Drew Boswell

a place for us to share ideas, talk about life, and learn together.

10 Things Every Man Should Have Close By

http://ru-titley-knives.tumblr.com/post/97230913681/copper-ultra-slim-a-pimped-up-toxic-post See RT custom knives (website)There are many blog entries out there on the inter-web regarding EDC (every day carry) items and they usually reference a certain ideology, specifically addressing situations where a person may find himself or herself in some kind of danger. This entry is not addressing such circumstances.

While many of these entries are educational and entertaining, I personally do not have the resources to invest in tons of food I many never eat, build a bunker underground, or save up cases of guns and ammo that I may never shoot. My “10 Things Every Man Should Have Close By” list is intended to help leaders and what they may encounter in a given week.

  1. A Bible – Over the years I have developed a definite preference as to translation and size of my everyday use Bible. I keep mine in the box that it came it to keep it from getting damaged, and it stays in my briefcase. This book is s much more than a book. I have been blessed to live in a country where I can own multiple copies of the Bible and is varying degrees of quality of print.

 My “preaching Bible” is very precious to me. But as a leader, the Bible that you use the most will over time become very important to you. It is your love for this book that will rub off onto your children, and while they may not carry your copy, they will carry in their hearts your love for this book. But simply carrying it around with you does you no good. You have to set aside time to read it.

  1. A Moleskine Notebook. I prefer the Moleskine Volant Notebook (Set of 2 ), Pocket, Ruled, Antwerp Blue, Prussian Blue, Soft Cover (3.5 x 5.5). I have found that this notebook is of good quality, a great size (not too small as to prevent a complete thought being recorded to one page, not too big to carry with you in most situations).

It’s cheap enough so that you feel free to write down everything you want. I found that if I paid too much for the notebook, or if it were too thick, I would hesitate to record the thought, sketch out the idea, record the potential blog topic, etc. You never know if your idea or thought will turn into something until you have scribbled it out on paper.

I don’t count this as a separate item, but I usually won’t write in my moleskine notebook unless it is with a black uniball vision (fine).

  1. An intriguing Book. I always have a book with me that I am reading. If you have it with you, you can take advantage of unplanned free time. There are many reasons that a leader should be reading, but the main reason for me is that it helps my mind to experience other’s thoughts and views of the world.

“Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren’t very new after all.” – Abraham Lincoln

  1. Pocketknife/multi-tool – the tool should be as large as the man can comfortably have in his pocket. It should not be so large that he won’t actually carry it, but should have enough function to handle a multitude of situations. I use my Swiss Army Huntsman knife many times every day.
  1. A Smart Phone – The iPhone still amazes me. It just keeps doing more and more. It is my alarm clock in the morning, takes pictures of our most special moments, and it allows me to say goodnight to all my social media friends at night. The smart phone has become as indispensible as proper clothing. I use the flashlight function regularly and it has replaced my need to carry a separate flashlight, and it continues to replace items just about every day. Oh . . . and it is a phone.
  1. Laptop – I have taken my Macbook Pro to the farthest interior of India, and many places around the world. I save my pictures to it, record blog entries onto it, surf the web, do graphic design projects, etc. I know that as I write this blog entry technology is beginning to offer great alternatives to the lightweight laptop, but as of today I would be hard pressed to live without it.
  1. A Hand Gun – Men who hold responsibility need to be able to protect themselves and their loved ones. Make sure you get a carry permit and follow all required laws for your jurisdiction.
  1. A First Aid Kit – I originally purchased a first aid kit similar to the link provided, but have since added several items to it (such as a headlamp, tubes of ibuprofen, EMT scissors, tick remover tool, etc.). Having a good and fully stocked first aid kit is essential. As people learn that you have thought through every detail in what you keep close by to you, they will begin to trust your leadership even more — especially if you are the “go to” guy when they have a headache.
  1. A Good True Story & A Joke – There are many situations that can be defused with a joke or a story that gets people’s minds away from the intensity of their feelings. Having a joke on stand-by makes you fun to be around.
  1. A Paperclip – The best thing to have close by, is to be aware of what’s close by. MacGyver was famous for being able to get out of very dangerous situations by using what he had on hand at the time. Most of the time it was items like a pair of binoculars, a Swiss army knife, or simply a paper clip.

