Wisconsin District Leader's Page

Ministry Leader's Update 3-4-08

2008-03-04T10:13:00.000-08:00

“HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WISCONSIN TEAM CHURCHES”

Baker Street - In November a team of eight people traveled to Guatemala and participated with “Impacto” for VBS, Happy Feet, and five Luis Martinez Crusades. The Christmas season was a fruitful time of outreach; 22 visitors attended the children’s Christmas program and 37 visitors attended the Christmas services. In December we held funeral services for a 19-year-old Marine who was killed in action in Iraq. He had been raised in our church.

Beulah – Praise for the healthy birth of a new baby from a high risk mother, whom our church had been praying for. We had an open house at the parsonage for a Christmas gathering of the church, and we went Christmas caroling to the shut-ins.

Hales Corners - A new worship team has been created. A Young Adults Group has formed. Held a “Soup Bowl Sunday” where various soups were brought in like a chili cook-off on Super Bowl Sunday.

Hancock – Wonderful Christmas (Advent) season, Youth attending “Set Apart” Convention in Orlando and Youth band opening for Stellar Kart Concert.

Hayward - We've had several tragedies in our church over the past couple of months -- but God has proven faithful, and we have seen people come to Christ as a direct result. Christmas events were beautiful, and reached a lot of people. We helped a bunch of needy children have Christmas this year.

High Point - A praise report would be that we still have visitors coming in and we are starting to have families with children starting to visit more frequently.

Hillsboro - We thank the Lord for increased ministry through our Community Christmas dinner, this year serving 450 meals. We also thank the Lord for ministries provided through our Christmas program and cantata ministries.

Iglesia - We are working in the opening of the second Hispanic church. We are excited and enthusiastic for this opportunity to reach more people for the Kingdom of God.

Janesville – We ushered in the New Year with a game night topped with a communion service over the midnight hour. A great way to conclude one year and start another!

Jubilee - We started remodeling our sanctuary and foyer by framing, insulating and putting up drywall. The first Sunday of 2008 was our first Sunday as Jubilee Wesleyan—A Community Church. We’re looking at logo options and marketing options to get the name out. We just hosted a free Valentine’s Dinner for our community and had 29 people with no affiliation to us show up.

Lakeshore – We’ve had some positive personnel changes (the right people moving into the right roles) and have found a new worship leader with plenty of experience and a heart that matches our mission!

Our Savior’s - New Year’s Baptism and Communion – great challenge and worship experience.

Red Cedar- We have entered a season of real fruitfulness. It is exciting to see ministry leaders excited about what God is doing in the ministries they are leading. It is an exciting time to be a part of RCCC.

Safe Harbor- We are now averaging over 50 for the year. We have 8 kids who were saved through our children’s ministries.

Sand Lake - The church continues to adjust to the pastoral transition. The LBA is giving excellent leadership in the transition and the Sand Lake “Family” is looking ahead to all that God has for them. Had 335 for Christmas Eve Service with “Candles and Carols” program.

Spooner- Marriage Enrichment Seminar with Dr. Lo.

Stone Lake – We averaged 27.9 in Kids Klub this quarter. One man got back to God. We have some new people coming…we needed them because of sickness and so many go south for the winter.

Transformation City - We had to fight to meet in the Rosebud and we ultimately won – we are getting back in soon – that was a great highlight of this quarter.

Wesleyan Bible - Well attended Christmas Dinner and program; Ladies Christmas Party; Awana store and Christmas gift wrapping; Operations Christmas Child and Collection for local food pantry; 15 children raised their hands to ask Jesus into their lives at a recent session.

West Allis - NOV.-Milwaukee Rescue Mission’s Men’s Choir sang and shared testimonies, Cousin sub Youth Fundraiser for “Set Apart” conference, Thanksgiving Communion Service DEC.- we had a float in the West Allis Christmas Parade, Live Nativity, Christmas Musical, Candlelight Christmas Eve Service, sent 10 to the Set Apart Youth convention in Florida JAN.- started a new Children’s Church program which runs through the whole service.

