PROPS & PRAYERS - A.I.M.'s 18th shot.

PROPS:  A few days ago, Stacy and I returned to Cali after having spent nearly two weeks away.  We were invited to Camp Wonderland in Wisconsin to conduct 7 Leadership Soapbox sessions for the Young Adult Community @ Central Bible Leadership Institute, (CBLI).  Their theme was Spiritual Authority, and Stacy and I shared on several types of leadership; In Christ, Equipped, Missional, Present, Transformational, Reproductive, and Perfect (Hebrews 12:1-3). 

Eric Himes is the Director of Young Adult Ministry for the Central Territory.  He is doing a great job there, and has a fantastic, committed, and deeply spiritual leadership team working with him.  In the interest of full disclosure, Eric is a personal friend.  However, even if I had never met him before CBLI, I would be blogging about him here and now.  Eric was not only responsible for programing for the Young Adult Community experience, but as the founder/leader of The Singing Company (see A.I..M.'s 9th shot on "Holy Week", which also gives props to Commissioners Seiler - Central Territory leaders), he also led worship each day at CBLI from dawn til dark.  It's no wonder he didn't have time to pray that the Cubs game we tried to take in on Monday didn't get rained out.  Seriously, God is doing a great work in the lives of the Young Adults in the Midwest.  I'm thankful for having witnessed that work firsthand, and to personally know some of the workers, as well as many of those being worked on/in.

Here are some pics from our time at CBLI...

PRAYERS: August is the month the Golden State Division has been asked to answer the General's call to "Stay On The Wall" (Isaiah 62:6-7) and pray for Social Justice.

To spur us on in prayer, the Program & Development Depts. have teamed up to provide Golden State Lotus Notes users with daily Social Justice emails designed to help us Stay Informed, Stay Inspired, and Stay in Prayer.  These have been well-received, and have helped me personally to spend more time in prayer this month.

Here is a link to the Golden State Division's "Stay On The Wall" daily email archive...
http://www1.usw.salvationarmy.org/usw/www_usw_goldenstate20.nsf/vw-dynamic-index/ABC4F9CE86D5622A882578D80082BC28?Opendocument

There is even a banner hanging outside DHQ to let our community know what we're about, and to invite them to join us in praying for Justice.  This isn't the best pic of that banner.  What do you expect?I'm short, and I don't own a real camera.

To inspire and even accompany your prayers, here's Phil Laeger's song for the 24/7 prayers for justice...

http://soundcloud.com/laeger/knock-at-the-door#

May God bless you as you pray for OTHERS - and not just during the month of August.  After all, "Knees Know No Season".

-rob

Leadership that is Baja Fresh! A.I.M.'s 17th shot.

Can a burrito change your life?  Yes!  Don't believe me?  Then you haven't tried the Wet Pork Burrito at Gordito's in the Greenwood area of Seattle, (pic here). 

Okay, maybe a burrito can't change your life.  However, David Kim, the CEO of Baja Fresh is all about transformational, life-changing leadership, as evidenced in a recent episode of Undercover Boss; http://www.cbs.com/primetime/undercover_boss/video/?pid=ZQJ6mA5az7ubZyxNwhZvh1DlhVlmBvnA&vs=homepage&play=true

The Birksfam(-2) watched this episode tonight, and besides making me hungry, it made me want to share these life/leadership lessons from CEO David Kim.

1.  Location, Location, Location - This powerful "Burrito King" (a title he's not totally comfortable with) doesn't have a penthouse office with a view of the "little people".  He works in a cubicle - right in the thick of things - where, as he puts it; "you can hear everything".

2.  Familia es muy importante! - CEO David Kim is a family man.  He loves his wife.  He loves his kids.  He loves his Mom, (who passed away three years ago).  He loves his Dad, who has recently been diagnosed with a lung disease.  But it's not only his family that is important to David Kim.  The families of his Baja Fresh employees are important to him as well.  In this episode, he makes it possible for some of his new-found friends & co-workers to be with, enjoy, and provide for their family members.  Very cool!

3.  Faith & Work - CEO David Kim is a man of faith, but he doesn't leave it all at home (where he prays with his family before leaving).  He brings it to work with him as well.  In the episode linked above, he asks one of his "co-laborers in the Fresh" if he is a Christian.  When the cashier says "Yes", David says; "I'm a Christian too", and then proceeds to pray with him, (which he does again during the "reveal" portion of the show).  The Bible says Faith without works is dead!  Well, work without faith is not Baja Fresh! 

