You are currently browsing the monthly archive for November, 2007.
Jim Hammil was one of greatest lead singers to ever sing Southern Gospel music and one of the greatest frontmen in the business. I remember once when I was singing with a gospel quartet, we finished a concert and drove to where the Kingsmen were in concert. We didn’t make it there in time, but Jim Hamill saw us walking up to the record table and said, “You guys look like a quartet!” He then said, “Come on back to my bus I want you boys to listen to something.” For the next hour or so we sat on the Kingsmen bus and listened to a brand new CD they had just produced. It was so fresh that the tracks hadn’t even been mixed yet. He said, “My record company says I can’t do this, but I want you guys to listen to this and tell me what you think.” Well, it was a great album. We sat for close to an hour listening to music, laughing, telling jokes, and swapping stories. Jim Hamill was a true class act; a gentleman. Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go pull out some old records.
I read a report where Evel Knievel got saved! I grew watching this guy break his bones on a motorcycle! You can watch his testimony here.
I’ll admit it: I hate confrontation. But I hate disunity in the body of Christ even more. As a pastor, and especially as a school administrator, I’ve had the unpleasant task of confronting people and situations. It’s necessary and comes with the territory in leadership. Whether it’s a student, parent, staff member, church member, or sinner I’ve often used these principles:
* Be Compassionate. Never confront out of anger. Sometimes issues come up that demand immediate confrontation, but sometimes the best thing to do is wait 24 hours; cool down and deal with the issue with love and compassion. Even deal with sinful people compassionately.
* Be Straightforward. Forthright, candid, direct. Don’t beat around the bush–deal directly with the issue.
* Be Specific. Don’t drop hints, but be specific about the issue.
* Be Clear. Constantly ask if they understand what you are saying and the consequences of their actions.
* Be Redemptive. The purpose of church discipline in the New Testament was not to punish the person, but to hopefully bring about a change in their behavior. So it is with confrontation. If all you do is confront the issue but not offer any hope or alternatives the confrontation has failed. The purpose of the confrontation is to be redemptive. Read the Old Testament prophets. They confronted, but they also offered hope.
* Be Prayerful. Bathe your confrontation with prayer. ‘Nuff said!
Confrontation isn’t fun, but neither is sticking your head in the sand and wishing for the problem to go away. It doesn’t work for the ostrich, and it won’t work for leaders.
I’ve been busy the last two days with Parent-Teacher Conferences. The most exhausting two days of the school year! But we have great students and great parents!
Man, it’s been forever since I’ve updated this crazy thing! I’ve just been swamped! I’m leaving tomorrow for 2 days of classes at GBS, but when I get back there is a lot I want to blog about: Youth Challenge & my pastor appreciation trip to Chicago. Just a little foretaste: Yesterday I was in the hotel lobby and I saw Tommy Lasorda in the hotel restaurant eating breakfast! I couldn’t believe it! I heard him talking (he has an unmistakable voice), looked up and there he was! Wow! 20 feet from a baseball legend! Anyway, I’ll post more about that later. Got to go!!
