Wayne Hedlund

Author: Wayne Hedlund

  • Everybody Say ‘asana’!

    I sort of consider myself a productivity nut, meaning I like to learn about and find new/better ways to be more productive. Last year I discovered an online task management system that was helping me manage my to do’s, projects, etc. (www.nozbe.com) It had been working well for me, but there’s also a decent learning curve, making it hard for someone who’s not a nut like me to figure it out – this is especially true because for it to be truly useful you had to understand how to use tags properly.

    Well, a few weeks ago, my friend, Bob Kniley (another nut), told me he thought he had found a new online task management system (with a great price – FREE) and suggested I check it out. I fell in love with it within 10 minutes of reviewing it. I have now transferred all of my tasks to asana.

    What makes it a very effective system is the fact that:

    • It’s very user friendly (easy to learn for the non-nuts).
    • It allows for layered tasks (nut language for, ‘it lets you have a big category of tasks, with a ton of projects in that category, and a ton of tasks for each project, with as many steps as needed for each task’).
    • It emails you your upcoming, due, or overdue tasks if you want it to.
    • It lets you email tasks into your task list from your mail client without going to the site.
    • It allows you to collaborate by assigning tasks to other people – and it’ll keep you informed of their progress if you want it to.
    • Did I mention it’s free (note – it’s free if you have less than 30 people included in any given workspace).

    I recommend you check it out! You’ve got nothing to lose and perhaps a lot to gain!

  • What to Read

    Following are some more great articles I recently read and recommend to help your church succeed in fulfilling it’s mission. Enjoy.

    1

    5 Characteristics of a Strong Mind by Michael Hyatt
    No matter the circumstances around us, we will need to rely upon the mental toughness we normally look for in our heroes, not in ourselves.We admire heroes like Robin Hood and James Bond because they embody the characteristics that we’ve valued throughout the ages. Heroes let us feel what it’s like to have the mental toughness to break out of our boring little existence and enter into a much bigger world—one that is full of possibility. Read More.

    The Difference Between Floating and Falling by Scott McClellan
    Reichelt was a tailor who lived in Paris in the early 20th century and was determined to design a wearable parachute. Pay careful attention to this excerpt: “After conducting several failed experiments with dummies at low altitudes, Reichelt, who was convinced his design was perfect, decided to try the suit from a higher elevation and wear it himself.” Read More.

    Gather Stories as if Lives are in the Balance by Mark Howell
    Yesterday we talked about the 7 numbers that matter most in small group ministry.  As important as quantitative measurement is, today we need to talk about gathering stories, the qualitative aspect of small group ministry.  Why?  Let’s just say that while your ministry intelligence depends on the numbers we gathered yesterday, lives actually hang in the balance and depend on the stories you gather.  Read More.

    Why Women Don’t Like Women’s Ministry by Bianca Juarez Olthoff
    Have you ever stood knee-deep in a bad situation, yet believed good could prevail? Have you ever seen a company losing customers, yet saw the intrinsic value that the company possessed in the community? Have you ever seen an ugly duckling that you believed would morph into a swan?  I have.  Read More.

  • The Science of Productivity

    I ran across this great video the other day. Since I’m a productivity nut, I just had to share it. Enjoy.

    [su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/lHfjvYzr-3g” width=”320″ height=”200″]

  • Push that Bus!

    This article was originally posted on Transforming Leader the winter of 2010. Enjoy!

     

    Have you ever tried to push a stalled car down a road by yourself? I have. Many years ago (when I was young and stupid) my car ran out of gas right in the middle of the road. I was also only a block away from the gas station. I jumped out and attempted to push the car to the gas station. My nemesis turned out to be a red light. After excruciating effort (and several cars waiting for me) I finally got enough momentum to get across the road and to the gas station. Ugh. Besides being embarrassing, it was very hard; but I made it.

