Ok, my white walls with the pink, blue, and lavendar
swishes are all gone
.
And in their place are olive green walls ...
.
That's got to deserve an award for
the most drastic style change - EVER!
.
Friday, March 24, 2006
New look of bedroom ...
Although not our bedroom,
this is a picture of the new linens we have ordered.
.
Dave has finished the fourth coat of primer
(2 on the old wallpaper and 2 on the new texture)
and is ready to start the paint color ...
Gwen chose "At Home With Nature" (an olive green)
Sometime soon, we'll have our room
And our bed :) back again ~ hurrah!!
March of the Penguins
The March of the Penguins is
An awesome and wonderful documentary.
But I think it's likely that "parents" are the ones
Who will really get it and enjoy it ...
(More so than the kiddos).
.
~~ Here's to incredible love and sacrifice ~~
.
... that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance ...
Monday, March 20, 2006
Leadership
Great weekend! Bedroom construction, lots of kid stuff, date Saturday with Robyn & Darold, church, dinner Sunday with Ken & Colleen and John & Michelle. Life is so good :)
I decided to post on a topic that is near and dear to my heart ~ Leadership ... David Kadalie of Youth for Christ in Africa is a great thinker and applier in the area of Leadership and it has been an honor to support him in his ministry. He gave a presentation in our sunday school class a couple of years ago that noted that there are in excess of 350 definitions of leadership with more emerging every month reflecting that leadership is one of the most studied yet least understood topics in business today. It is also has the broadest and deepest impact to determine the success of a company, an endeavour, or a team. Although perhaps not the best, and certainly not the only definition, here’s a simple one, “Leadership is mobilizing others toward a goal or goals shared by the leader and followers.”
Interestingly, after much research and reading, I’ve concluded that just about every definition of leadership generally contains the following five explicit and/or implicit components ~ which can provide us with a strong framework to evaluate, enhance, and develop leadership skills in ourselves and others:
...1. YOU, THE LEADER
...2. VISION
...3. CHARACTER (based on decisions you make)
...4. SKILLS (based on talents you learn)
...5. FOLLOWERS
I'll post more on each of these five ... one per day for this week ~ so perhaps you'll want to stay tuned :~)
Love, Sherrie
I decided to post on a topic that is near and dear to my heart ~ Leadership ... David Kadalie of Youth for Christ in Africa is a great thinker and applier in the area of Leadership and it has been an honor to support him in his ministry. He gave a presentation in our sunday school class a couple of years ago that noted that there are in excess of 350 definitions of leadership with more emerging every month reflecting that leadership is one of the most studied yet least understood topics in business today. It is also has the broadest and deepest impact to determine the success of a company, an endeavour, or a team. Although perhaps not the best, and certainly not the only definition, here’s a simple one, “Leadership is mobilizing others toward a goal or goals shared by the leader and followers.”
Interestingly, after much research and reading, I’ve concluded that just about every definition of leadership generally contains the following five explicit and/or implicit components ~ which can provide us with a strong framework to evaluate, enhance, and develop leadership skills in ourselves and others:
...1. YOU, THE LEADER
...2. VISION
...3. CHARACTER (based on decisions you make)
...4. SKILLS (based on talents you learn)
...5. FOLLOWERS
I'll post more on each of these five ... one per day for this week ~ so perhaps you'll want to stay tuned :~)
Love, Sherrie
1. YOU, THE LEADER
(Follow-up #1 to the post of Monday, March 20th)
1. YOU, THE LEADER
The Leader is at the core of every definition of leadership. To become a better leader, one must first become a better person through one’s relationship with God, self, others, and the world. The strongest leaders have the ability to understand their strengths and weaknesses and they spend constructive energy on self-enhancement. They recognize and embrace that leaders are born and made and they make a commitment to increasing their effectiveness throughout their lives.
1. YOU, THE LEADER
The Leader is at the core of every definition of leadership. To become a better leader, one must first become a better person through one’s relationship with God, self, others, and the world. The strongest leaders have the ability to understand their strengths and weaknesses and they spend constructive energy on self-enhancement. They recognize and embrace that leaders are born and made and they make a commitment to increasing their effectiveness throughout their lives.
