Friday, June 3, 2011
Mentzer's Moments: The Leadership Styles of the Scarecrow, Tin Man, &...
Mentzer's Moments: The Leadership Styles of the Scarecrow, Tin Man, &...: "The famous movie, the Wizard of Oz, features a young girl in a land far different from her drab world on the farm in Kansas. Dorothy meets ..."
The Leadership Styles of the Scarecrow, Tin Man, & Cowardly Lion
The famous movie, the Wizard of Oz, features a young girl in a land far different from her drab world on the farm in Kansas. Dorothy meets three characters along the way which walk beside her, defend her, and care for this child so far from home. The author of the book which this movie is based wrote in the introduction, "It aspires to being a modernized fairy tale, in which the wonderment and joy are retained and the heartaches and nightmares are left out." L. Frank Baum In Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Movies lines, "There's no place like home" ranks #11 and the song Over the Rainbow came in at No 1 on the American Film Institutes's 2004 list of the 100 Greatest Songs in American Films. Children of all ages routinely watch this film over and over again, and like myself, can do most of the dialogue along with the characters. We can see three skills of leadership in Dorothy's companions which can help us to help others.
The Scarecrow's quote, "But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking... don't they?' This is one of the most important things to keep in mind in leading and working with others. While others are speaking "wicked words by the water cooler" you do not need to take part. Leaders lead by actions but the words you speak will heighten or diminish your viability as a leader. If you take part in destroying others with "wicked words" you should not be surprised they will do the same to you. The Scarecrow was the first one she met and the last one to say good-bye, adding "I think I will miss you the most." Will those you lead miss you because you would not take part in destroying someone else.
The Tin Man's quote, "Some, but mostly lions, and tigers, and bears." shows us the need for a calming and reassuring voice in the midst of turmoil. In ministry, especially at the time of death of a loved one, a calm and compassionate voice does so much to a grieving family. In the middle of difficult situations, a true leader can remain calm and still be compassionate for those in trouble. Jesus did not fret the storm but handled the problem. His followers wondered what kind of man this Jesus was and so will those you lead if you can remain calm and compassionate in difficult situations.
The Cowardly Lion's song, "If I were king of the fore-e-e-est..." is another role of a leader. A leader must be able to project a better future or goal which others can see. Vision casting is the ability to rally a team around a vision which may not exist at present but with team work, the vision is possible. The vision should not be so lofty that if it is not reached, people might become de-motivated and the leader loses cohesion.
The role of a leader requires the ability to refrain from destroying people with the tongue, remaining calm in the middle of a twister, and to give to others a picture of better days. Othewise, your boss may come to you and say in the words of Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, "You have no power here! Begone, before somebody drops a house on you, too!"
The Scarecrow's quote, "But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking... don't they?' This is one of the most important things to keep in mind in leading and working with others. While others are speaking "wicked words by the water cooler" you do not need to take part. Leaders lead by actions but the words you speak will heighten or diminish your viability as a leader. If you take part in destroying others with "wicked words" you should not be surprised they will do the same to you. The Scarecrow was the first one she met and the last one to say good-bye, adding "I think I will miss you the most." Will those you lead miss you because you would not take part in destroying someone else.
The Tin Man's quote, "Some, but mostly lions, and tigers, and bears." shows us the need for a calming and reassuring voice in the midst of turmoil. In ministry, especially at the time of death of a loved one, a calm and compassionate voice does so much to a grieving family. In the middle of difficult situations, a true leader can remain calm and still be compassionate for those in trouble. Jesus did not fret the storm but handled the problem. His followers wondered what kind of man this Jesus was and so will those you lead if you can remain calm and compassionate in difficult situations.
The Cowardly Lion's song, "If I were king of the fore-e-e-est..." is another role of a leader. A leader must be able to project a better future or goal which others can see. Vision casting is the ability to rally a team around a vision which may not exist at present but with team work, the vision is possible. The vision should not be so lofty that if it is not reached, people might become de-motivated and the leader loses cohesion.
The role of a leader requires the ability to refrain from destroying people with the tongue, remaining calm in the middle of a twister, and to give to others a picture of better days. Othewise, your boss may come to you and say in the words of Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, "You have no power here! Begone, before somebody drops a house on you, too!"