    Rewind about 4 years prior to that when I was in college. I was part of the Roberts Wesleyan College Chorale and we were in downtown New York City on a Greyhound bus. The women were dressed in black dresses and the men were wearing tuxedo’s. We were late for our next concert. The BUS died in the middle of the road, at a red light! (Did you catch we were in a bus?) All the men (and a few of the ladies) got out of the bus and pushed it down the road. Eventually, the bus driver was able to pop the clutch and get it started again. I wish I had a picture!  It was awesome, fun, and memorable . . . but most importantly, it wasn’t that hard.

    That’s the difference a team makes.

    My point. Strategic planning is NOT a solo activity. As the leader of your ministry you were not meant to plan and strategize about the future alone. It is critical that other leaders and trusted members in your church or ministry be part of the process.

    Here are a few very good reasons why you need a team of people while you plan for the future ministry and life of your church:

    • Your team will sharpen the results of strategic plans.
      You can spend hours in prayer, in the Word and in planning alone and still miss out on all of God’s purposes for your ministry’s future. God is into teams. Jesus recruited a team of disciples. Moses was commanded to pick a team of others to carry the future of the nation with him. Paul worked with a team of other disciples and leaders as he served in ministry on earth. You can only accomplish so much creatively by yourself. Your ideas are finite. Your experience is limited. Your knowledge isn’t enough. When you have a team of people dreaming together about the future, the resulting vision will be sharper, clearer, and bigger than anything you could have dreamed up alone.
    • Your team will add perspective to strategic plans.
      Have you ever had an idea in the middle of the night and thought “That’s a great idea! Why didn’t I think of that before?” and then wake up in the morning, remember the conversation you had with yourself (and the idea) and think, “I must have been brain-dead, that is totally unrealistic and inappropriate!       Your team provides that kind of perspective when you get tunnel vision. They will allow good ideas to germinate and grow and will help to kill unrealistic, narrow, or faithless ideas before they get started.
    • Your team will provide confirmation for strategic plans.
      A couple of years ago I wrote the script for my church’s Christmas production. When I finished writing the script I immediately brought it before our creative team for input. After a few minor changes, they were able to give me a thumbs up – expressing that they believed in the script and liked it. That confirmation from trusted leaders and friends gave me the confidence to run with our Christmas Eve production without worry that it would be a dismal failure. I promoted the event like it would be one of the best productions ever – which it was in my not so humble opinion. 
    • Your team will save you time and energy.
      Hours and hours of time and energy are saved when a team of people brainstorm and strategize together. Sometimes I would stand in awe of what we accomplished as a team, and how quickly and easily we did it.
    • Your team will become key stakeholders in implementing change.
      This is perhaps one of the greatest benefits of a team. When people have a chance to walk through the strategic process with you, they will also become stakeholders in it’s success. You won’t have to cast the vision to these people, trying to convince them of why it’s so important to the ministry. Buy-in will happen automatically as they dream, strategize and troubleshoot problems with you.
    • Your team will provide momentum for change.
      Not only will this team have buy-in, they will often end up being the champions for it’s success. They will talk the vision up with their spouses, family, friends, and the rest of the church for you. They will convince others what a great idea you have. And they will find ways to get involved in it’s success. 
    Perhaps some area in your ministry has stalled out. There’s a car, bus, van, maybe even a train that needs to get rolling. God has shown you that change needs to happen, and it needs to happen soon.
     

    So the real question is, are you going to push that problem down the road alone or are you going to have others who will push with you? Better spend time and energy right now getting the right people to push that bus than to kill yourself trying to get it rolling on your own.

    photo credit: lairdscott via photopin cc

  • Indescribable

    Grab a drinking straw. Walk outside on a clear starry night. Pick a blank space in the sky (no stars) and look through the straw. What do you see?

    Nothing, right. How fun was that?

    Enter the image below, which has been coined the ‘Hubble Ultra Deep Field”.

    When the experts zoomed in on a similar sized spot with a powerful telescope, what do you think they saw? More stars? Nope. Just 1,000’s of GALAXIES. In fact, the experts tell us this one image boasts somewhere in the neighborhood of 10,000 GALAXIES.