Westbrooke - November – Harvest Dinner and fellowship with our Hispanic churches. December – Christmas play Nebuchadnezzar Scraggs by our children & youth; Christmas Eve service. January – shoveling snow!

Leader's Page 2-27-08

2008-02-27T06:55:00.000-08:00

“Absence of Affirmation”

From Hans Finzel’s book “Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make”, #3 is “The Absence of Affirmation”

The pink Energizer Bunny keeps showing up and going, and going, and going, and …. Unlike the bunny, people aren’t like that. The emotional batteries need to be charged often.

Affirmation is a huge emotional battery recharger. The thing about affirmation or compliments is that they dissolve. Phyllis Theroux said, “One of the commodities in life that most people can’t get enough of is compliments. The ego is never so intact that one can’t find a hole in which to plug a little praise. But, compliments by their very nature are highly biodegradable and tend to dissolve hours or days after we receive them – which is why we can always use another.”

The whole business of affirming those we live with and work with is simple like NIKE: JUST DO IT.

Recharging other’s emotional batteries is an important responsibility of a leader. So, how do we affirm and encourage others?

Listening. Just because we are leaders does not mean we are the prime talkers.

Empathizing. When others are happy, we affirm by stopping to share their joy. If there is deep tragedy, we affirm by stopping everything and sharing their pain.

Comforting. We affirm their value as a person when we take time to comfort them.

Encouraging. Let people know often that they are doing a good job. Look for the good and point it out. A good compliment is specific and sincere. The more specific and sincere it is, the greater its impact on the person receiving it.

Let me encourage you to be leaders in affirmation!

Dan Bickel
Wisconsin District Superintendent

Leader's Update 2-15-08

2008-02-15T11:19:00.001-08:00

“Dirty Delegation”
From Hans Finzel’s book, “Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make”, mistake #6 is “Dirty Delegation.”

Dirty delegation, by Hans Finzel’s definition, is refusing to relax and let go. He points out that as leaders:
 Over managing is one of the great cardinal sins of poor leadership
 Nothing frustrates those who work for us more than sloppy delegation with too many strings attached
 Delegation should match each worker’s follow-through ability

So, why do leaders fail to delegate?
 Fear of losing authority
 Fear of work being done poorly
 Fear of work being done better
 Unwillingness to take the necessary time
 Fear of depending on others
 Lack of training and positive experience

D.L. Moody wrote, “I’d rather get ten men to do the job than to do the job of ten men.”

Theodore Roosevelt wrote, “The best executive is the one who has the sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.”

Here are key ingredients for managing “Clean Delegation”:
 Faith in the one to whom you delegate. It is an issue of trusting in and respecting the person the job is given to.
 Release from the desire to do it better yourself.
 Relaxation from the obsession that it has to be done your way.
 Patience in the desire to do it faster yourself.
 Vision to develop others with your delegation freedom.

Why delegate?

Ephesians 4: 11-13 demands it. “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

If the church is to reach its fullest potential we as leaders must learn to train and empower others to help us fulfill the great commission Jesus gave us.

Dan Bickel
Wisconsin Distri

MInistry Leader's Update 2/6/08

2008-02-15T06:44:00.000-08:00

“Top Ten”

About 15 years ago Hans Finzel wrote a book “The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make”. Number 10 is “Failure to Focus on the Future”. Here are some of his observations:

 The future is rushing at us at breakneck speed
 A leader’s concentration must not be on the past nor the present, but on the future
 Vision is an effective leader’s chief preoccupation
 Organizations are reinvented with new generations of dreamers

Here’s an interesting letter from future President Martin Van Buren to President Andrew Jackson in 1829,

The canal system of this country is being threatened by the spread of a new form of transportation known as ‘railroads’.

