Barnabas Piper's Blog, page 102
October 21, 2015
Bill Simmons, Sour Grapes, and Leaving Well
When Bill Simmons left ESPN in May, it was very clearly under unpleasant circumstances. He and ESPN president John Skipper, as well as other management, had been at odds for some time. Simmons, the “Sports Guy,” was known during his tenure of 13-plus-years as the voice of the fan, which sometimes meant he drew fast and shot from the hip.
. . .
Amid significant speculation, Simmons has since signed with HBO to host a program and produce documentaries. He also relaunched his popular podcast, which had gone off the air since May. In his very first episode back he came out with guns blazing, firing at ESPN management and insulting former co-workers. In a subsequent episode he attacked them for not supporting a sports and pop culture website he started.
Simmons knows how to offer fair criticisms. He can sort through an issue in an evenhanded way. But this wasn’t journalistic criticism or levelheaded parsing of business decisions. It was sour grapes and slinging mud.
. . .
Here are five ways to leave well and maintain dignity in the process:
Speak the truth in love. If you must address issues within the organization, do so forthrightly and honestly, but only do so to pertinent ears and with utmost respect for any individuals involved. If an individual was the problem, point that out without insult.
Don’t speak all the truth you know. Airing all grievances and emptying out the company’s underwear drawer is poor form and gossip. . .
Answer not a fool according to his folly. If you were let go unjustly or departed on unfriendly terms not of your own making, then a wrong was done. You were sinned against. Someone made a poor decision, a foolish one. Firing back in kind will not make the situation better, nor will it ingratiate you to any future employers. Defend your character and professional reputation as needed, but don’t be a fool in kind.
Leave no collateral damage. No good except perverse satisfaction comes from bringing the company down or humiliating someone. . .
Imagine Starbucks. No, not because caramel macchiatos make you happy, but because that’s where you might run into a former boss or co-worker. . .
Read the full article HERE.
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October 20, 2015
A Podcast for Leaders (Or Followers of Leaders)
In July my boss, Todd Adkins, and I launched a podcast called 5 Leadership Questions. Todd is the director of Leadership at LifeWay Christian Resources, and our team’s aim is to resource and train churches in their efforts at developing volunteers.
We thought a weekly podcast would be a helpful thing to connect with church leaders, offer practical and life advice, and encourage them. We always use the same format – 5 questions with a guest or about a pertinent topic. We have had on John Piper (Yes, interviewing one’s dad about leadership in the home is both fun and a tad awkward.), Dave Ramsey, John Maxwell, Jeff Vanderstelt, Thabiti Anyabwile, Thom Rainer, and many others. In the coming weeks we will have Max Lucado, Brian Houston, Carey Nieuwhof, Darrin Patrick and more. We always ask the same 5 questions which launch lively conversations.
Who are you learning from?
What is the main point of emphasis for your leadership team (or self) right now?
What obstacles are you currently facing in leadership, either in your organization or personally?
What does leadership in your home look like?
What would you tell your 20-year-old self about preparing to lead?
The responses we get from leaders are almost invariably thoughtful, personal, insightful, and brutally honest. Each brings his or her own experience and personality, and the conversation is applicable well beyond the bounds of just organizational leadership. I have learned a ton about parenting, discipleship, marriage, discipline, work-ethic, humility, and more just hosting and asking questions.
If you are a podcast listener, would you subscribe? You will be challenged and encouraged and I think you’ll enjoy it along the way!
Listen here
Subscribe in iTunes
Subscribe via RSS
If you are interested in other resources for training your church’s staff and volunteers check out
Ministry Grid – an online volunteer and leadership training platform. With over 4,000 videos covering everything from greeters to executive staff and a full suite of management, tracking, and assigning tools Ministry Grid will allow you to train your team in a deeper, better way than ever before. Get a free 30 day trial for your whole church here.
Ministry Training Essentials – sequenced practical video training for church volunteers. Ministry Training Essentials is designed to be used as a group and provides practical, foundational training in particular key areas of ministry for volunteers. Preview the content for free here.
The church leaders blog at Lifeway
October 16, 2015
Meet at The Table
My wife and I have a rugged wooden farm table. It’s not impressive—there are scratches, stains, and some cracks that make you wonder if it can even hold another plate. As a family of four, the table is probably too big for us. As a matter of fact, we don’t even have enough chairs to go around it so an old trunk that sits on iron cast wheels acts as a bench. Even though the table is bulky and awkward, it has become the most significant place in our house. It is our place of meeting. Around this simple piece of furniture we share stories, corny jokes, old memories, laughter and tears, joys and pain. Together we eat, pray, and live around this tattered table.
It’s rare that our family is the only one gathering around this table. Our kids love having others join us and are constantly asking the question, “Who’s coming over tonight?” Having others share a meal with us has become a regular rhythm in which we live. We are learning to view our home, and this farm table, as a means of advancing the gospel.
Through this God-ordained transition we have seen God transform our understanding of both community and mission.
Community and Mission Meet
Within the church, we tend to equate the word “mission” with a trip we take or a weekend project that we interact with on occasion. We are prone to define “community” as something that we experience through some type of Sunday program or home group bible study. Thankfully there is no need to separate community and mission. In the wisdom of God’s plan, these two critical aspects of the Christian life work in tandem. Jesus, in fact, prayed for this in John 17. He begs the Father “that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me” (Jn 17:23). Jesus links the love that we have with one another with his mission to the world. As we grow in love for one another, the world will be drawn to saving faith.
Your city can be transformed when community and mission meet at the table. Your table can be more than a place that meals are shared—it can become the place where community and mission meet. Picture it: a table for the hurting, the lonely, the rich, the has-beens, the have-nots, the popular, the rebellious, and the self-righteous. Imagine God taking those gathered around your table and forming them together for the greatest mission they could ever join. This is His track record from Genesis to now. Community is more than a Sunday and mission is more than a trip.
The Christians mission involves you bringing your friends who know Jesus into your home while intentionally and simultaneously inviting friends who do not yet know Christ. Set the table, serve the food, pray for God’s blessing, and watch Him do the work.
I believe that the Christian community and God’s mission go hand in hand. We must create the space for those who do not have the gospel to see the gospel put on display. Jesus said in John 13:35, By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
God has a divine meeting waiting on you—I invite you to pull up a seat at the table and experience life in community
Dustin Willis is the author of the new book, Life in Community: Joining Together to Display the Gospel. This post reflects the heart and message of that book as Dustin seeks to help readers fold practical Christian mission into every-day life. Life in Community is accessible and useful for bot individuals and groups, and I encourage you to consider getting a copy and going through it with someone.
Dustin co-authored Life on Mission as well. He serves with the SEND network, a ministry of the North American Mission Board that supports church leaders and trains church planters to reach the United States and Canada with the gospel.
