Leaders Building Trust

Michael Hyatt

Here are six ways that a leader can instill respect and trust in his team:

1. Expose yourself. Open yourself to others. Not in a dangerous way where people can take advantage of you, but rather in a way that demonstrates honesty and humility. Your team needs to know that you are just like them. Be willing to admit your own failures. If you put up a wall around yourself, your team will too.
2. Take the hit. When undesirable outcomes happen, we are all quick to point the finger. If your team members see that you are willing to take the blame for the good of the team, even if its not directly your fault, then they will start to let go and trust you. As leader of a team you need to accept the responsibility for both the good and the bad.
3. Build your team members up. This is the opposite of taking the hit. Whenever it is appropriate make sure you praise your team members in front of their peers and superiors. Be sure to applaud their efforts and results. Never try to take sole credit for something good that the team did.
4. Get rid of the leash. Allow for freedom to explore new ideas and to be creative. If people feel that you are micro-managing them, they will stop trusting you. Make room for failure and more importantly the opportunity to learn from failure.
5. Accept confrontation. Fighting is not good, but neither is false agreement. When there is a difference of opinion, promote discussion. Explore solutions with the intent to solve problems. If disagreement never occurs, then your team is afraid of telling you the truth.
6. Find the value in each person. We all have weaknesses, but we also have strengths. Everyone brings something different to the table. Find what is unique in each individual and use that unique strength for the good of the team.

Source 

The One God Uses

"God is not looking for brilliant men, is not depending upon eloquent men, is not shut up to the use of talented men in sending His gospel out in the world. God is looking for broken men who have judged themselves in the light of the cross of Christ. When He wants anything done, He takes up men who have come to the end of themselves, whose confidence is not in themselves, but in God."

Harry Ironside

Free Will in Heaven ???

Free Will in Heaven

(Adapted from and with apologies to Eric Clapton -- Tears in Heaven)


Beyond the door,
There's peace I'm sure.
And I know there's got to be
Free will in heaven.

Would you throw a fit,
If He controlled you in heaven?
Would it be the same,
If He bound your will in heaven?

You must be strong,
And carry on.
'Cause you know there's no free will
Here in heaven

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Thankfully, in glorification God eradicates my sin nature and eliminates any possibility of rebellion.

So much for the theory that for love to exist you have to be free to reject the other person.

There is love among the Three Persons of the God Head, yet I am not worried They will have a spat!

Cat and Dog Theology

A dog says, 'You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, you must be God.'

A cat says, 'You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, I must be God.'

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Cat Theology: Me-ology

• Cats worship God primarily for what He has done for them.
• Cats want to God to obey them.
• Cats read the Bible thinking it is about them.
• Cat's think God exists to bless them.

Dog Theology: Thee-ology

• Dogs worship God primarily for who He is.
• Dogs want to obey God.
• Dogs read the Bible thinking it is about God.
• Dogs think they exist to glorify God.

Adapted from: Cat and Dog Theology, by Bob Sjogren

"In it, not of it..."

"In it, not of it," the statement was made ...
As Christian One faced the world, much afraid.
"In it, not of it," the call was made clear,
But Christian One got something stuck in his ear.
"Not in it, or of it" was the thing that he heard.
And knowing the world was painfully absurd,
He welcomed the safety of pious retreat,
And went to the potluck for something to eat.


Now Christian Two, he knew what to do,
He'd show those fundies a thing or two!
How will the world ever give Christ a try
If we don't get in there and identify?
So "In it, and of it," he said in his car,
As he pulled in and stopped at a popular bar.
"I'll tell them the truth as soon as I'm able
To get myself out from under this table."


Now along comes Christian Three jogging for Jesus,
In witnessing sweats made of four matching pieces.
His earphones are playing a hot Christian tune
About how the Lord is coming back soon.
"Not in it, but of it," he turns down the hill
And stops in for a bite at the Agape Grill.
Like the gold on the chain of his "God Loves You" bracelet,
He can have the world without having to face it.


While way up in heaven they lament these conditions
That come from changing a few propositions.


"Not in it, or of it," Christian One thought.
But who is the world will know that he's not?