    (You need to click on the image and zoom in to really appreciate it!)

    ultra-deep-field

    I suspect there isn’t a scale we can adequately use to try and imagine the vastness of space and how minuscule we (humanity) really are in comparison with it. We’re overwhelmed just planning a trip to the moon. Another planet in our solar system is just out of reach – perhaps we’ll visit Mars once in my lifetime. The idea of visiting another star is the stuff of sci-fi novels. Exploring a galaxy belongs to Star Wars fans. But millions, perhaps billions of galaxy’s?

    Psalm 19:1-4 (NIV) says it best.

    The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech, night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words, no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the end of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.

    Wow.

     

    Credit:

    NASA, ESA, and S. Beckwith (STScI) and the HUDF Team

  • What to Read

    Following are some more great articles I recently read and recommend to help your church succeed in fulfilling it’s mission. Enjoy.

    what-to-read

    Is Your Ego Getting In The Way Of Building Trust by Randy Conley
    Don’t kid yourself – you’ve got an ego and sometimes it gets out of control. You may not act like a pompous jerk in public, but if you’re human (and if you’re reading this then there’s a good chance you are), you’ve undoubtedly had those self-righteous, egotistical thoughts run through your mind from time to time whenever you’ve felt the need to impress someone or in response to a perceived slight. If you’re not careful to keep your ego in check, it’s likely that it’s causing you to erode trust in your relationships.  Read More. 

    10 Ways To Be A More Strategic Church by Will Mancini 
    #1 Schedule a special gathering for all leaders to inspire them with one goal for the next year. #2 Meet with a pastor whose church is 40% larger than yours and interview them.  Read More.

    5 Steps When The Changes Are Over Whelming by Ron Edmondson
    I’ll be honest. I’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately. In my new position, there are more opportunities than time. I’m excited about the potential, but my calendar won’t hold anymore and my mind is exploding.  One day recently, I was driving on the road which leads back to Clarksville. I considered my schedule, the enormity of the challenge ahead, the dozens of emails awaiting a response and the people I was still having to say “no” to when they ask for my time, many who don’t understand why the pastor can’t see them right away, and I turned to Cheryl and said, “Right now I wish I could just keep driving and that this had been a nice little dream”. That wasn’t reality speaking or how I really feel. It was emotions talking. I knew that I was simply feeling overwhelmed.  Read More. 

    Get Rid Of Drainy People by Maurilio Amorim
    Every minute you spend with someone who is a negative influence in your life is a minute you could spend with someone else who could be helping you grow. While such thinking might sound self-serving, and it can be if all you care is yourself, it can help you make a smart choice about investing your precious time. Read More.

    photo credit: mccun934 via photopin cc

  • Forget Everything

    Here’s a sign of an UNPRODUCTIVE person – they forget some things. Not everything. Just some things. They forgot to send an email. Forgot to show up for a meeting. Forgot to send the proposal. Forgot to prepare for the devotional. They remembered a lot of things too. Everyone was glad they remembered those things. But mostly, people were frustrated about the things they forgot.

    ** paradox **

    Here’s a sign of a PRODUCTIVE person – they forget everything. Really. Everything. If you were to ask them what they are doing next week, they would smile and say, “I don’t remember.” If you asked them what tasks they will be working on tomorrow, they would reply, “I don’t know.” If you saw them in the mall and suggested that perhaps they are forgetting something, they could suggest back with confidence, “Yes, I have forgotten everything.”

    You have to admit. You’re a little curious how this works.

    The difference between these two people isn’t really about what they forget. It’s about how they remember. A productive person chooses to empty his mind of the details of his day, week, month, even year. He doesn’t try to remember what’s going on next week. He doesn’t have to remember to go to a meeting or prepare for a devotional. He just does.

    He does because he has created systems to remember all of those things for him.

