One Minute Manger Book Review

The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard is a nifty little book – can’t believe it’s taken me this long to read  a New York Times best seller like this!

It’s written in narrative/fictional format, but drives at specific lesson.

The One Minute Manager attacks his key leadership functions with brevity and clarity… approximately in one minute.

1. One Minute Goal Setting.  A person should be able to write their job description, responsibilities, and goals… all on one sheet of paper (something that can be reviewed in one minute or less).  You can get out a new sheet of paper for different hats you ware, but you get the point.  Great leadership comes from clear expectations.  A one-minute goal statement, that stays flexible and current, that everyone agrees on, allows the manager to hold their staff accountable, and gives the staff clear direction on what is expected of them.

Coaching Questions or Accountability Questions?

When you get together with another person for the purpose of growing each other, is it better to ask coaching questions or accountability questions?

The basic difference is this: coaching questions help you figure out what your supposed to do at this time, accountability questions make sure you did what you were supposed to do last time.

Examples of coaching questions: What is God telling you to work on?  What’s your biggest challenge right now?  What one thing could you work on that would make the biggest difference in your life?

Examples of accountability questions:  Were you sure to leave your work at the office and not let it intrude on family time last week?  How did you sin against God or people last week?  Did you make time for prayer like you wanted to?

I personally lean heavy on the coaching on the front end, and gently use accountability on the back end.  It feels a little more forward thinking than backward, with a healthy does of follow through.  Besides, people that offer straight accountability kind of feel like bullies kicking you in the shins repeatedly.

Am I off on this?  Would it be more effective to come up with your list of do’s and don’ts for life, and then invite others to hold you accountable?

House Groups and People with Disabilities

One of the more emotionally compelling presentations that I experienced at the Xenos Summer Institute was on the integration of people with disabilities into the life of the church…

54 Million Americans have disabilities; that’s 1/6.  If you live long enough, we are all likely to experience a disability.

Disability is a feature of body or environment, inhibiting you from normal functioning in society. For example, people requiring wheelchairs aren’t necessarily disabled until buildings put in stairs.

Three common
experiences for people with disabilities in church.

• Overlooked – no thought registered on the topic.
• Separated – ministry with/for disabled people.
• Mainstreamed – welcomed in with the rest, as
  long as no additional accommodations are necessary.

Integration Requires
Good Theology

• I Corinthians 12:1-20 covers the concept of one
  body with many parts.  We therefore need
  an integrated approach.  Overlooking the
  value giving potential of those with disabilities is a travesty, and a
  separated approach prevents the church body from benefiting from the fully.
• “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to
  acts of love and good works.”  Hebrews
  10:24
• Just like Jesus had vision for Peter, we need a
  vision for what people can become.
• Did Moses have a speech impediment?  Was the most powerful figure of the Old
  Testament disabled?
• For Jesus to become man, he took on disability.

Integration Starts
with Leaders and Involves the Whole House Group

• Hebrews 13:7 indicates that the example of
  leaders is an inspirational lead to others.
• Find creative long-haul solutions to welcome
  disabled members.
• Start with people when they are young.  Expose your kids to disabled people.
• Encourage self-advocacy by disabled people.  They must assert what accommodations they
  need.

Integration Requires
Flexibility and Creativity

• People with wheel chairs might be hesitant about
  joining a group because of stairs or the need to rely on people to get up
  stairs.  You need to insist that they are
  welcome and should come.
• One Xenos ministry house incorporated a handicap
  ready rental a few doors down.
• Figure out how to involve their input in group
  discussion and gifts into ministry teams.
• Offer a personal “buddy” to any children with
  disabilities that need special attention.
• Offer a translator at one service.
• Wheelchair friendly ramps, isles, and seating.

Word gets around fast in
disabled communities.  Don’t wait for
them to come and then accommodate.  Make
the accommodations, use your church’s communication channels to make the accommodations
known, and you’ll find word of mouth travels quickly.

Xenos Conference Video Debrief #3 – Joe and Phil on New People in Groups

Jeff Gordon on Stewarding Affluence

Since World War II, depression rates are ten times greater, and teen suicide has tripled.  Jeff Gordon suggests that the pursuit of wealth and affluence is the culprit of discontent in our culture.  We cannot reach happiness by pursuing wealth more than our goals.

 I Timothy 6.6-10,17  ⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.⁹ Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 

Ken Sande on Stewarding Conflict

The gospel is something to be lived, not just introduced at conversion and exercised at death.  You can’t love your enemies in the power of your own strength.  You can’t forgive by self-will.  The divorce rate amongst Christians is the same as that of others – we’re trying to do these things on our own strength.  Doing gospel work without the gospel in your life is exhausting, and you’ll give-up.