Drew Boswell

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

Didn’t We Just Decorate the Christmas Tree Last Year? Evaluation and Goal Setting

goalsChristmas shopping is in full swing, radio stations are blaring Jingle Bells, and the end of the year is roaring at us like that toy train at the bottom of the mall Christmas tree. With the end of this year and the beginning of a new one, it is important to take time to evaluate and plan. Tis the season is the best time to sit down, sip some gingerbread latte, and look forward into 2015. There is a wonderful gap in time right after Christmas and before New Years Day when the world’s spinning seems to slow down for a moment.

If we are not careful we will find ourselves repeating the same year again, and again, and again. If we allow ourselves to be swept away by the current of the day we get pulled into an undertow of allowing everyone and everything to dictate our lives. Year after year, after year. . . we will look back on our lives and realize we have gone no where. The way to avoid this is to set aside time to evaluate the previous year and determine a plan for the upcoming year.

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Why set goals?

1.   Goals allow us to direct our lives instead of being directed by circumstances and other’s priorities.

The statement “the squeaky wheel gets the oil” is a very true statement. But if you are constantly putting oil on immediate squeaky wheels you will never have time to determine what is making them squeak and stopping it. Let the wheel squeak for a while and take time to step back and think. Carving out time can be extremely difficult. But understand this time of evaluating and goal setting to be an investment in the overall health of your life and those that you lead.

2.   Goals help you to identify what are the most important areas in your life and establish plans to guard those priorities.

Sit down and choose five major areas of your life. They may be things like family, marriage, ministry, church, friends, education, relationship with God, etc. For example, if you know that you need to spend more time with your spouse, then take this time to figure out what is keeping that from happening.

3.   Goals help you to move forward as a person.

When was the last time that you did something that really stretched you? Goals help us to move from a wish to making something a reality. What is it in your life that is keeping from trying something really big? This may be the year when you need to cut off personalities that are constantly having a negative impact on your life. Set a goal and go for it!

The leader has to train himself to listen to the correct and healthy voices in his life. There will always be those that discourage, irrationally criticize, and are just negative. And there are those that give healthy criticism, and helpful suggestions. There are also that are encouraging, give energy to a situation, and add light to your life. Also, be aware that sometimes that negative critical spirit may even be you. So take some time and think about what you are hearing, who you are hearing it from, and intentionally surround yourself with people who will encourage you to go even further than you have ever been before. You can do it. I do believe that it is so important to reach a little further, and stretch yourself beyond what you feel comfortable doing. [Click here to read this entire article.]

4.  Calendaring With Vision and Goals in Mind.

Now as you look into the new year take your goals and put them on the calendar. For example, if you know you need to take batter care of yourself then put times at the gym on the calendar. It is up to you to guard those goals and times on the calendar. If you and your spouse have set aside Saturdays to be family days – don’t allow something of less importance to crowd out that set aside time. It is important to also build in “margin” or extra space into your calendar so that when life happens and you have to enter into that time you had set aside for something else, then you can still have time to accomplish what was originally in that time slot.

5.   Communicate Your Goals with Those Around You.

Letting other people know what you are working on will communicate to them what is important to you. It can also serve as a point of accountability when you begin to get off track with your goals.

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So What Now?

Vision – what does the end of the road look like? What vision do you have for your life, or far more importantly, what is the vision that God has of you life? Write it down. No one knows the whole life big picture, but you should have some idea for the next year.

Goals – Now after you have seen a picture for the next year, then establish some goals based upon the vision. Goals are not wishes. Wishes have no plan; goals are a vision that you have developed a plan to accomplish.

Mile Markers - Goals are then broken down into reachable steps or “mile markers.” If your goal is to run a half-marathon, then study and research to see how you would train and spread that out over the needed length of time.

Regular evaluation – how are we doing? Are we moving forward? Take time to regularly (daily, weekly) epaulet to see if you are on track to reach your goal and accomplish your vision.

No organization is autonomous from the community at large – how is the progress you are making affecting those around you? Sometimes your goals and forward movement can have a positive (or negative) affects on those around you. Recognize that others may not like your growth because it may challenge them — others may see it as a source for inspiration. Either way, keep moving forward.

Letters from Valdosta Kids to Main Street Puppets; Using Puppets in Ministry

10425482_10204550298870949_4837427540623730312_n
Anna Banana and Pastor Drew talking about our theme for December “Generosity.”

