Greg Chaney – Page 19 – Just a place to post stuff

Seeing God Clearly

3 Min read

Picture God in your mind…

If you’re like most of the people I’ve asked, you probably thought of some combination of a man in a gray beard floating in the clouds or a scowling judge glaring down from his judgment bench. Both are wrong. God has a presence in the world today, and how we see Him determines how we see ourselves and others.

When the Spirit of God descended into the Temple built by King Solomon the power was so great the priests couldn’t perform their ceremony (I Kings 8). There was no doubt that God was present and the temple would be the dwelling place for God among His people. In those days the temple was the center of the Israelites life and worship. Their lives revolved around the presence of God in the Most Holy Place. Then…

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 NIV

Jesus is the Son of God, is God, and was His physical presence on this earth. Jesus said, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself” (NIV). He became the center of life and worship drawing everyone to Him. From the moment Christ was crucified and the temple was torn in two everything changed. God is no longer contained in one building or one group of people. (John 12:32, Mark15:38)

Through Christ’s death and resurrection God is once again present in His temple, the center of life and worship. Believers are God’s temple. We are His dwelling place through His Spirit. When we clearly see God it will change how we see ourselves and how we see others. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16)

When we see the Spirit of God dwelling in ourselves it focuses our worship, actions and lives. (1 John 3:9-10)
When we see God in fellow Christians we are able to unconditionally love each other deeply (1 Peter 1:22, 4:8; 1 John 3:16-18)
When Christians see God in each other we can join in unity and the body of Christ is lifted up to “draw all men to [Himself].” (Ephesians 2:18-22, 4:12-13)
When Christians are built together as the temple of God we become God’s workers in His plan of redemption. (Ephesians 2:6-10)

How we see God determines how we see ourselves and others. How we see ourselves and others determines how, through the unity of the Spirit, the work of God is accomplished.

We have work to do…

Read later

You’re the Greatest

1 Min read

A man died and met Saint Peter at the gates of heaven. Recognizing the saint’s knowledge and wisdom, he wanted to ask him a question. “Saint Peter,” he said, “ I have been interested in military history for many years. Tell me, who was the greatest general of all times?”

Peter quickly responded, “O, that is a simple question. It’s that man right over there.”

The man looked where Peter was pointing and answered, “You must be mistaken. I knew that man on earth, and he was just a common laborer.”

“That’s right,” Peter remarked, “But he would have been the greatest general of all time- if he had been a general.”

– Mark Twain

Read later

PGC Leadership Influence

1 Min read

Go APE for your teamates [bosses, peers, subordinates]:

A – Acknowledgement. Make a big deal out of everything your teammates do good. They love acknowledgement. Show excitement, say their name, acknowledge even when you are the one who rightfully should be acknowledged.

P – Praise. You want to attack your teammates. Don’t just say nice things, attack, make a big deal about it. When you praise your teammates and tell them you love them they will do anything for you.

E – Encouragement. You have to be the first person to recognize someone who is struggling. You must tell them after a bad play [deal, work failure, etc] that they are a great player and you are going to give it to them on the next play to score.

The APE ratio is 6:1. Give someone six APEs and then give one suggestion and they will take it better.

Read later

PGC Leadership Communication

1 Min read

Another leadership lesson my daughter learned this summer at her elite basketball camp – lessons in communication:

Three reasons players [leaders] don’t communicate, 1. Too into themselves and selfish, 2. Too tired, and 3. Don’t know what to say

NITE communication:

N- Names. Use a person’s name before you instruct them. Everyone loves being put in the spotlight, they will respond better

I – Information. Information is meaningful talk. Eliminate chatter. Reminders are only useful before they are necessary. Good leaders alway give reminders.

T – Tone of voice. Leadership isn’t about yelling and screaming it’s about influencing your teamates. Converse with your teamates.

E – Eye contact. If you want your players to listen to you look them in the eye. When your coach [boss] is telling you something nod in agreement. 93% of communication is non-verbal.

Read later

Point Guard College Leadership

1 Min read

My daughter attended an elite basketball camp this past summer. Last night she let me have a peek into her notes binder. I was impressed with the level of time and instruction given to training leadership to these athlete. The implication is they will be called on to influence their teammates and fans. The three aspects of leadership taught on day one:

1. Doing extra. If you want to be a leader, you must expect to do more

2. Energy. Transfer energy through enthusiasm and joy

3. Influence. lead others by being a servant

Read later

Manager and Leader

1 Min read

The manager administers, the leader innovates

The manager maintains, the leader develops

The manager relies on systems, the leader relies on people

The manager counts on controls, the leader counts on trust

The manager does things right, the leader does the right thing

– Fortune Magazine

There is some debate about the attributes of leaders and those of managers. Some interchange the titles making any leader also a manger and manager leader. Everyone has an opinion based on their job description, corporate culture, personal preference, and so on.

My belief is that anyone in a position to influence people is both leader and manager. Lower level positions will manage more than they lead, perhaps 60% management/40% leadership. The higher you climb in your organization the more leadership competencies used; a CEO might be 20% manager/80% leader.

The leader who can balance the appropriate level of management skills while leading subordinates through vision, innovation, and trust is the catalyst for organizational excellence, regardless of their position on the corporate ladder.

Read later

Rules for Dating my Daughters

4 Min read

1. My daughters may not date until they’re married. So unless you are my son-in-law there is no need to read further.

2. Double dating is fine, just get with my wife and set a date when the four of us can go out.

3. If you pull into my driveway and honk you’d better be delivering a package, because you’re sure not picking anything up. NOTE: If you weave while you’re trying to get away there is a chance I will miss.

4. You do not touch my daughter in front of me. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter’s body, I will remove them (by remove I mean sever).

5. I’m sure you’ve been told that in today’s world, sex without utilizing a “barrier method” of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate, when it comes to sex, I am the barrier, and I will kill you.

6. It is usually understood that in order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is: “early”

7. I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry.

8. As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget it will distract me from cleaning by pistol. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process than can take longer than painting the Golden Gate Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don’t you do something useful, like changing the oil in my truck?

9. The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka – zipped up to her throat. Movies with a strong romantic or sexual theme are to be avoided; movies which features chain saws are okay. Football games are okay. Old folk’s homes are better.

10. Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a middle-aged (6’5”, 220 lb, Army officer, combat veteran) has-been to you, but on issues relating to my daughter, I am the all-knowing, merciless god of your universe. If I ask you where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun, a shovel, and twenty acres behind the house.

11. Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for an approaching car bomb in Baghdad. When my Anthrax starts acting up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the weapons as I wait for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveways you should exit the car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early, and then return to your car – there is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is mine.

Read later

Latest stories