Tag Archives: Leadership
The Eric Trap Blog Tour: Day 2
Posted on 10. Apr, 2012 by Kenny.
Now we’re getting somewhere! Today the blog tour jumped to the next level with three different reviews. Trust me, it’s going to get a little nuts these next few weeks. Just wait until the week the book comes out!
Actually last night, Rob Livingston wrote a great post starting off day two. Rob is a bi-vocational kid’s pastor… a school teacher in Sweet Home Alabama. He and I broke bread (or tacos) at Chuy’s here in Austin 8 months ago and I think I made a friend forever by sending him on to eat the best BBQ brisket he’d ever tasted. The funny thing is that Rob didn’t have a blog 10 days ago when he requested a copy of the book… perhaps the Eric Trap prompted a new habit? I hope so! I liked Rob’s review a lot. He described how at one point he got really excited about a decision Eric made thinking, “finally, he got something right!” only to find out that this too was a bad decisions. This illustrates a story we wanted to tell.
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Top books of 2011
Posted on 04. Jan, 2012 by Kenny.
This is a hard choice. I read 16 books in 2011 and all of them were very good. However, if I had to pick my top five, they would be the books listed below. My choice in the top 5 are books that have had the most profound affect on me. These are books that shape how I think and act and I often find myself thinking about the concepts long after I finished reading. So, here they are.
Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard
Switch was actually the first book I read this year and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve passed this book along to someone else, always with the same result. Switch changed the way I think about change.… Read the rest
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2011 Reading List: What book was your favorite?
Posted on 03. Jan, 2012 by Kenny.
Back in 2010, I published my reading list for that year. It was a disaster. I posted 18 books and when it was all said and done, I think I read 3 of them. I wasn’t a total slacker, I did read 8-11 books total, but my list just changed. Many of the books on that list have still gone unread. In 2011, I didn’t publish a reading list. Because I tend to jump into books as people recommend them, I decided not to set a goal of what books to read… but just to read more book. I’ll share my 2011 reading list with you later, but first I’d like to know what your favorite book of 2011 was.… Read the rest
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Two #kidmin lists
Posted on 03. Nov, 2010 by Kenny.
Children’s Ministry Magazine recently released two very interesting Kidmin lists. One list contains the top 20 Kidmin influencers leading the way. The other list contains the top 20 Kidmin influencers to watch.
As I look through the first list, I see nine people I’ve met (I’m counting Karl although I’ve never met him in person, we’ve certainly met electronically). Another three I’ve heard of and the rest I didn’t know anything about. Funny since I have been in Kidmin for nearly 15 years. On the other hand though, several from this list have profoundly influenced me as a leader and pastor. One of them I consider a good friend.
The second list is entirely different. Of the 20 I’ve met 14 (I’m including David Wakerly.… Read the rest
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Book Review: Lead the Way God Made You
Posted on 05. Jul, 2010 by Kenny.
I never had any intention of reading this book. Never is such a strong word. Actually, the cover and title of this book is very intriguing. It draws you in. You want to know more. That was the case when I first saw this book in the bookstore almost five years ago. I opened it up and started skimming the chapters. Drama Coach? Director? Production Assistant? Ummmm, that’s okay, I don’t do productions as a part of my weekend experience. I have a lot of books on my list to read and this one wouldn’t be the best use of my time.
That was my first experience with this book.
One time I even discouraged someone from reading this book. I told him that it wasn’t really a book about leadership, but about leading children’s ministry productions.… Read the rest
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What should I read next?
Posted on 01. Jul, 2010 by Kenny.
So, back in January I posted my reading list for 2010. I had 18 books on the list. For some of you, that’s a leisurely weekend of reading. For me, that’s an undertaking! So, we’re a little halfway through the year and here is where I stand.
So far I’ve read 5 books total, essentially 1/3 toward my goal of 18. I’m really not sure I’ll hit 18, but I still think I can kick it in high gear and get pretty close. Unfortunately, of the books on my 2010 list, I’ve only read 2, Orange and Mad Church Disease. I’m starting Parenting Beyond Your Capacity this weekend (another book not on my list), but I hope to hit my list again next.… Read the rest
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A “not-so-new” (but great) leadership resource
Posted on 30. Jun, 2010 by Kenny.
Leadership is an interesting thing, isn’t it. Some of us are born with a natural “know-how.” Others of us have to work really hard at it. All of us get stuck at certain places. As people who oversee ministries, we need it, need to know how to grow it and how to cultivate it. All of us know what our limitations are as a leader. I know mine. At times I’m embarrassed by mine. It’s good to know that this isn’t the end of the story, there’s plenty of time to develop and plenty of time to grow.
So, there’s a book out there that I want to point you towards. It’s called “Lead the Way God Made You.” I’ll be honest, it really spoke to where I am right now as a leader in many different ways.… Read the rest
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The Kidmin Revolution
Posted on 13. May, 2010 by Kenny.
On Monday I started this series on starting or changing your career in Children’s Ministry; however, the conversation hasn’t gone in the direction I intended. That’s a good thing though, I feel like a good foundation was put in place here and some important things have been processed… for me at least. Next week I’ll get into the highly practical stuff of resumes and searching for an open ministry position. The following week I hope to talk about the interview process. I really do hope that this little series will be a great resource for those preparing to enter the ministry or make a jump to a different stage of ministry.
This post; however, I want to wrap up a theme that’s emerged this week.… Read the rest
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The perfect Children’s Pastor?
Posted on 12. May, 2010 by Kenny.
Okay, don’t give me grief on the title, I know there isn’t a perfect Children’s Pastor and the perfect Children’s Pastor for one church could be a horrible Children’s Pastor for another. It’s not that cut and dry… but go with me here for a minute.
Children’s Pastors come in all sorts of shapes and sizes to fit churches of all shapes and sizes, but what do you think are the characteristics of the “perfect” Chidlren’s Pastor. And when I say the “perfect” Children’s Pastor, I’m referring to the kind of Children’s Pastor who is the solution to some of the problems discussed in my post from yesterday (and comments). You may or may not agree with me, but Kidmin has bad PR in the church today which I believe is part of the reason there is such a shortage of great Children’s Pastors.… Read the rest
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Pastoral leadership
Posted on 16. Mar, 2010 by Kenny.
Bear with me as I’m processing through these thoughts. I’ve recently been frustrated with someone’s style of leadership. Maybe it’s just their personality, but because this person is a leader, it affects this person’s leadership. It took me a while to figure out what to name this post but I’m settling for “pastoral leadership” as I feel that this is the way I want to lead (although I’m far from doing it well).
Leaders come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. You can be soft spoken and fairly reclusive and be a fantastic leader. You can also be egotistical and larger than life and be a great leader. We see this variety of leaders in business, in society and even in the church.… Read the rest
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