2. VISION
(Follow-up #1 to the post of Monday, March 20th)
.
2. VISION
.
Inherent in leadership is the concept of leading from where we are to some other place… A critical component of leadership is the development of a vision, the path to get there, and the energetic pursuit of actions to be taken. Vision reflects the wisdom necessary to set priorities, the focus to identify what must be accomplished, and the freedom to bypass the non-essentials.
.
2. VISION
.
Inherent in leadership is the concept of leading from where we are to some other place… A critical component of leadership is the development of a vision, the path to get there, and the energetic pursuit of actions to be taken. Vision reflects the wisdom necessary to set priorities, the focus to identify what must be accomplished, and the freedom to bypass the non-essentials.
3. CHARACTER (based on decisions you make)
(Follow-up #1 to the post of Monday, March 20th)
3. CHARACTER (based on decisions you make)
Strong personal and professional characteristics for leadership include such things as ethics and integrity; commitment and discipline; valuing the team’s success and personal success; embracing the importance of favorable presence, poise, and image; honoring and respecting others through kind treatment and follow through; and displaying the wisdom to balance various aspects of projects, operations, and life.
3. CHARACTER (based on decisions you make)
Strong personal and professional characteristics for leadership include such things as ethics and integrity; commitment and discipline; valuing the team’s success and personal success; embracing the importance of favorable presence, poise, and image; honoring and respecting others through kind treatment and follow through; and displaying the wisdom to balance various aspects of projects, operations, and life.
4. SKILLS (based on talents you learn)
(Follow-up #1 to the post of Monday, March 20th)
.
4. SKILLS (based on talents you learn)
.
Regardless of the setting, strong leaders possess expertise in developing and delivering a quality product or service and managing both the big picture and the details. An effective leader’s skill-set will ensure all priorities are addressed (even those that aren’t personal favorites), including quality product and service; consistent and effective communication; investment in relationships; pursuit of change, growth and expansion opportunities; strong mentoring and delegating; and efficient, effective management, administration, and financial operations.
.
4. SKILLS (based on talents you learn)
.
Regardless of the setting, strong leaders possess expertise in developing and delivering a quality product or service and managing both the big picture and the details. An effective leader’s skill-set will ensure all priorities are addressed (even those that aren’t personal favorites), including quality product and service; consistent and effective communication; investment in relationships; pursuit of change, growth and expansion opportunities; strong mentoring and delegating; and efficient, effective management, administration, and financial operations.
5. FOLLOWERS
(Follow-up #1 to the post of Monday, March 20th)
.
5. FOLLOWERS
.
If no one is following, then by definition, there really isn’t anyone leading. Effective leaders greatly value and have the ability to mentor and inspire others to perform and achieve their personal and team "best.” At its core, leadership involves getting things done, not to people or for people, but through people. Absent fear and coercion, successful leadership only occurs with great power, efficiency, and effectiveness of the team. Leaders enhance this through inspiration, motivation, training, and (yes) pruning; all of which reflect a high value for their followers, their team, and success.
.
5. FOLLOWERS
.
If no one is following, then by definition, there really isn’t anyone leading. Effective leaders greatly value and have the ability to mentor and inspire others to perform and achieve their personal and team "best.” At its core, leadership involves getting things done, not to people or for people, but through people. Absent fear and coercion, successful leadership only occurs with great power, efficiency, and effectiveness of the team. Leaders enhance this through inspiration, motivation, training, and (yes) pruning; all of which reflect a high value for their followers, their team, and success.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Strange Sitings
On Wednesday afternoon, Ryan had the third & fourth of four screws removed from his lower jaw (they were inserted in July 2004 when he had very significant facial surgery to correct his bite). The surgeon said that one of the screws was "hard to get out" ~ hmmmm ... as Ryan can attest to this past two days, when the doc says that, it means the patient will experience great swelling and pain.
This pic was taken a few hours before the great swelling set in ~ what a strange bandaid Dr. Lessig chose...
This pic was taken a few hours before the great swelling set in ~ what a strange bandaid Dr. Lessig chose...
Sporting a large cheek, and a little high on Vicodin, Ryan shows us that Haley's ears are even larger!
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Hard to tell the difference between King & Scum, heh?
Now this was a fun and awesome night!
