Following are a few links that caught my attention and worthy of your consideration:
Salvation Army to shutter teen shelters: Question. Where should our priorities be? I closed down a similar program in Honolulu for some of the same reasons. Government contracts are often a curse rather than a blessing, as argued in my book, "Lean Right, Love Left: Balancing the Body" (See link below).
Knaggs on Balance: Extremely important and the theme of my book, Lean Right, Love Left: Balancing the Body. But the balance needs to be balanced as well. There are occasions when eccentricity and being off center is a good and necessary thing. I happen to know that JK is in total agreement with this statement.
Laeger’s cause: Invisible Children (Scroll down left). The passion of my heart, including America’s invisible 20% - the theme of my book, HOPE: A Flight Manual for Prospective Angels.
Howell on Oswald Chambers and “The Something!” and the theme of my book, No Limits, where on the back cover I write, “Imagine the infinite possibilities for the kingdom of God!”
Harrison on Corps and Café 614 featured on Dateline NBC, of whom the late Paul Harvey said, "the 614 Café that’s part of the St. Petersburg Downtown Corps in Florida gives homeless men and women “a taste of
normalcy.” I like that. For more on their ministry go to this link and scroll down.
Chiu on Covenant, a must read for every emerging leader (including the insightful comments). There is a fine line between Covenant and cult and, as leaders, we must be careful not to stray over that line.
JN
"TO MAKE DEEP CHANGE IN AN ORGANIZATION, WE BEGIN BY MAKING DEEP CHANGE IN OURSELVES!"
Slightly Irregular!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
The Thirteenth Column!
I’ve just posted a new blog over at The Rubicon titled, “The Thirteenth Column.” It nicely follows the theme of two previous posts below, including the one over at Slightly Irreverent, “Round and Round.” Thirteen generations in America and seven in TSA. Round and round we go.
JN
JN
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Figuratively Speaking!
76 Million! Following up on yesterday’s post, the number of people born between 1978 and 2000 in the U.S., known as the millennials, generation Y or the trophy generation – a term itself reflecting a trend in competitive sports where nobody loses but everybody is rewarded with a “thank you for your participation” trophy – according to a study by Sibson Consulting.
33 million! Percentage of millennials who are currently in the workplace, though they are arriving in increasing numbers with higher expectations than in any other generation before them.
Figuratively speaking, these statistics support my intuitive feelings in yesterday’s post regarding the singling out of certain individuals for awards, including the whole Army rank system, which was unfortunately broadened recently. We must get in step with the present age, music camp awards and ranks included.
Think this might have something to do with “The Shrinking Pool” of TSA officers in the Western world? I don’t think this critical topic is on the International Leader’s Conference; perhaps someone will pick it up in the discussion sessions. Let me reiterate the key to reaching this generation: 'ONE WHERE NOBODY LOSES BUT EVERYBODY IS REWARDED WITH A ‘THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.’
TSA leadership needs to put that in their pipe and smoke it – figuratively speaking, that is.
JN
33 million! Percentage of millennials who are currently in the workplace, though they are arriving in increasing numbers with higher expectations than in any other generation before them.
Figuratively speaking, these statistics support my intuitive feelings in yesterday’s post regarding the singling out of certain individuals for awards, including the whole Army rank system, which was unfortunately broadened recently. We must get in step with the present age, music camp awards and ranks included.
Think this might have something to do with “The Shrinking Pool” of TSA officers in the Western world? I don’t think this critical topic is on the International Leader’s Conference; perhaps someone will pick it up in the discussion sessions. Let me reiterate the key to reaching this generation: 'ONE WHERE NOBODY LOSES BUT EVERYBODY IS REWARDED WITH A ‘THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.’
TSA leadership needs to put that in their pipe and smoke it – figuratively speaking, that is.
JN
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Winning!
My granddaughters won awards at Homelani Music Camp (Hawaii): Mckenna, Drama award, Theory Award (Medal) and Honor Musician, Riley, Soloist Competition singing. Proud? You betcha! My mixed feelings on this are captured over at Slightly Irreverent in a post titled "Round and Round." Check it out. Oh, and the green toenails belong to McKenna.
JN
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Only Believe!
Received a complimentary copy of the International Leader’s Conference Official Brochure from The General, sent in advance to all retired senior leaders: Theme: “Jesus Christ: The Same Yesterday, Today, Forever” (July 7-13). He’s “earnestly requesting your on-going prayerful interest and your good support in prayerful intercession.”
Thumbing through its contents, I find on the agenda, topics that have been discussed vigorously, sometimes heatedly, in Salvo cyberspace. I list them here because, how leadership responds to these issues will critically impact TSA’s future, one way or another. It occurred to me that perhaps others of you might want to join prayerfully with us. I list the topics generally:
1. Social Justice, Human Trafficking and Human Rights. I’m not sure if this is in their thinking, but I would add Human Rights within the ranks as well as without.
2. New Openings, ‘Come, Join Our Army’ (USA), ‘Our Territorial Centenary Vision’ (Korea), ‘Our Present Size,’ Cadet Statistics,’ Global Faith Goals.
3. ‘Winning Children for Christ.’ Perhaps more critical than any other topic on the agenda because of its future ramifications. You may know that this is a passion of mine for that very reason. We attempted to share this vision with the Army world during our tenure in the USA Eastern Territory, with minimal success I might add (wasn’t in the chair long enough to bring it to full fruition). It has, however, caught on big time in the Philippines, and the Nazarenes are off and running with it here and in South America. May The General’s vision for winning children catch hold during this conference! Check the post below.