4.  Aware of his sinfulness - CEO David Kim is successful, and sinful.  He is painfully aware of his own sinful state, and responds to this realization with humility & penitence.

5.  Mediocrity is not an option - "Everything about Baja Fresh is about excellence", says CEO David Kim during a portion of this episode when a cooling table isn't working properly.  He makes no apologies for demanding quality.

6.  Sees the potiential in the leaders he leads - As the episode progresses, CEO David Kim quickly realizes the goldmine he has in the hourly staff & salaried managers who work for (and help generate millions of dollars for) his company.  Despite the difficulties some of them are going through personally, depsite their lack of education, despite their youth and inexperience, he sees what they can be.  So much so that he...

7.  ...Risks on a (faithFULL) hunch - SPOILER ALERT!!!!  As previously mentioned, CEO David Kim is a man of faith.  Women & Men of faith often do things that seem strange.  When he meets with his Board after his undercover experiences, David shares with them his plan to give a franchise away to one of the young managers he met.  You can tell by their reactions that a few of them think he's gone one jalapeño over the line.  Give a franchise away?  "Are you sure that's a good idea, David?" one of the execs asks.  His response?  "Let's train them!"

8.  Enter the Mentor!  Near the end of the episode, as he is talking with those he has met, CEO David Kim offers one of the greatest gifts one human being can give to another; time.  "I'd like to spend some time with you this year", he says to one stunned Baja Fresh employee, "to help make you a better business man".  To another (the one to whom he gives a franchise) he says; this is "going to be hard work, but don't worry, I'll be here next to you".  BAJAWESOME!

9.  There's more to life than a spicy salsa & a nice casa - Near the end, as CEO David Kim is reflecting on his Undercover Boss experience, he says; "Success isn't about achievements and money.  It's about relationships...". 

Well, that about WRAPS it up.

Most of us don't get to own our own chain of Mexican Grill Casual Dining Restaurants (darn it!).  But we can emulate David Kim's approach in whatever ministry, Church, or movement we are leading.  If we do, we may find something that grows, and makes people happy and satisfied (and may even change their life).  That reminds me, this is a pretty good book on keeping ministry real and "fresh", (pic to the right).

Happy eating, reading, and leading!

-rob

The Leader of the Band - A.I.M.'s 16th shot.

Just watched 60 minutes, (on Wynton Marsalis - link below) and had to get a few things out...

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/06/26/60minutes/main20072634.shtml

Confession time.  I don't listen to Jazz.  I have a lot of friends who loooooove Jazz.  Most of them are older than me, (sorry guys), but a few of them are my age or younger.  I just never got into it.  I've wanted to for years, because I think people who listen to Jazz tend to be cooler than... well, people like me.  I own a lot of CDs, but I think the only Jazz CD I own is Kenny G.'s Christmas CD, (I know - that doesn't count.  Maybe a few of Sting's songs from the late 80's are the closest to Jazz that I own).  It's not a matter of not liking Jazz, as it is a matter of not understanding it.  In other words, I have a sneaking suspicion that if I understood Jazz, I might get into it (the same might be said for Algebra, tofu, and Christian Radio).  Anyway, one of the segments on tonight's 60 Minutes focussed on Wynton Marsalis, and his Jazz band's efforts to keep Jazz, one of America's greatest inventions, alive and well.  It was a great story.

Besides the story being good on the level intended, I couldn't help but pick up a few points on leadership as well.  Here are a few leadership lessons from The Leader of the Band.  Feel free to draw your own connections to the minstry, small group, Church/Corps, or movement for which you provide leadership.

1.  Wynton Marsalis Plays 4th Trumpet.  In the 60 Minutes piece, he mentions that he did try to actually lead the band he leads, but he knows his place is in the trumpet section.  That's where he serves best.

2.  Jazz Band Players Sometimes Sacrifice Solos.  Even I know that in a typical Jazz club, several solos can be heard on any given night from each musician on the stage.  However, in Wynton Marsalis' band, most of the musicians (many - the top players on their instrument of choice) will only get one solo per performance.  And they're okay with that.

