December 1, 2008  

Ministry Tools
Bob Burroughs

Quote

"There's nothing sadder in this world than to wake Christmas morning and not be a child".  Erma Bombeck

Scripture

Uinto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ, the Lord! Isaiah 9:6

Prayer

Father of heavenly lights, Savior of the world, Proclaimer of the Good News of salvation, and Source of all good and perfect gifts, I bring to the Throne of Grace and Mercy this day all those who are involved in preparations for telling the story of the birth of Jesus Christ, who came to be our Redeemer Kinsman. May Your Spirit be with all who conduct, sing, play, ring, act, draw and speak during these next 25 days as we count down the time of Christmas morning. Many are working hard to prepare special programs of inspiration, telling the Gospel story with music, instruments, drama and the spoken word. Grant, great God of Love, that the Christ Child would be exalted, people drawn closer to the Son of Light, and honor and glory be given to You, who sits upon the Heavenly Throne.

I pray this prayer in the name of the blessed Christ Child, who brings salvation to all who call upon His name, Jesus Christ, Amen.

What Think Ye?

The Grand Symphony of Family Christmas

Christmas is such a wonderful season--a grand, symphonic “family” event! There should be no solos here!  It should be a time for the family ensemble to sing, dance, recite, perform, laugh, eat, drink, and tell the stories of Christmas past and present, of traditions and wonderful memories, and stories of family.!

How blessed is the family that puts all this together in The Grand Symphony of Family Christmas! The memory bank is being filled for children fortunate enough to be in such surroundings. The Symphony of family tradition is extremely important, essential and necessary for children and teens, sometimes, whether they like it or not. “Tradition” becomes a very important word in the family ensemble. Family events slowly become “traditions” that will be passed on from generation to generation, much as a melody is pass from instrument to instrument in the orchestration of life.

Does your family have traditions? Of course you do! Every family has traditions, whether they realize it or not. There is something the family does every Christmas--that you can count on to happen every time—and this is a tradition!

The Grand Symphony of Family Christmas—will make Christmas an even more exciting and meaningful time.  These melodies and harmonies will last long after your generation has passed! Sing the songs of Christmas.  Sing them loudly, clearly, and with much fervor. Now, more than ever, these grand hymns of faith and joy need to be sung in today’s world!  Sing!  Sing!  Sing!

What think ye?

Leadership

Mantras for Success

#10 - Character is not made in crisis. It is only exhibited.
CHARACTER is one of the absolutes for effective leadership. Without this quality, leadership of an individual is severely compromised. More than anything else, followers want to believe their leaders are ethical, fair and honest. Unfortunately, in today's world, it is becoming more and more difficult to uphold one’s integrity.
 
Texas Business Editor-in-Chief Brux Austin said, "We have been programmed to acquire--at the expense of both our personal integrity and personal fulfillment."

How sad. In today’s world, leaders are being strained to the breaking point because of the pressure of leadership with integrity. The good news is that those with proven and sustained character stand out all the more! Those men and women who stand tall, work hard, will not’t cut illegal corners, and profess truth and integrity are leaders whom people will want to follow.

This is especially true in ministry, don’t you think? There seems to always be a rash of dismissals among church leadership for a wide variety of reasons, from immoral behavior to financial questions—from “hammer-style” leadership to lack of concern or interest in ministry needs of the flock. Again, how sad. The loser, of course, is the church family—especially those who looked up to their leaders and thought they had integrity and character.

In our fast-paced, ever-changing world, the test of character is displayed almost daily—under pressure, in the “fire” of everyday living, and certainly in all aspects of ministry.

Bernice Ledbetter, Life@Work (January. 2000), suggests ten ways to build a worthy leadership legacy of character.