The federal government must preserve the canal for the following reasons:

 If canal boats are supplanted by railroads, serious unemployment will result. Captains, cooks, drivers, hostlers, repairmen and lock tenders will be left without means of livelihood, not to mention the numerous farmers now employed in growing hay for horses.
 Boat builders would suffer and towline, whip and harness makers would be left destitute.
 Canal boats are absolutely essential to the defense of the US. In the event of unexpected trouble with England, the Erie Canal would be the only means by which we could ever move supplies so vital to waging modern war.
__________________________________________________________________________

How many of our churches and how many of us are too easily pulled into this kind of thinking? Our churches are so easily tempted to be more concerned about preserving the past than envisioning how we can move into the future. The leader’s job IS the future.

“A leader is one who sees more than others see, who sees farther than others see, and who sees before others do.” --- Leroy Eims

“Stay one step ahead of your people and you are called a leader. Stay ten steps ahead of your people and you are called a martyr.”

“My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there.” ---Charles F. Kettering

Ministry Leaders Update 1-9-08

2008-01-10T07:31:00.000-08:00

Get Real!

A new LDJ group that formed this fall was a north central staff that includes people from Red Cedar, Eau Claire and Sand Lake. The group landed on a book by Craig Groeschel entitled “Confessions of a Pastor”, and have started working through it. I heard about the book from Bob Streeter, pastor at Mt. Pisgah, who was impacted by its content. Groeschel subtitles his book “Adventures in dropping the pose and getting real with God”.

He makes some pretty real confessions like:
• I can’t stand a lot of Christians
• Most of the time I feel incredibly lonely
• I hate prayer meetings
• I feel completely inadequate
• I stink at handling criticism
• I’m afraid of failure

In the first chapter, after going through a whole bunch of reasons why he couldn’t stand a lot of Christians, he landed on some of the things he loves about Christians.

• He loves his weekly small-group Bible study. Why? Because they’re imperfect but they’re real. They have genuine relationship. They really know each other, but really love each other, too.
• He loves it when Christ followers sacrifice – when they give up something they love for something they love even more. That includes their time and money. They give to send kids to camp, train pastors in other countries, help needy people at Christmas and rebuild homes for hurricane victims.
• He loves it when God’s people pray – really pray, and believe in it, too.
• He loves it when people “get it”. When they start to really understand God’s grace. When imperfect people run up against a perfect God…and God wins.
• He loves it when people have the attitude of jumping in to use their spiritual gifts and are determined to make a difference in the lives of others out of response to the grace and love they’ve received.

Groeschel shares this great story we would all love to experience in ministry leadership:

A guy waited patiently in line to greet his pastor one Sunday after the sermon. “Pastor,” this eager, sincere Christ follower said, “I have only one thing to tell you. My answer is yes. Now, what’s the question?”

The pastor looked at him, confused, and smiling awkwardly, fell back upon the pastor’s safety net: “God bless you.” The pastor politely brushed the man off and turned to greet the next parishioner.

The next week, the same guy waited in line and repeated the same words. “Pastor, my answer is yes. Now what’s the question?”

The pastor pondered this enigma. Wanting to get to the bottom of it, he invited the young man to lunch. Over a midweek meal, the young man once again blurted out the intriguing mantra: “Pastor, my answer is yes. Now what’s the question?” Finally overcome with curiosity, the pastor asked, “Can you please tell me what you mean by that?”

The young man smiled and, with passion, began, “Pastor, I was hooked on everything bad, about to lose my family, sliding down an slippery slope toward certain destruction. Then Jesus intervened.” Tears welled up in his eyes. “Because of what Jesus did for me, my answer to you is yes. You are my pastor, and I’ll do whatever you need.

“If you want me to rock babies, I’ll rock babies. If you want me to usher, I’ll usher. If you want me to mow the churchyard, I’ll be there at 6 AM every Saturday. My answer to you will always be yes. Now, what’s the question?”

May you, all of your parishioners, and those who serve with you have that kind of understanding of grace, gratitude and passion to serve.