4. Identifying and Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders: ‘Essential Measures’ by William Booth, Preparing Officers for Senior Roles. This would be a good forum for exploration on The Rubicon or Aggressive Christianity Issue over at ArmyBarmy. In my opinion, senior leadership is too far removed for objectivity on this important issue. This is where the “grass roots” must weigh in.
5. The General’s Keynote, Bible Studies, Sunday Holiness and Praise Meetings.
There you have it. ‘All Things are Possible, Only Believe!’
JN
Thumbing through its contents, I find on the agenda, topics that have been discussed vigorously, sometimes heatedly, in Salvo cyberspace. I list them here because, how leadership responds to these issues will critically impact TSA’s future, one way or another. It occurred to me that perhaps others of you might want to join prayerfully with us. I list the topics generally:
1. Social Justice, Human Trafficking and Human Rights. I’m not sure if this is in their thinking, but I would add Human Rights within the ranks as well as without.
2. New Openings, ‘Come, Join Our Army’ (USA), ‘Our Territorial Centenary Vision’ (Korea), ‘Our Present Size,’ Cadet Statistics,’ Global Faith Goals.
3. ‘Winning Children for Christ.’ Perhaps more critical than any other topic on the agenda because of its future ramifications. You may know that this is a passion of mine for that very reason. We attempted to share this vision with the Army world during our tenure in the USA Eastern Territory, with minimal success I might add (wasn’t in the chair long enough to bring it to full fruition). It has, however, caught on big time in the Philippines, and the Nazarenes are off and running with it here and in South America. May The General’s vision for winning children catch hold during this conference! Check the post below.
4. Identifying and Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders: ‘Essential Measures’ by William Booth, Preparing Officers for Senior Roles. This would be a good forum for exploration on The Rubicon or Aggressive Christianity Issue over at ArmyBarmy. In my opinion, senior leadership is too far removed for objectivity on this important issue. This is where the “grass roots” must weigh in.
5. The General’s Keynote, Bible Studies, Sunday Holiness and Praise Meetings.
There you have it. ‘All Things are Possible, Only Believe!’
JN
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Sure-Fire!
We were at the Pasadena Tab this past Sunday for Doris’ occasional band and songster fix when the neatest thing happened. They had a Jr. Soldier Enrollment with Jacob Becerra being one of the enrollees. As the ceremony was unfolding, I happened to glance down at the Prayer form noting two of the several requests listed:
“Jacob Becerra: ‘Please Lord, let my dad change his mind and want to come to church.’”
“Jonathan Becerra: Requests prayer ‘that my dad comes to church this week.’”
I leaned over to Doris, pointing these requests out, and said, “I wonder if their dad is here today for the enrollment?” Following the ceremony, Jacob came down the aisle in our direction, proudly holding his framed pledge and new Bible. He passed me with a big smile on his face, whereupon the man sitting directly behind me received him with a big hug. It was his dad.
Doris received her fix and so did I, big time, leaving that sanctuary higher than a kite! After fifty years of ministry, just as exciting and uplifting as it was the very first time I witnessed a Junior Soldier enrolled with a parent(s) unexpectedly in attendance… with many of those eventually experiencing their own enrollment ceremony.
Looking for a sure-fire Church Growth recipe? Here it is!
JN
“Jacob Becerra: ‘Please Lord, let my dad change his mind and want to come to church.’”
“Jonathan Becerra: Requests prayer ‘that my dad comes to church this week.’”
I leaned over to Doris, pointing these requests out, and said, “I wonder if their dad is here today for the enrollment?” Following the ceremony, Jacob came down the aisle in our direction, proudly holding his framed pledge and new Bible. He passed me with a big smile on his face, whereupon the man sitting directly behind me received him with a big hug. It was his dad.
Doris received her fix and so did I, big time, leaving that sanctuary higher than a kite! After fifty years of ministry, just as exciting and uplifting as it was the very first time I witnessed a Junior Soldier enrolled with a parent(s) unexpectedly in attendance… with many of those eventually experiencing their own enrollment ceremony.
Looking for a sure-fire Church Growth recipe? Here it is!
JN
Friday, June 05, 2009
Fifth Column!
In a post several years ago, Gordon Cotterill puts his spin on an intriguing phenomenon referred to as “Fifth Column,” and applies it to TSA today. He writes in part:
“I wonder about TSA and its fifth column; occupying their place on the margins they may look different; they may not be officers; they may not wear uniform; they may not even be soldiers. They seem to occupy a place of chaos where creativity can emerge. For those willing to look and support, the Fifth Column offers a critical sense of creativity and in that creativity a critical sense of survival.”
This emerging subculture is so critical and so important, I decided to expand upon his thoughts with my own spin over at The Rubicon. Check it out.
JN
“I wonder about TSA and its fifth column; occupying their place on the margins they may look different; they may not be officers; they may not wear uniform; they may not even be soldiers. They seem to occupy a place of chaos where creativity can emerge. For those willing to look and support, the Fifth Column offers a critical sense of creativity and in that creativity a critical sense of survival.”
This emerging subculture is so critical and so important, I decided to expand upon his thoughts with my own spin over at The Rubicon. Check it out.
JN
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)