"Some leaders learn to lead by making mistakes and then reflecting enough on those mistakes to develop principles for the future... another way is to learn the principles based on the mistakes of others."
I wish I could say the later were just as effective as the former, but there is something about the experience, the tension, the pain, the failure of experiencing the failure firsthand. There is much to be learned from others. I grew up watching my sister fight with my parents which I learned a lot from second hand, seeing what did and didn't work, learning what my parents really wanted and how to get what I wanted by giving them what they wanted. I have certainly learned a lot from the mistakes I have seen made in other churches about how to keep myself safe from malicious people and how to approach conflict.
I think we often play up the idea of learning from others' mistakes more than is realistic. Things can be learned from others, but the truth is that the people who learn from their own mistakes learn the same lessons in so much more of a profound way than others that perhaps the best way to learn is through gradual increases in responsibilities and controlled "labs" where people can experience mistakes in a way that is personal and effective but not devastating to their future. That is the purpose, I believe, of our Practicum opportunities, whether we take advantage of them or not.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Week 13 Singleness and Ministry - Anton Folz
13 Singleness and Ministry
April 13th, 09
The Code by which one can avoid sexual sins (Top Five)
1. Avoid being in the same room alone with the opposite sex at all costs. I will endeavor to never meet with someone of the opposite sex in an office with a closed door, a secluded place where no one is around, and especially not at a woman home or apartment.
2. Avoid attractions to anyone of the opposite sex that is not one’s spouse. I will endeavor to not allow any attraction to build up inside of me for anyone that is not my wife, by not treating any woman better than my wife or by giving them special favors or attention that I would not do for anyone in the church.
3. Avoid sin by listing to other's advice. I will endeavor to avoid sin this way by allowing the advice of my wife and others in the church to warm me if I am ignorantly walking into a trap of the devil. I will keep a humble spirit that is willing to take confrontation and warning without becoming defensive.
4. Avoid inappropriate touching of people of the opposite sex. I will make sure to try and appropriately always stay away from touching or hugging people of the opposite sex so that mixed signals or inappropriate feelings do not come between me and someone of the opposite sex.
5. Avoid the temptation that since one is becoming more successful that sin on the side will not matter. I will endeavor to stay true to my wife and to God by not allowing power and fame to gain me the access to sexual sin on the side, and disillusion myself in thinking that it can go unchecked and unnoticed.
April 13th, 09
The Code by which one can avoid sexual sins (Top Five)
1. Avoid being in the same room alone with the opposite sex at all costs. I will endeavor to never meet with someone of the opposite sex in an office with a closed door, a secluded place where no one is around, and especially not at a woman home or apartment.
2. Avoid attractions to anyone of the opposite sex that is not one’s spouse. I will endeavor to not allow any attraction to build up inside of me for anyone that is not my wife, by not treating any woman better than my wife or by giving them special favors or attention that I would not do for anyone in the church.
3. Avoid sin by listing to other's advice. I will endeavor to avoid sin this way by allowing the advice of my wife and others in the church to warm me if I am ignorantly walking into a trap of the devil. I will keep a humble spirit that is willing to take confrontation and warning without becoming defensive.
4. Avoid inappropriate touching of people of the opposite sex. I will make sure to try and appropriately always stay away from touching or hugging people of the opposite sex so that mixed signals or inappropriate feelings do not come between me and someone of the opposite sex.
5. Avoid the temptation that since one is becoming more successful that sin on the side will not matter. I will endeavor to stay true to my wife and to God by not allowing power and fame to gain me the access to sexual sin on the side, and disillusion myself in thinking that it can go unchecked and unnoticed.
Week 13 Minister's Taxes - Anton Folz
Week 13 – Anton Folz
April 12th, 09
The Six Most Important Things I need to Remember about Ministers & Taxes
1. The money that a minister spends on housing is income tax free. This includes all the money that one spends on loan principal, interest, utilities, furniture, and other appurtenances
2. The first limitation is that this money must be allocated in advance. A minister must get the spending designated in advance for this to work.
3. The second limitation to the ministerial housing allowance is that one is only able to designate the fair rental market value of the home plus utilities. This is typically means one tenth the total value of the home plus utilities.
4. It is easy for ministers to cheat on their taxes by under reporting their parsonage, or by hiding any honorariums that they accumulate, but it does not pay in the end. As a person in the ministry, one must be able to stand about cheating and do what is right.
5. Ministers can opt out of paying any social security by filing the 4361, but it is the mother of all cheating. This can save a minister thousands, but one must confess to their commissioning board, and hold to this view by oath.
6. Money that is gained by honorarium must have taxes paid on it. This is income, and one needs to pay both income tax and social security tax on it.