3.  Music Fosters Community & Breaks Down Barriers.  In addition to trumpeting (sorry) the virtues of Jazz Music, Wynton Marsalis and the band he "leads" travel the globe as unofficial American ambassadors.  The 60 Minutes crew caught up with the band in Cuba where, for four straight days, musicians and listener/dancers alike celebrated the things they had in common instead of arguing about their differences.  Turns out Stevie Wonder was right in his song Sir Duke, an homage to music, and Jazz great Duke Ellington; "Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand.  With an equal opportunity for all to sing, dance and clap their hands".

4.  Mistakes Are Integral To The Process.  When asked by Morley Safer asked how important mistakes are in Jazz, Marsalis answered; (paraphrase) If you aren't making mistakes, you aren't trying anything new - you're not doing it right.


Play (and Lead) On! 

IN CHRIST & OUTreach,

rob


One final note: 
"A real leader faces the music, even when he doesn't like the tune."   -Anon

On Ordinations, Orbiting Organizations, & Orville Wright A.I.M.'s 15th shot.

Over the June 10-12 weekend, the Birksfam joined hundreds of other Salvationists from all around the Western Territory in attending the Commencement, Commissioning & Ordination of the Ambassadors of Holiness session.  It was a great weekend, culminating in the Sunday afternoon Service of Appointments, where these newly ordained Ambassadors found out where they will begin leading & serving OTHERS as officers in The Salvation Army.  The weekend held additional significance for us, as we were able to witness the ordination of my nephew, Dan Whipple (pictured here, with his wife, Audra), my niece Ryan Boyd (and her husband Josh), my 2nd cousin Leilani Armendariz (and her husband Carlos), our "mentees" Bonita & Sean Kelsey, our new Corps Officers Sean & Harryette O'Brien, and other good friends and co-Ambassadors of Holiness.  I pray all God's best for them as they go out to do good, Kingdom work.  This particular blog post is dedicated to them.  You didn't know we did long distance dedications here at A.I.M., did you?  Hey, I grew up on Casey Kasem.

Anyway, directly following the weekend, I met with some creative types for a few days of dreaming up new ways to share the good news with the world (literally), http://tcspeak.com/blog/2011/06/14/creative-caucus/

Part of the prep for this caucus was to read the book; Orbiting the Giant Hairball, (A Corporate Fool's Guide to Surviving with Grace) by Gordon MacKenzie.  This book was first published in 1996, but somehow I had missed it.  I did attend a good workshop based on the book at Boot Camp a few years ago, but I hadn't actually read the book until recently.  Uhhhhmmm, it's good.  Really good.  It's especially worth the read for anyone who at times feels constricted and/or confined by the layers and layers of policies & procedures which can build up (thus the "Hairball" analogy) over the many years of a large organization's existence, (hypothetically speaking, of course).  Mackenzie was a creative force at Hallmark for 30 years, so he knows a bit about the potential & potential perils of large organizations.  He suggests (and its not for everybody) that instead of succumbing to the pull of the Hairball's "relentless gravity",  or escaping to other endeavors to "avoid the threatened limbo of the Hairball", it is possible to "actively engage in the opportunities" the Hairball presents, without "being sucked into" it.  (Thus, the "Orbiting" analogy).

I have to believe he's right.

Here are a few gems from the book:

"Orbiting is responsible creativity: vigorously exploring and operating beyond the Hairball of the corporate mind set, beyond accepted models, patterns, or standards - all the while remaining connected to the spirit of the corporate mission."

"Flying off on a tangent is the first step in the process of going into Orbit."

"You can Orbit too soon, and it can turn out badly.  So it is important to grow into readiness.  And you can do just that in the Hairball.  Its tangledness can serve as protection, a briar patch - a cocoon in which to prepare for the challenges of Orbit. 

A word of caution, though:

Cocoons can be paralyzing."

"It is a common history of enterprises to begin in a state of naive groping, stumble onto success, milk the success with a vengeance and, in the process, generate systems that arrogantly turn away from the source of their original success: groping."

"...find the goals of the organization that touch your heart

and release your passion to follow those goals."

I don't want to take a lot more of your time, but I can't sign off without sharing Chapter 19 of OtGH with you in its entirety.  The title of the chapter is; Orville Wright.

"Orville Wright did not have a pilot's license."

Happy & Holy Hairball Orbiting to you all.  We need you!

IN CHRIST & OUTreach,

rob

P.S.  If you can get past the narrator's voice, this video has some good thoughts on going into orbit, (or at least avoiding being hypnotized by a straight line)...

