Tag Archives: coaching

Pastor Wrinkles: Socks With Sandals

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles

I admit I am a bit of a rebel…at least when it comes to foot wear. I find myself bucking the conventions of podiatric propriety all the time. I wear socks with sandals on a regular basis 100_2902

 and I almost always wear white socks with my black suit and dress shoes.

Pastors by definition live in a fish bowl. Our lives are open for all to see and criticize down to the finest detail (even our footwear believe it or not). Right or wrong, it’s a part of the vocation we all learn to live with and pattern our lives around.  I suppose how I choose to dress my feet is my little way of sticking it to the man. 🙂

All kidding aside though, we all “wear socks with sandals” in certain areas of our lives.  There are  things each of us have decided we are just going to be stubborn about. Sometimes our stubborn streaks are given to nothing more serious than wearing socks with sandals or whether or not we will eat broccoli. Yet there are also times when we pitch the battle flag on more serious hills and determine that no matter what people say, come hell or high water, we aren’t giving ground.

When our nonnegotiables are based around biblical holiness we should keep them no matter what people say; But there are times when our nonnegotiables  flaunt Scripture and God’s purposes. We know it. We recognize it. Our best friends and even our pastors are warning us off and yet we still insist on “socks with sandals” even after God has told us to get with His fashion trend.

My question to you today is:

What area of your life is a “socks with sandals” area?

Is your stubbornness healthy or self-destructive?

If it is self-destructive what are you going to do about it?

Pastor Wrinkles: The Lenten Journey Pt. 21

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles

Tomorrow is our church staff’s first group coaching session. For the last two weeks we have been filling out  surveys regarding learning styles and personal approaches to team building. I have to tell you I am excited about this opportunity that has been  provided for us. My excitement indicates a big change in mental attitude. Two years ago I would approach trainings like this with great fear and judgment. Now I find them synergistic.

This morning our coach sent us three questions to consider as we prepare for the session tomorrow:

1. What areas should we develop? Maybe this question would be  better asked…
“What area(s) should be developed first? There is so much to work on as we prepare for the move of God that is coming and is even now upon us. But what can we work on together as a staff?
I am learning that while God is constantly moving in a thousand ways about me I can only join Him in a few of those movements at a time. So what does God want us to focus on now?
If the rest of the staff is like me they have created a huge list of “vision” things for the year. Yet I know that we are not called to be overwhelmed. While God has given us a vision that stretches perhaps far into the future we only have to concern ourselves with the step we are on now.  So how can we know what is supposed to be first on our list? By asking question 2.
What area if  focused on would make the biggest difference for us?
I think for us this has to be discipleship, leadership training and activation. We need both to raise up new leaders and to put them into action while at the same time continuing to change the paradigm of the congregation to a lay- led model; But those are just my thoughts. I am interested to see how all our ideas work together tomorrow to come out with a direction for the next quarter.
What is holding us back from being the best that we can be?
As a staff I think the only thing that holds us back is intentional unity behind a purpose. I am holding out great hope that tomorrow’s session will show me how some of the things God shared with me at the beginning of the year fit into the big picture of what God is doing in the church.
So how about you in your personal life, family life, corporate life, church life…
What areas should  you develop?
What area focused on would make the biggest difference for you?
What is holding you back from being the best that you can be?