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Mentzer's Moments: God's Idea of Pomp and Circumstance
Mentzer's Moments: God's Idea of Pomp and Circumstance: "Right now across this country graduations are happening as children, teens, and adults complete their schooling. From the smallest tykes wi..."
God's Idea of Pomp and Circumstance
Right now across this country graduations are happening as children, teens, and adults complete their schooling. From the smallest tykes with their construction paper caps to adults with their elaborate robes, these students have worked for a specific goal and now with their completion, a ceremony honoring their achievements. Some students will be recognized with special rewards such as academic excellence, class recognition, or class superlatives. Many will never again cross a stage to be recognized as they have reached the goals they have set for themselves. Others will not be satisfied and seek higher goals and will be committed to the task until it is completed. Nola Ochs will become the oldest person to graduate from college at 95 years of age and has earned her degree from Fort Hays State University in Kansas. Ochs told reporters, "That yearning for study was still there. I came here with no thought of it being an unusual thing at all. It gave me a feeling of satisfaction. I like to study and learn." Her pursuit of a degree started in 1972 (two years before I graduated high school) taking a class at a time.Her granddaughter Alexandra, is also attending the university and will graduate with her this spring. With her latest accomplishment, Ochs will break the Guinness Book’s record for oldest person to graduate college, besting the previous record held by Mozelle Richardson, who received her journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma in 2004 when she was 90.(Buzzle.com)
While we think of the word graduation only as a ceremony, it actually began five centuries ago in the field of alchemy. It meant the refining of something to a certain degree or dividing into specific degrees. It wasn't until the 1600's the idea of education was attached to the word. Along with its root word, graduate, its refers to a cylindrical or tapered graduated container for measuring something. In Proverb 27:21 the writer compares the crucible and a furnace to the praises a man receives and what that person does with those praises. The refining process of precious metals happens as high heat breaks down the various elements in the ore and the lighter imperfections come to the surface to be poured off. As a believer walks in the foundry of God, he is being purified for the pure and precious metal which remains after the dross is removed is of great value.
Ego can be a terrible and terrifying master. It holds some to a need for more and more praises and others feel shame when their opinions are challenged by someone. Ego brings about destruction of others to lift up one's self. It demands more and more at other's expense and destroys families by the demands of selfish pleasure reaping its own reward regardless of the consequences. All for the need to be praised. My prayer is this: "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Galatians 6:14 No matter how many graduations (ceremonies) I have earned or the things I have done, let me boast about Jesus Christ and the flame of his furnace as he makes me a better person each and every day.
While we think of the word graduation only as a ceremony, it actually began five centuries ago in the field of alchemy. It meant the refining of something to a certain degree or dividing into specific degrees. It wasn't until the 1600's the idea of education was attached to the word. Along with its root word, graduate, its refers to a cylindrical or tapered graduated container for measuring something. In Proverb 27:21 the writer compares the crucible and a furnace to the praises a man receives and what that person does with those praises. The refining process of precious metals happens as high heat breaks down the various elements in the ore and the lighter imperfections come to the surface to be poured off. As a believer walks in the foundry of God, he is being purified for the pure and precious metal which remains after the dross is removed is of great value.
Ego can be a terrible and terrifying master. It holds some to a need for more and more praises and others feel shame when their opinions are challenged by someone. Ego brings about destruction of others to lift up one's self. It demands more and more at other's expense and destroys families by the demands of selfish pleasure reaping its own reward regardless of the consequences. All for the need to be praised. My prayer is this: "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Galatians 6:14 No matter how many graduations (ceremonies) I have earned or the things I have done, let me boast about Jesus Christ and the flame of his furnace as he makes me a better person each and every day.
Mentzer's Moments: Conservative? Liberal? Them's Fightin' Words!
Mentzer's Moments: Conservative? Liberal? Them's Fightin' Words!: "When I first came to hospice, there was a question by another employee concerning where I had earned by theological training--Liberty Baptis..."
Conservative? Liberal? Them's Fightin' Words!
When I first came to hospice, there was a question by another employee concerning where I had earned by theological training--Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He was afraid I would try to evangelize instead of helping patients find God in their own way. I have proved after a year his concerns where unfounded. I am thankful for my conservative training at Liberty, but I am not a Falwell-ite. Once I was attending a dinner where he was the guest of honor and as he was meeting people, he offered to sign their Bibles. I told a man next to me I will wait till I can get it signed by the original AUTHOR. Dr. Falwell was used by God to develop other men and women who love the Lord. However, when you identify or label yourself you might have to defend it at the cost of bruised egos or hurting hearts.