There is a principle in bushcraft, that says, one should be “tool heavy” — meaning that you could travel fairly light if you take the tools with to make any item that may be needed in the bush. Instead of trying to figure out everything you need in life and trying to carry it from day to day, instead focus on learning skills and developing tools that will allow you the freedom to “make” what you need in the moment. One of these skills to develop is the ability to recognize the resources around you, or what others see as worhtless, and using them to your advantage.

Gold, Frankincense, and Carbonite; Creativity and Teaching

Screen Shot 2015-12-19 at 9.10.27 AM
For the Christmas season this year Liquid Church[1] are doing things a little different. They have coupled the expectation of the release of the new Star Wars movie “The Force Awakens” with the biblical story and expectation of the Christ child at Christmas. The preaching series is entitled “Cosmic Christmas” and is complete with Star Wars themed role out videos, graphics, and a Han Solo draped pastor. He reviews his love for the Star Wars movies and how it impacted him as a child.

Pastor Tim Lucas (no relation to George Lucas) began the non-denominational church plant in 1999 that now has six locations (counting one online “location”) throughout New Jersey. This sermon series caught the eye of several news affiliates and their story has been broadcasted nationally.

This is a great example of where a church has tapped into a popular trend among people and blended their message into it.

The following show why this kind of thinking is so important in church life:

  1. cosmic-christmas-droid-to-the-world“Cosmic Christmas” and sermon series like it show the world that church can be fun. The pastor was dressed like Han Solo. Their nativity scene had Han Solo and Princess Leia instead of the shepherd dressed Mary and Joseph. When the world sees these things they stop and take notice. Humor and one’s ability to not take yourself too serious tears down walls of assumptions and false understandings.
  2. It lends itself to continuing the message. You could have photo opportunities with Storm Troopers in the lobby or the fellowship hall after or before the service where people will post them to their social media accounts thereby reaching thousands with the message “Our church is fun.” The theme also is easy to carry throughout the church (the children’s area for example).

The pastor could take pictures with people and use that time to engage in intentional evangelistic conversations. God gave us our imaginations and creativity to be used to bring Him glory – and what better way than being creative in how we share His eternal message. Jesus was known for stepping out and doing the unexpected – but as His disciples why do we feel that we shouldn’t?

star_wars_christmas2

  1. If it is done well and with great care the message of the gospel becomes easier for the lost world to remember or even understand. You take that which is common and attach the message of Christ to it, so that when they see it they (consciously or subconsciously) begin to understand a biblical principle.
  1. Creativity and themes such as this forces the church to plan further in advance. If you watch the sermon on their website there are prerecorded videos that play at specific times during the message, you would have to order or make his costume, etc. And don’t forget those storm troopers in the lobby – they need to get leave from the Empire. Yoda’s schedule is crazy busy, especially with the release of the new film. All that takes time, galactic paperwork, and a great deal of planning by the church.

Truthfully, many churches just do what they have always done (candle light services, same old hymns, same rotating sermons, same ole decorations, etc.) and Christmas becomes a time to check out mentally instead of honestly engaging the culture.

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As you listen and go through the sermon it became obvious to me we would have a declination of biblical interpretation.[2] But don’t let the minutia of doctrine take away from the bigger overall principle that they are engaging the culture in a way that people “get it.” Don’t be too quick to dismiss what they are doing simply because they are denominationally different. Don’t be too quick to dismiss your idea because it is different than what your church culture is used to. It you are thinking, “they’ll never go for this,” you might just be on the right track.