Dan Bickel
Wisconsin District Superintendent

Ministry Leaders Update 12-21-07

2007-12-21T10:42:00.000-08:00

Leader’s Page: Blind Spots (Notes from John Maxwell) - Part 3

One last Blind Spot – A Lack of Character

Character is what God can always see, but may be hidden by us and, for a time, hidden to others.
Character protects our talent. “Character doesn’t make us a leader. Character protects us as a leader”

Many people with talent make it into the limelight, but the ones who have neglected to develop strong character rarely stay there long. The absence of strong character eventually topples talent. Why? Because people cannot climb beyond the limitations of their character.
• Talented people may feel superior and expect special privileges. Character helps them to know better.
• Talented people are praised for what others see them build. Character builds what’s inside them.
• Talented people have the potential to be difference makers. Character makes a difference for them.
• Talented people are often a gift to the world. Character protects that gift.

A story of Mahatma Gandhi:

In his book American Scandal, Pat Williams tells about Gandhi’s trip to England to speak to Parliament. The British government had opposed Indian independence and Gandhi, one of its most vocal proponents, had often been threatened, arrested, and jailed as a result. Gandhi spoke eloquently and passionately for nearly two hours, then received a standing ovation. After the speech, a reporter asked Gandhi’s assistant how the Indian leader had been able to deliver such a speech without any notes.

“You don’t understand Gandhi,” Desai responded. “You see, what he thinks is what he feels. What he feels is what he says. What he says is what he does. What Gandhi feels, what he thinks, what he says, and what he does are all the same. He does not need notes.”

Character is the sum total of all our everyday choices.

How do we remove the blind spot?

1. Assume That You Have a Blind Spot. If you don’t assume that you have a blind spot, that is your blind spot!
2. Ask Those Who Know You Best to Identify Your Blind Spot. If you’re married, your spouse probably has a pretty good clue!
3. Openly Discuss Your Blind Spots with Your Inner Circle. Give permission to others who care about you and whom you trust to speak truthfully into your life.
4. Assume Your Blind Spots Cannot Be Removed By You. By definition, a blind spot is: “An area in the lives of people in which they continually do not see themselves or their situation realistically”.
5. Develop, Empower and Value the People Who Point Out and Help Cover Your “Blind Spots”.

May we all see more clearly as we move into the New Year!

Dan Bickel
Wisconsin District Superintendent

Weekly Leader's Update 12-11-2007

2007-12-11T11:18:00.000-08:00

Blind Spots (Notes from John Maxwell) – Part 2

Two more “Blind Spots” that can trip us up:

One “Blind Spot” are the subtle ways we can Devalue People.

• Leaders who value their people give them their best effort
o Leaders who devalue their people give them their least effort
• Leaders who value their people serve their people
o Leaders who devalue their people want to be served by their people
• Leaders who value their people empower them
o Leaders who devalue their people control them
• Leaders who value their people motivate them
o Leaders who devalue their people manipulate them.

Another “Blind Spot” is our EGO.

Kirk Hanson, university professor and executive director of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University, says that the Achilles’ heel of leaders can be found when they:

• Believe they know it all
• Believe they are in charge
• Believe the rules don’t apply to them
• Believe they can never fail
• Believe they did it all by themselves
• Believe they are better than the “little people” in the organization
• Believe they ARE the organization

“Pride is concerned about Who’s right. Humility is concerned about What’s right.” Ezra Taft Benton

In a leader, pride is costly and destructive. Here is what pride potentially does:

• Instead of taking responsibility, we blame others.
• Instead of being objective, we live in denial.
• Instead of being open-minded and receptive, we are closed-minded or defensive.
• Instead of flexibility we are rigid.
• Instead of team spirit, we end up with low morale.
• Instead of loyalty, we experience a high turnover rate among volunteers or paid staff.
• Instead of being connected, we find ourselves out of touch with the people we’re trying to reach. (Pride causes us to think it ‘s all about us when really it’s all about them.)

Got any beams that need to be inspected?

---Dan Bickel, Wisconsin District Superintendent

Weekly Leader's Update 11-27-2007

2007-11-27T10:37:00.000-08:00

Blind Spots – Part 1

One of the most insightful teachings John Maxwell has done, in my opinion, is the one on the “blind spot”. The truth and reality has hit home to me in several areas. Here are some thoughts from his teaching. I hope you will be able to SPOT anything that needs to be seen J.