.
April 12th, 09
The Six Most Important Things I need to Remember about Ministers & Taxes
1. The money that a minister spends on housing is income tax free. This includes all the money that one spends on loan principal, interest, utilities, furniture, and other appurtenances
2. The first limitation is that this money must be allocated in advance. A minister must get the spending designated in advance for this to work.
3. The second limitation to the ministerial housing allowance is that one is only able to designate the fair rental market value of the home plus utilities. This is typically means one tenth the total value of the home plus utilities.
4. It is easy for ministers to cheat on their taxes by under reporting their parsonage, or by hiding any honorariums that they accumulate, but it does not pay in the end. As a person in the ministry, one must be able to stand about cheating and do what is right.
5. Ministers can opt out of paying any social security by filing the 4361, but it is the mother of all cheating. This can save a minister thousands, but one must confess to their commissioning board, and hold to this view by oath.
6. Money that is gained by honorarium must have taxes paid on it. This is income, and one needs to pay both income tax and social security tax on it.
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Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Week 12: Formal Leadership Theory>>>Trenton Prieshoff
Transformational Leadership
April 7, 2009
I have been going to God's House Ministries for the past three and a half years and I think this theory describes well the atmosphere of God's House. The biggest key indicator came from an interview I had with Pastor about preaching. He said: "I don't feel the need to add any new information to the world. The world doesn't need a lot of information. What it needs is inspiration. I try to ask myself 'would I be inspired by this?' as I am writing a sermon and even as I am preaching..." and he makes changes accordingly. The Transformational Leader is primarily characterized by a person who inspires other and is able to instill them with enthusiasm and energy.
Descriptions of the Transformational Leadership type include the description that the leader mostly gives back in intangible ways such as praise and responsibility. Pastor has told me he loves to give people a chance to take responsibility and nurture something themselves that they want to see happen. Also, Pastor is the only paid staff member (and he is bi-vocational) at a church of almost 500! Obviously, he tends to give more through intangible means than anything. Instead, he praises the good work people do through his sermons as it applies to the message and they have a periodic leadership lunch for anyone who wants to get involved and he brings up the leaders in the church, praising the work they have accomplished and the other people involved with those ministries.
April 7, 2009
I have been going to God's House Ministries for the past three and a half years and I think this theory describes well the atmosphere of God's House. The biggest key indicator came from an interview I had with Pastor about preaching. He said: "I don't feel the need to add any new information to the world. The world doesn't need a lot of information. What it needs is inspiration. I try to ask myself 'would I be inspired by this?' as I am writing a sermon and even as I am preaching..." and he makes changes accordingly. The Transformational Leader is primarily characterized by a person who inspires other and is able to instill them with enthusiasm and energy.
Descriptions of the Transformational Leadership type include the description that the leader mostly gives back in intangible ways such as praise and responsibility. Pastor has told me he loves to give people a chance to take responsibility and nurture something themselves that they want to see happen. Also, Pastor is the only paid staff member (and he is bi-vocational) at a church of almost 500! Obviously, he tends to give more through intangible means than anything. Instead, he praises the good work people do through his sermons as it applies to the message and they have a periodic leadership lunch for anyone who wants to get involved and he brings up the leaders in the church, praising the work they have accomplished and the other people involved with those ministries.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Week 12 Learning Leadership April 7th 09
12. Learning Leadership – Anton Folz
When you learn from your own mistakes, a leader is making small and significant progress. This is the natural and progressive way to move along in one’s understanding of their leadership roles and responsibilities. However if one is able to learn from others’ mistakes and bypass making those same mistakes themselves, that is where significant and powerful change and leadership development takes place. Having this ability and insight is highly desirable for a leader, so that they may maintain a strong Christian witness, and so that they can focus on moving ahead rather than always looking back at what they have done so that thy can continue to move in the correct direction. When a leader can keep their walk blameless and their focus and attention on the goals and direction that the church is headed in, then they can guide and motivate the people around them to also be moving in the direction that church is headed.
When you learn from your own mistakes, a leader is making small and significant progress. This is the natural and progressive way to move along in one’s understanding of their leadership roles and responsibilities. However if one is able to learn from others’ mistakes and bypass making those same mistakes themselves, that is where significant and powerful change and leadership development takes place. Having this ability and insight is highly desirable for a leader, so that they may maintain a strong Christian witness, and so that they can focus on moving ahead rather than always looking back at what they have done so that thy can continue to move in the correct direction. When a leader can keep their walk blameless and their focus and attention on the goals and direction that the church is headed in, then they can guide and motivate the people around them to also be moving in the direction that church is headed.