    For example:

    • He maintains a responsibility summary (one page) which informs him of all of his major responsibilities, current projects, and future projects.
    • He uses his calendar to keep track of his appointments, meetings AND to schedule time to work on his most important projects/tasks on any given week (and he schedules an hour each week to prepare/plan out the upcoming weeks).
    • He utilizes an information management system which keeps all the important information about his life and ministry organized and accessible.
    • He has two or three in-baskets which funnel information, tasks, activities, and ideas to the most appropriate place and in a timely fashion.
    • He regularly checks his to-do lists to ensure he’s working on the right things at the right times.

    With those five systems developed and in place, a productive person can go home from work every day and forget everything. He can empty his mind of all the clutter of the day and the worries of tomorrow and enjoy his family & free time (which was on his calendar anyway).

    How much do you forget?

    photo credit: Flооd via photopin cc

  • Honoring Guest Speakers (part 1)

    This excellent three part series (originally titled “An Etiquette That Honors“) was written by my friend, Pastor Chris Ball. Pastor Chris is a leader of leaders both at his local church as well as Elim Fellowship, where he serves as General Secretary. It is a great honor to know him and share this resource with you!

    Pastor Chris BallOver the past 20 years I have had some wonderful experiences, both as a guest speaker and as a host to guest speakers. I’ve had the pleasure of these experiences in the local church and the broader arena, when hosting large conferences.

    There is nothing like the joy of celebrating the work of the Lord when the guest speaker flows in the Spirit, leaving a deposit from God and then returns home, having felt that he or she was cared for and had received a blessing, both spiritually and financially, for the time spent in ministry. Stories like this do not happen automatically. In fact, too often, I have heard about negative experiences from either the host or the guest speaker, primarily due to poor planning and/or an attitude which exhibits dishonor rather than honor.

    The Bible speaks a lot about honor: honoring the Lord with all your possessions (Proverbs 3:9), honoring your mother and father (Exodus 20:12), honoring those who seem to lack honor (1 Corinthians 12:24), giving double honor for those who labor in the Word or doctrine (1 Timothy 5:17), etc.

    I take a risk of being misunderstood by writing an article about an etiquette that brings honor when co-laboring with guest speakers. As one who is invited out to speak, this may seem self-serving. It is my heart, as you read the following material that it will serve to bring glory to God and His Church as we strive to operate with excellence.

    Honor is reflected when the following three essentials are functioning:

    • Communication
      The key to an atmosphere of honor is communication. Long before the ministry takes place, both the guest speaker and the host should discuss all details so that every possible area is addressed. This builds an environment where great ministry can take place, because both the host and guest are made aware of their individual responsibilities. The more questions asked and the more details discussed, the more it will serve to eliminate misunderstandings.
    • Cooperation
      Both the host and the guest should look for ways to bring honor to the ministry. Guests should always look to minister under the authority of the host leader. They should be considerate of time and dress code, come with a spirit to serve and bless, and always remember that they are only a guest. The host should look for ways to be a blessing, making life as comfortable as possible for the guest who, most often, is away from home and family. If the spirit of honor is in the minds and actions of both parties, they will be well on their way to a powerful time of ministry that glorifies God.
    • Compensation
      While every minister should be willing to serve with honor regardless of financial compensation, we cannot dismiss the fact that Paul challenged us to show double honor to those who labor in Word and doctrine. Paul is clearly speaking of compensation. Too many times to mention I have heard stories of men and women who have traveled far and wide, left family, and given their utmost to ministry, only to discover that their compensation was far from honorable; in fact, it was dishonoring.

    Every host must consider blessing their guest by paying their expenses (including housing, miles, and meals) and compensating them for their labor. Discussion should take place before the event is finalized regarding all the details involving compensation. It is much better to know the details on the front end than being surprised after the event is completed. In short, if a host is unable to compensate a guest, let them know early so they have the opportunity to say yes or no to the opportunity to minister.

    You may be saying, “I have a small church or ministry. When I look at these guidelines, I can’t begin to see how I will ever have enough compensation to invite a guest.” Remember, everything begins with ‘communication’. However, be careful not to be passive with these guidelines. There are several ways to work towards having a guest ministry.