Here’s the definition of a Blind Spot: “An area in the lives of people in which they continually do not see themselves or their situation realistically.” Here are three initial observations about blind spots John makes:

1. Most people have blind spots. Who we are determines how we see others. The first person we must always examine is ourselves. In Mt. 7:1-3, The Message, Jesus said, “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults – unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly smear on your own.”

2. Few people see their blind spots. We see ourselves by our intention; we see others by their action. We see ourselves within context; we see others without context.

3. Many people can be hurt by a leader’s blind spots. Just like with everything else, undetected blind spots are exaggerated in the life of a leader.

The first two Blind Spots

1. Ability to see only one Perspective Larry Stephens wrote, “If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.”

a. The legend of the elephant and six blind men. Six blind men were led to an elephant to examine. The first man touched the side and said, “This is very much like a wall.” The second man touched the elephant’s tusk and said, “It’s very much like a spear.” The third man took the elephant’s squirming trunk in his hand and commented, “It’s very much like a snake.” The fourth man, embracing one of the legs, remarked, “It’s very much like a tree.” The fifth man, feeling the elephant’s ear, shouted, “Even a blind man can tell that this animal is very much like a fan.” The sixth man grabbed hold of the tail and said, “The elephant is really very much like a rope.” Then the six men went home, each one satisfied that he understood what an elephant looked like. The ability and desire to see multiple perspectives as a leader is important.

b. The big picture perspective. Maxwell writes in his book Winning with People, “The entire population of the world – with one minor exception – is composed of others.” Florence Littauer wrote, ‘Followers are inward focused. They ask the question, “How will this affect me?” Leaders are outward focused. They ask the question, “How will this affect others?”’

2. Insecurity

a. Ways to spot an insecure leader

i. An insecure leader has a hard time giving credit to others. Insecure people need credit. Because of that, it becomes a problem to share it with anyone else. Andrew Carnegie said, “No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit for doing it.”

ii. An insecure leader keeps information from his staff. Communication is a form of empowerment. Release information – convey trust. Conceal information – convey no trust, no confidence.

iii. An insecure leader does not want his staff exposed to other leaders.

iv. An insecure leader is threatened by the growth of others.

v. An insecure leader is often a micro-manager. They have to exercise high control on everyone and everything so they can ultimately take credit for everything.

b. Symptoms of insecure leaders

i. Insecure leaders are not good leaders. Why? You cannot lead people well that you need (as in affirmation and approval). Secure leaders love people but they do not need (require) their approval.

ii. Insecure leaders don’t provide security for those they lead. You can’t give what you don’t have. Secure leaders empower and appreciate others.

iii. Insecure leaders take more from people than they give. Why? Insecure people are on a personal quest for validation and affirmation. Instead of giving validation and affirmation to their followers, they need to receive it from them! Secure leaders contribute to the benefit of others.

iv. Insecure leaders limit their best people. Why? Because they cannot genuinely celebrate victories won by others because they are jealous of them. Secure leaders release their best people and thrive on seeing others succeed, loving to see them reach their God-given potential.

v. Insecure leaders limit their organization. Why? When we limit our best people it naturally follows that we are limiting our organization. Secure leaders allow their organization to soar.

May we all see more clearly this week!

Dan Bickel

Wisconsin District Superintendent

Weekly Leader's Update 11-21-2007

2007-11-21T08:46:00.000-08:00

Teddy’s Leadership Ideals

Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt,
was president of the United States from 1901 to 1909. He is well known for leading the “Rough Riders” in Cuba during the Spanish-American War, for reviving the Panama Canal project, and brokering peace in the Russo-Japanese War, for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

It is not so well known that he faithfully taught Sunday School during his years at Harvard, and attended church regularly throughout his lifetime. Almost everyone knows, however, that he was an effective leader.

The following are nine leadership ideals modeled in the life of Teddy Roosevelt.