The Young and the Fearless! A.I.M.'s 14th shot.

About a week ago, my oldest daughter, Emily, graduated from High School.  It was a proud moment for Stacy and me.  Mixed in with the pride was a bit of melancholy.  Thinking of her being away at college, and not at home brings about feelings I don't think any Father can adequately prepare for.  However, I'm not worried about her.  She knows who she is.  She knows whose she is.  And she knows that God has her best interest at heart (Jeremiah 29:11).  At her graduation ceremony, one of the student speakers did a great job reminding her classmates that they are prepared to go out and make life happen.  In other words, their world had been shaped and changed by their High School experience.  Now is the time for them to shape and change the world they'll encounter after High School.  And I'm sure they will.

Speaking of changing the world.  We were on vacation during the graduation celebration week.  I read a book Emily had read called The Hunger Games (I've since read it's sequel, and I am finishing the last of the trilogy).  The Hunger Games is a futuristic story about a young girl named Katniss, who seems to have been chosen by forces beyond her control to lead a rebellion against an evil system.  No spoiler alert here.  I just wanted to mention the book because there are important themes in it that warrant inspection and reflection.  This young woman is fearless, and her fighting spirit offers hope to OTHERS.  I recommend these books for young readers and for older readers who want to fight like young warriors again.

Speaking of young warriors.  Earlier this week, in observance on Memorial Day, The History Channel aired a show called Gettysburg.  I watched it with my Son, Graham.  In addition to being repulsed by the evil industry of slavery, and reminded of the horrors of war, I was struck by how many young men lost their lives in those brutal battles.  Thousands of young men fought, bled, and died without having had the chance at making their dreams come true.  But they were brave.  Man were they brave.  Those soldiers would risk their lives just to keep the flag flying, or to help a wounded brother from the battlefield.  I hope Graham grows up to be a true warrior who fights for justice.  We need more young men like that.  Young men who answer a call to risk their own wellbeing for the wellbeing of OTHERS. Young men who lead others into the fray, fearless in their pursuit to bring down strongholds of Satan.  Not with guns so much as guts.

Speaking of young men with guts.  Two of my friends, (Thijs Arens & Andrew Smith) are going on mission trips this summer with The Salvation Army.  Thijs is headed for the Dominican Republic, and Andrew will be in India.  We're having a House Concert this Saturday night to raise funds for their missions.  We hope to raise a good amount of cash for them, but we also hope it's a night of celebration.  We want to celebrate their boldness & obedience.  We want to celebrate them giving up whatever else they would've done this summer to consider the interests of people they've never met and might never see again (this side of eternity).  We want to celebrate two young adults (and many more who will be serving on other teams) who will be serving, following and leading this summer.

Speaking of leading.  What does all of this have to do with a leadership blog?  Here it is...

1.  If you are a young person or young adult reading this, be bold! (I Timothy 4:12)  You don't have to wait until you're 30 to lead something revolutionary.  In fact, if you wait until you're 30, it will most likely be too late.

2.  If you are an over 30 ministry leader reading this;  What younger person are you mentoring?  What younger person's advice are you seeking?  What younger person are you putting in places of leadership (regardless of what those even older than you might think)? 

3.  Why does there always have to be three points.  That's so old.

Keep a lid on it! A.I.M.'s 13th shot.

This is Mt. St. Helens.  Pretty, right?  It's no Mt. Rainier, but it'll do.  Of course, this pic was taken in the 1960's, when the St. was silent & serene.  31 years ago today, however, (May 18, 1980), the St. got heated, and let loose.  I was living in Seattle at the time, and it was big news.  Hats, t-shirts, mugs - everything had a picture of the erupting volcano on it. 

Where I lived, everything had ash on on it.  Soon afterwards, containers of all sorts and sizes filled with ash would be sold in local stores.  An active volcano is a big deal.  And, let's face it, as long as nobody gets hurt, it's kind of cool too (except when street football games are postponed due to ash curfews - that's no fun).

An exploding leader, on the other hand - not so cool, (and people usually do get hurt).  Any of us who have been under or even near this kind of eruption know that it is anything but fun.  Nothing you'd want to take a picture of.  The fallout is not something you'd want to bottle-up and sell.  You just run for cover. 