Our cafe team had a great evening of food, fellowship, cards,
birthday cake, college celebrations, and more.
Here are just a few special pictures ~ more to be added very shortly.
We love you Ken :~)
Beautiful Day!
It's a gorgeous crisp beautiful day!
.
Well, except in our bedroom
:-( ....... :~)
.
Dave has torn the furniture apart and taken most of it out (Drew says our room threw up on the rest of rooms upstairs) and is peeling wallpaper and priming the walls. Lupe is coming on Wednesday to texture. Gwen hopefully will have a new bedspread, window coverings, and paint picked out soon.
.
After that, this gorgeous crisp beautiful day will include our newly redecorated bedroom :~)
.
Friday, March 10, 2006
"Post" Busy Season ...
The big financial report and all those tax returns were successfully mailed for March 1 ~ yippee!
I just added a note to my calendar NOT to schedule anything the first two weeks of March 2007 ~ why? Because I've totally overextended myself for the first two weeks of March 2006 and it's been rough :( Well it's been great (at moments) and rough (at moments) and I'm not one who enjoys that kind of rollar-coaster ride!! Since the year-end filing was completed, we've:
Had a really fun dinner party for our youth pastor & his family and the executive director and her family. These families are so neat and special. I choose some really healthy and fun recipes from Creme de Colorado (brie with apricots, pine nut salad, lemoned carrots, and pine nut salad) and also made chile con queso for the big triple later tortilla chip server that Aunt Cris gave to me a dozen years ago that we love so well. It was a great night. Z brought refreshments and Amy brought cake and scotch-a-roos. Fabulous!
The next night we had a dinner party for the great cafe team that cooks on Sunday nights at church. We barbecued brats and chicken and our guests brought side dishes. We played spoons and scum and wore crazy jester hats. We laughed, we didn't cry, we had a great time.
The next day, Dave and I took the lead on the meat preparation and shopping for Grace Cafe ~ preparing 15 pounds of ground beef and 13 pounds of chicken for Taco Bar then meeting with our good buddies for decorations and the other preparations. Deana brought her most awesome homemade salsa, Hanna & Ingrid baked at least 300 cookies, and we had all the other stuff to go along. Waa-laa, dinner for 125. We laughed, we didn't cry, we had a great time.
Did I mention that the morning before these three big nights I had a big implant screw put into my jaw for my back molar replacement and five stitches to go along? No laughing, just crying, and a day filled with my dear friend Deana, an awesome smoothie, and lots of movies.
On the 1st and 8th, we prepared for the youth group lessons at our home ~ we're continuing working on SHAPE and the 1st we did A=Abilities and the 8th we did H=Heart. The A was a lot more work to prepare as I took numerous abilities inventories to see what would work for a good lesson. The H was easier relative to preparation as Hanna led the group in a great discussion for each person to share about their heart and passion ~ and encouraging them that God gave them this unique heartbeat for their happiness and service to others. It was so cool seeing the great diversity of heart our students have! It's so fun loving on them this way.
On the 7th I hosted our neighborhood women's bible study and spent many hours preparing a special lesson on loving our kids for their uniqueness. I used materials from Pastor Warren's Purpose Driven Life and Dr. Boyd's Different Children, Different Needs. In working with Amy on 1 Liquid House, I've come to share her belief that in our community we tend to do worse in loving our kids in the unique way God designed them than do many other people because we've "made it" and we're "successful" and we project our expectations on our kids to be like us and do what we have done. As a result, we are seeing skyrocketing rates of drinking, drugs, sexual activity, and self-mutilation. It was really neat sharing concepts with these other mothers to help them love their kids better. I wish I had understood them earlier in my journey through parenthood!
Amy had a big meeting with the Board of Directors this week so in the past couple of weeks, I've spent many hours working on her business plan for building the multi-million dollar teen center by Park Meadows. Once the Board has seen it and added their enhancments, then Amy can use it to approach mega-donors for funding the project. She's so excited. And the plan is looking very sweet! This morning, I am going to breakfast with Amy and the Chairman of her Board (a pastor from Seattle who is in town) at a neat little place in Castle Rock. Can't wait!