1. Watch the Future. As assistant secretary of the navy, Teddy saw the Spanish-American War coming and prepared our nation’s Navy for it.
2. Dream Great Dreams. As president he saw the need for the Panama Canal and, even though others had failed to complete it, he dreamed that it was possible.
3. Push for high standards. While a member of the civil service commission, he created higher ethical standards for hiring and performance.
4. Do the right thing at
whatever the cost.
Roosevelt felt some enacted laws were not proper, but still chose to enforce them even though it put his administration under severe
criticism.
5. Get the facts. While serving as president of New York City’s Police Commission, he often
went out late at night to see for himself what the police were doing.
6. Move quickly with advice. In his early days in the Navy Department, Roosevelt took the advice of a high officer to have the gunboat Annapolis outfitted with three sails (rigs). As soon as the officer walked out of Roosevelt’s office, he moved forward on the project.
7. Take care of your people. A newspaper reporter, Jacob Riis, reported how the poor people on New York’s East Side lived. Roosevelt was moved by Riis’ report and wrote him, “I have read your book and I have come to help.”
8. Organize well. Rooseveltrealized that little could be accomplished without organized effort, and that in any organization it was necessary to sink minor differences and agree upon common goals.
9. Be your own person.
Teddy listened to leaders who
were against him, but in the end always took his own course of action. Which of these leadership ideals are you practicing?

Follow the Signs!

Signs point us in the right direction.

Signs point us in the right direction, warn us of impending danger, and offer helpful information. Here are a few leadership signs that

you should watch for as you lead your church or ministry.

Three Signs You’re Failing
1, You are not adapting to change.
2. You are difficult to work with.
3. You are not creating teams.

Three Signs You’re Making Friendships
1. When people talk to you, you listen.
2. When you need help, you ask for it.
3. When you do things for others, you don’t expect anything in return.

Three Signs You’re Losing Credibility
1. You are left out of meetings.
2. You ask people to talk and they say,” Not now,”
3. You find that people tune you out.

Three Signs You’re a Visionary
1. You are aggressive but don’t take unnecessary chances.
2. When faced with two equal choices, you take the bolder one.
3. You choose a plan and stay with it.

Three Signs You’re Not Decisive
1. You hesitate to take a stand on tough issues.
2. You put off difficult decisions.
3. You keep searching for more information.

Three Signs You’re Vision is Clear.
1. You can write your vision on the back of your business card.
2. You can share your vision during a one minute elevator ride.
3. You can write your vision in twenty-five words or less.

Three Signs You’re a Leader
1. You generate heat, and take the heat.
2. You focus on the big picture, and let others
work out the details.
3. You do the right thing, and let others do things right.

Three Signs You’re Burned Out
1. You have lost your vision.
2. You hate getting up to go to work.
3. You always want to sleep.

Three Signs You’re a Team-Builder
1. You prefer to see others succeed.
2. You like to see other people receive applause.
3. You are not needed anymore.

Three Signs You’re an Authentic Leader
1. You share stories about your successes and
failures.
2. You do what is right, even if it costs you.
3. You staff against your weaknesses.

Many times we drive right by signs without even seeing them. Which of these signs grabbed your attention? What direction are these signs
pointing you in?

---Dan Bickel, Wisconsin District Superintendent

Weekly Leader's Update 11-15-2007

2007-11-15T09:46:00.000-08:00

I’m _____ and Counting!

Life marches on. The impact we make will be determined by: who we are, how we think, what we do and who we do it for as we march. Here are some thoughts from John Maxwell and others.

What is the Right Answer?

You are driving down the road in your car on a wild, stormy night, when you pass a bus stop and you see three people waiting for the bus:

1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.

2. An old friend who once saved your life.

3. The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.

Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing that there could only be one passenger in your small car?

The answer? At the end of the page.

John’s list of ten things to do before 40:

1. Know yourself,

2. Settle your family life,

3. Determine your priorities,

4. Develop your philosophy,

5. Get physically fit,

6. Learn your trade,

7. Pay the price (sacrifice),

8. Develop strong relationships,

9. Prepare for the future, and

10. Find God’s will.

Jackie Robinson said, “A life isn’t significant except for its impact on other lives.” “People will summarize your life in one sentence – Pick it now!” “Though you cannot go back and make a brand new start, my friend. Anyone can start from now, and make a brand new end.”