    If you are leading a small work, consider the following…

    1. Focus on fewer events throughout the year. Work hard to make one event successful, rather than falling short on hosting multiple events.
    2. Consider partnering with a couple of other area ministries to host an event.
    3. Consider fundraising ahead of time so you will be able to store up enough income to provide for the event/ministry.
    4. Don’t be afraid to charge a registration fee for some events in addition to receiving a free-will offering.
    5. In your communications you may be able to arrange a package that will work out with your guest ministry, but remember – this should be agreed upon before the commitment is final.

    Someone once said to me, “Whatever happened to serving and trusting God for His provision? Shouldn’t that be the attitude of the guest?” Most guest ministries I know approach ministry with this attitude, and it should be the attitude of all who minister. However, I often caution that this should not give place to poor planning or be an excuse to disregard God’s call for host ministries to show honor to their guests. This article is intended to serve both the host ministry and the guest ministry. Following these etiquette guidelines will bring honor to all parties involved, and ultimately honor God. Let’s remember the essentials: Communication, Cooperation, and Compensation.

    Following are some guidelines that will serve to help you in your journey to honor. You may want to consider setting up an event coordinator to handle the details. No matter the size of our ministries, we can all function with excellence.

    Like what you’re reading? Click here to read ‘Part 2’ of this article!

  • Honoring Guest Speakers (part 2)

    This excellent three part series (originally titled “An Etiquette That Honors“) was written by my friend, Pastor Chris Ball. Pastor Chris is a leader of leaders both at his local church as well as Elim Fellowship, where he serves as General Secretary. It is a great honor to know him and share this resource with you!

    (If you haven’t read Part 1 yet, click here to do that first!)

    Pastor Chris BallGuidelines to Honor Guest Speakers

    Thoughtful, considerate hospitality extended to a guest speaker can greatly enhance your ministry event. Inasmuch as he/she will bless your audience with their message, you can bless them by facilitating an environment conducive to ministry.

    Demonstrate Hospitality

    Find out what your guest likes, such as snacks (candy bars, crackers, cheese, etc.), drinks, mints, etc. Have a welcome basket made for them and placed in the hotel room prior to their arrival. If your guest speaker’s spouse is traveling with him/her, be sure to include a special gift for their spouse. If the guest is staying in someone’s home, arrange with the host to assist with meals.

    Simple acts of hospitality can refresh a guest speaker and contribute to the success of your event. Here are a few more suggestions to consider as he or she arrives at your services/event:

    • Meet the speaker at the door of your facility or assign someone to meet him/her.
    • Be available or designate someone to help carry ministry materials from the speaker’s vehicle.
    • Place a table in a prominent place for ministry materials or displays.
    • Show your guest where the restroom is located.
    • Go over details of the service and provide a copy of the program agenda, schedule of activities, registration packet, etc.
    • Show your guest where he/she will sit, the path to the podium, where the sound system is located, where audiovisual screens are located, where electrical outlets are located, where light switches are located and where you will be sitting.
    • Designate which microphones the speaker will use. Introduce your guest to the sound and lighting technicians.
    • Be prepared to introduce your guest properly and to promote his/her ministry materials.
    • Discuss timing of a special offering (usually at the close of the service) and who will receive it (normally the pastor).
    • Provide bottled water and mints at the speaker’s podium and at the table/seat where he/she will be sitting.
    • Obtain permission from your guest before recording (audio or video) your guest’s messages/performances.
    • Provide complimentary audio and/or videotapes of the entire event to your guest.

    The honorarium is intended to bless the guest speaker above and beyond the expenses he/she has incurred to come and minister.