.  .  .  and may the force be with you.

Star-Wars-the-Force-Awakens-Poster-Cropped

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[1] http://www.Liquidchurch.com

[2] he uses the phrase “binding Satan” for example.

Designing A Good Plan: Elements to Consider

apollo 11When the scientists designed the original Apollo series spacecraft command modules there were several things they needed to keep in mind. They as president Kennedy said,

“. . . we shall send to the moon, 240,000 miles away from the control station in Houston, a giant rocket more than 300 feet tall, the length of this football field, made of new metal alloys, some of which have not yet been invented, capable of standing heat and stresses several times more than have ever been experienced, fitted together with a precision better than the finest watch, carrying all the equipment needed for propulsion, guidance, control, communications, food and survival, on an untried mission, to an unknown celestial body, and then return it safely to earth, re-entering the atmosphere at speeds of over 25,000 miles per hour, causing heat about half that of the temperature of the sun. . .”[1]

To start something new feels like an expedition to the moon. The leader launches an idea that has to be designed and carefully thought through. If something is overlooked then the air can get sucked out of the space module (or the next staff meeting). The deadliest of ideas are those that have never been attempted.

The original thought (use caution; very dangerous)

So borrowing from the command module of Apollo spacecraft, here are some items to keep in mind as you engage in the treacherous endeavor of trying something new. Your plan (or command module) should include the following:

  1. Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 9.06.56 AMMission Trajectory. 

To know where you are going. The early spacecraft used the trajectory of the spacecraft and the gravitational force of a celestial body to “slingshot” the command module back toward earth. If you know where you are going, you can show others on a map, and you can attempt to anticipate upcoming situations. You need to be able to clearly show others the entire mission and important mileposts along the way. Break you plan down into stages and steps.

   2. Thrusters 

Thrusters allow you to make midcourse corrections. As long as you have enough “gas in the tank” you can make gradual adjustments as you move forward. Too big of adjustments cause you to burn fuel too quickly and you are dead in the water, heading off into the disaster of open space. Slow gradual adjustments are always best.

How much gas you have in the tank depends directly upon how much the people trust you. If you have the people’s trust then you have more ability to make more radical adjustments to the status quo. The situation may also be mission critical where you say, “Houston we have a problem” and you have to make quick and radical adjustments to save the spacecraft.

  1. 20110623gemini_diagramAn Escape Hatch.

This is the ability to bail if the plan fails. Larry Osborne said, “Never make a change when you can conduct an experiment.”[2] and “Whenever possible, describe any change or new initiative you propose using the language of experimentation. In other words, never make a change when you can conduct an experiment or a trial run.”

If you have no way of escaping the spacecraft then it will be your last mission. Build this into the plan from the first sketch. This does not make you cowardly; it does however give you the ability to try again another day with another mission.

  1. A Booster Rocket.

This is the initial push to get the spacecraft into orbit at the beginning of the mission. If you look at the proportion of the entire mission spacecraft the booster rocket takes up most of the design. Often times the leader will think that the good idea, in and of itself, will be enough to launch the mission.

There has to be a build up and launch of the new plan in order for it to have the inertia to complete the entire trajectory of the mission. A strong push is necessary to get the spacecraft off the ground and into orbit.

  1. Apollo_LJ_II_flight_profileA Parachute.

Similar to thrusters, the parachute allows one to control the speed of the spacecraft. If the spacecraft moves too quickly it will comet into the earth. Plans need to have an appropriate and controllable speed. Moving too fast or too slow is harmful to the mission.

  1. apollo-capsuleA Window.

The original idea is groundbreaking and you are reaching new heights – why not take some pictures, stare out at the stars, and enjoy the ride. If you get too focused on the instrumentation and gauges you will miss the magic of the view and the wonder of the moment. Document the journey so others can follow you and not have to repeat the same mistakes.