On the work front, there is so much that gets pushed aside during busy season that the catch-up and wrap-up is intense ~ stacks, projects, man! My to-do list is longer than it has ever been.
And it's just the 10th right? So, take all of that, add in family, house, and a little sleep and you know why I posted my March 2007 calendar to schedule nothing :~)
Tonight we are going to the Sound of Music at Rock Canyon High as Ingrid from our youth group is performing, Hanna from our youth group is on the tech team, and my dear friend Karen's daughter Kristina has the lead role (aka Julie Andrews :~) I've held that little girl since the day she was born! Tomorrow's calendar includes swim in the the morning followed by my Board Meeting for China Partner and the play Aida at Highlands Ranch High at which Jamie from our youth group is on the tech team. And I'm in the midst of preparing to teach 130 ladies next Wednesday morning.
Okay, now can someone tell me which way is up?
I just added a note to my calendar NOT to schedule anything the first two weeks of March 2007 ~ why? Because I've totally overextended myself for the first two weeks of March 2006 and it's been rough :( Well it's been great (at moments) and rough (at moments) and I'm not one who enjoys that kind of rollar-coaster ride!! Since the year-end filing was completed, we've:
Had a really fun dinner party for our youth pastor & his family and the executive director and her family. These families are so neat and special. I choose some really healthy and fun recipes from Creme de Colorado (brie with apricots, pine nut salad, lemoned carrots, and pine nut salad) and also made chile con queso for the big triple later tortilla chip server that Aunt Cris gave to me a dozen years ago that we love so well. It was a great night. Z brought refreshments and Amy brought cake and scotch-a-roos. Fabulous!
The next night we had a dinner party for the great cafe team that cooks on Sunday nights at church. We barbecued brats and chicken and our guests brought side dishes. We played spoons and scum and wore crazy jester hats. We laughed, we didn't cry, we had a great time.
The next day, Dave and I took the lead on the meat preparation and shopping for Grace Cafe ~ preparing 15 pounds of ground beef and 13 pounds of chicken for Taco Bar then meeting with our good buddies for decorations and the other preparations. Deana brought her most awesome homemade salsa, Hanna & Ingrid baked at least 300 cookies, and we had all the other stuff to go along. Waa-laa, dinner for 125. We laughed, we didn't cry, we had a great time.
Did I mention that the morning before these three big nights I had a big implant screw put into my jaw for my back molar replacement and five stitches to go along? No laughing, just crying, and a day filled with my dear friend Deana, an awesome smoothie, and lots of movies.
On the 1st and 8th, we prepared for the youth group lessons at our home ~ we're continuing working on SHAPE and the 1st we did A=Abilities and the 8th we did H=Heart. The A was a lot more work to prepare as I took numerous abilities inventories to see what would work for a good lesson. The H was easier relative to preparation as Hanna led the group in a great discussion for each person to share about their heart and passion ~ and encouraging them that God gave them this unique heartbeat for their happiness and service to others. It was so cool seeing the great diversity of heart our students have! It's so fun loving on them this way.
On the 7th I hosted our neighborhood women's bible study and spent many hours preparing a special lesson on loving our kids for their uniqueness. I used materials from Pastor Warren's Purpose Driven Life and Dr. Boyd's Different Children, Different Needs. In working with Amy on 1 Liquid House, I've come to share her belief that in our community we tend to do worse in loving our kids in the unique way God designed them than do many other people because we've "made it" and we're "successful" and we project our expectations on our kids to be like us and do what we have done. As a result, we are seeing skyrocketing rates of drinking, drugs, sexual activity, and self-mutilation. It was really neat sharing concepts with these other mothers to help them love their kids better. I wish I had understood them earlier in my journey through parenthood!
Amy had a big meeting with the Board of Directors this week so in the past couple of weeks, I've spent many hours working on her business plan for building the multi-million dollar teen center by Park Meadows. Once the Board has seen it and added their enhancments, then Amy can use it to approach mega-donors for funding the project. She's so excited. And the plan is looking very sweet! This morning, I am going to breakfast with Amy and the Chairman of her Board (a pastor from Seattle who is in town) at a neat little place in Castle Rock. Can't wait!
On the work front, there is so much that gets pushed aside during busy season that the catch-up and wrap-up is intense ~ stacks, projects, man! My to-do list is longer than it has ever been.
