gdp's Comments

artiedavis.com : #4 Navy Seal lesson - "Seek Excellence, not Fame!"

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:43:50 +0000

Along a "parallel but inverse" line of thought: "Work and live so that your activities will not DETRACT from God's glory!" A Marine might phrase it: Don't dishonor the Corps! Check six!

artiedavis.com : #3 Navy Seal lesson- "Leave no Man Behind!"

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:29:03 +0000

To summarize: TAKE CARE OF YOUR TROOPS!!! (And they will take care of you!) Great series, Artie!

artiedavis.com : U can give her this...or U can give her that!

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:17:14 +0000

If you look closely you can see the fusion of humans in costume and real hamster heads, etc. This is one reason that video might not be perfect evidence in court in the future!

artiedavis.com : U can give her this...or U can give her that!

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:16:07 +0000

It surely beats the old "HAMSTER DANCE" song!

artiedavis.com : #1-Navy Seal lesson - "Take Decisive Action!"

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:01:07 +0000

Taking decisive action requires that you also take responsibility for the decision. That produces risk, and our culture, and the Church, is astoundingly risk-averse. But, if I gotta go into a hot area, I want SEALS around me! Check six! Buddy

artiedavis.com : You better know what the "Z" looks like!

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 23:08:32 +0000

The first step in producing ANYTHING (an airplane, computer, evangelist, teacher, etc.) is to determine the item's desired characteristics and then identify the materials and processes needed to yield the desired result. Secular industry has known this for decades. Sometimes, IMHO, the Church can learn from the World, as well.

artiedavis.com : A leaders Future. How bright is yours?

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 20:52:02 +0000

Great post, m'lady! Once God tells you where to lead you have to also keep your eyes on that assignment until GOD gives you a new one. Satan will use circumstances, unbelievers, and even close believing friends to divert you from God's mission objective! Again, GREAT article!

artiedavis.com : Friday Random Q's

Fri, 9 Jul 2010 16:55:40 +0000

Scary. I have had a list very similar. #1: I have the SAME question. Maybe it's because they don't hit and tackle!?!?! <grin> On MOVIES: I've often wondered why someone hasn't started a "NOSTALGIA THEATER" that shows older, better movies like: PATTON, MALTESE FALCON, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS (really not as good on a small screen), etc. Instead of the standard style of theater, they could design the "experience" to compete with the desire to just "rent the Maltese Falcon and stay home". Maybe an "OSCAR CINEMA?" If they had on-site child care/cinema they might make a fortune! <grin> Enjoy the weekend!

artiedavis.com : 5-Final signs your church might SUCK!

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 14:36:50 +0000

1a. The inability to delegate rises out of more than one thing: - Fear, since you are not 100% in controls (NEWS FLASH: You never are!) - Arrogance, since you think that YOUR WAY/IDEA is the only RIGHT WAY/IDEA. - Inability to train your staff. If you have a staff member you can't delegate to, either train/educate him or replace him. "Don't tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results." General George S. Patton. 2.a The old joke about insanity being the expectation of different results from doing the same thing over and over again applies, but I think a bigger root is PRIDE. You keep head-butting the wall because you just can believe that you might be wrong, incomplete, untrained, etc. Get over it and move out! 3. a "He who does not risk, cannot win" Admiral John Paul Jones, Father of the U.S. Navy (Had to memorize that at the Academy...) "Never forget that no military leader has ever become great without audacity.” Von Clausewitz 4a. Again, Satan uses pride and fear to prevent us from consulting with others and learning from their experiences, pro and con. We fear that someone is after our pulpit. We fear someone will remember our failure or problems and not hire us at some future date. HOGWASH. God called us. God is the one we must please. He didn't put us here to stand alone, but to stand together. Eccl 4:9-10 and Prov 15:22 are germane. 5a. Delegation (#1) can allow you to focus on 2-3 things, but only if there is training of the "delegatees" and if the 2-3 additional things are coordinated and synergistic with the first thing. These are often "step goals/tasks" that support the overall mission objective. Think combined arms warfare. Infantry, Armor, Artillery, and air support (naval and air scouts <grin>) each focus on different objectives that support the over all battle plan. Each is FOCUSSED. The role of the leader (aka PASTOR) is to keep their focus on those things that support the operational objective that is being sought. Good series, Artie. I know you'll be glad when I'm back in battery and don't have so much time on my hands! <grin> Buddy

artiedavis.com : 5-More signs your church might Suck!