"In it, and of it," thought Christian Two.
But who in the world will know that he knew?


"Not in it, but of it," thought Christian Three.
But who in the world watches Christian TV?


And Jesus turns to Gabriel, shaking His head.
'In it, not of it,' wasn't that what I said?

"The Ins and Outs of It",  John Fischer, Real Christians Dance

Humor from the Past

"Julius Exclusus"
Desiderius Erasmus
1513-1514

[Pope Julius II, on dying, arrives in heaven expecting a glorious welcome, but Saint Peter demands that he, like any other heaven-bound soul, justify his entrance.] 


Julius: What the devil is up? The gates not open? Someone has monkied with the key. 
Spirit: Maybe you have the wrong key. You've got the key of power. 
Julius: It's the only one I ever had. I'll bang. Hey, porter, are you asleep or drunk? 
Peter: Immortal God, what a stench! I'll peek through this crack till I know what's up. Who are you? 
Julius: Can't you see this key, the triple crown and the pallium sparkling with gems? 
Peter: It doesn't look like the key Christ gave to me. How should I know the crown which no barbarian tyrant dared to wear? As for the gems and the jewels, I trample them under my feet. 
Julius: Come on now. I am Julius, the Ligurian, and I suppose you know these two letters [pointing to his chest] "P.M." If you can read. 
Peter: Pestus Maximus. 
Julius: Pontifex Maximus. 
Peter: I don't care if you are Mercury Trismegistus, unless your life is saintly. 
Julius: Saintly! For centuries you have been only a saint and I have been most saintly, sanctissimus, with six thousand bulls to prove it. 
Peter: You are called sanctissimus, but are you sanctus? You don't look it: cassock over armor, eyes savage, mouth insolent, forehaead brazen, eyebrows arrogant, body poxed with debauchery, reeking with drink, a shambles of a man. 
Spirit: Graphic! 
Peter: I expect that you are Julian the Apostate back from Hell. 
Julius: Come on now. If you don't open now I'll strike you with the lightning of excommunication. The bull is ready. 
Peter: Bull? I never heard anything like that from Christ. What authority have you to excommunicate me? 
Julius: Why you are a mere priest, if even that. 
Peter: Show your merits. No entry without merits. Have you taught true doctrine? 
Jullus: Too busy fighting. The friars look after that. 
Peter: Have you won souls to Christ by holiness? 
Spirit: He has sent plenty to Hell! 
Peter: Have you worked miracles? 
Julius: They are out of date. 
Peter: Have you prayed and fasted? 
Spirit: This is getting nowhere. 
Peter: Well now, what is this rabble along with you? 
Julius: Soldiers who died fighting for me. I promissed them heaven if they did. 
Peter: So, these are the ones who tried to crash the gate a while ago? 
Julius: And you didn't let them in? 
Peter: I admit only those who clothe the naked, feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, visit the sick and those in prison. Incidentally, why do call yourself a Ligurian? Does the family of Christ make any difference? 
Julius: I want my country to have the credit of me. 
Peter: You know, I am surprised the papacy is so sought after. In my day it was hard to get even priests and deacons. 
Julius: Of course. You had only fasts, vigils and perhaps death. Today bishops are lords. 
Peter: Tell me now. Why did you attack Bologna? Was it heretical? 
Julius: No. 
Peter: Was Bentivogilio a tyrant? 
Julius: No. 
Peter: Why then? 
Julius: I needed revenue 
Peter: Why did you harass Ferrara? 
Julius: I needed it for my son! 
Peter: What? Popes with wives and sons? 
Julius: No, sons, not wives. 
Peter: Is it possible to get rid of a pope say for murder, patricide, fornication, incest, simony, sacrilege or blasphemy? 
Julius: Add six hundred more and the answer is still no. He can only be deposed for heresy and he determines what is heresy! 
(the curtain falls)

The Intercession of Saints ???

For living, mortal believers to join us in intercessory prayer is not a class action suit. It is an exercise in shared dependence upon God.

Saints in heaven do not need to further learn dependence.

-- drstevej

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