This past Sunday we had a full hour instead of the normal thirty minutes for our children’s worship time. So instead of a craft we gave the children an opportunity to write a letter to the puppets that we introduced this past year. Our goal has been to give the kid’s an avenue to interact with us through the puppets.

For example, if a kid was dealing with an issue at school and didn’t know what to do and didn’t feel comfortable talking with an adult they could write a letter to a puppet. The puppet will then write them back with an answer (from the character’s point of view).

The characters are:

Professor “D” – a mad scientist who lives in an upstairs apartment. He is trying to take over the world with his overthought experiments (exploding cookies). Most of the time these experiments end up exploding in his apartment. He also shoots the kids with a water gun full of his slow acting kids growing formula.

Anna Banana – a teen girl who is focused on how she looks, who likes her, and is very prideful. She is learning that how we look on the inside is far more important than how we look on the outside, and what God thinks about us is far more important than what other people think.

10711119_1550432785170400_6413108207279361357_nRoad Kill – a slow speaking sweat spirited opossum that lives in a trashcan outside of the local pizzeria. He loves to eat the pizzas that are thrown out of Luigi’s. He makes the owner mad because he is always getting trash everywhere.

Jonathan and David – are brothers that live below Professor D. They are always arguing about something, so they are learning to get along as a family. They like football (just not the same teams), and just about any kind of sports activity.

Luigi — the owner of the Main Street pizzeria and is constantly experimenting with new kinds of pizzas. To the kids they come across as gross and usually end up getting thrown out (to Road Kill) because no one eats them.

Goober works at Luigi’s Pizzaria and is learning what it means to work. He tries to take short cuts in his work and it is constantly getting im trouble with Luigi.

 

There were many that asked what the various characters wanted for Christmas. For example;

Dear Prof. D,

What do you want for Christmas? Please don’t explode my kitchen. Also, I loved you spraying me with a water gun. Do it again please.

Sincerely,

Child’s name

P.S. write me back.

 

1509664_1564709193748519_7015106914857068366_nDear Luigi,

I’m ok, no proplims the only thing I have to ask is what do you want for Christmas? I mean what do puppets want.

From, Child’s name

 

Some of the kid’s letters were just questions about the puppet’s lives. For example;

Dear Road Kill,

You smell like a dirty diaper!

Merry Christmas,

Child’s name

 

1468634_365939650241327_4421200605261584272_nTo Anna Banana,

From Child’s name

What is your favorite color? What do you like about it? Well how about . . .what is your favorite shape? I bet it is is cool! I like that you visited me on Sunday! Bye.

 

Dear Anna Banana,

What is your favorite holiday mine is Christmas? Do you like to dance? I like your outfit that you wear. What is your favorite hobby?

Love, Child’s name (heart shape, heart shape, smiley face)

 

Dear Road Kill,

Why do you live in a trashcan full of newspaper?

From,

Child’s name

 

Out of over fifty letters that we received, there were a few that had genuine questions nested in their comments. Here’s some;

Dear Dr. D, (the actual character name is Professor D)

Hi, there is this toy at target that is like so cool, it is a dog that when you take a walk she will be at your side. It is called “gogo doggy.” When I ask mom for it she says no then I always get mad. What should I do, please help.

From,

Child’s name

P.S. When you blow stuff up it is so cool, you are cool.

 

Dear Road Kill,

My sister is a literer. What do I do? I tell her to stop but she doesn’t stop. What do I do. I hope you visit – probably soon.

Child’s name

 

Dear Dr. D,

I hope you are having a good day. I am having a hard time on open books science tests what do I do?

Sincerely,

Child’s name

 

Dear Prof. D,

Hi. All you care about is explosens. You’re trying to take over the world with cookies. There is this kid that calls me a cry baby whenever we play four spare in p.e. For secret Santa in main street Anna Banana pulled out you. You’re the best puppet exploder ever! How do you like to play video games.

Form,

Child’s name

 

To: Goober

From: Child’s name

Dear Goober, how do I get on the nice list?

 

To Anna,

From Child’s name

My week is going Bad. My mom is making me go outside in the sun.

 

Dear Prof. D.

How do I not get frustrated during the week? How do I change a bad day into a good day?

Child’s name

 

Then there were just kid’s showing concern for their puppet friends;

 

Dear Prof. D, What is your 3 things that explode that you want for Christmas. Is it a cookie that explodes and turns brown. What is it? Do you want toilet paper to wipe your butt? What ever you want don’t get your butt burned!