When I came to Virginia in the late nineties, I asked a member of the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia the differences between the them and the other Southern Baptist churches. He said the "moderates" wear robes. Oh NO! I have a clerical robe and doctoral hood I wear. Does that mean I am a now a "moderate" and not a conservative? I promise, I only wear it for special occassions.
We use labels to help us identify, classify and sometimes pigeon-hole people. During graduate school I taught at an inner-city private school. My classes were made up of 7th and 8th graders. I was told on my first day I had two groups of student: "good and poor students." I told the students I would not treat them differently and when I attended the graduation of the eighth grade students, the speaker, one of the kids from the "poor" class said "Mr. Mentzer taught us not to quit!" I hope he retained the advice. I have worked with people in counseling whose parents used abusive and harsh words to their children. As the child grew up, they worked very hard to live up to those "labels". My parents told my younger brother he would never achieve and to this very day he struggles against those words. Even though he can take a motor apart and I can not he still suffers from those intolerant words.
Labels can be beneficial because they can tell you how many calories are in your favorite ice-cream, or how much medicine to take. The religious of Israel labeled Jesus as a means of diminishing his reputation among the populace. However, Jesus ate with wine-bibbers, tax collectors, and even Pharisees. He would speak to a Samaritan woman, a struggling disciple named Peter, and loved Judas who would betray him. The only label I wish to have about me is "child of God." I desire to live my life so others may say, "There goes a Christian!" instead of "That's what you call a Christian?" I don't have to stress my conservative bent as long as I lift up Jesus for others to see. If someone disagrees with my theology I do not feel compelled to fight for all this does is leads to more unrighteousness. I was even looked at by a search committee which celebrated its theological diversity and I was determined not to change who I was to move to Louisianna and pastor this very large church but to love them as Christ loves me.
I had a wise pastor tell me I can be conservative in my theology but I should also be liberal in love and grace. Thanks Dr. Fox for your words of wisdom which I have tried to live for twenty years. Thank God for a "moderate".
When I came to Virginia in the late nineties, I asked a member of the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia the differences between the them and the other Southern Baptist churches. He said the "moderates" wear robes. Oh NO! I have a clerical robe and doctoral hood I wear. Does that mean I am a now a "moderate" and not a conservative? I promise, I only wear it for special occassions.
We use labels to help us identify, classify and sometimes pigeon-hole people. During graduate school I taught at an inner-city private school. My classes were made up of 7th and 8th graders. I was told on my first day I had two groups of student: "good and poor students." I told the students I would not treat them differently and when I attended the graduation of the eighth grade students, the speaker, one of the kids from the "poor" class said "Mr. Mentzer taught us not to quit!" I hope he retained the advice. I have worked with people in counseling whose parents used abusive and harsh words to their children. As the child grew up, they worked very hard to live up to those "labels". My parents told my younger brother he would never achieve and to this very day he struggles against those words. Even though he can take a motor apart and I can not he still suffers from those intolerant words.
Labels can be beneficial because they can tell you how many calories are in your favorite ice-cream, or how much medicine to take. The religious of Israel labeled Jesus as a means of diminishing his reputation among the populace. However, Jesus ate with wine-bibbers, tax collectors, and even Pharisees. He would speak to a Samaritan woman, a struggling disciple named Peter, and loved Judas who would betray him. The only label I wish to have about me is "child of God." I desire to live my life so others may say, "There goes a Christian!" instead of "That's what you call a Christian?" I don't have to stress my conservative bent as long as I lift up Jesus for others to see. If someone disagrees with my theology I do not feel compelled to fight for all this does is leads to more unrighteousness. I was even looked at by a search committee which celebrated its theological diversity and I was determined not to change who I was to move to Louisianna and pastor this very large church but to love them as Christ loves me.
I had a wise pastor tell me I can be conservative in my theology but I should also be liberal in love and grace. Thanks Dr. Fox for your words of wisdom which I have tried to live for twenty years. Thank God for a "moderate".
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Mentzer's Moments: Fifty five years ago the words “under God” became ...