Windows also allow you to see where you are going and how the mission is proceeding. There should be a built in means of evaluation as you are moving forward.

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[1] http://er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/ricetalk.htm

[2] Larry Osborne. Innovation’s Dirty Little Secret (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan, 2013) 35.

President Kennedy and Space: Don’t Forget Your Job

On September 12th, 1962 president John F. Kennedy gave a speech at Rice University in Houston Texas.[1]

In this speech he discusses the “space race “ and the role that the Unites States will play. His goal was to have men in space in that decade, and on July 20th 1969 Apollo II landed on the moon. He discusses what must be overcome,

“But if I were to say, my fellow citizens, that we shall send to the moon, 240,000 miles away from the control station in Houston, a giant rocket more than 300 feet tall, the length of this football field, made of new metal alloys, some of which have not yet been invented, capable of standing heat and stresses several times more than have ever been experienced, fitted together with a precision better than the finest watch, carrying all the equipment needed for propulsion, guidance, control, communications, food and survival, on an untried mission, to an unknown celestial body, and then return it safely to earth, re-entering the atmosphere at speeds of over 25,000 miles per hour, causing heat about half that of the temperature of the sun–almost as hot as it is here today–and do all this, and do it right, and do it first before this decade is out–then we must be bold.”

s69-39961In this speech president Kennedy says, “We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.”

He is right in saying that noble and good goals “serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills,” because people want to be apart of something that is greater and bigger than themselves. Honorable leaders who understand this, seek to win the hearts of the people so that they can lead them to accomplish something of noble significance.

Often times we forget what our role as leader should be. There are many things that we do that are apart of maintaining and organizing the day-to-day and week-to-week tasks of living and being apart of something. But this is not our main purpose. Managers manage, leaders push forward. Leaders must constantly point toward the sea, the mountain, outer space, and beyond and say, “let’s go.”

We do this because it’s our job. Society and people as a whole tend to prefer the status quo. Forward movement is hard, tedious, and often times expensive.

Most Americans in the 60s understood that the space race was about controlling outer space and protection from nuclear rockets. If the Soviet Union could put Spudnik (October 4, 1957) into space they could also put other things into orbit as well. But Kennedy doesn’t mention the enemy, the threat, or express fear. He doesn’t use fear tactics to accomplish his goal. Instead, he chooses to challenge. He inspires the talented to do the impossible. Kennedy sites the benefits of the science of space and how it will eventually help all of America. He references the accumulated history of the world and tells how America will lead the way in preventing mistakes of the past (wars over land, etc.). He uses an analogy of a time line to show how knowledge is moving forward at a very rapid rate. All of these things point to hope, benefits, and a brighter future. He doesn’t want his county to get left behind.

As a leader we don’t want our organizations to get left behind. Instead we want to lead the way in whatever industry we find ourselves. Often times the vision of what needs to be accomplished is clear, but the boldness to do it is not present. There are also the problems that are encountered once the mission is active that crush the leader to just quit and scrap the whole project. The mountain is just too high, the sea too vast, the task too tough.

But you are the leader. It’s your job to keep pushing forward. Notice how everyone behind Kennedy in the video is wiping sweat from their face. He even stops at one point and says, “I’m the one who is doing all the work, so we just want you to stay cool for a minute. [laughter]” He is talking about the United States leading the way in the space race (and nuclear race as well), and even then there are subtle suggestions for him to hurry up and finish the speech. When you lead there will be subtle and not-so-subtle pushes to just quit, give up, and stop pushing against the mold.

At the end of the day, the United States won the space race and put a man on the moon (first), and we have reaped a harvest of technological advancements from the newly developed science. [2]  Kennedy led the country to do what was said to be impossible. Remember your job as leader is not just to point to the mountain, but to lead them up the mountain.

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[1] Click here to read the speech on its’ entirety.

[2] Click here to read about scientific advancements directly related to NASA and their developments.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith." Ephesians 2:8

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