From,

Child’s name

 

Dear Pro D.,

I love your shows. You are old.

Love,

Child’s name

 

Dear Road Kill,

Are you actually Road Kill?

Child’s name

 

This coming Sunday we plan to introduce a new mail delivery person character who will give the kids the response letters from the puppets.

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In the psychological world of dramatic play specifically with the use of puppets, “The child’s imagination creates a buffer and a flexible “space” to explore tough stuff.” [1] In Valdosta Kid’s Main Street we are able to exhibit bad attitudes, bad behavior, pain, and even frustration through the puppets and then talk about their feelings. On the outside looking in Anna Banana may be seen by other adults as being mean or rude (and sometime she is), but we are able to then talk about her behavior in a safe way.

One week the Luigi puppet said that his dad was not around very much during one of our skits. To our surprise one young boy spoke out very loudly and said, “Luigi, my dad’s not around very much either.” For a moment in time we were able to break through all kinds of barriers and speak right to his heart. His imagination was so engaged that he was “in the moment.” Those moments are what we strive for every week, but don’t always get there. But when they do happen, it makes ministry very special.

* Click here to read more regarding the use of puppets and how they have been used successfully to entertain and minister to children.

* Click here to see a video of the puppets talking about a recent t-shirt design contest.

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[1] https://achildinmind.wordpress.com/2012/09/24/you-can-tell-me-anything-im-a-puppet-why-play-therapy-works/

 

Jeremiah 1; Called to Live a Different Life

Have you ever just wanted your life to be different? If you could just take that away, of if you could just get this thing, or change that part of yourself. . . ? Do you feel trapped, stuck, or overwhelmed? Do you try to fill that empty part of your soul, but nothing has worked?

Listen to this message form Jeremiah chapter 1 where we will draw practical, real life applications for how we are to fulfill our God given reason for living.

Life can be different . . . yeah, it really can.

Look I Can Put My Brain In a Jar; Evaluation and Systems

doctorI went to the doctor last week for my annual health check-up. I put on the paper snuggie, sat on the cold exam table, and waited the perfunctory forty-five minutes. There was the rustle of the clipboard being taken out of the plastic box on the other side of the hollow exam room door, a soft cough, and a knock. The doctor entered complete with white coat, nice tie, and went immediately to the small sink to wash his hands.

He smiled and after a short glance at the file, he said, “ok, let’s get started.” He said he wanted to start with the muscular system, where he then reached through my chest and with a great pull removed all the muscles from my body. Then he gently laid them on the floor beside the table and said, “The muscles look good.” He then went to the skeleton removing it in a big shake and leaned it in the corner.

braininjarNow a pile on the floor his hand reached down and separated me, piece by piece. I thought, as my mind rested in a glass jar, “this is different.” System by system, piece by piece was separated and examined. Then with surgical precision he put me back together again.

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Ok, so why don’t doctors do things this way? The body cannot function if it is separated into autonomous pieces, instead it functions as a whole unit. The systems do not operate independently; they are intricately bound to the other. When one system has disease, the entire body is affected. When a system is healthy it supports the overall health of the entire body. The body does not function if all the systems are not present and doing their intended function.

So in any organization when it is time to evaluate, this principle must be taken into account. If a department is doing well it is because of the support of the other departments (even if the support is not done consciously or intentionally). If a department is doing poorly, it is not standing alone in blame. We must look to the other departments to see how they have added to this decline.

The entire organization must be evaluated if there is “disease” because no department operates completely independently of the others.[1] Often times it is easy to identify a problem (i.e. a broken bone). This is a skeletal problem, but all systems are needed for healing. The bones are needed to act as a structure for the rest of the systems, but the other systems are needed to keep the skeletal structure healthy.

The Systems of the Human Body
  • Lymphatic
  • Skeletal
  • Nerve
  • Excretory
  • Circulatory
  • Muscular
  • Integumentary
  • Reproductive
  • Endocrine
  • Respiratory
  • Digestive
  • Urinary
  • Immune

If a department is doing well then often times the leader is praised. If a department is doing poorly then the leader may be dismissed. It is much easier and less labor intensive to simply recognize or remove the leader, but the organization as a whole should be evaluated to see how it has led to or participated in the decline.

bonesIf the blood supply is not delivering blood to the bones, or if the bones are not getting the needed nutrients from other systems,  can you really only blame the skeletal system for being broken? Perhaps the eyes did not function as they should have and led the body to step on a hole. Perhaps the circulatory system did not deliver needed nutrients and the bone became very brittle. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps, . . . to simply blame the bones because they are broken is short sided, a lazy diagnosis, and naive.