John’s list of the ten most important lessons he’s learned:

1. The naiveness of youth and its potential. Pearl S. Buck said, “The young do not know enough to be prudent, and therefore they attempt the impossible – and achieve it, generation after generation.”

2. The hot poker principle. Stay close to the people and things that keep you passionate.

3. Stay with my strengths.

4. Appreciate the differences of people.

5. The importance of leadership. (I thought he would probably put that one in there J.)

6. The value of daily disciplines.

7. A true definition of success. Success is knowing my purpose in life, growing to my maximum potential, and sowing seeds that benefit others.

8. To take time for myself.

9. The benefits of adversity.

10. God’s goodness and grace over me.

How do we make an impact on others?

1. Choose today the legacy you want to leave others.

2. Live today the legacy you want to leave. 50 people over the age of 95 were asked one question, “If you could live your life over again, what would you do differently? Three top answers emerged: I would reflect more, I would risk more, and I would do more things that would live on after I am dead.

3. Appreciate today the value of a good legacy. Elton Trueblood wrote, “We have made at least a start in discovering the meaning in human life when we plant shade trees under which we know full well we will never sit.”

The right answer? I would give my car keys to my old friend to drive the sick lady to the hospital. I stay at the bus stop with the one I’ve been dreaming about.

Dan Bickel

Wisconsin District Superintendent

Even Leaders have their days!

2007-11-14T09:44:00.001-08:00

Date: October 30, 2007

Even Leaders have their days!

Reenie and I read this book to our boys when they were young: “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day” by Judith Viorst. Alexander, a grade school boy, describes some of his personal experiences for that day.

-I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there’s gum in my hair and when I got out of bed this morning I tripped on the skateboard and by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink while the water was running.

-At breakfast Nick found a Junior Undercover Agent code ring in his cereal box but in my breakfast cereal box all I found was breakfast cereal.

-At school Mrs. Dickens liked Paul’s picture of the sailboat better than my picture of the invisible castle. At singing time I she said I sang too loud. At counting time I left out sixteen.

-My friend Paul told me Philip was his best friend now and Albert was his second best friends and that I was only his third best friend.

-I went to the dentist after school and I was the only one who had a cavity.

-We went to my dad’s office to pick him up and I was careful, except for my elbow. He said not to fool around with the phone, but I think I called Australia. Dad said not to pick him up anymore.

-There were lima beans for dinner and I hate lima beans. There was kissing on TV and I hate kissing.

-At night my bath water was too hot, the soap got in my eyes and my favorite marble went down the drain.

Here’s a true story from an adult perspective.

The Encyclopedia Britannica’s 1982 Yearbook, under the heading “Strange and Unusual Events.” tells about a man named Brian Heise who had what you might call a “very irritating day”:

Brian Heise had more than his share of luck in July of that year, and most of it was bad. When his apartment in Provo, Utah, became flooded from a broken pipe in the upstairs apartment, the manager told him to go out and rent a water vacuum. That’s when he discovered his car had a flat tire. He changed it, then went inside again to phone a friend for help. The electric shock he got from the phone so startled him that he inadvertently ripped the instrument off the wall. Before he could leave the apartment a second time, a neighbor had to kick down the apartment door because water damage had jammed it tight. While all of this was going on, someone stole Heise’s car, but it was almost out of gas. He found it a few blocks away but had to push it to the gas station, where he filled up the tank. That evening Heise attended a military ceremony at Brigham Young University. He injured himself severely when he somehow sat on his bayonet, which had been tossed onto the front seat of his car. Doctors were able to stitch up the wound, but no one was able to resuscitate four of Heise’s canaries that were crushed to death by falling plaster. After Heise slipped on the wet carpet and badly injured his tailbone, he said he began to wonder if “God wanted me dead, but just kept missing.”

Sometimes even leaders have their days when things just don’t go right. When life throws us a curve, keep swinging.

Keep making lemonade!

Dan Bickel
Wisconsin District Superintendent