1.   Focus on relationships--always! Relationships are the key to success.
2.  Create a vision. Every leader must have a vision & be able to pass it on.
3.   Champion the truth--never be one who is suspect in telling the truth.
4.   Become personally accountable--people look to you for leadership.
5.   Set the bar high for yourself--and others will set their bars higher.
6.   Inspire others--and they will look to you for inspiration.
7.   Be creative and flexible within the rules--just don’t break them!
8.   Integrate your work with your beliefs.
9.   Mentor others--this is your best chance to leave a lasting legacy.
10. Let your work always be an expression of gratitude. Never forget to thank people!

Marriage & Family

  Building Family Christmas Traditions       Suzie Cortright

1. Go for a family nature walk near your home to collect seasonal items that you can use in your holiday decor. If you live near a forest, the obvious choices are pine boughs and pinecones, but long dried grasses can look just as festive tied with a holiday bow.

2. Make appreciation cards. Replace the annual Christmas letter in your holiday cards with a brief letter of appreciation for the recipient.
 
3.  Enjoy a Family Night with special holiday crafts or games.

5. Start a Christmas themed puzzle somewhere in your home. A puzzle table, placed in a quiet room is great for holiday visitors. Whenever your guests want to get away from the action, they can retreat to work on the puzzle.

6. Play special music. Ask everyone for their favorite holiday CD. Allow each family member to choose and keep them in the CD changer. Better yet, have "family performance night," where everyone has to perform something!

7. Take a photo of your children standing in a particular spot each year (in front of the tree, by the front door) an place that will be consistent from year to year. Make a special holiday ornament or scrapbook album that depicts the growth and change of your family each year.

9. Ask each child to write a Dear Santa letter. (Small children can draw pictures). Keep a special record of these letters in an album or treasure box.

10. Adopt a special cause each year and spend some time as a family helping those in need, or raising or donating money for a charity of your choice.

Inspirational Corner

David Clydesdale

To many, the name, David Clydesdale, brings up thoughts of excellence in choral and instrumental writing. He and his wife, Celeste, live in Franklin, TN. They attend two churches! They go for their more contempory worship style, they are in a growth group and really enjoy the great teaching. And also Christ Presbyterian Church, where there is choir and orchestra and Celeste directs the Children's Music Ministry. I asked David to tell us his best selling anthem. It is HOLY IS HE. His best selling musical is THE DAY HE WORE MY CROWN. His HARDEST but PROUDEST MOMENT was when their daughter, Courtney moved to Hollywood to pursue work in TV production, and their other daughter, Jacqueline, moved to NYC to pursue work on Broadway! It is our pleasure to introduce David to those who do not know him or his work. MME encourages our readers who do not know David's work to ask your music service dealer to send you a stack of "Clydesdale" and you'll call him a friend forever!

   Most of us have a “life verse” whether we “picked" it, or in God's time, it chose us, but all of us have one. Sometimes at a Music Clinic or premiere, a kind soul ask me to sign a copy of a musical or favorite octavo, and I always like to put my verse reference, also. I want them to look it up when they get a chance.

For years, I used John 10:10. “I have come that you might have  life, and have it more abundantly.” I loved that verse because it was very positive, uplifting, and since I had a singing group, LIFE UNLIMITED, for 10 years. It went with the group's name.

But then it happened. I got older, more responsible, acquired more stress and pressure. And my happy little verse just wasn’t me anymore.

Even my beautiful wife, Celeste, reminded me that when we first met, even my voice on the phone “was filled with joy.” But in time, a little of the Eeyor character (I used to be Tigger) began to settle in.

In the last 2 years, the hardest adventure for me was the dreaded “empty nest.” What did I expect from my gifted special two daughters? Certainly not to sit around home and watch me grow old. No! Jacqueline- now lives 2 block from Time Square. Courtney took the other coast, and works in the world of Television production in California. Celeste and I, we kind of have a slow pace on the Tennessee home front.

Thus, the new verse. Proverbs 3: 5-6. You all know this…but let’s unpack it. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”

Easy enough. Here we go!

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