Qualities Necessary in a Spiritual Leader: Vision

January 16, 2007 kensapp Leave a comment

Leaders must be men and women of vision. They must not only see the vision but be able to take whatever action is necessary to make that vision a reality. J.Oswald Sanders, in his book “Spiritual Leadership” puts it this way:

“The man who possess vision must do something about it, or he will remain a visionary, not a leader.”(83)
“The leader must either initiate plans for progress or recognize the plans of others. He must remain in front and give guidance and a sense of direction to those behind. He does not wait for things to happen, but makes them happen. He is a self-starter, and is always on the lookout for improved methods. He will be willing to test new ideas…A great more failure is the result of an excess of caution than of bold experimentation with new ideas.” (188-189)
“It is much easier to criticize plans submitted than to create more satisfactory ones. The leader must not only see clearly the goal that is to be reached, but also plan imaginative strategy and tactics by which it can be attained.” (167)
“The man of God must have insight into things spiritual.”(78)
“Eyes that look are common. Eyes that see are rare”(80)

Source: J.Oswald Sanders “Spiritual Leadership

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Resource Reviews

Qualities Necessary in a Spiritual Leader: Prayer

January 15, 2007 kensapp Leave a comment

One distinguishing characteristic of a spiritual leader as compared to an ordinary leader is the discipline of prayer. J.Oswald Sanders, in his book “Spiritual Leadership” puts it this way:

Set an example in Prayer – “In nothing should the leader be ahead of his followers more than in the realm of prayer.”(121)
Make it a priority – “mastering the art of prayer, like any other art, will take time, and the amount of time we allocate to it will be the true measure of our conception of its importance.” (123)
Set aside time for Prayer – “To busy Martin Luther, extra work was a compelling argument for spending ‘more’ time in prayer.” (123)
Stay focused in your prayers – “true praying is a strenuous spiritual exercise that demands the utmost mental discipline and concentration.”(126) Prayer “utilizes the body, demands the cooperation of the mind, but moves in the supernatural realm of the Spirit.”(127)
Pray for core issues – “Jesus dealt with the cause rather than the effect, and the leader should adopt the same method in that aspect of praying.”(130)
Add personal action to your prayer – “It is impossible to move men, through God, by prayer alone.” (130-131)
Join God in his work by His power and strength. – Great leaders in the Bible were leaders “because, by the power of prayer, they could command the power of God.” (134)

Source: J.Oswald Sanders “Spiritual Leadership

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Icebreakers

Connected

January 14, 2007 kensapp 3 Comments

This icebreaker game is often called “spider web” because at the end of the icebreaker, a large web of interconnected strong or yarn will be created. You can use this icebreaker to discuss interdependence on one another, picking up the slack for another person, uplifting others, and teamwork.

Description
Sitting in a circle, youth toss a ball of string to someone else in the circle. The person receiving the string must name a quality, item, or something else related to the topic or keyword.

Resources
Ball of string or yarn

Preparation
None

What to Do
In the classic variation of this icebreaker, students introduce their name and one characteristic about themselves before tossing it to another person in the circle. Here’s how it works:

Sit the group on the floor in a circle with everyone facing inward toward the center of the circle.
Tell everyone your name and one characteristics about yourself. You could also have everyone answer the same a common question like “What is your favorite ice-cream?”
Holding firmly to the end of the string, toss the ball of string to someone in the circle who has not yet received the string.
The person receiving the string gives his/her name and one characteristic.
Then, holding firmly onto the string, he or she tosses the ball on to another person.
The string should be held tightly and above the ground at all times.
Continue until everyone has received the string at least once and told the group their name and one characteristic.

Variations:

Use this icebreaker to discuss how the members all depend on each other.
The first person who receives the string introduces him/herself and role in the organization or group. Then before tossing the ball to another person, tells how he or she is dependent upon that person.

Taking it to the Next Level

Have someone in the group pull the string – What happens?
Have everyone pull the string tight then cut the string in the middle – What happens?
In what ways does this string represent various relationships in the group?

Our relationships are intertwined and connected.
If a single person pulls the string it affects everyone in the group to varying degrees, depending on how closely they are connected.
If one person’s string is cut – the relationship is broken, it affects all.
We need to support each other and not let others down

Action Point
What is one thing you will commit to do in order to support others in the group?

Icebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

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Icebreakers

Acrostic Icebreaker (Enhanced)

January 13, 2007 kensapp Leave a comment

Youth introduce themselves to each other by creating acrostics of their own names.

Description
Youth use acrostics to introduce themselves. An acrostic is an arrangement of words in which certain letters in each line, when taken in order, spell out a word or motto

Resources
None

Preparation
None

What to Do

Give youth a few examples of acrostics:
GRACE = God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense
DIANE = Dynamic, Independent, Able, No-nonsense, Enthusiastic.
TODD = Tried and true, Oh boy, a boy!, Diamond in the rough, Destined for glory.
Give the youth a few minutes to think of an acrostic for their own name (or nickname) using words or phrases that describe themselves.
Once everyone has thought of something, ask the group members to introduce themselves to each other by using the acrostics

Variations

When creating the acrostic, have kids mix up the order of the letters in their names (Example: Ken = New Education King or NEK). Then have the rest of the group attempt to figure out each name.
Instead of an acrostic, ask youth to create actions for each syllable in their name… (Example: Diane might act as if she will “Die” and hold up her “hand” – Die-Hand = Diane)
If the group can be trusted to be encouraging and already knows each other to some degree, then you can ask the group to create acrostics for the names of each other.