And it's just the 10th right? So, take all of that, add in family, house, and a little sleep and you know why I posted my March 2007 calendar to schedule nothing :~)
Tonight we are going to the Sound of Music at Rock Canyon High as Ingrid from our youth group is performing, Hanna from our youth group is on the tech team, and my dear friend Karen's daughter Kristina has the lead role (aka Julie Andrews :~) I've held that little girl since the day she was born! Tomorrow's calendar includes swim in the the morning followed by my Board Meeting for China Partner and the play Aida at Highlands Ranch High at which Jamie from our youth group is on the tech team. And I'm in the midst of preparing to teach 130 ladies next Wednesday morning.
Okay, now can someone tell me which way is up?
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Suffering for His Body, the Church
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bible Verses ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Col 1:24 I now rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His Body, which is the church;
1 Pet 3:18 For Christ also has suffered once for sins, the Righteous on behalf of the unrighteous, that He might bring you to God...
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Words of Ministry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Lord Jesus underwent two kinds of suffering: the suffering for redemption and the suffering for producing and building up the Body, the church. None of us can have any share in His suffering for redemption. To say that we can participate in this suffering is to speak blasphemy. He alone is the Redeemer, and the suffering for redemption was fully accomplished by Him.
We are neither qualified nor positioned to share in the Lord's suffering for redemption.
.
A number of verses speak of Christ's sufferings for the accomplishment of redemption. For example, 1 Peter 3:18... Christ, the righteous One, died for the unrighteous ones. He was the only One qualified to bear this kind of affliction. In this suffering we have no share. It was borne by Christ alone.
.
Although we cannot participate in Christ's suffering for redemption, if we are faithful to Him, we must share in His suffering for the producing and building up of His Body. Paul was a pattern for us in this matter. Immediately after his conversion, he began to share in this suffering of Christ, to partake of the afflictions of Christ for the sake of His Body.
.
For the producing of His Body, Christ suffered a great deal. But because this suffering has not been completed by Christ Himself, there is the need for His faithful ones to make up this shortage. Paul did not suffer for redemption, but he did suffer for the producing and building up of the Body of Christ.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry, from Witness Lee, Life- study of Colossians, pp. 97-98. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. (Repeat 1/5/1999)
Col 1:24 I now rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His Body, which is the church;
1 Pet 3:18 For Christ also has suffered once for sins, the Righteous on behalf of the unrighteous, that He might bring you to God...
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Words of Ministry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Lord Jesus underwent two kinds of suffering: the suffering for redemption and the suffering for producing and building up the Body, the church. None of us can have any share in His suffering for redemption. To say that we can participate in this suffering is to speak blasphemy. He alone is the Redeemer, and the suffering for redemption was fully accomplished by Him.
We are neither qualified nor positioned to share in the Lord's suffering for redemption.
.
A number of verses speak of Christ's sufferings for the accomplishment of redemption. For example, 1 Peter 3:18... Christ, the righteous One, died for the unrighteous ones. He was the only One qualified to bear this kind of affliction. In this suffering we have no share. It was borne by Christ alone.
.
Although we cannot participate in Christ's suffering for redemption, if we are faithful to Him, we must share in His suffering for the producing and building up of His Body. Paul was a pattern for us in this matter. Immediately after his conversion, he began to share in this suffering of Christ, to partake of the afflictions of Christ for the sake of His Body.
.
For the producing of His Body, Christ suffered a great deal. But because this suffering has not been completed by Christ Himself, there is the need for His faithful ones to make up this shortage. Paul did not suffer for redemption, but he did suffer for the producing and building up of the Body of Christ.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry, from Witness Lee, Life- study of Colossians, pp. 97-98. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. (Repeat 1/5/1999)
*********************************
Suffering for His Body, the Church... I've not thought of it as "suffering" ~ giving, contributing, working, investing, plodding, stretching, growing ~ yes these words I would use, but not suffering. Nonethelss, in today's devotion from www.emanna.com, I did find my heart encouraged. I find a great deal of joy in ministering in the Body of Christ, and I think that it must be the sweet fellowship with Christ as I join Him in His love and sacrifice for His Creation.
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