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 14:13:21 +0000

JOE: I agree. For instance, buying bottom-end computers forces you to upgrade more often, and may cause workers to spend time on the PC they need to spend elsewhere. Industry uses the concepts of TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP and CYCLE-TIME. - If something costs more initially but less to operate/maintain in the long term, it's better. - If something (copier?) costs more but it's features and reliability free up staff time (that should be valued at $X/hour) then it is a good bargain. The "FREE LABOR" of volunteers can then be freed up from copying and folding and better used advancing the progress of the Kingdom in other ways. I think it is worthwhile for those in ministry to spend time looking at how industry ensures quality and profits. If it helps industry be more efficient, EFFECTIVE, and COMPETITIVE, then it is probably applicable to the Church, too! (I used to be a QA/Reliability Engineer and Six Sigma dude. <grin>) Buddy

artiedavis.com : 5-More signs your church might Suck!

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 14:08:05 +0000

Another way of saving stuff is to get a utility like PDF CREATOR (Staples, $50) and then PRINT PDFs of whatever you want to save and store them on your drive (and include in your back-ups). This is a great methodology for doing online research, too! FIND IT - PDF IT - MOVE ON...

artiedavis.com : 5-Signs your church might SUCK!

Tue, 6 Jul 2010 16:54:10 +0000

A few additions: 2a. You aren't engaging (properly or at all) the customers that are coming in door. Are your leaders (lay and staff) trained in how to engage visitors and "infrequent" members? Do we try to "sell them" something right off, or do we take time and effort to seek out the Customer's needs? 5a. You work to take care of "important" or "new" customers and ignore/minimize the rest. Your emphasis on certain groups of members leaves others out. Jesus accepted all who genuinely came to him. Review James! Just a few thoughts. YMMV.

artiedavis.com : Leadership Lesson-9: Delegate your Weakness!

Wed, 9 Jun 2010 15:51:39 +0000

Great lesson. Too often "leaders" hire folks just like themselves. One of the hardest parts is being honest about yourself and identifying your weaknesses. It's also a good exercise to list ALL the talents/skills/attitudes you want in your team (after much prayer, of course). Then, identify what you are EXCELLENT AT. Then, hire to fill the gaps. Thinking "football" is also good. You may be a great quarterback, but you still need the non-QB skills that the other 10 guys bring to the game. Great post, Artie! I hope you've recovered from the wedding! Buddy

artiedavis.com : Leadership Lesson-10. Spend $ on your STAFF!

Mon, 7 Jun 2010 22:20:11 +0000

Well said! In the Navy we said: "Train like you'll fight so you can fight like you train." If you don't train, you lose. CHURCHES need to understand this and not just say: "Oh...the Spirit will guide us." Buddy

artiedavis.com : Don't say, "In the name of Jesus."

Wed, 2 Jun 2010 02:05:49 +0000

Great post! I had not thought of the "ambassadorial" aspect of praying in His name. It could, and should IMHO, cause us to think more about what we are to pray about BEFORE we pray. It would therefore drive a closer walk with Him.

LeadingSmart : Ribbons, Magnets and Colored Bras

Tue, 11 May 2010 22:56:27 +0000

I've wondered about all the "stuff" you buy to "contribute". A "portion" goes to the cause. Someone is still, IMHO, profiting from it. Instead of "contributing and getting something tangible back" (like a hat or T-shirt), I think you should just take the entire price of the item, with Tax, and write a check directly to the cause for the full amount. Now, THAT might make a larger difference. Give without expectation of receiving ANYTHING: Not a pink hat, yellow band, NOTHING. Each year our Church gives a Mother's Day gift, usually a book, to all the Moms. While that is great, this year they took the money that would cost and they are going to treat kids from the local children's home to a trip to SEA WORLD. That is GREAT! Just my $0.02US. <grin>

LeadingSmart : If You Don't Protect Your Kids in the Digital World--Who Will?

Mon, 8 Mar 2010 02:02:22 +0000

For those interested in OpenDNS you might want to read my blog review here: http://blog.knightsquest.org/index.php/2010/02/op... It's great for filtering NON-PC items like Wii, PS3, iPod Touch, etc.

LeadingSmart : If You Don't Protect Your Kids in the Digital World--Who Will?

Fri, 5 Mar 2010 23:13:43 +0000

Tim: Great post. Parents are often 'WAY behind their kids in knowing what is available via modern technology. One thing that many parents are unaware of is that there are many other devices besides the PC that can access porn and other inappropriate material. When we tested the Nintendo Wii, it took <20minutes from opening the box to being able to stream inappropriate content! Same for PSP and other devices. Keep preaching it, brother! The Enemy is causing too many casualties! Yours in Christ, Buddy