There's a singer-songwriter I've listened to since about the time St. Helens blew.  His name is Mark Heard.  He achieved Sainthood himself in 1992.  That is to say he's walking with the Saints.  One of his songs "It's Not Your Fault" includes this lyric;

I get angry sometimes

It's not your fault

I let the molehill simmer like Vesuvius

And hold up in Pompeii until all hell breaks loose



Vesuvius - destroyed Pompeii in AD 79

As a Christian leader, you and I are called to serve OTHERS in love.  Loosing our cool, getting hot-headed, blowing our top, allowing our anger to erupt and overflow, leaving devastation & destruction in its path has nothing to with Christian leadership. 

Angry people stir up a lot of discord;
   the intemperate stir up trouble.

Proverbs 29:22 (The Message)



Maybe on this anniversary of one Saint loosing her cool, the rest of us Saints should commit to keeping ours?  I'm in.  My Mom used to count to 10 before speaking if she was upset.  That can't hurt.  There are plenty of ways we can avoid letting the "molehill simmer like Vesuvius".   Take a walk.  Phone a friend.  Listen to music (something soothing).  Say a prayer.  Anything beats pouring out our wrath on poor old Pompeii.  I don't ever want my leadership style (or yours) or my actions (or yours) to get in the way of street football, or any of the other important things in life.

Profiles in Courage(ous) Leadership - A.I.M.'s 12th shot.

Stacy and I recently watched The Kennedys mini-series.  Wow!  I thought I knew a lot about America's Royal Family, but this show included some things I hadn't read.  I won't go into them here.  Suffice it to say - they had some issues.
I've always been fascinated by JFK and, to some extent, the whole Hyannis Port clan.  When I was a kid in school, whenever we had to write a report on a famous person, I would always choose JFK or Abraham Lincoln. I guess I'm drawn to leaders who serve justly, and pay the ultimate price for their service.  In fact, I love and serve One. Anyway, here are a few things I picked up while watching this part of American history unfold 45min. or so at a time.

God uses flawed leaders. 
There's no getting around the fact that JFK had at least one area of his life that was out of control.  Some might blame his upbringing or his good looks or the stress of leading the free world...I blame him.  He wasn't faithful to his wife, and that is wrong no matter the accent or political party or work-related stress.  The fact remains, however, that he was an effective leader.  God seems to have a habit of using leaders (female & male) who have failed Him and others miserably, (check out the Old Testament). Why?  Well, when you think about it, if God didn't use flawed leaders, who would He use?

Courageous leaders aren't always fearless.
Before he entered politics, JFK served in the Navy as a PT boat Commander during WWII.  Late one night, his vessel was rammed by a Destroyer, and he and his crew had to swim to an island and await rescue.  His heroic service most definitely helped to eventually propel him into the White House, but that didn't mean he never again had reason to fear.  Kennedy wasn't even president for a full four year term, but his administration faced its share of tough calls. From the Bay of Pigs, to race riots, to the Cuban Missile Crisis, to threats on his life, JFK experienced fear - and responded with courage. 

Good leaders gather trusted advisors
(and usually take their advice). 
In the interest of fairness and balanced-ness, I wrote about Lincoln's Team of Rivals in the 6th shot of A.I.M.  While Kennedy didn't copy Abe's style in cabinet choice, he did choose a team of advisors he trusted.  With all the troubling threats (both foreign and domestic), Kennedy would've been foolish to go it alone.  Nobody is an expert on everything.  Time after time, when faced with a seemingly "no win" decision to make, Kennedy listened to the various viewpoints around the table, and then made a decision. After all, leaders make decisions, not cabinets, councils, or committees.

Leaders can accomplish a lot in less than three years. 

JFK took office in January of 1961, and he was assassinated in November of 1963.  A few of the important accomplishments of his administration include; the Peace Corps was created, the U.S. Space Program was advanced, & the Civil Rights movement was championed.  Of course, as is true with any leader, one could make a list (possibly a longer one) of all the things JFK did wrong, or didn't get done at all.  For my part, that doesn't take away from what he did get done.  (Possible SA context: Short appointments don't have to be fruitless appointments).

The "Camelot" years weren't perfect.  Nor was the 35th President of the United States a perfect leader.  Neither am I.  Neither are you.  But if we admit our flaws, face our fears, & listen to good advice, we can accomplish a lot for the Glory of God and for the good of OTHERS.

"And so, my fellow leaders:  Ask not what the Kingdom can do for you, ask what you can do (with God's help) for the Kingdom".  - a paraphrase of JFK's 1961 Inaugural Address