Mentzer's Moments: Fifty five years ago the words “under God” became ...: "Fifty five years ago the words “under God” became part of the pledge of allegiance to the United States flag. Some wonder how these two w..."
Fifty five years ago the words “under God” became part of the pledge of allegiance to the United States Lincoln
Two years ago a Colonel Van Barfoot of Richmond, Virginia won a case against his homeowners association and a state law was created to prevent a HOA from barring anyone from displaying a flag. Why does a Medal of Honor veteran and hero have to fight others to display his country's flag?
The American people have become like sheep as those in the minority seek to undermine and overturn things which have unified this country for over two centuries. Flags have always led the way into battles and stood as symbols for others to follow. It is not the fabric nor the color but what the flag symbolizes. Our country shed much blood and tears to come to the point we are at today. We celebrate the flag and we say the pledge but do we ever mean it? What does the Pledge of Allegience mean to you and to me? (Watch the Red Skelton "Pledge of Allegience" in the video bar)
Those of us who have served our country and remain, it is the representation of over one million Americans who died for our freedom. It is the basis of a government of the people, by the people and for the people. It is not a symbol of tyrants, but of trusted men and women who sought freedom regardless of country of origin. The flag which drapes the coffins of dead military service personnel is a vivid and stark reminder this freedom is not free.
June 14th is Flag Day. Inspired by these three decades of state and local celebrations, Flag Day - the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 - was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916. It would be President Truman who would sign it into law in 1949. (USFlag.org) However, it originally started in the mind of a school teacher. So in two weeks, what will you do to show the rest of the world your love, respect and admiration for Old Glory?
Monday, May 30, 2011
Mentzer's Moments: What Do We Owe the Honored Dead on Memorial Day?
Mentzer's Moments: What Do We Owe the Honored Dead on Memorial Day?: "I have just returned from a parade and ceremony in the town cemetery as we remember those who have given their last full measure for this co..."
What Do We Owe the Honored Dead on Memorial Day?
I have just returned from a parade and ceremony in the town cemetery as we remember those who have given their last full measure for this country. In over sixty five clashes, battles, wars, and conflict since the American Revolution, over 1.3 million Americans of the armed services have died and now lie resting in hallowed ground around this world. Why? What is it which has taken our brightest and best around the world to spill their blood so others may be free? Perhaps the words so eloquently written of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness given by our Creator have mobilized men and women to share these ideals where they may be lacking.
What then is the obligation of the living this day? Again, words spoken on another battlefield, this time of American against American will remind us of our debt. Abraham Lincoln ended his famous Gettysburg Address this way:
“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain--that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom --and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Lincoln saw the division of this country a hindrance for the United States to spread these God given rights to others.
“Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in our bosoms. Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere.--September 11, 1858 Speech at Edwardsville, Illinois
Years later, another great president would contemplate words much like these. President Kennedy wrote,
“We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans -- born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world."
Along with President Kennedy, over three hundred thousand honored dead reside in Arlington Cemetery. Those and all of the rest of our honored dead only received for their service a plot of ground measuring six feet, by three feet, by six feet deep for a total of 108 cubic feet of ground. We owe them, all of them; the courage, commitment, and character to see to it this nation will survive. We owe them the duty to ensure the freedom for all those who seek it. We owe it to them to abolish tyranny of any kind and to ensure we remind the world these rights are not American given rights but God given rights.
What then is the obligation of the living this day? Again, words spoken on another battlefield, this time of American against American will remind us of our debt. Abraham Lincoln ended his famous Gettysburg Address this way:
“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain--that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom --and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Lincoln saw the division of this country a hindrance for the United States to spread these God given rights to others.
“Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in our bosoms. Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere.--September 11, 1858 Speech at Edwardsville, Illinois
Years later, another great president would contemplate words much like these. President Kennedy wrote,
“We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans -- born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world."
Along with President Kennedy, over three hundred thousand honored dead reside in Arlington Cemetery. Those and all of the rest of our honored dead only received for their service a plot of ground measuring six feet, by three feet, by six feet deep for a total of 108 cubic feet of ground. We owe them, all of them; the courage, commitment, and character to see to it this nation will survive. We owe them the duty to ensure the freedom for all those who seek it. We owe it to them to abolish tyranny of any kind and to ensure we remind the world these rights are not American given rights but God given rights.
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