the entire parliament and a line often quoted is John Newton (author of 'Amazing Grace') says "I am a great sinner but Christ is a great savior." The movie finished as Wilberforce's bill is final passed through parliament and the whole room gives him a standing ovation not only for his accomplishment but more to recognize his dedication, commitment, and passion. As I walked away from the movie I could not help but think what am I passionate about? How can a be a Wilberforce in my family, church, city, country, or even the world? Do I have the courage to stand against everyone else to do the right thing and not only oppose it but work to change it? "Amazing Grace" was an inspiration, encouragement, and challenge to me and how I live my life.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Thoughts as Another Birthday Passes
As I ponder the recent passing of another birthday, I thought I would share some of my new found knowledge gained with each passing year. I recently wrote the poem below as I thought of the passing of time. I was inspired by a speech I gave in my public speaking class on Carolyn Arrends' song "Seize the Day" and Pastor John Piper's book "Don't Waste Your Life."
One other bit of wisdom, if you ever plan a surprise birthday party for someone and you pick them up from work, triple check to make sure they have a change of clothing and will not be stuck in a uniform during the party.
The Sand of Time
What will I say of my life when I am old?
Will I be looked upon as forlorn,
or will I have fallen into society's mold?
What will be used in my life to adorn?
All that time is are grains of sand,
to what can they compare?
They quickly slip from my hands,
to recapture one is ever so rare.
I only get one chance to live each day,
will I make it one full of delight?
So come whatever may,
come with the light at the end of the night.
How will my life pass?
How fast will the sand empty from my hourglass?
One other bit of wisdom, if you ever plan a surprise birthday party for someone and you pick them up from work, triple check to make sure they have a change of clothing and will not be stuck in a uniform during the party.
The Sand of Time
What will I say of my life when I am old?
Will I be looked upon as forlorn,
or will I have fallen into society's mold?
What will be used in my life to adorn?
All that time is are grains of sand,
to what can they compare?
They quickly slip from my hands,
to recapture one is ever so rare.
I only get one chance to live each day,
will I make it one full of delight?
So come whatever may,
come with the light at the end of the night.
How will my life pass?
How fast will the sand empty from my hourglass?
Welcome
I have started this blog to share some of my creativity and let friends read my random writings. The title of my blog came from a quote out a Robin Jones Gunn book I read several years ago. The quote has stuck with me ever since. It is a blessing or farewell that refers to the day that Christ will come back for His children.
“Until. Until that day, and may we live today as if tomorrow was that day.”
“Until. Until that day, and may we live today as if tomorrow was that day.”
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