To blame a department in an organization for some shortcoming without taking into account the organization as a whole only sets up a system for the same issues to be repeated in the future. You simply don’t know if the true cause was the leader or were there contributing factors that are still present and will continue to cause problems for the replacement leader.

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[1] Click here to see article on “silos” and how they hinder performance in organizations.

The Power of Asking “Why?”; Part One

Children are naturally inquisitive. When they reach the toddler years they begin to ask the question “why”? With four children I have answered thousands of their why questions.

Me, “time to take a bath.”

Child, “why”

Me, “because you have been outside playing and you are dirty.”

Child, “why did I get dirty?”

Me, “because you were digging in the dirt and you made mud pies.”

Child, “why, why, why, why, etc.

. . . because I said so, now get in the bathtub!

why question in metal typeOftentimes it is aggravating when my children ask why, because I suspect that they are using it as a stall tactic to keep from doing what I asked them to do. But, I suppose that many times there is genuine curiosity and desire to learn why the sky is blue, or why dogs have four legs, or why there aren’t any more dinosaurs, or why that man is homeless, or why we need to wear pants, etc.

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The question of why is asked many times in the Bible. God asks people why:

Genesis 4:6 “The Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?’”

Matthew 6:28 “And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, . . .”

Genesis 18:13 “The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’”

People ask why from curiosity and wonder:

Exodus 3:3 “And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”

People ask God why when they don’t understand the circumstances that they find themselves in:

Psalm 22:1 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?”

Job 3:11 “Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire?”

images3People ask the question of why for various reasons. Some are truly seeking answers to things that they do not understand. They want to help their organization grow and they as individuals want to grow.

Some simply say it as a way of expressing their opinions as being right. They are not seeking truth only seeking to prove their opinions to be correct. While an explanation being given they, instead of listening, are forming their next “why” question in their mind.

Some use the power of why to stir up trouble. They are not seeking solutions but seeking only to watch as their organization goes into a brawl. These are instigators and troublemakers. They really don’t care that an answer is reached, instead they are more interested in the chaotic process.

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So before you drop the W bomb, consider the following:

1) Asking why helps to separate tradition and history from doctrinal truth and vision. The two are not always self-contradictory, but many times can be. The leader has the charge of leading the organization into truth and the future while not allowing nostalgia and tradition to derail the vision.

2) Asking why can be a time of growth. Any organization that does not allow its’ members to ask the question is setting itself up for decline. The decline can be found in a member who is truly seeking honest answers as to why things are done a specific way and they are denied an opportunity of growth. The organization, if it allows others to ask why, opens itself up to evaluation. Organizations operate the way they do for a reason, good or bad. Asking why helps to confirm the rationale for its’ methods or exposes their weaknesses.

3) Asking why exposes the leader’s heart. There are many leaders who see those on their team as means to ends. They are not concerned about their personal growth; instead they are seen as a way to advance their agenda. If they ask why, it is seen as rebellion to the leader – these type of leaders want hear, “yes” not “why.” Any leader who sees it’s staff as disposable will leave destruction in their wake.

A good leader has a vision and plan and grows his people as he grows his organization. Loyalty and trust is earned by expressed concern and love. Staff need to know they are cared for and that their own growth as a person is important to the main leader. Everyone on the team needs to understand why we are doing this – even if the answer is obvious or simplistic.

4) Asking why may lead to an answer. Are you really ready for the answer? Before you ask why, you need to consider are you willing to change if the answer comes back as something you didn’t expect. Asking why is an indication of your desire to understand and grow – but don’t ask the question is you really don’t want to know the answer. Otherwise you are just stirring up trouble.

5) Asking why is powerful and evokes a powerful response. When you ask it, you should seek to confirm in others on the team that you are genuine in your desire to help improve the organization. Also, know that there may be strong emotional responses and be prepared to just step back or let things go until another day.

Asking why speaks to mimages1otive, the heart, or past situations that were “sticky.” So solutions or answers were reached and things were decided that worked for the day. Sometimes it’s better not to drudge all that up again. When you ask why, be ready for a strong answer.

If an answer is not known, then plan to be apart of finding the answer. If you are going to point out something that is wrong, then plan to be apart of the solution if you are able.

But don’t stop asking why. But prayerfully find the right time and check your heart to make sure you are asking for the right reasons.

 

 

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

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