    Consider the following as you determine the speaker’s compensation:

    • Is this ministry my guest’s livelihood?
    • How far will my guest travel for this event?
    • How much time away from family will this event require of my guest?
    • What type of ministry (speaking, music, teaching, etc.) will my guest present?
    • Experts claim that the best presentations require 1 hour of preparation per minute of presentation.
    • How many times will my guest be expected to minister?
    • Cover your guest’s expenses (meals, travel, and lodging).
    • Reimburse the guest’s mileage (use the current Internal Revenue Service’s allowance for mileage when an automobile is used).
    • Inform your guest in advance of financial arrangements (fee, offering, both).
    • Pay your guest speaker before they leave your event. “Check is in the mail” is not serving with excellence.

    Like what you’re reading? Click here to read ‘Part 3’ of this article!

  • Honoring Guest Speakers (part 3)

    This excellent three part series (originally titled “An Etiquette That Honors“) was written by my friend, Pastor Chris Ball. Pastor Chris is a leader of leaders both at his local church as well as Elim Fellowship, where he serves as General Secretary. It is a great honor to know him and share this resource with you!

    (If you haven’t read Part 2 yet, click here to do that first!)

    Pastor Chris Ball

    Treat a Guest Speaker Well by Asking Ten Questions

    Those with little experience hosting guest speakers may be unaware of some of the courtesies their guests will appreciate:

    1. If your guest is flying, have you asked whether he’d prefer for you to book the tickets or to make his own flight reservations?
      If your guest makes his own travel arrangements, offer to reimburse him as soon as he can send a copy of his receipt/itinerary to you.
    2. Have you reimbursed your speaker for all travel expenses, including incidental ones?
      In addition to airfare or car rental costs, your guest will likely incur out-of-pocket expenses for airport parking, tolls, food, tips, etc. It is appropriate to ask for receipts for these in order to provide reimbursement. If the speaker drives his own vehicle, reimburse him according to the current IRS per mile expense rate.
    3. If you intend to give your guest an honorarium, have you arranged to do so before he leaves?
      When determining the amount of the honorarium, consider not only the preparation and delivery of the messages, but also the amount and value of the time you’ve asked your speaker to be away from home.
    4. Are you prepared to offer several restaurant options?
      Just about everyone has likes and dislikes. If meals will be served in homes, have you asked about preferences, food allergies, etc.?
    5. Have you asked about when your guest would prefer to eat?
    6. Have you given your guest the option of staying in a hotel instead of a home?
      Although some opt for the fellowship of the home environment, nearly all prefer the privacy of a hotel room. The hotel provides the seclusion to study, write, pray, prepare, send email, and more easily rise or retire according to his/her personal schedule. If your guest stays in a home, the most important consideration is a private bathroom. Be sure to show him/her where extra towels and washcloths are kept.
    7. Have you asked if your guest would like to have a car made available while with you?
      Rarely is this needed, and nearly always your guest will prefer for someone else to drive, but to ask is a courteous gesture.
    8. Have you asked what your guest would like to do during the times when he/she is not speaking?
      Your guest may prefer to rest or work, but might enjoy alternatives you suggest. Ask if there are any local sights he/she would like to see, whether bookstores are of interest, or something else.
    9. Have you remembered those left behind?
      Arrange to have a “Thank you for sharing your husband/wife” (perhaps just a card). Sometimes a simple, tangible remembrance can be given to your guest to take to their spouse. Just make sure they have room in their luggage.
    10. Finally, because everyone is different, it’s always a wise policy to ask all of your guests in advance, “Do you have any special requests?”


    What can a church expect from a guest speaker?

    1. A guest speaker must come to the host church with the mindset to leave a deposit. It’s better to give than receive.
    2. A guest speaker must always submit to the leadership of the host church.
    3. All times of ministry should be flowing in the same spirit as that of the host church.
    4. A guest speaker should be sensitive to time and schedule. Be on time and ask when ministry should begin and conclude.
    5. A guest should dress appropriately. Ask, never presume or assume.
    6. Inform the host church of audio/visual needs, if applicable.
    7. Seek to connect to the leadership, not just blow in and blow out.
    8. Inform the host church of your needs ahead of time so they can be aware and prepared for your visit.
    9. Send a thank you note after returning home.
    10. Be willing to go the extra mile.