Taking it to the Next Level

Was there any truth in the words and phrases you chose to represent your name in an acrostic?
If you didn’t have to use the letters in your name, what words and phrases might your friends use to describe you?
At the end of your LONG life, what words and phrases would you want people would use to describe you?

Action Point
What are some things you can start doing now to start building the type of reputation that you want?

Icebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

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Mentoring Youth

ABC’s of Mentoring?

January 12, 2007 kensapp Leave a comment

While originally called the “ABC’s of Friendship” I think they also apply to mentoring!

(A)ccepts you as you are
(B)elieves in “you”
(C)alls you just to say “HI”
(D)oesn’t give up on you
(E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts)
(F)orgives your mistakes
(G)ives unconditionally
(H)elps you
(I)nvites you over
(J)ust “be” with you
(K)eeps you close at heart
(L)oves you for who you are
(M)akes a difference in your life
(N)ever Judges
(O)ffers support
(P)icks you up
(Q)uiets your fears
(R)aises your spirits
(S)ays nice things about you
(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it
(U)nderstands you
(V)alues you
(W)alks beside you
(X)-plains things you don’t understand
(Y)ells when you won’t listen and
(Z)aps you back to reality

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Icebreakers

Action Bingo (Enhanced)

January 10, 2007 kensapp 1 Comment

Can you perform all the action on the list before someone else? It’s wacky and silly fun for everyone. Have a digital camera ready for some really crazy snapshots!

Description
Participants compete to be the first to perform all the actions on the list

Resources
Worksheet and pen or pencil for each participant

Preparation
Preprint the worksheet. Items can be arranged in a normal bingo grid or simply as a list for simplicity.

Some possible items are:

Tell a Joke
Pretend you are taking a bath or shower in the middle of the room!
Select someone else to sing a song with you.
Recite a nursery rhyme.
Imitate a comic strip character until someone guesses its identity.
Behave like a duck for 10 seconds
Say something nice about three different people in the room.
Shake hands with three other people in the room.
Pantomime a two year old child taking a bone away from a German shepherd dog.
Walk from one end of the room to the other with an object between you knees.
Act like an egg being cracked and fried.
Do an impression of a well known celebrity. Identify the person first.
Confer with another person and make a short poem about one of the leaders
Select a few people to aid you in selecting a scene from a popular Bible story and act it out.
Draw a picture of yourself and give it to someone in the room.
Find something in your pocket or purse to give to the person on your left.
Retell the story of Goldilocks and the three bears using the name of four other people in the room as the bears and Goldilocks.

ADD Your Own Crazy Actions!

What to Do

Each person must perform all the actions from a list of actions in front of someone and then those who participated or observed that action must sign beside the item.
Whoever gets all the items signed first, wins!

Taking it to the Next Level

Embarrassed?

What is the craziest thing you have ever done? The most embarrassing?
Have you ever done something silly that you later regretted?
If you could go back and change one thing you did in the past, what would you change? Why?
What is one thing you did that was seen by others as a little silly, but that you wished you could do again?
Has the possibility of being embarrassed ever stopped you from doing something that you should have done or wish you would have done?

One of our greatest fears is the fear of being embarrassed. We don’t want to lose the respect of others or to be the subject of ridicule. But anything worthwhile in life carries with it some risk. You usually have to go out on a limb to get the fruit. Everything worthwhile in life lies outside of your comfort zone. Some of the greatest achievements in history took place because men and women were not afraid to risk embarrassment and ridicule to reach for their dreams! It’s a good thing the Wright brothers, Thomas Edison, Louis Pasteur, Christopher Columbus and others weren’t afraid of ridicule. Otherwise we wouldn’t have planes, light bulbs, vaccines, and many of the other technological marvels we enjoy today!

..so many centuries after the Creation it is unlikely that anyone could find hitherto unknown lands of any value. – Committee advising Ferdinand and Isabella regarding Columbus’ proposal, 1486
Drill for oil? You mean drill into the ground to try and find oil? You’re crazy. – Drillers who Edwin L. Drake tried to enlist to his project to drill for oil in 1859.
Louis Pasteur’s theory of germs is ridiculous fiction. – Pierre Pachet, Professor of Physiology at Toulouse, 1872
Such startling announcements as these should be deprecated as being unworthy of science and mischievous to to its true progress. – Sir William Siemens, 1880, on Edison’s announcement of a successful light bulb.
Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible. – Lord Kelvin, president, Royal Society, 1895.
The energy produced by the atom is a very poor kind of thing. Anyone who expects a source of power from the transformation of these atoms is talking moonshine. – Ernst Rutherford, 1933

Application
Don’t be afraid to reach for your dreams! Write down at least one of your dreams and put them up someplace where you will see them everyday!

Icebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

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Humor

Top ten things you’ll never hear a dad say

January 9, 2007 kensapp Leave a comment

10. Well, how ’bout that? I’m lost! Looks like we’ll have to stop and ask for directions.

9. You know Pumpkin, now that you’re thirteen, you’ll be ready for unchaperoned car dates. Won’t that be fun?

8. I noticed that all your friends have a certain hostile attitude. I like that.

7. Here’s a credit card and the keys to my new car. GO CRAZY!!

6. What do you mean you wanna play football? Figure skating’s not good enough for you, son?

5. Your Mother and I are going away for the weekend. You might want to consider throwing a party.

4. Well, I don’t know what’s wrong with your car. Probably one of those doo-hickey thingies–ya know–that makes it run or something. Just have it towed to a mechanic and pay whatever he asks.

3. No son of mine is going to live under this roof without an earring. Now quit your belly-aching, and let’s go to the mall.

2. Whaddya wanna go and get a job for? I make plenty of money for you to spend.

1. What do I want for my birthday? Aahh — don’t worry about that. It’s no big deal. (Okay, they might say it. But they don’t mean it)

Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

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Music

Deck of Cards

January 8, 2007 kensapp Leave a comment

This is a story about a soldier in the North Africa Campaign in World War II. After heavy fighting, the men returned to camp. The next day being Sunday, the Chaplain had set up a church service. The men were asked to take out their Bibles or Prayer Books.

The Chaplain noticed one soldier looking at a deck of cards. After service, he was taken by the Chaplain to see the Major. The Chaplain explained to the Major what he had seen. The Major told the young soldier he would have to be punished if he could not explain himself. The young soldier told the Major that during the battle he had neither a Bible or a Prayer Book so he would use his deck of cards and explained:

“You see Sir when I look at the ACE, it tells me that there is one GOD and no other.
When I see the “2”, it reminds me that there are two parts to the Bible, the OLD TESTAMENT and the NEW TESTAMENT
The “3” tells me of the TRINITY OF GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON and GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The “4” reminds me of the FOUR GOSPELS, MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE and JOHN.
When I see the “5”, it tell me of the FIVE UNWISE VIRGINS who were lost and the five were saved.
The “6” makes me mindful that GOD CREATED THE EARTH IN JUST SIX DAY, and GOD said that it was good.
GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY.
As I look at the “8”, it reminds me that GOD DESTROYED ALL LIFE BY WATER EXCEPT FOR EIGHT PEOPLE, Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their three son’s wives.
When I see the “9”, I think of the NINE LEPERS that GOD healed, There were ten lepers in all, but only one stopped to thank him.
The “10” reminds me of the TEN COMMANDMENTS carved in stone by the hand of GOD.
The “JACK” makes me remember the Prince of Darkness. Like a roaring lion, he devours those that he can.
When I look at the “QUEEN”, I see the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF JESUS.
As I look at the last card. ‘THE KING’, it reminds me that JESUS IS LORD OF LORDS and KING OF KINGS.
There are 365 spots on a deck of cards, and that is the number of days in each year.
There are 52 cards to deck and that is the number of weeks in a year.
There are 12 picture cards and that is the number of months in a year.
There are 4 different suits in a deck and that is the number of months in a quarter of a year…”

And so, the young soldier then said to the Major,”You see, Sir, that my intentions were honorable.My deck of cards serves as by BIBLE, my PRAYER BOOK and my ALMANAC.”

This was a song that was sung as a narrative. It was done by Tex Ritter, Wink Martindale and T. Texas Tyler in 1948

LATER ADDED BY OTHERS
A deck of cards should remind us that we need JESUS 365 days, 52 weeks and 12 months a year and that we should PRAY “4” others.

Icebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

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Teaching Illustrations

Frogs

January 6, 2007 kensapp Leave a comment

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead.

The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all of their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made
it out.

When he got out, the other frogs said, “Did you not hear us?” The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

This story teaches two lessons:

There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day.
A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them. Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path.

The power of words….it is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way. Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times. Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another. Be Special to others.

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Object Lessons

Carrots, Eggs, and Coffee

January 2, 2007 kensapp Leave a comment

A daughter complained to her father about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose. Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In one he placed carrots, in the second he placed eggs, and the last he placed ground coffee beans. He let them sit and boil, without saying a word. The daughter sucked her teeth and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. In about twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl.

He pulled the eggs out and placed them a bowl. Then he ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her he asked. “Darling, what do you see?” “Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied. He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. She smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. She humbly asked. “What does it mean Father?”

He explained that each of them had faced the same adversity, boiling water, but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. But after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. “Which are you,” he asked his daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?”

How about you? Are you the carrot that seems hard, but with pain and adversity do you wilt and become soft and lose your strength? Are you the egg, which starts off with a malleable heart? Were you a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a divorce, or a layoff have you become hardened and stiff. Your shell looks the same, but are you bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and heart? Or are you like the coffee bean? The bean changes the hot water, the thing that is bringing the pain, to its peak flavor as it reaches 212 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water gets the hottest, it just tastes better. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and make things better around you.

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.
Learn More…

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