Week 12 - Anton Folz April 7th 09
Week 12
Formal Leadership Theory – Anton Folz
April 7th 09
At Lakeview Wesleyan Church, the church that my wife and I have been attending now for almost four years has gone through some fairly dramatic changes in the past two years. The church has gone through a large building addition, some very tough financial matters that involved stolen monies, and a change in the senior pastor. Through all of this I personally have seen how the Situational Leadership principal has come into play at our local church. As the church was going through the building project, the church was in a circumstance where they really needed a leader that was willing to motivate them to give and to make the sacrifice so that more ministries and avenues for the church could be open to the people in the community. That was exactly what they needed and what they received.
As the church began to discover what had happened with the stolen money, they needed a leader that would then be able to walk with them through the time of mourning and then forgiveness, so that they could then heal. This was and still is a very sensitive and hard issue for many in the church, but overall the leadership has helped to provide guidance to the people as to how they should walk through this difficult time and how they can then move on. After this circumstance, the situation is now beginning to change again and there has been a great need for a leader that can motivate and help lift the sprit of the congregation. A leader was needed to help the people feel as though they had a real reason to continue giving, and that the church was and is recovering. The current senior pastor has been able to motivate the people to give, and he has been a tool from the Lord to help encourage the people that they are a part of a church that is growing and in the recovery state.
So by looking at the leadership and situations over the past several years at Lakeview Church, one is able to see how the situational leadership principal has played its part. Through all the circumstances God has led and He continues to lead. He has provided the right leadership and the right type of leadership from those leaders as the times have changes and the situations have required special attention.
Formal Leadership Theory – Anton Folz
April 7th 09
At Lakeview Wesleyan Church, the church that my wife and I have been attending now for almost four years has gone through some fairly dramatic changes in the past two years. The church has gone through a large building addition, some very tough financial matters that involved stolen monies, and a change in the senior pastor. Through all of this I personally have seen how the Situational Leadership principal has come into play at our local church. As the church was going through the building project, the church was in a circumstance where they really needed a leader that was willing to motivate them to give and to make the sacrifice so that more ministries and avenues for the church could be open to the people in the community. That was exactly what they needed and what they received.
As the church began to discover what had happened with the stolen money, they needed a leader that would then be able to walk with them through the time of mourning and then forgiveness, so that they could then heal. This was and still is a very sensitive and hard issue for many in the church, but overall the leadership has helped to provide guidance to the people as to how they should walk through this difficult time and how they can then move on. After this circumstance, the situation is now beginning to change again and there has been a great need for a leader that can motivate and help lift the sprit of the congregation. A leader was needed to help the people feel as though they had a real reason to continue giving, and that the church was and is recovering. The current senior pastor has been able to motivate the people to give, and he has been a tool from the Lord to help encourage the people that they are a part of a church that is growing and in the recovery state.
So by looking at the leadership and situations over the past several years at Lakeview Church, one is able to see how the situational leadership principal has played its part. Through all the circumstances God has led and He continues to lead. He has provided the right leadership and the right type of leadership from those leaders as the times have changes and the situations have required special attention.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Week 11: Maxwell Book>>>Trenton Prieshoff
April 2, 2009
Lead up--Be a leader for your leader
This is one of the principle of John Maxwell's book "360 Degree Leader" in which his basic premise is to lead up (to your superiors), lead across (to your coworkers) and lead down (to your subordinates). The concept of being a leader for your leader I thought was cool, because in most cases of describing leadership, we tend to focus on the "leading down" part of his 360 degree approach. By being a leader for your leader, you are not treating him or her the same way you would treat a subordinate, but you are advocating on their behalf in order to affirm their own place of authority, to energize them and to energize your coworkers to be equally energized. Even if you are not the biggest supporter of your leader, it speaks highly of your own leadership abilities to support him or her anyway. If your leader ever gets promoted, they will bring you up with them and if they ever get fired, no one will have anything but positive things to say about you so you have a good chance of taking their place.
Lead up--Be a leader for your leader
This is one of the principle of John Maxwell's book "360 Degree Leader" in which his basic premise is to lead up (to your superiors), lead across (to your coworkers) and lead down (to your subordinates). The concept of being a leader for your leader I thought was cool, because in most cases of describing leadership, we tend to focus on the "leading down" part of his 360 degree approach. By being a leader for your leader, you are not treating him or her the same way you would treat a subordinate, but you are advocating on their behalf in order to affirm their own place of authority, to energize them and to energize your coworkers to be equally energized. Even if you are not the biggest supporter of your leader, it speaks highly of your own leadership abilities to support him or her anyway. If your leader ever gets promoted, they will bring you up with them and if they ever get fired, no one will have anything but positive things to say about you so you have a good chance of taking their place.
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